Seamus’ Birth Story

A fast and furious arrival

My first birth was challenging and although I needed medical intervention I felt all my power was taken away and as a result I was anxious about my second birth. I really wanted a natural birth in Limerick Hospital, wanted to feel strong and confident when giving birth. I felt very passionately that this was my birth right as a woman.

I heard about Su through a friend, she was highly recommend to me as an additional support throughout pregnancy, birth and post birth. My initial thoughts were ‘I have a supportive husband to be by my side why would I need a doula’, but I soon realised that Su could give me the emotional intuition and knowledge my husband couldn’t. Of course he was an integral part of pregnancy and birth together but our doula became additional much valued support to both of us. In a culture where women are afraid of giving birth and hand over all their power, Su helped me have strength and control of my birthing choice. She was a great emotional support post birth too.

My first birth was challenging and although I needed medical intervention I felt all my power was taken away and as a result I was anxious about my second birth. I really wanted a natural birth in Limerick Hospital, wanted to feel strong and confident when giving birth. I felt very passionately that this was my birth right as a woman.

I heard about Su through a friend, she was highly recommend to me as an additional support throughout pregnancy, birth and post birth. My initial thoughts were ‘I have a supportive husband to be by my side why would I need a doula’, but I soon realised that Su could give me the emotional intuition and knowledge my husband couldn’t. Of course he was an integral part of pregnancy and birth together but our doula became additional much valued support to both of us. In a culture where women are afraid of giving birth and hand over all their power, Su helped me have strength and control of my birthing choice. She was a great emotional support post birth too.

I felt an urge to be on all fours, trusting my body to do what instinct commanded. I closed my eyes and started to move my body in whatever way it wanted to move. I started to feel a connection with another dimension of myself, my mind and consciousness went into another world, a place of inner strength, a powerful energy running through every part of my body. Yes this was it, I had no doubt labour had begun but little did I know just how fast, furious and wonderful it was going to be. My husband gently whispered the reassuring words my doula had given to me during the pregnancy and the reassuring words of my grandmother and husband, all resonating and rippling through me. As I went further and further inward, I wanted all music and talking to stop and instructed my husband to prepare the car for journey to hospital – fast! I could feel my baby was close, the pressure was so intense – my body was telling me he was coming fast.

During the pregnancy, I read a book called ‘Spiritual Midwifery’ given to me by my doula. There were stories where women described having ‘psychedelic birthing experiences’, I laughed at this but now know exactly what they meant. I could feel the rushes of oxytocin, my vision was blurry, people’s voices and sounds were fuzzy, time went so quickly and my heart was full with love.

I had no fears and didn’t resist each powerful contraction, instead I let it sweep over my body, and relieved the intense pressure through loud expressive animal sounds and breathing. Sounds I had never made before and sounds I will probably never make again, unless birthing another baby. I felt a powerful force behind me and within me, connected to a feminine power I had never experienced before, it was like I had stepped into another world. My mind was with my womb, in between contractions breathing loving energy from my heart to womb, knowing we could do this together.

Su was so supportive, attentive and intuitive. Each time she came to visit our home she mindfully listened to my concerns, listening to my fears and replacing them with courage and even excitement. Su carefully responded to my questions by sharing resources with factual well-researched information. Her strength was an inspiration, when others belittled my aspiration to have a natural birth Su was my voice of reason and that permeated through me in those last few weeks leading up to labour. She gave me courage not to be afraid and to honour the wonder and gift women have to bring life into this world. It’s also important to say Su was not anti-hospitals but instead passionate about women having choice and power over their births. She helped us with the many questions we had around planning for a natural birth in hospital and helped us develop a carefully guided birth plan.

The night I went into labour I felt fully in control, powerful and yes even excited! The night was dark and stormy, the moon was full and bright. After bedtime story and song with my toddler, I sat down and felt a strong popping sensation, followed by sudden sharp pain! Could this be it?! We lit the candles in preparation for early stages of labour at home, gently music playlist on in background.

