42 +6 Clare's Empowering Birth Journey.

This is Clare’s story, a journey of strength, patience, and deeply listening to her body and her baby. Navigating the maternity system in Cheshire, Clare stayed true to what felt right for her. Throughout the process, I worked closely with the Eden Team at Leighton Hospital, communicating with the midwives to ensure Clare’s wishes were heard and followed every step of the way.

While this may not have been the birth plan we originally worked for, seeing how empowered and beautiful her experience was means the world to me as her doula. Clare is incredibly strong and maintained such a positive mindset; I felt a deep connection with her and her family immediately I had supported them with their last baby as well.

It was an absolute pleasure to walk beside them, and I’m so happy that our journey didn't end with the birth, I still love seeing them regularly at my Northwich home birth support group.

Clare's Journey-

I knew from the start of this pregnancy that I wanted to try again for a home birth. We were expecting our 'Rainbow baby' and, because of this, the first half of the pregnancy was filled with anxiety/fear and I felt I was always anticipating 'bad' news.

At our 20 week anomaly scan, I was diagnosed with Placenta Previa. This did not discourage me though - hearing that 9 in 10 move by 32 weeks, I continued to manifest and plan for a home birth, with high hopes for a positive and healing birth experience.  

The placenta site scan at 32 weeks showed the placenta was still "marginally" covering the cervix/"OS". We spoke with the registrar regarding risks of a vaginal birth and were told the chances of it moving further at this stage were decreasing and so we were booked in for a repeat scan at 36 weeks. I felt disheartened but tried to remain hopeful despite knowing the odds were not in our favour.  

When then scanned me at 36 weeks, the placenta was still "butting up" to the OS and so we spoke with the consultant about next options. We used the BRAIN model for all discussions and investigations. We were advised to have a scheduled C-section at 37 weeks (as per policy) due to the risks of going into spontaneous labour with a Placenta Previa. Having had a late gestation with my first child (42 weeks), everything in my body was telling me 37 weeks was too early for this baby - I had had no bleeding and the consultant was recommending steroid injections to mature Baby's lungs for a delivery at 37 weeks. I decided to listen to my 'gut' and trust my instincts so requested to have a planned C-section at 39 weeks instead to allow baby extra time to grow/mature, on the understanding that we would go straight to hospital if any bleeding or early signs of labour occurred before then. 

The consultant offered to scan me again the following week (37 weeks) for "closure" and to secure a date for the section. I was told there were no statistics for it moving at this late gestation because "it just doesn't happen". I was devasted and knew I needed to accept I would not be having a natural birth, let alone my dream my home birth. 

It took time for me to change my mindset but I kept telling myself this was a medical necessity and that this baby needed our 'help' to arrive safely. I was determined to still have a positive and healing birth experience regardless of baby's method of delivery. We meet with our named midwife, agreed on C-section specific birth preferences, had a tour of theatre and a walk-through of what the day would be like. I adapted hypnobirthing techniques and considered how we would use these in the lead up to and during the procedure. 

We went into the scan at 37 weeks ready to confirm our plans and come away with a date for the section, only to be told that the placenta had in fact moved 8mm away from the OS - much to the surprise of the consultant! Despite this, it still wasn't the recommended 'safe' distance away (15mm). Not wanting to risk a natural vaginal birth, I consented to a planned C-section on 30th December (39 weeks exactly) under the proviso that they would scan me again the day before to ensure the placenta hadn't moved further and was still lying too low. 

Christmas came and went and we enjoyed our last few days as a family of 3 before going to our scan on 29th December (24hrs before I was due to be in theatre). To our utter amazement, the placenta had moved AGAIN and was now a safe 22mm away from the cervix! My husband's head was in his hands - anyone would of thought we'd had bad news! The scans were checked four times over by various senior medical professionals, all of whom could not believe a placenta had moved that far at this late gestation. This meant we were now free to birth in whichever way we wanted, including our original plan for a home birth. We were elated, mind-blown and speechless but went straight out to buy last minute home birth supplies.  

I spent the next week or so on cloud nine and felt like the happiest woman alive to still be pregnant at 40 weeks. I felt in no rush for baby to arrive and instead revisited my home birth preferences and tried to tune into and visualise baby being born in our house - something that, after all the obstacles, took a little while to fully adjust to. 

