Heidi's story

I first met Heidi and her family - husband Jonathan and daughter Trinity - in September. They made me feel very welcome; we were able to talk about Heidi's needs, and Trinity was always the entertainer.
On the 24th October 2006, four days before her due date, Heidi called me at 11am and said that her waters had broken and that she had been experiencing wind type pains all day. We arranged to meet at the Women's and Children's Hospital in the Antenatal Day Unit, and I arrived there at about 12.30 pm.
Heidi had been told that she was around 2-3 centimetres dilated, and she was put on a monitor so that they could track her contractions as well as the baby's heartbeat. Her contractions were coming very quick and strong.
Heidi and Jonathan had previously practiced some breathing techniques and Jonathan became a great focus for Heidi as he gave her full eye contact, and took every deep breath and pant with her. After a short while the contractions were becoming stronger so Heidi decided to use the TENS machine as well as some massage oil (Mana Mama Birth Oil) that smelt lovely and seemed to act as a calming agent (for me at least).Heidi was becoming a little worried as her contractions were coming so close together, so I asked a midwife to check her and it was decided at 1.15pm that Heidi needed to go to the Labour Ward. Heidi had suffered badly wit SPD throughout her pregnancy, and on a previous visit a midwife called Sue had shown Heidi how the bed could be change into a more seated position so that it would be more comfortable to labour on, and luckily Sue was on hand to change the bed.
When we first arrived in the labour room Heidi tried sitting on the birthing ball, leaning forward onto the bed, while Jonathan massaged her back with the birthing oil, and I crouched in front of Heidi to help with her breathing techniques, and as a focus for her to encourage her through the contractions.