I graduated 40 plus 5 (not how I planned)

Hi all,

This subreddit has been incredible during my pregnancy, a place of information, stories, unwavering support and lovely people.

So, I'm sat here nap-trapped by my 3 day old gorgeous daughter and thought I'd share my birth story.

It did not go as planned (shocking, I know!)

I had planned a birth centre birth, done all my hypnobirthing reading, relaxation practice, perineal massage, my mum and boyfriend had both read the hypnobirthing book and birth preferences were written and ready.

I had my second sweep on the Friday, midwife said baby was nicely engaged and we were feeling very positive.

Saturday we went to a small festival event in our local area, hoping that walking around would bring on labour. I'd had reduced movement the previous night and that day, so around 2pm, we headed to triage to get checked out.

Arrived at triaged, CTG was good, heartbeat strong, calmed me down. They said they would offer me induction as I was after 39 weeks and presenting with reduced movement. I kindly refused, as I did not want to be induced. They said that they would therefore do a scan to make sure everything was still functioning well and I could be on my way.

During the scan, the sonographer midwife asks me "What is your plan for birth?" I said "Birth centre."

She shook her head and told me the baby is currently breech, fully head up, bum down!

Not what we were expecting having been told they were cephalic and ENGAGED the day before.

Waited a couple of hours to see the Doctor, who talked through offering induction (which we did not want). My partner and I discussed this and said we'd rather wait and see if they turn. Doctor came back, when we explained that the baby had been cephalic THE DAY BEFORE he was very shocked, he spoke to his consultant, who said that our baby had an 'unstable lie' which this late in pregnancy was very dangerous, as if I went into labour and baby was in an unsuitable breech presentation or transverse, the cord could drop through the cervix and prolapse.

We talked it through and decided for the baby's sake, the best thing to do was a caesarean. It was done the next lunchtime and at 13:32 I met my acrobat baby.

The caesarean itself was great, the drugs are amazing, my team were incredible, I spent the whole time up to being presented with my daughter just giggling my head off at what was happening and how strange my body felt and then once she was on my chest, I had eyes for nothing else in the world as I watched her turn from purpley/grey to pink and just come alive in front of my eyes.

I felt a bit cheated out of labour, but now I am 3 days into C-section recovery, I think that we all work incredibly hard for our birth, just on different sides of it!

And all the hypnobirthing reading and practice is coming into play now, to deal with moving around and existing after a C-section.

But she's here now, I am so in love, so so so in love! The pain is worth it.