41 weeks came and went with the odd symptom of early labour but nothing that materialised into the real thing and I started to get impatient. I had never wanted an induction - despite everything, I had always fully believed in my body's ability to birth and wanted to listen to my baby, knowing they would only arrive when they felt safe and ready. As I approached 42 weeks, I started to think my baby was trying to tell me something by not yet arriving spontaneously. Keen to give baby a little extra time (knowing how late my son had arrived) and considering the actual/absolute risks associated with post-dates, I continued to decline an induction and instead opted for "watchful waiting" with extra monitoring for the next 6 days. I was provisionally booked in for a planned C-section at 42+6 weeks in case baby hadn't arrived by then. We stayed positive with two, still very possible, but very different birth scenarios. I found those last days the most physically and mentally exhausting - I would continually alternate between feeling calmly positive and minutes later being fearful; doubting myself and my decision to go beyond 42 weeks. 

On the morning of the planned section, Monday 26th January, we drove to the hospital with my favourite songs playing in the car and I finally felt at peace - I'd given my baby extra time and the opportunity to birth naturally had they chosen to. I used my essential oils and focused on staying calm and relaxed. After being checked in, we were greeted with warm smiles and calm excitement by our fantastic midwife. We were able to be prepped on MLU and soon settled into our quiet room with mood lighting and home comforts. I lay out family pictures and positive affirmations, put on our wedding playlist and focused on relaxation. We were unsure where we would fall in the order for the morning and, assuming I would be last, we delayed watching any of the 'feel good' TV/movies we had downloaded. I rested with our music on in the background between visits from the medical team - all very approachable, friendly and accommodating of our wishes/requests for the procedure.  

Just as I had decided to try to nap, our midwife came in, dressed in her scrubs and told us we were infact first on the list! We both quickly changed into our 'outfits' and made the walk to theatre. Purposefully holding and stroking my pregnant belly for the last few times on the walk, I remember mentally telling Baby "It's time. We're ready. I've done my bit, now it's down to you".  

Arriving in theatre was quite the contrast to our room on MLU - bright lights and lots of hubbub. Everyone introduced themselves with a smile and it all felt like a well oiled machine. I felt safe despite this being so far from our 'normal'. Tom started our 'Tummy Birth Playlist' on our speaker and sat with my whilst they sited the cannula and placed the spinal - this took 2 attempts and was the only time I really felt like I was going to lose my calm. But with my well practised visualisations, 'Up breathing' and familiar music playing, I managed to stay focused.  

Once lay on the bed, prep began and everyone worked busily but calmly around us. After completing his checks, the anaesthetist told me he would leave me now to "get in the zone" with all onward communication going through Tom so I could utilise my hypnobirthing techniques undisturbed. From then on, I became completely unaware of my surroundings. Eyes closed, breathing calmly, Tom using light touch and whispering positive affirmations & loving words in my ear (just like we had practiced in the comfort of our home). And within what felt like a few minutes, Tom was telling me that our baby was about to arrive.  

I opened my eyes and the drapes were lowered ready for us to see our baby gently emerging and being birthed from my body. I was filled with pure elation, love and relief to see them finally - safe, healthy and pouting! Baby had 2 minutes of delayed cord clamping and was briefly passed to our midwife for a dry down where we discovered their sex - a little girl! Baby girl was then brought to me and placed on my bare chest for skin to skin. We cried tears of love and joy; fully submerged in a beautiful bubble and completely oblivious to anything else going on around us. It felt like just the 3 of us existed in that space and moment. Baby girl latched in theatre and, before long, we were being wheeled to recovery. 

We spent the next 2 hours still in skin-to-skin, soaking in every inch of our little girl, Maeve Eloise. After recovery, I was wheeled back to our room on MLU before being transferred to the ward. Tom & I cut down the cord and all of Maeve's checks were completed. She weighed in at a very healthy 9lbs! We made calls to our family to announce her arrival; including my Dad who now shared his birthday with his first Granddaughter. 

Talking afterwards with our midwife, we were told that Maeve was born with a short cord which was wrapped around her neck twice - most likely restricting her ability to descend fully and safely into the pelvis to be born vaginally. I now continue to congratulate myself for listening to my body and my baby, something I couldn't have done without the amazing support from my husband and Doula. Kat helped me to feel empowered and educated throughout my pregnancy, reminding me that everything was a choice. She helped me to talk openly about my previous birth and pregnancy loss and to identify what was most important to me this time around. And, although this was not the natural home birth I had wanted, most importantly it was the positive, empowering, and healing birth I needed. 

Thank you for sharing this beautiful, empowering birth story, Clare and Tom. I’m so incredibly glad I got to support you both. Enjoy every snuggle with your little one!

Resources & Support:

• Understanding Placenta Previa: For more medical information on a low-lying placenta or placenta previa, I highly recommend this resource from Tommy’s.

• Local Support in Cheshire: If you are looking for Hypnobirthing, Infant Feeding support, or Doula services in Northwich and the surrounding areas, please visit www.mamakat.co.uk.