See What Mummy Says Labour In A Pandemic

Labour In A Pandemic!

In the last issue, Becca discussed

pregnancy during lockdown. Soon after this was written, things inevitably progressed, so we thought we would share both Mummy’s and Daddy’s views on labour in a pandemic!

Mummy Says…

I was having a lovely time enjoying the sun with the family when I kept thinking I needed the toilet and then when I stood up my stomach hurt. Twenty minutes later, it happened again… but I had chosen to wear the shorts I knew were now too small so surely the pain was the shorts? I decided to change the shorts and I would know once and for all, but thought I’d better give Tom a heads up in case… potentially another false start! I kept trying to convince myself that it would be as it had been the last few times and that it would pass but twenty minutes later it became apparent that this was “it”… cue tears of fear!

Daddy Says…

Enjoying a quiet cup of tea in our garden with my folks and Becca disappeared for a little while. She’s usually more sociable than this, but I just assumed she was changing outfit or momentarily taking in some shade indoors. Just as I was about to check she hadn’t moved house without telling me, I received a text. It was from Becca explaining she thought things may have “begun”. Upon her return, we explained to my parents that we may be seeing them again in the not so distant future to drop of our other children, and they left soon after to squeeze in some peace and quiet whilst they could!

Mummy Says…

Once back from Tom’s parents, another contraction… that must have been quicker than twenty minutes as we’d only dropped the kiddies off and just got home. I consulted an app I was using to time the contractions… only twelve minutes?! Once inside, Tom suggested I call the hospital, as he had been convinced all the way through it was going to be a quick labour (despite the previous two being thirteen and twelve hours!) I, on the other hand, was happy to wait for a couple more contractions before calling them just in case it wasn’t all systems go yet!

Two contractions later, I called to get Tom off my back mainly (joking of course) just to say

I was in labour and would be hopefully seeing them soon and confirming with baby number three when I should head up to the hospital. Instead, I was asked to go to the assessment unit straight away as I had noticed dampness for a couple of days and they wanted to see if it was my waters leaking. Great, back to the assessment centre again - I knew this meant me being on my own for however long, wearing a mask and contracting!

Daddy Says…

As soon as we had delivered two very excited children to my parents’ house, we went straight to the pub. I’m joking, I’m joking… they were fully booked. We returned home and contractions had very quickly gone from twenty minutes down to twelve. I’m very much of the opinion that in this situation, safety in numbers is the priority. I don’t mind if we’re in the hospital canteen, as long as we’re in the building surrounded by an abundance of trained people! However, there are rules of course, especially at a time like this, so Becca phoned the hospital and it was agreed that we could make our way in… it just got real.

Mummy Says…

I hated saying goodbye to Tom. When you’re in labour or even just being assessed, you want your partner, that safety blanket and going into delivery suite without him was not nice. The staff were great as usual and I was quickly put into the assessment room (good thing too as I was now contracting every nine minutes and didn’t want to be the women in labour in the waiting room scaring all the other women. Thankfully I was alone in there today). I was quickly put on the monitor whilst sat on the bed and the checks were carried out. Contractions seemed to be getting closer together, but not being able to walk around (my usual labour habit) and having my mask on was not making it very comfortable. Then I got the surprising news that my waters were leaking and as it had been potentially for a couple of days, I couldn’t use the MLBU (damn it, as my birth with N in here had been amazing). That’s ok though, I thought to myself. I can still request a pool birth in delivery suite… Nope. I will have to be monitored throughout so no pool birth and strapped to the monitor (Cue more tears and a want for a cuddle from Tom mid contraction). The silver lining? I could call Tom up to the delivery suite!

They were getting a room ready and she was happy to tell me I was 4 to 5cm (IS THAT IT?!?! With B I was 10cm when I arrived and with N 7cms so to only be 4 I was unimpressed to say the least) I was then told usually they speed up labour by breaking the remaining waters if they’ve been leaking for more than 24 hours but as I was doing it myself, they would leave me 4 hours and see how I was progressing… 4 more hours! But at least the other room would have pain relief…

Daddy Says…

We arrived at the hospital and I was allowed to walk with Becca to the delivery suite, so she could be assessed. I then returned to the car park. Not wanting to be too far away when I got the call to say I was allowed back into the hospital, I decided to retrieve the bags from the car, and stand outside the hospital entrance.

