The Partner’s View – Upside Mum
This week on The Partner’s View I’m excited to introduce Emma from Upside Mum, and her husband who provides us with a very dramatic birth story involving Emma being airlifted to hospital when their Son decided to make an early arrival. Emma’s husband tells us of story of being prepared for anything to happen. Have a read below.
What were your thoughts and feelings leading up to the birth of your child?
We were both looking forward to having our first child. We had found out the gender at the 20 week scan to help us decide on names. I wasn’t bothered either way but was happy to find out we were expecting a boy. We had nieces and nephews, so thought we knew what to expect.
As a birth partner, how did you prepare for the birth?
I worked shifts in my job and lived away at the time we were expecting, so Emma went to most ante-natal classes with her mum. I did go to one (the one with the positions and the breathing) and it was more than enough! I made sure we had a plan in place for getting to the hospital when it all kicked off (though it turns out our son had an entirely different plan and arrived early!)
Tell us a little about your partners birth?
It was all a little dramatic. We were on an island off the coast of Scotland when our son decided to make his early arrival. Emma had to be airlifted to hospital on the mainland and I wasn’t allowed to go along. I had to wait for the boat and make my own way. It was quite scary. Emma was upset at having to go alone and was worried I wouldn’t catch up on time and would miss the birth. I was too but couldn’t say, as it wouldn’t have helped things. The wait for the boat seemed liked an eternity and when I reached the mainland I discovered lots of closed roads for the Pope’s visit to Glasgow and had to make a few detours! When I finally arrived at the hospital I was glad that my mother in law had been able to come along to support Emma but alarmed at the dips in our baby’s heart rate. These kept happening and eventually Emma was rushed to theatre for an emergency c-section. I had to gown up and wait outside until I was told I could come in. It felt like ages and I began to wonder if they had forgotten about me. They did come though and I was able to take my camera in and capture some wonderful photographs of the very special moment.
What were you most afraid of during your partner’s birth?
I was really concerned by the heart rate dips. They kept getting worse, more frequent and lasting for longer each time. I wanted them to do the c-section long before they did. I was worried we could lose our baby and just wanted it all to be ok.
What was the best and most positive part of your partners birth?
The best part was holding our boy for the first time and it was even more special that I was allowed to take my camera in to capture the moment. Photography is a hobby of mine and it all added to the experience and gave us lots of treasured photos and memories to keep.
How did you support your partner and baby after the birth?
I was at the hospital from when we were allowed in each morning until kicking out time at night. The days after J’s birth were very fraught and he was really unwell, ending up in intensive care and special care. Emma and I supported each other through this, strangely when one of us was feeling the strain the other was strong enough to keep them going. I don’t know how we managed through those days and cans out the other side!
What advice would you give to a birthing partner?
Keep calm, be prepared and know that babies don’t do what you expect. Be prepared for anything and everything.
A little bit about Emma
“Hi, I’m Emma. This story from my husband is about the birth of our first child J who was diagnosed with ASD aged 3 after a very traumatic birth and being unwell afterwards. I’m also mum to B (4) and W (11 months). We live in Scotland. I’m a primary school teacher and work full time. I started my blog to help me deal with my feelings about what has happened in our life since J’s birth, our experiences and my thoughts. It has changed and evolved a lot since then and whilst it’s still about these things, it also reflects our lives as they are today and includes so much more than just our experiences of autism. I’ve found blogging therapeutic and have enjoyed reading the experiences of others too.”
You can find Emma on her blog, on Twitter, on Facebook, on Pinterest and on Instagram.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading. If you would you like to take part in my guest series, then drop me an email at thepramshedblog@gmail.com
Claire x
36 Comments
Cathryn - Little Paper Swans
Ahhhhh! It’s so nice to hear the other side of the story after featuring Emma’s on my blog! I enjoyed this.
http://www.littlepaperswans.com/2016/08/birth-story-series-emmas-story.html
#fortheloveofblog
fancypaperblog
Thank you for sharing #fortheloveofBLOG
Back With A Bump
It’s lovely hearing the other side of the story. Thanks for sharing #fortheloveofblog
Sunita
What an incredible birth (and helicopter) story! How wonderful you could capture the moments with your camera. Your son will love looking at those photos when he’s older. Sunita #fortheloveofBLOG
Claire @ Sandbmama2015
A great interview no one ever really tells the story from the other perspective. Very traumatic too.
