Leah's Birth Story

Mars had come for an antenatal visit on Monday, and although I was over 2 weeks away from my due date, there were many signs he was on his way. So we went through the bag and last minute questions with Mars. On Thursday I was feeling very tired with lots of practice contractions. Friday morning at 6am I got up to go to the toilet and my water broke and I had a show.

I just had a steady leak the whole day (which was messy) after that and only irregular minor contractions that really didn't hurt. I kept thinking when is this going to start!! Mars suggested I rent a comedy, which was a great way to pass the time while letting myself relax and open up. But by 1am Saturday, I couldn't sleep any more and the contractions were starting to bother me, coming every 20-40 minutes. Finally it got too much by about 7am and we went to the birthing centre, with Mars directed the taxi driver to go easy on the bumps.

When I came into the hospital I was 3-4 cm at labour 8am and they said I'd have a while to go. I was really disappointed at that stage as I had been up all night already in what I thought was a lot of pain. But Mars and my husband Ben were very encouraging and supportive. I had a bath, went for a walk and was having contractions every 2 minutes as I walked around Tottenham Court Road and Planet Organic having contractions over the tofu counter - shopping there will never be the same! When I came back after some food I was so exhausted I didn't think I could go on. Then a wonderful midwife Abby started her shift and she, along with Mars, really coached me through the worst part.

They asked if I wanted a VE to check my progress and I said no because I didn't want to be discouraged again thinking I still had ages to go. But apparently I was what they call a silent labourer - I was a lot further along then they though. The pain suddenly really intensified and I couldn't be silent any more and although I didn't realise it, they started running around because they realised I had hit transition. Ben said I suddenly made what can only be described as a bovine noise. About 30 minutes later, he was born. It was exhausting and the pain was far worse than I ever could have imagined. I only used a TENS machine (which was great) and a bath. I never got a chance to have a waterbirth because I progressed quickly after that walk. He was born very pink as he received lots of good oxygen during the labour because of my good breathing. Also, I didn't tear thanks to the massages and the slow steady breathing. He was born so healthy - he started feeding within the first 5 minutes. His name is Ruben Morris Garces Lopman and he weighed 7.1 pounds. He's beautiful and very healthy!

The memory of the pain has completely disappeared ( I seriously can't remember what it felt like!) and I think it was a great labour and beautiful birth. Ruben is perfect and all we do is stare at him all day and night. It's such a wonderful wonderful experience. Having a doula (especially Mars) is something I would recommend to everyone. It allowed Ben and I just to concentrate on the intense physical and emotional experience that labour is, knowing that we had someone standing by our side protecting our experience.