Jodie’s Positive birth with Meconium Waters.
I received a lovely email a couple of days ago from Luke and Jodie, they have kindly shared their birth story for others! Thank you. I share every type of birth as they are all unique and can be positive. Just a heads up for any hypnobirthing Mums and Dads-to-be this little one’s birth features emergency life saving intervention. It has not been dramatised by Jodie (unlike one born every minute!) she has stayed clear for us and factual. I can tell that she understood what happened and why. The key ingredient in achieving a positive experience.
Luke and Jodie I am so pleased you signed up to a Talking Babies Midwife lead course. Doing so meant you were informed and able to make great decisions when it mattered.
I have taken a closer look at Meconium Waters afterwards to help others understand better.
‘Hi Emily.
Hope you are well, apologies in the delay in getting this to you!
We wanted to introduce out beautiful daughter Sienna Rose who was born Sunday 16th June, weight 8lb 7 oz.
After being 10 days overdue I began my labour in the Midwife-Led, Alongside unit however, the midwives discovered I had meconium in my waters when they were broken and I was taken over to central delivery.
Sienna then made a dramatic entrance at 5pm unfortunately, she inhaled the meconium and was unable to cough it up meaning she had a blockage in her airway and was unable to breath.
We then experienced what every parent dreads, the emergency button being pressed, our baby needing urgent help so was immediately taken over to the resuscitation area.
Once stable, she spent 3 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after which we were able to take her home and she has been thriving ever since. 
We both want to say a massive thank you! We found your classes fun and informative. As terrifying as it was watching our baby get taken off us, it really helped us that you had spoken about unplanned situations in labour.
We would highly recommend your classes to any expectant parents. As well as preparing us for labour I now also have a lovely group of mummies I regularly keep in touch with.
Jodie & Luke x’
Talking Babies Takes A Closer Look
Jodie mentioned that ‘the midwives discovered I had meconium in my waters’. Meconium stained amniotic fluid (MSAF) means that the baby has had his/her bowels open whilst inside. 12 % of all pregnancies her MSAF. MSAF presents as a greeny, or brown colouring to the amniotic fluid. MSAF in most cases is uncomplicated it can even be a normal thing in women post dates. However, when this is seen often expectant parents are advised to have their baby’s heart beat monitored closely on a machine called a CTG (CardioTocoGraphy) This is because MSAF can be a sign that the baby is or has been distressed prior to birth.
As the baby births (any birth type) these babies have a risk of inhaling the meconium into their lungs. Leading to a condition known as Meconium Aspiration Syndrome. This occurs in 6-7% of the 12% MSAF pregnancies. Sienna was one of these babies. She was immediately effected but, was urgently looked after and made better.
Just as a note, not all babies with Meconium Aspiration Syndrome present a problem straight away which is why it is standard practice to monitor MSAF babies for 48 hours following birth.
I hope this has helped.
If you too would like to prepare properly like Jodie and Luke (trust me you wont regret it!) join a Midwife led Talking Babies course today. Click here to book now.
For more exciting reads head to:
Emily’s Positive Due Date Baby