"Positive VBAC Experience at Raigmore"

Following a previous planned elective c-section due to breech presentation with my first child, I was hopeful of a VBAC this time. My consultants and midwife’s were all very encouraging and supportive of my goal and, despite having a high risk/complex pregnancy, I was able to have the positive VBAC I had hoped for.

We are so thankful for our excellent midwife, Katie, who made our experience so positive and supported me in having an empowering and beautiful birth.

We met our Midwife, Katie at shift change and as soon as she’d introduced herself, she asked about my birth preferences. I explained that I was going to be using my hypnobirthing tools and was eager to avoid any more interventions, particularly a C-section. (Due to the presence of meconium in my waters and the fact I’d been leaking for a few days (unknowingly!), I was required to go on the oxytocin drip which I was happy to do, but I was keen to avoid any further interventions.)

Katie listened and understood my goals and immediately set about ensuring a calm space by dimming the lights, setting our music up and bringing in the ball for me to use.

Throughout my labour Katie gently and clearly asked and waited for my consent whether that was performing examinations, moving my drip or even just adjusting my monitoring straps around my stomach. This made me feel comfortable, in control and respected. Katie’s approach really demonstrated her care and passion for maintaining her patients dignity and allowing patient voice to be heard.

Katie was so in tune with my needs, often anticipating them in advance and offering suggestions to manage my contractions and labour. For example she asked if I would like to try the cub chair (which I ended up using for much of my labour!), suggested different positions to try and even showed my partner how to apply counter pressure during contractions. All of these suggestions allowed me to continue to focus on my breathing and stay calm and ‘in the zone’.

After 6 hours of contractions, She asked if she could examine me and I was found to be 5cm. Katie clearly communicated the benefits/risks of continuing to use the oxytocin drip and asked if I would like to continue at this stage. I asked to continue, she sought the advice of the Dr and we agreed to continue with an awareness of the risk of a bleed/uterine rupture and a plan for if this occurred.

Very quickly after this I moved towards transition (and just as I had learned from my reading - I had a bit of a panic during a few strong contractions and the presence of some blood, which Katie again calmly explained was not yet concerning but something to keep an eye on). Up until this point I had laboured for 7 hours using my breath and hypnobirthing tools, but recognising my transition into the second stage of labour, Katie suggested I lie down, take a break and offered me gas and air which I accepted. She kept me so calm and reassured and I was quickly able to get back ‘in the zone’ and focus on my breathing. Very quickly I felt the urge to push and again Katie suggested a position for me to move into (upright, forward & open). Katie was encouraging, telling me what my body was doing, showing me with her hands how the babies head was moving and with her encouragement and a few pushes/contractions, we met our beautiful boy. He was immediately placed in my hands and my preference to have delayed cord clamping respected.

I cannot stress how important Katie was in allowing me to experience the birth I had dreamed of. Her knowledge and clear and calm communication style put me at ease. She was non-judgemental and listened to my preferences and her responsiveness to my needs was so impressive. From a patient perspective, Katie is such a talented and skilled midwife and deserves some nod of recognition for her outstanding practice, especially so early in her midwifery career.

I’m so grateful to Katie for supporting me in having an empowering, calm and positive VBAC, and I’m so very thankful for having these beautiful memories to look back on for the rest of my life. Thank you!