"Giving birth in Calderdale Birth Centre"

This was my experience having my first child at calderdale birth centre. I called the birth centre while in labour and the midwife I spoke to encouraged me to stay home for as long as I could cope before coming in. I phoned back an hour later and said I felt like I needed to come in and the midwife, Jessica, was happy for me to come in. When I arrived Jessica showed me into the birthpool room and started running the water to fill the pool up while she examined me. I was 7cm dilating. She then read through my birth plan twice. She offered me gas and air which I tried, but it made me feel very sick so I gave it back.

My partner helped me into the birth pool and soon I felt the need to push. Jessica was very relaxed and told me to follow what my body wanted. She was very motherly and made me feel completely at ease. She offered me water and let me know I could change my mind and have gas and air any time I like (although I ended up not needing any pain relief). She asked if I was okay with another foreign exchange midwife to come in and I found it very respectful of her to ask so I agreed. Izabell asked if she should try and move me into a better position but Jessica let me stay how I was as I was very happy. Soon my son was born and Jessica placed him on my chest. I had declined the injection to induce 3rd stage as I wanted to do extended cord. However after 5 minutes my son suddenly had difficulty breathing. Jessica quickly cut his cord and had him under a heat lamp before I knew what had happened. She apologised to my partner for not letting him cut the cord, but under the circumstances we completely understood.

Jessica worked on keeping my son warm and monitoring his breathing while izabell helped me out of the pool and I quickly passed my placenta on a birth stool and then she helped me onto a bed and Jessica brought my son over for more skin to skin. Jessica examined me and luckily I hadnt ripped and izabell made me tea and toast and then they both left the room and let my partner know where the call button was in case we needed anything.

Me and my partner then had 4 hours alone with our perfect little boy! After 4 hours they asked to move me into another room so the birth pool was available for someone else. Another midwife then looked after my son so my partner could help me shower. My son was tounge tied and couldn't feed very well and the midwives helped me hand express milk for my son and referred to me the baby cafe to have a specialist perform the op to correct it. Jessica said goodbye as it was the end if her shift.

The staff who came in I felt were rude and when I asked for paracetamol (which I had to ask for twice) it took staff 3 hours to bring me some! I requested that staff not see me anymore and she agreed and I didn't see her again.

The next day Jessica said I could head home after having the MMR vaccine as I was susceptable to rubella. I really wish I had declined the injection or asked to go to my GP and get it later on as it made all my muscles ache for 2 days, which made looking after my son difficult.

All in all I loved the experience and would 100% have my next baby there and I would recommend the birth centre. It was so laid back and homely. The staff really listened and respected my wishes and followed my birth plan the best they could.