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Writer's pictureJulia Kitching

What I Didn't Expect During My Labour


Doctor examining woman's pregnant belly

When I was pregnant with my first child, I was so excited to give birth vaginally. I wanted to see how amazing my body was. I wanted to experience childbirth and see for myself how "amazing" or "horrendous" it really was. My Mum had always told me about how amazing her birth was with me. Of course over the years, I'd also heard negative stories from friends, other family members, the media etc. I trusted my Mum though and as I approached my birth, I never felt scared or anxious about my birth. I wanted to have a drug free, vaginal birth, in a birth pool, with zero intervention. A natural, physiological birth.


My Birth Plan

I'd had a low risk pregnancy, with no complications. As I approached my birth, I didn't see any reason why I wouldn't have the natural, vaginal birth that I wanted. The only birth plan that I made was:

  • Who I wanted at my birth.

  • Where I wanted to give birth.

  • How I didn't want pain relief, apart from gas and air (entonox).

  • How I wanted to give birth (vaginal birth, active birth and water birth).

  • What I wanted to happen after giving birth (skin to skin, breastfeed, vitamin K, to deliver placenta via active management - an injection of syntocinon).


That was it. That was my birth plan. Now, you might be thinking well what else would you put into a birth plan? Well what about things such as your thoughts on induction of labour? What kind of environment would you like? Are you happy to have vaginal examinations and how often? Are you happy to be cared for by student midwives or student doctors? And the biggest thing for me that I hadn't considered, was a caesarean section! I didn't have a clue about what happens during a caesarean or what the recovery period would be like after a caesarean. As far as I was concerned, I was having a drug free, natural, vaginal birth. I didn't see any reason why this would not happen. I wasn't high risk and there were no complications during my pregnancy. I thought unplanned c-sections only happened to people who already had a complicated pregnancy, medical conditions, a high BMI, considered to be an older Mum or had experienced a difficult birth in a previous labour. How naive was I!?


I'm Not Having A Caesarean Section

When I was in labour, on the drip being induced, a caesarean section was still not something that crossed my mind. I can tell you, it was a huge shock when I was told that my baby was undiagnosed breech and that I would need to be transferred quickly to theatre, for a caesarean section. "But my baby is head down," I said. "Loads of different midwives have told me that they can feel the head, that the head is engaged and that during a vaginal examination, they could feel hair on my baby's head." An ultrasound scan soon confirmed to me, that my baby was breech and the only way that she was coming out, was via an emergency c-section.


So, there I was, laid in a hospital bed, suddenly getting prepared for theatre. I haven't planned for this I thought. I suddenly felt scared, anxious and out of control. My whole birth plan was out the window. My time to discover what labour really feels like was over. I felt so many emotions. I was shocked, I was upset and I was angry. How did I have an undiagnosed breech baby? It took me quite some time postnatally, to accept my caesarean birth and come to terms with it.


What Would I Tell My Former Self?

I would tell my former self to prepare for all eventualities. That birth very often doesn't go to plan and that it can go off course for anyone, whether they are low risk or high risk. However, that doesn't mean that you should not make a birth plan at all. It means you should absolutely make a birth plan and that a birth plan is even more important because of this. I would make sure that I made a plan A, plan B and a plan C, with plan C being a caesarean section plan. I'd make myself aware of what the postnatal recovery period looks like for a c-section, make a plan for it and I'd make myself informed about the c-section process and the risks involved. I'd stipulate in my birth plan what I'd like to happen during a caesarean section e.g. have my own music played in theatre, put my gown on backwards to allow for easier skin to skin. I'd ask to have the wires placed on my back instead of my chest. (Those wires really get in the way when you're trying to breastfeed a newborn). I'd ask to delay weighing and measuring of my baby, have my cannula placed in my non dominant hand and ask to see my placenta after the birth. There are so many choices that I could have made, that I just wasn't aware of back then. One of my other really big regrets, was that I had not done a hypnobirthing course to prepare me for birth. If I'd done a hypnobirthing course, I would have been prepared for all eventualities of birth and I would have learnt tools and techniques that would have helped me to stay calm, relaxed and positive when I was going down to theatre, having my spinal block epidural, major abdominal surgery and that postnatal recovery period. I'd have been informed and prepared about birth and caesarean sections and I'd have been able to advocate for myself and make informed decisions. Particularly when I was on the postnatal ward. I'd have been more aware that a caesarean section is quite likely, given the UK statistical c-section rate. According to NICE Guidelines (2024) 25%-30% of women in the UK will have a caesarean section. Around 1 in 3 first time mothers will need an emergency c-section and 1 in 5 women who have given birth before, will need an emergency caesarean section.


Hypnobirthing Is For All Labours And Births

Hypnobirthing is a brilliant way to prepare fully for birth, increase your chances of having a positive birth experience and learn how to be able to make informed decisions. It is for all births, which is why it is such an incredible course that is suitable for everyone. I wish that I had discovered it sooner!


If you would like to know more about hypnobirthing and how it can help you during pregnancy, birth and postpartum, visit my website or drop me a message for a free 30 minute chat. I offer private 1-1 hypnobirthing courses in person or online and group hypnobirthing classes in Oulton, Leeds, West Yorkshire.



Julia x

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