Birth account
of
Elsa Dunlop Doyle

17th October 1998
Midwife Ann Kelly
Mother Gillian Dunlop

Ann Kelly had looked after us all through both previous pregnancies and births and we had no doubt that we wanted her capable and loving care again. For a short time we worried that this might be possible due to the preposterous Fitness to Practice proceedings and/or the geographical distance. Thankfully , Ann was confident that neither would be a problem and like so many other couples, we read and signed all the appropriate documents to have the injunction lifted so that she could attend us.

I started my ante-natal care with Dr Kevin Strong, who saw Ann's clients while legal paperwork was completed and during her well earned summer holiday. I was a little apprehensive as I had not seen any health professional other than Ann for many years. But, I found him positive and supportive of the home birth option.

We saw Ann for visits in both Wexford and Dublin and quickly renewed our special bond and friendship. It was lovely for Samuel and Zoe (8 and 6 years) to fully participate at these times - there was a lovely sense of continuity as they realised how Ann had done the same for them too.

I had a very healthy pregnancy (again) and enjoyed every moment especially when the baby began to move around. I tried to "sense record" that feeling in my mind. It is such a normal, daily feature for about 5 months and then, in a non-pregnant state, so hard to recall.

The only downside was a horrible cold/flu at about 38 weeks. I had got "detox" type colds in the other pregnancies but at an earlier stage. Just as well that I had followed my instinct in getting the baby stuff ready a few weeks previous for I was miserable with a constant runny nose, heartburn, styes and a racking cough which resulted in slight but annoying stress incontinence despite all the pelvic floor exercises! I told the baby not to even think of coming until I was better.

I have always been cagey about Estimated Dates of Delivery, as much for my own sake as to prevent others asking "Are you still there?". With hindsight, Samuel, Zoe and interestingly, myself, were all EDD + 2 days so I suppose underneath I was expecting much the same. Indeed, once the cold lifted

(Tuesday 13th) I felt fine and wouldn't have minded a couple more weeks but two days later, I woke up at night to go to the loo and felt thos familiar, ever so slight but regular period-type pains. While my usual pattern was "I've started so I'll finish", I still felt the birth could be a few days off, so I went back to sleep.

All through Friday morning and early afternoon, the twinges continued, mild but regular at 20-30 minute intervals. David and I went ahead with our shopping plans, school pick-ups and so on. We decided to give Ann a call about 4pm to tell her things might reach us and that we neither wanted to drag her down for a false alarm nor have her miss the fun! The next two hours were spent assessing "Am I, aren't I? Will we, Won't we?" At 6.30pm, we rang Ann to say come, deciding to err on the side of caution, having called out to another woman whose waters had broken, Margaret Keane. Calm as ever, accustomed to juggling her life, Ann assured us she would sort things out and get back to us.

The children had of course been alerted to the possibility of a new baby brother/sister arriving shortly and perhaps as a way of coping with their excitement, had begun to paint and draw pictures furiously. David and I began to prepare things in earnest and really feel that something special was about to happen. As Zoe had been born in the bath and I'd found water soothing, we had rented a birth pool this time and so we began to assemble and fill it. We also made sure the video camera battery was charged as I was very keen to have the birth filmed. At this stage the contractions were more frequent, say about 10 mins apart but still only lasting about 30 seconds and certainly not needing any real attention.

Ann had rung to say she had sorted Kate Spillane to cover for Margaret. It is such a rare occurrence for a midwife to have two women in labour at the same time, and a difficult decision as to who to attend. We felt a bit guilty for depriving the Keane family of the midwife they knew but we also knew that they would be in Kate's expert care.

Ann arrived at about 9.30pm and we had a cup of tea and a chat. Then she checked me over and because the contractions were still fairly mild, I asked her to do an internal just to reassure myself that all the preparations were not in vain. I was 3cm dilated and the head was well down which was great news. Then Ann checked the water in the pool which was too cold and so there was a flurry of activity to almost empty and refill it. Point of interest to potential water-birthers, it is easier and quicker to cool water that is too hot than to heat up water that is too cold!

David put the kids to bed as we had no idea how long things could take. We had no fixed plans on when or whether to wake them for the birth. We'd play it by ear. Ann decided to have a lie down and advised me to do the same, but I felt too awake and alert.

As the house became quiet, I began to feel more relaxed and began to withdraw into myself. Gradually, the contractions took up more and more attention and I found it increasingly difficult to sit. On this occasion, I felt crampy pains down the front of my thighs as well as the stretching pains of the cervix. I found that I could cope best standing, leaning over the table. Looking down, at one stage, I was surprised to see swollen ankles, again something which was new. Ann explained that during labour, a woman's water balance is in flux and cedema can mysteriously and suddenly appear and disappear. No cause for concern.

I was starting to get that strange "split" feeling, kind of soft and woozy on one hand, but completely clear, like an observer, on the other. We switched off the lights, lit a few candles and put on Lighthouse Family tapes which I knew I would find both soothing and inspiring. I kneeled over the couch for a while and David rubbed my back. Ann left us alone again, saying to call when we needed her. But a few minutes later, she was back without any summons. She could hear that I had begun to make low moaning and grunting noises which she knows means business.

I was now ready to get into the pool and after a few basins of cold water, it was just right. I can't say that the water instantly took away all the pain for me as some women report. However, it was another thing to do and it felt like a safe haven.

The pool was in the corner of the room and I instinctively felt I wanted to face out to the world, so to speak. I spent most of my time on all fours, gripping and resting my chin on the rim. I tried floating on my back like some photos I'd seen, but for me, the pains were worse so I soon flipped over again. Ann and David quietly watched and encouraged. "You're doing fine", "Good woman", "Bring it down". I could hear the faint whirr of the camera, but it didn't bother me, David was still there for me.