#fortheloveofBLOG
Susie Hawes
Gosh what a story! Thanks for sharing.
#fortheloveofBLOG
peppermint cove blog Lou
What a story, thanks for sharing #fortheloveofBLOG
ljdove23
Great interview, really interesting to hear the other side of the pregnancy and birth from the partner. Thanks for sharing #fortheloveofblog
Kirsty - Motherhoodery
I find it fascinating to hear other peoples’ experiences. Glad it all ended well and they’ll always have a story to dine out on. My midwife said to me ‘You can make as many plans as you like, but be prepared for them to change.’ Luckily my son’s birth generally went to plan, except for 3 days of early labour! x #fortheloveofBLOG
Peachy and her Mommy
That was an adventure and a half. I’m glad it all worked out in the end. #fortheloveofBLOG
Tooting Mama
Gosh so dramatic, certainly have stories to tell when the kids are older. Great advice to birthing partners – kids will always do their own thing!
Topsy Turvy Tribe
Oh I do love this series, so heartwarming! How awful to be separated from each other during the airlift but glad that you all made it back together and it worked out in the end, phew! #fortheloveofBLOG
Angela Watling
What a nerve-wracking story. But such a relief to know that J was safe and well in the end. Hopefully babies 2 and 3 arrived in slightly less dramatic circumstances though!
#fortheloveofBLOG
The Pramshed
I hope so too, thanks for reading and commenting 🙂 x
Grounded Mummy
Wow, what an amazing birth story, why do these posts always make me feel up?! I am way too emotional since becoming a mum! Love these partner views, I’m working on my hubby to do it but he’s being coy! Thanks for sharing! #fortheloveofblog
The Pramshed
Oh no! I’m sorry for now. I would love to share your story, if you can convince your hubby 🙂 x
Lydia C. Lee
Be prepared for anything and everything…ah, yes! #fortheloveofBlog
The Pramshed
Absolutely, thanks for reading and commenting 🙂 x
Siena Says
Wow that is some birth story! It’s a shame that you couldn’t go in the helicopter too. Sounds fraught after J arrived too, these babies really do keep us on our toes!
#fortheloveofBLOG
The Pramshed
Yes they do, it’s best to be prepared for anything.Thanks for reading and commenting 🙂 x
babyledblog
Crikey, what an entrance! Really interesting story #fortheloveonfblog
The Pramshed
Thanks for reading and commenting, it’s one to keep telling over and over again, for many years to come 🙂 x
justsayingmum
Goodness what a stressful time for dad?! So glad you made it in time. Great to hear the partner’s view. Thank you for sharing #fortheloveofBLOG
The Pramshed
Such a stressful and dramatic birth story, I couldn’t imagine how stressful it would have been at the time. Thanks for reading and commenting Helen x
wendy
Wow this is dramatic!!I’m so glad everything worked out ok, I bet it was hard for you to have to wait so long before you could go in to see your wife, how lovely you were able to take your camera in and capture some beautiful memories. Baby’s definitely have their own plans!xx #fortheloveofBLOG
The Pramshed
Thanks Wendy, it’s a true dramatic birth story. Thanks for reading and commenting x
Upside Mum
Popping by for #fortheloveofBLOG Thanks for sharing our story and to everyone for all of the comments too xx
rightroyalmother
What an amazing story and I’m so glad Emma (and you and the baby) was ok. Thanks for sharing #fortheloveofBLOG
The Pramshed
Such a dramatic story, I love the way it was told too x
Themotherhub
Oh my god – that must have been terrifying ! Talk about dramatic. #fortheloveofblog
The Pramshed
It must have been super scary, thanks for reading and commenting x
Kat
Really nice to read the other side to the story. I can only imagine how scary that must have been for you! #fortheloveofblog
The Pramshed
It sounds like such a scary story, and so glad it all worked out well x
Kate Orson
That must have been scary for everyone. I’m glad everything turned out okay. Writing is such a powerful way to process the difficult times, I look forward to discovering your blog Emma 🙂 #fortheloveofBLOG
The Pramshed
Thanks for commenting Kate, it must have been a super scary experience for them x
Mads
What an incredible story!