A MUM-of-two, who was so relaxed during the birth of her second baby that she gave birth on the stairs at the Alexandra Hospital, credits local Daisy Birthing antenatal classes for her ‘easy birth’. 

Liz Gaffney, aged 32, lives in Brockhill with her husband Stuart, two-year-old son Conor and new arrival Isla now four weeks old.

During her first pregnancy Mrs Gaffney suffered from anxiety and a fear of childbirth (tokophobia) and her first birth was long and exhausting.

When she became pregnant again she decided to find a class that would help her cope better.

She said: “The classes gave me lots of practical techniques for relaxing and staying calm that just became second nature. The classes built my confidence and belief in my body to give birth.”

Her most recent birth lasted just five hours compared to over 19 hours the first time.

She said: “I was so relaxed and was coping so well at home that when I spoke to the midwives they were happy for me to stay at home for a while, telling me to come in if things progressed.”

Mrs Gaffney gave birth to a healthy baby Isla just 30 minutes later, on the stairs up to the delivery suite, attended only by her husband.

Mrs Gaffney said: “I had so many visitors to me on the ward who had been with me shortly after the birth - even the porter, who said: “You made my day”. 

“Everyone at the Alex was brilliant. I couldn’t fault how they looked after me.”

Mrs Gaffney says that she is no longer frightened of giving birth and has told her husband she wants to do it again.

Helen Parsons, who runs Daisy Birthing classes in Redditch and Bromsgrove said: “Giving birth before making it to the maternity unit, or before a midwife arrives for a home birth, is not common. There is evidence, though, that staying relaxed and calm during birth helps women cope much better and makes birth shorter, easier and more enjoyable”. 

For more information, contact Helen Parsons on 07920 514903, email thelen@lazydaisybirthing.co.uk or visit www.thelazydaisychain.co.uk.