Wake up and check my messages for anything that might have come in over night. I would have heard the beep and checked in the night but if it wasn’t about labour starting I might have left it to answer in the morning.
Snuggles with my own small person in bed before getting up and heading down for coffee (for me) and breakfast (for both of us). Get an “are you up?” text while eating peanut butter and bananas on toast (always try to have a good high energy meal every time in case it’s my last one for a good few hours).
Give my client a call, contractions started last night but tailed off when she went to bed and she’s slept the night with only a couple of wake-ups to pop to the loo. She’s feeling well but a bit on edge this morning. She wants to check if I think the pink tinged watery discharge she’s getting might be her mucus plug starting to come. I ask a few questions about the smell and amount of pinkness and although it seems very normal I reassure her she can call her midwife and check in any time and about anything. I suggest some restful oxytocin inducing ideas for after the walk she’s determined will be the one that starts labour at last (she’s 40 weeks 3 days pregnant which is completely normal but also feels to her like she’s been pregnant forever as her first baby was born at 39 weeks).
Take my small person to her childminder, I offer lots of cuddles and remind her it might be grandma who picks her up if mummy has to go and be with someone having a baby. She sweetly waves but can’t contain her excitement to rush off and do the amazing messy play activity the childminder has out.
Get some chores and life admin done. Pick up some extra protien bars from our local health food shop, it feels like it might be an extra energy needed day.
My phone rings, it’s my client, she’s been having contractions all through her walk (I suspect she was having them this morning when we talked as well but didn’t want to get excited too soon). She’s going to get in the bath and try to relax. I reassure her she’s got this and I will be over whenever she needs me.
Have lunch and try to focus on some social media posts to schedule in for the next few days in case today is the day.
My phone rings again, this time it’s my client’s partner. She’s definitely in labour, she’s doing well but would like a bit of extra support. Her partner would also like some support getting the birth pool set up and filled to the right temperature.
Grab my bag off the side where it has been waiting for nearly 3 weeks now. Check my phone, keys and charger are in there. Fill my water bottle and head out.
Arrive at my client’s house where everything is going brilliantly, tell them all they are wonderful. Make everyone a cup of tea (except the soon to be older brother who gets a cup of milk and then gets picked up by a very excited friend of the family who also gives my client a quick squeeze and a “you can do it”. )
My client’s partner asks if I think we should call the midwives. I say I think it’s probably looking that way but lets check with the person in labour that’s definitely what they want. She agrees she is in labour and is feeling like she would like to get in the pool which is when we had talked about calling the midwives during our antenatal planning session.
Client’s partner makes the call. The midwife who answers asks to speak directly to the client. Her partner puts the phone on speaker and the midwife starts to ask questions. Just then another contraction hits and she doesn’t get a very coherent answer, mostly just some good strong vocalising. She says she’s not sure if there will be enough midwives available and we may have to head in to the hospital. My client can be heard swearing in the background as her partner calmly explains that we will expect her to do her best to find a midwife and will call back when we’re definitely in need of them soon.
My client decides it’s time to get in the pool. She loves it and can rest more between contractions.
After about an hour we get a call back from the hospital. They have found a midwife and she is on her way to us.
The midwife arrives and it’s obvious to all of us my client is pushing. The midwife checks the baby’s heart rate, all is good. She asks my client if she thinks the baby may be on the way out and if my client would like her to check? My client says thanks but she has checked for herself and there’s definitely a head on the way out of her.
I make my way home at about 9pm. Everyone in the new family is tucked up in bed together. The midwives (our first one was rapidly joined by a second when the pushing situation became obvious) have gone home happy. Dinner was eaten and cleaning up all done.
I look in on my small person and kiss her head. Tomorrow it’s just us hanging out together and that will be epic and normal in it’s own way, just like today.
If that sounds like the sort of support you would like through your pregnancy and birth why not find yourself a doula in Hampshire.
(Images are free stock photos or those owned by Hampshire Doulas and are for illustration purposes not to represent any specific person or birth. This is a fictional account and any resemblance to anyone is purely coincidental.)
Hampshire Doulas 