Stand up for your birth plan

We welcomed a healthy boy, Elijah, into the world on 19 October. He weighed a healthy 3.78kg and was born at 39 weeks. I had a build-up of early labour through the night and had a fairly quick stage of active labour. I left for the hospital at 3 minutes apart (which escalated fast) and arrived fully dilated with waters still intact. Elijah arrived half an hour later - I climbed to the top of the bed and my waters broke with the pushing phase starting immediately after. Pushing took about 5 mins and the obstetrician arrived in the nick of time to catch our little boy. 

Doing the private active birth sessiuon with Suzanne gave me the confidence to stand up for my needs as a woman. Being able to practice breathing was helpful to get me through labour as this was such an effective strategy. I kept counting to 5 knowing the contraction would pass with every 5 breaths.

Jake was an amazing birth partner as always and he remembered all his active birth sessions from our previous pregnancy.  I asked to birth in a more upright position and the midwife and obstetrician both respected my request for no coached pushing. I was anxious about having another private birthing experience and being at the mercy of the doctor but I felt more empowered this time in sticking to my birth plan.  Thank you Suzanne for your support and wisdom.

Ashley attended Active birth yoga sessions with her partner for her first pregnancy and attended a private active birth yoga session for preparation in this pregnancy