Throughout my forty minute lonely wait, I was in contact with Becca via text message and she explained that her waters had been slowly breaking and that meant that she was to deliver in the delivery suite and not in the Midwifery Lead Birthing Unit with a water birth, as she’d wanted. For me, as long as he arrived safely that was fine, but I knew Becca would be disappointed.

After what seemed like an eternity, I received the message to say I could go back in so on went my mask, and I made my way through to the delivery suite. One covid test each later, and we were in the room in which we would welcome our baby!

Mummy Says…

The new room was nice, much better than how I remembered delivery suite, calming and spacious. Mask off and I was much more comfortable! I was hooked up to my monitor and asked if I wanted to stand or go on the bed, oooh so I don’t have to lay on the bed throughout labour… I’ll start standing please. My mind then drifted to pain relief, if I couldn’t have the birthing plan I may as well look into pethidine. The midwife was brilliant and said just ask when I would like some. In the meantime, I opted for my good old friend, gas and air. A mat appeared under my feet and I was a bit confused as to why when I was just standing for a bit. The midwife then explained she was just going to hand her other patient over to someone so she could stay in our room with us - did this mean not much longer? Things were getting a bit more uncomfortable and my waters began trickling with a bit more force and pressure, so I decided now was a good time for some pain relief! It had only been a few minutes, but it was already too late. I remember being on the bed and wanting to push suddenly, and was told do what my body said. A quick check of the monitor and I heard the buzzer, then the door open, baby wasn’t happy but “Is he okay?” No answer. “Is he okay?” We were told he didn’t like it as labour was progressing so quickly so they popped my waters, which had meconium and directed me to push… in a blur, he was here with the cry we both eagerly awaited! 1 hour 10 minutes from going to our delivery room! Thank goodness not 4 hours+ later! Tom was allowed to stay with us until we were moved to Blakeney for monitoring which was lovely. At 10pm, we had to say goodbye… I didn’t really do staying overnight (with B we were sent home from delivery suite after monitoring on there at 2am - our choice; with N we didn’t need to worry and when I had an operation, I did one night and requested to go asap) so I had a few tears at the door. The staff were lovely they helped out where daddy usually would have as much as they could, and it gave me a chance to talk to the other new mums which if we all had our partners we probably wouldn’t usually have done. Come 5:30 the following morning and I was allowed to text Tom to come get us! So, all things considered not a bad birth with Covid restrictions at all. However, I still feel there is no replacement for your partner’s support.

Daddy Says…

Although “only” 4cm dilated, the midwife asked Becca how she’d like to do this… did she want to stand? Go on the bed? Etc… Becca, as she was being monitored, thought she may be tied to the bed for some time so welcomed the idea of being able to stand freely. As she stood, the midwife started arranging gym mats on the floor, and joked that she would catch the baby so don’t worry… was this happening quicker than either of us realised?

Pain relief was discussed but just as Becca confirmed she would like some, the midwife confirmed with equal determination that our baby was going to arrive before that could be administered. Oh.

Baby was getting a little stressed out and the big red button on the wall got pushed. Two more midwives entered. This bit is a bit of a blur, but I do remember Becca asking if the baby was ok, and the midwife not answering. I tried to put on a brave face, but I don’t think it was particularly convincing. Our midwife directed Becca to do as her body told her to and follow her pushing instructions, as we needed baby out quickly. And boy did he arrive quickly. One contraction and two minutes later, and our baby boy arrived. What an absolute legend my wife is! Baby Hamling arrived at 17:13 and weighed 8lbs 9oz. He was introduced to his very proud brother and sister the following morning!

Thank you for reading, Tom & Becca www.seewhatmummysays.com @whatmummysaysuk