Water Birth Story **update**

Hello! Our “little” Tommy Robert Gillespie finally decided to make an appearance at 9:04am on Monday 21st of September, 10 days after his original due date!

I’ll start from the beginning...

On Saturday the 19th I woke up at 4:45am to my waters breaking. After being assessed at the hospital, they determined that my hind waters had broke and sent me home to labour. I had contractions on and off all day but nothing consistent. However I woke up at 12:45am on Monday 21st to some pretty intense contractions. I started timing them but they were still too inconsistent. I breathed through each contraction and when I felt they were too much for myself to handle, I called the hospital who told me to come in.

When we arrived at 6am-ish I was fully expecting to be told I was only like 4cm, however after examining me I was actually 7-8cm! It was showtime! I got admitted to the labour ward and there just so happened to be a pool available. The baby’s heart rate and contractions were monitored for half an hour and then I was taken through to the pool. The midwives at first didn’t think I would make it to the pool in time because it was taking so long to fill up!

I got into the pool at around 8.20am. It was super relaxing and I had my own music playing, not that I could hear it when I was pushing 😂 Throughout the whole time I was using gas and air through contractions. I was coping well in the pool until it came to push time. I felt I couldn’t do it but there was no going back! Unfortunately my gas and air broke just as baby’s head was coming! I ended up only having the gas and air for the very last push!

At 9:04am our big bundle of joy came flying into the world! He weighed 9lbs 11oz! I can’t believe I gave birth naturally to an almost 10lb baby!

I did end up with a 2nd degree tear but I’m that doped up on medication that I wouldn’t even know 😂 We’ve had to stay for 24 hours observations as a result of my waters breaking 24 hours before birth but it’s been nice staying in. Midwives had been slightly concerned about his breathing at one point during the night and he spent 3 hours in the neonatal unit, but he’s back with me now and we’re hoping to be discharged this afternoon!

I highly recommend a water birth for anyone considering it. Super super relaxing!

**Update**

Unfortunately we are still in the hospital with our wee Tommy! He developed a small infection which required antibiotics. As a result of the antibiotics making him super sleepy he was really struggling with feeding, meaning he lost a little too much weight. After spending some time in the neonatal unit, we have now been transferred to the Transitional Care Unit to monitor Tommy with his infection levels and establish a feeding plan.

He is doing much much better now and is putting on weight! Hopefully we should get home on Sunday after his course of antibiotics are finished 💙