Birthing alone

[Mia5678]

37 weeks currently with second baby. Looking at having to birth alone in hospital due to partner needing to look after other child. Childcare plans are now not possible due to the virus.

Just wondering if anyone else has birthed alone and can offer any positive stories/suggestions.

Many thanks

I work in maternity and in situations like this if it seems like it would be helpful then we often have a friendly health care support worker come in and be support if a woman is on her own, unless of course the woman does want that.

Is this something I should discuss with my midwife in terms of what support might be available at the hospital when I go into labour?

My first labour was induced and so I’ve not experienced a natural labour and have suffered birth trauma based on the fact that I was refused all pain relief apart from gas and air and was left to push for over three hours with preeclampsia.

In this pregnancy no sighs of preeclampsia so far and hoping for a smoother ride but fearful because of last time.

No, the hospital can’t provide a support person, just there might be a hcsw available who could come in. It’s not something that’s arranged, I’ve just seen it happen when someone has been in labour without a birth partner.
Is there anyone else that could look after your child? It sounds like you need your partner there. Or what about a friend? Sister? Mum?

Could you ask a friend or even neighbour to look after older child? Even with the virus around childcare for labour counts as exceptional circumstances and if you agreed to isolate beforehand there would be minimal risk. I would definitely help out if a friend or acquaintance asked me to in this situation.

Or have you considered a home birth or at least spending the first parts of labour at home. With my second child I was only in hospital for 6 hours, after labouring at home for around 4 hours.

My partner may not be able to attend the birth so we have hired a doula. Not actually given birth yet so obviously can't give my experience but it seemed like a good option to us.. They vary in price from nothing ("mentored" doulas who are working towards their registration) to £1.5k+

Might be worth having a look.

doula.org.uk/

Parents live around a 3 hour drive away. Friends are mainly keyworkers and neighbours all 70+ in age. So I don’t think it’s a possibility.

Have got a tens machine and hoping that I can labour at home before going in to hospital to minimise time spent there.

I gave birth alone in the last few wks. It was my best birth of all the births I've had! It was actually very calm and lovely. The staff were amazingly kind and took pity on me for being alone (though I was actually not really bothered), so when i arrived and they realised i was going it alone, they went and secured me the best room (amazing pool, lovely lighting options etc) and I was given the loveliest midwife I've ever met. They really were amazingly supportive and attentive. I got a lot more support from them than I had in previous births. It was a really lovely experience.

Honestly I'd do it alone again any day. Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

I'm only 19 weeks but I'm already thinking about this. All our family live in Australia and although they've booked tickets over in November to look after DD, it's not looking like Australia will open their borders to allow this by then. So I'm watching this thread with interest.

@mia5678 I'm 40+2 and in the same position as you. I did have one friend who was going to take DD during daylight hours at least but we live in Wales, restrictions are a bit tighter here and her husband has to go to work daily so their household social distancing etc is compromised. Family all 6 hours away.

I've generally been ok with it but now I'm past due date I've had a few little wobbles. Trying to fill myself with positive solo birth stories too. Also had traumatic first birth and daughter ended up in NICU; husband had to watch as we both nearly died throughout the course of events and I actually don't want him seeing that again. Better I shoulder it.

I'm hoping to stay home long as possible too, borrowed a tens machine, baths, ball, and long as I'm not too overdue planning on going to local midwife unit, a 5 minute drive away where they aim to get you discharged within 6 hours. It's a small, local, friendly unit and I've only met one midwife I didn't "take to" up there.

🤞🏼For us both!

I gave birth solo last year. I was great. They were reassuring and it was calm. They let me use the birth centre after the birth so my husband and child could stay with me through the day. I'm going to do it again and happy to do so this time

I had my eldest pretty much alone at the age of 17. Bad labour but there's nothing having a person there would've changed. I was set on having my second alone too as single mum here, didn't want to have anyone present unless I knew they'd be a permanent part of our lives. My midwife was very supportive, offered to be there when I had her and helped me learn hypnobirthing. My friend who drove me to the hospital ended up staying and I barely noticed she was there. Very quick and easy labour and she and the midwife pretty much left me to it as I was in the zone. I'd be more than comfortable going it alone. As long as a midwife met me at the hospital doors (which they offered to do before my friend came) as I did struggle walking in with contractions every 2 mins (I was 6cm on arrival). Stay home as long as you can, you've done this before you kind of know what to expect and your body is built for this! Good luck xx