Lou: First Birth, Positive NHS Hospital Birth, Precipitous Labour, Gas and Air Only, Gestational Hypertension, White Coat Syndrome, Continuity of Care, NIPT, Second Degree Tear Repaired in Theatre
British Birthing StoriesShow Notes
Lou woke up at half twelve thinking her first labour was only just starting. By the time anyone examined her in triage she was 8cm, and her daughter was born on gas and air at quarter to four that morning.
Lou is a first time mum from northeast London and a former clinical geneticist. She has white coat syndrome, so her blood pressure goes up whenever it’s taken in a clinical setting, and seeing the same midwife, Chloe, every week meant she could take her readings at home. At 38 weeks those readings were higher, and with her mum having had preeclampsia, protocol would have sent her to triage and most likely towards an induction, the one thing Lou didn’t want. Chloe talked her through every warning sign and they agreed to wait.
At 39 weeks her contractions started in the bath and were two minutes apart by the end of the ten minute drive to hospital. In triage she gave a urine sample between contractions and waited in a curtained bay while her blood pressure was checked, and nobody told her how far along she was until she asked. A midwife who wasn’t meant to be hers brought gas and air and took her into a delivery room, where Lou got on all fours and her daughter Layla was born about 45 minutes later.
In this episode we talk about: How continuity of care helped Lou manage white coat syndrome and rising blood pressure without being sent for an induction Why Lou chose private non invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) over standard NHS screening Arriving at triage 8cm dilated and how much better communication would have helped A fast pushing stage on all fours with gas and air, and how practising pelvic floor relaxation with an Aniball helped An internal second degree tear repaired in theatre under a spinal
The stories shared on British Birthing Stories are real, personal experiences from real women. I am not a medical professional and this podcast is not a substitute for medical advice. Every pregnancy and birth is different, and I always encourage you to speak to your midwife or doctor about your own individual care. British Birthing Stories shares real, unfiltered stories of childbirth in the UK, from pregnancy and labour to postpartum recovery. These stories reflect personal experiences and should not be taken as or replace medical advice. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare professional.
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