I felt an urge to be on all fours, trusting my body to do what instinct commanded. I closed my eyes and started to move my body in whatever way it wanted to move. I started to feel a connection with another dimension of myself, my mind and consciousness went into another world, a place of inner strength, a powerful energy running through every part of my body. Yes this was it, I had no doubt labour had begun but little did I know just how fast, furious and wonderful it was going to be. My husband gently whispered the reassuring words my doula had given to me during the pregnancy and the reassuring words of my grandmother and husband, all resonating and rippling through me. As I went further and further inward, I wanted all music and talking to stop and instructed my husband to prepare the car for journey to hospital – fast! I could feel my baby was close, the pressure was so intense – my body was telling me he was coming fast.

The journey to hospital was fast and furious, my husband’s driving hit an all time record as I rocked loudly on all fours in the back of car. Then I could feel the crowning, a burning pressure. This was it, pull over now the baby is coming! My husband rang for an ambulance, they stayed on the phone guiding him with what to do if I gave birth on side of road – 7 minutes later the ambulance arrived. I insisted I had to stay on all fours in the back of the ambulance. After two more intense pushes I screamed ‘he’s coming’, holding the paramedics hand they pulled over on the motorway and with one final powerful push my baby was here! He was warm and wet, I held him tight sobbing with joy, relief and feelings of ecstasy.

10 mins later, we arrived at the hospital, they opened the doors of ambulance and there I was, holding my baby, my husband’s eager, anxious face waiting for me and next to him was the warm smile of my doula Su. The next couple of hours were spent pushing my placenta, it was great to have Su to hold my hand and reassure me through it while my husband cuddled our calm new born baby. Each time I looked at them my heart filled with love, it felt so surreal.

I’ll never forget our first nights sleep together in the hospital. I held him closely all night, he was gently feeding and I lay awake starting at him, smelling him and so in love.

Written by: Becca

During my pregnancy, I read a book called ‘Spiritual Midwifery’ given to me by my doula. There were stories where women described having ‘psychedelic birthing experiences’, I laughed at this but now know exactly what they meant. I could feel the rushes of oxytocin, my vision was blurry, people’s voices and sounds were fuzzy, time went so quickly and my heart was full with love.

I had no fears and didn’t resist each powerful contraction, instead I let it sweep over my body, and relieved the intense pressure through loud expressive animal sounds and breathing. Sounds I had never made before and sounds I will probably never make again, unless birthing another baby. I felt a powerful force behind me and within me, connected to a feminine power I had never experienced before, it was like I had stepped into another world. My mind was with my womb, in between contractions breathing loving energy from my heart to womb, knowing we could do this together.

The journey to hospital was fast and furious, my husband’s driving hit an all time record as I rocked loudly on all fours in the back of car. Then I could feel the crowning, a burning pressure. This was it, pull over now the baby is coming! My husband rang for an ambulance, they stayed on the phone guiding him with what to do if I gave birth on side of road – 7 minutes later the ambulance arrived. I insisted I had to stay on all fours in the back of the ambulance. After two more intense pushes I screamed ‘he’s coming’, holding the paramedics hand they pulled over on the motorway and with one final powerful push my baby was here! He was warm and wet, I held him tight sobbing with joy, relief and feelings of ecstasy.

10 mins later, we arrived at the hospital, they opened the doors of ambulance and there I was, holding my baby, my husband’s eager, anxious face waiting for me and next to him was the warm smile of my doula Su. The next couple of hours were spent pushing my placenta, it was great to have Su to hold my hand and reassure me through it while my husband cuddled our calm new born baby. Each time I looked at them my heart filled with love, it felt so surreal.

I’ll never forget our first nights sleep together in the hospital. I held him closely all night, he was gently feeding and I lay awake starting at him, smelling him and so in love.

Written by: Becca