My recent birth story was very different from my experience with my first child (a 20+ hour labour and epidural). Whilst I have very fond memories of my son's birth, I was hoping for a more straightforward and natural birth this time (all the while keeping in mind that things can change and many elements are out of our control, of course!). 

After about 2 weeks of prodromal labour signs, I had a stretch and sweep at 11am on 2nd Jan, the day before my due date. My cervix had clearly been preparing nicely, so I was happy to give the sweep a go. 

By 2pm I was experiencing noticeable contractions that were beginning to come at regular intervals, albeit not too strong. I stayed within a calm environment, used the golden thread breath, and played the Sims 4 while doing pelvic tilts and circles on the birth ball (I was aware that the contractions might have been another bout of prodromal labour). I hadn't played the Sims in a long, long time, and oddly enough the Sims family which was based on me, my partner, and our toddler, were about to welcome a new baby girl. My Sim have birth to a baby girl, which seemed like a positive omen. 

As the contractions got stronger and I couldn't concentrate on the game, I knew labour had started in earnest and I kept my surroundings dim, drank water, sprayed calming scents, and did some gentle yoga and breathing until surges were every 3-4 minutes. We left for hospital at 5:30pm and I wore a silk sleep mask in the taxi to keep myself in my tranquil mindset through the increasing pain. 

We arrived at the LGI at 6pm and it was determined that I was 4-5cm dilated. I ate jelly babies and got through each contraction standing supporter by my partner and moving as well as squeezing an acupressure birthing comb my friend had given me. We noticed a beautiful tangerine sliver of a moon beside a bright white Venus in the night sky and this felt auspicious. 

The LGI was extremely busy with birthing activity that night, so we had to wait until 7pm to be shown to the midwife-led Lotus suite. I kept at the forefront of my mind attitudes and sentiments I'd been instilling over the weeks - to with the flow of whatever needed to happen in my surroundings, and that I could do it; I was powerful. My surges were not stronger than me as they were me.

We had a wonderful midwife with us and the room felt nice. At my request passed mats were brought, there was a cascade of fairy lights, and I put on (randomly and without much thought) a playlist of chilled Japanese lo-fi. The more intense the labour got, the more I moved according to what my body needed and became a primal beast making all sorts of instinctive sounds. Sometimes I was supporter by my partner and other times I just went for it on the mat. 

Eventually, as that evening was so busy, our midwife told us (I could scarcely take in what she was saying through the intensity) that she was on the home birth team and had regrettably been called to a home birth, so a new midwife would take over. At that moment, however, I just knew that my daughter had heard this and decided now was the moment to arrive. 

My partner was eating a sandwich to fuel himself for what he thought was potentially going to be a long night (like last time!), but when he and the midwife realised that the baby's head was coming, he disposed of the wrapper and came to my aid once more to support my all fours/kneeling position while I pushed our daughter out. 

The rollercoaster of feelings and hormones was the wildest ride I've ever been on and felt so utterly crazy, yet truly empowering and bestial, yet timelessly human, female. Our daughter Tabitha was born only an hour and a half after we'd got to the birthing suite! 

I wholeheartedly feel that the tools and techniques from Tessa's ecosystem of motherhood support greatly assisted me in achieving this beautiful labour and birth of a blessed gift - our new daughter!