Maisie’s Birth Story
At forty two weeks and two days, I was induced because my baby’s movements had slowed down. I remember feeling like I had no other option—that if I didn’t go ahead with the induction, something terrible might happen. The pressure was immense, and I couldn’t shake the fear that my baby wouldn’t survive if I waited any longer.
To be honest, I was terrified. I had heard so many stories about induction, and one phrase kept running through my mind: “Once you’re on the ladder, you can’t get off.” I had been told that once you start an induction, it’s a chain reaction—either you have your baby, or you end up with a C-section. I felt like I was stepping into the unknown, with no real control over how things would unfold.
At 10 am, they placed the pessary in, though they told me it hadn’t gone in very far. I wasn’t sure what that meant for how effective it would be, but I tried to stay calm and let my body do what it needed to do.
One thing that really helped was the support around me. My midwife was incredible, and my husband never left my side. Since I was on the labour ward due to the induction, I couldn’t go to a birth centre, but my husband could tell I was starting to feel uncomfortable in the hospital environment.
That’s when he took matters into his own hands. He went for a walk around the ward and found a bath in one of the rooms. He dimmed the lights, put on some music, and filled the bath, creating a calm and peaceful space. Then, without saying much, he just led me to the bathroom. It was exactly what I needed—warm water, dim lights, and a sense of privacy in the middle of all the chaos.
Looking back, I think that moment made all the difference. It reminded me that even in a hospital, even during an induction, I could still find my own rhythm and trust my body.
By the time I started pushing, I was in a completely different headspace. I had done a hypnobirthing course during pregnancy, and it set me up so well. I wasn’t scared—I was in control. I even fell asleep between contractions at some points because I was so relaxed.
And when it came to pushing Wesley out? I loved it. It was honestly an incredible experience. From start to finish, I had no pain relief, no interventions, nothing assisting me—just my body doing exactly what it was designed to do.
I feel so proud of that moment.
If there’s one thing I would tell anyone preparing for birth, it’s this: Your body is made for this. Breathe. Relax. Let go. Don’t fight the surges—ride them like waves. You are stronger than you know.