2020-04-01_Mother_&_Baby

32 | April 2020 |motherandbaby.co.uk

Birth stories

MeetCarly,whoovercameheranxiety to enjoy her c-section

‘I worked hard for a

calm, positive birth’

WORDS RACHEL TOAL

‘I

’d likea plannedc-section,’I toldthe

midwife, beforenervouslyspillingmy

noteson the floor.I’d printedout reams

of paperdetailingmy rights. Even so,

I knew what I was asking for was controversial,

especially for my first baby. But the midwife

was understanding. She listened kindlyas

I explained I’d been living with anxietysince

I was 13, and how the uncertainty of a natural

birth scared me. When she said she’d refer me

to a specialist to discuss it further, it was a relief.

The doctors took my views into account

before agreeing to give me the c-section, and

I was switched to a lovely community midwife

who was to provide one-to-one care. After

feeling a bit flat about my pregnancy, it felt

wonderful to be supported. I spent the next few

weeks researching c-sections, and attended a

hypnobirthing class. Every night, I listened to

the meditation track with my partner Jonathan.

I began to feel calm, confident and positive.

At 36 weeksI signedthe paperworkagreeing

toa plannedc-section,andthedate wasset for

39 we eks. In the run up, I was super-organised,

packing my hospital bag, organising a dog sitter,

and even getting a few beauty treatments!

But the day before I was booked in, I began

to feel strange. ‘I can’t feel the baby moving,’

I told Jonathan, and we phoned the hospital.

Thankfully, after being checked out, I was

told everything was fine. Jonathan and I went

home and relaxed in front of the TV. But when

I stood up from the sofa I felt a gush of water.

This wasn’t in my plan! It was hard not to panic,

but Jonathan encouraged me to stay calm.

‘It’s OK, I just need to get to hospital,’ I told

myself, concentrating on breathing slowly. Once

on the ward I was examined and told that,

although I wasn’t dilated, my waters had

broken, and because of the risk of infection I’d

need to stay in. My c-section was scheduled for

the next day anyway. At around 8pm, Jonathan

CARLY

HOBBS, 36, A

SPRAY TANNER,

LIVES IN SHEFFIELD

WITH PARTNER

JONATHAN AND

SON BILLY, ONE

Billy, a few

hours old

Carly with Billy,

after the birth