"VBAC water birth through Midwifery Group Practice 4/5"

The birth of my first baby was an unplanned caesarean section, which was a stressful and heart wrenching experience for me. After this birth I really agonised over care providers for the birth of my next baby. I desperately hoped for a VBAC but felt so limited in the options available to support me with this, both within the public and private system. After much reading, advice seeking, and debating I opted to refer to MGP 4/5. I’m so grateful I made this choice, and 6 months on I still regularly smile thinking about the birth of my beautiful boy.

Holly, my allocated midwife, was wonderful throughout all my antenatal care. I always felt empowered and in charge of the decisions related to my birth and care. Holly was well informed, providing up to date information regarding best practice and research. I never felt pressured towards any decision, regardless of whether it may align with hospital policy or not.

During my antenatal care I had a few Obstetrics appointments. I always felt supported and encouraged towards my goal of achieving a VBAC. The language used around me was always so affirming, helping me to continue to feel confident in my body and choices. I made some choices around non-standard management practices. I never felt any resistance in regards to this. The OB helped me flesh out whether these choices would change in response to increasing risk, and had me sign a non-standard management form alongside my birth preferences.

For the birth itself, I was able to deliver my boy in the water, which was a dream of mine. The delivery felt very hands off and I was largely left to work with my baby and my body. The space around me felt calm, although it’s not lost on me how hard Holly and the supporting midwife were working outside my awareness. I had hired a birth pool but we didn’t quite have time to set it up (the water pressure is quite slow), so I birthed in the bath on the labour ward. I so hope there are bigger and better facilities for women who wish to birth in water at the new planned maternity hospital. I felt the bath available is quite small and restrictive, but the water itself made such a difference to my experience of pain and pressure. Overall I’m so proud and happy at the way my baby was born. I feel immensely grateful to Holly, and all the other midwifery group care offered to me after my delivery. I would absolutely recommend this model of care to any women considering it.

There was one small part of my aftercare that I would hope would be different if I had my time again. I had a small tear that required some stitches. Whilst the doctor was prepping to do the stitches I became nauseous and began vomiting. It was approaching shift change and I felt there was some impatience about waiting for my nausea to pass before doing the stitches. After asking to wait a minute, I was told that the stitches would need to be completed by the next doctor on shift, meaning I needed to be checked and prepped a second time. I absolutely understand that there are many constraints that hospital staff need to navigate. That said, this part of my care didn’t feel very patient-centred. Rather, I felt like an inconvenience. It would be my wish that I was offered a bit more flexibility and consideration in that moment. I do want to emphasise this was in contrast to all of the beautiful care I received through MGP where I always felt heard, supported, and cared for.