Who loves a birth story, I know I do, each one is so uniquely different. I must of read hundreds whilst being Pregnant, I just love reading peoples experiences, and I love how different they all are. I didn’t write my last two births down I really wish I had, so just knew I had to this time. I hope you enjoy reading mine.

I was going to be induced on the 2nd of September. I was so ready at 38 weeks plus 3 days, by now everything was hurting, my body was slowly giving up, I was so ready to get the girls here earth side. The same day Lyla and Gray were starting back at school. What a big day for them after such a long time off because of covid. I took the children to school, Lee and I enjoyed a lunch just the two of us, probably the last for a long time. We picked up the children from school and took them to their nanny’s. We said our goodbyes, last one as a family of four. Of we went to the hospital. It was a strange feeling driving to the hospital knowing we would be meeting the girls very soon. I had been getting some braxton hicks all day but that was nothing new to be honest, I had been getting them on and off for at least 6 weeks. We had a few hours of waiting on the ward untill I was checked over, the midwife examined me at 9pm ready to give me the gel, and I was told I was already 2cm dilated and my waters were bulging, contractions were showing on the monitor, so there was no need for the gel. I was over the moon to hear this! I was sent up to the labour ward to have my waters broken at around 12.30am on the 3rd of September. The room was huge I guess it needs to be for a twin birth, I think this is where it really hit me that I was having two babies, the two little cots set up in the room just made it hit home for both Lee and I, I did at this point think Holy shit I’ve got to birth two babies out of my vagina!!

We set the scene, I wanted to make the clinical room feel more homely and cosy. So we scattered little candles around the room, dimmed the lights, I sprayed the room with my aromatherapy scents, and put my playlist on that I had created for my Labour. I gave my midwife my birth preferences, I wanted a calming environment, I didn’t want an epidural and I didn’t want a c section. So they knew my wishes from the start. I have to say for a hospital environment, it was just perfect, I instantly felt calm and ready once I had set the scene. Twin A was head down and Twin B was breech, that is why they wanted to give me an epidural. As these positions can lead to twin B being delivered by c section. Or being manually turned. But I knew my body was capable of birthing my girls, I knew my body could do this, I knew I could do this. I’ve never felt so sure of anything and determined. So I stuck to my guns and said no to the epidural. The midwifes were brilliant and respected my wishes, and believed in me too.

The pain I was experiencing was manageable at this point. The midwife broke my waters with ease, and then the contractions went up a notch. I was 5 to 6cm dilated by 1am. Which I breathed through using my hypnobirthing breathing techniques. On a side note I’d highly recommend the book ‘Hypnobirthing by the Positive Birth Company’ I read it twice whilst pregnant. So many helpful tips that I took on board, it really helped with all my nerves and anxiety surrounding a twin birth, I completely felt in control and that was thanks to this book. At 3am The midwife had noticed the contractions had levelled out a bit, they weren’t progressing, so she suggested I was put on the oxytocin drip to encourage stronger contractions, I agreed, but told her once they got stronger I want to come off it. I had the cannula ready in my hand for the drip oxytocin as a precaution as contractions can stop after birthing twin A. I was put on the drip for about an hour or so, it certainly helped as they got pretty intense. This is when I started to use the gas and air as well as the breathing techniques I had practised throughout my pregnancy. I laboured mainly on the bed, which is the first time I’ve done this usually I like to be mobile, but the pain was so intense when I was standing so I sat upright on the bed. At around 5.30am I was 10cm dilated, the pain was intense but I kept telling myself each contraction was one closer to meeting my girls, I stayed calm and silent and took myself to another place in my head, the gas and air helped take my mind of it a little, it didn’t take the pain away but helped me focus on something else. I started to get that unstoppable urge to push and my breathing started to change. It was the next stage of my labour, I still felt completely in control and knew my body could do this.

By now there were 8 people on the room, 10 including Lee and I. But it was Lee who told me this after, I actually didn’t notice I was so in my zone I didn’t pay attention to who was there. I was so focused on what I needed to do next. After about 15 minutes of pushing I had birthed Twin A at 5.57am, Betsy Eliza. She was perfect, she came out screaming and was a healthy 5lbs 10ozs. I had a quick cuddle before she was taken over to be checked and I had to get on with birthing Twin B. That was strange as I could see her from a far I just wanted her on my chest with me, but I knew I had to focus again. Did you know after twin A is here you have exactly 30 minutes to get twin B out before it ending in theatre having a c section. Twin B had so much space in there now she shot up towards my ribs…..and my contractions completely stopped! The midwifes upped the oxytocin to bring on contractions again. They could up the amount every 6 minutes. The wait between them felt forever! I started to get contractions again but twin B was not where she should be. The midwife was great she knew I wanted to do this naturally. She really pushed me, birthing Twin B was the hardest thing I have ever had to do. Pushing her to move down in to the birth canal was so difficult. And what made it worse was her being breech. I pushed and pushed and pushed. The contractions were now very intense as the drip had been upped so much. I was just using my down breathing now to do this, And my husbands hand. Shout out to all the birthing partners. Lee was incredible from start to finish, flanneling me down, stroking my arm, words of encouragement, holding my drink in my mouth, just being there. We did it together and I couldn’t of done it without him. Not sure I let go of his hand! It was about 6.15am now and getting closer to that 30 minutes. My feet were put into the stirrups, something I didn’t want but I knew now this was touch and go to going to theatre now. The doctor in the room said that we needed to go down to theatre, it had been just over 30 minutes. The midwife firmly told the doctor no, she told her I hadn’t come this far to now go to theatre. I appreciate that midwife she gave me the birth I wanted. By this point twin Bs foot was out, now that’s something you won’t see every day, Lee got a photo of this, it’s pretty gruesome so I won’t share 😂 The midwife told me Nicola you have one more push then you have got to go to theatre. Lee whispered in my ear ‘do it for your mum’ my mum was at the birth of my other children but sadly I lost her a few years ago, but she was there, those words he said made me push like I’ve never pushed before. And I birthed twin B at 6.36am, Emmy Beth weighing a healthy 6lbs 1oz. 39 minutes after her sister, those 39 minutes were the longest of my life! I have never felt relief like it. They were both here, I did it! I birthed both my girls naturally with no pain relief and I birthed a breech baby, I felt like bloody super woman! I had a small graze down below no tears, I was so relieved as we all know that first wee after can be a little scary!

Now i could have that Skin to skin with my two perfect babies the moment I had been waiting for, for so long. My placenta came away lovely, it was gigantic! Not sure how two babies the gigantic placenta and all the waters fit in my tummy, it really is a miracle.

We stayed on the labour ward untill about midday. Then got moved to antenatal ward, I had my own room which was lovely. But due to covid Lee had to go, this was upsetting. He was only allowed to visit for one hour. I really hope that they change this silly rule very soon as it was very upsetting. Its quite daunting having two babies but being alone was even more daunting! I stayed in one night and went home the next day because of this. I wanted to be with my husband. The level of care from all the midwifes during labour and after was second to none. They were all fantastic it must be hard for them also during this strange time.

So that’s it, that’s my birth story. How ever you gave birth, I think your all amazing! Us women are true super hero’s. And if your due to give birth, girl you’ve got this! 🤍

I hope you enjoy reading this, pop a comment below and let me know.