Kendelle’s “beautiful, fast” hospital water birth

The story of second-time mama Kendelle’s “beautiful, fast”, positive hospital water birth that she says “felt like a homebirth in the hospital”.

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How would you describe your birth?

Relaxing and beautiful, as well as fast and intense.

Top things you used to deal with labour sensations

• TENS machine

• Birth combs

• Water

• Doula.

Kendelle’s birth story

This was my second positive birth and positive hospital experience. I was in the Midwifery Group Practice program with my local hospital and hired a beautiful doula, Kate, as well as having my husband for support. This birth was different from my first - I felt more in control, but it felt more intense as it was only 6 hours from first contraction to delivery.

What helped me achieved a positive birth was trust in my body, my mind and my support team. My entire pregnancy and birth I did not receive one vaginal exam and my birth team didn’t even ask to do one. Everyone was hands off - I went into labour spontaneously and worked with my body. I had no CTG (continuous monitoring) strapped to me, nobody touching me. It felt like a homebirth in the hospital.

After birth

I had no vaginal tears/stitches or grazes and left the hospital to come home and go to my own bed a few hours after delivering.

Although a super positive experience, it did take me a few days to process it as it was so quick and the last hour was so intense - my fetal ejection reflex was so strong and everything moved so quickly it became a bit of a blur. I was so grateful to have such a calm and supportive birthing team who provided so much reassurance with just a simple touch and believed in me so much - even when I started to doubt myself toward the end.

How did you prepare for a positive birth?

• Body work (chiro, pelvic floor physio, stretch, yoga etc)

• Hired a doula

• Meditation/visualisation.