Birth Stories
Julia’s Hospital birth story
The news is that Romilly Violet arrived safely Sunday evening after a 2.5 hour labour (Stages 1,2 and 3) with NO pain relief except gas and air… except a LOT of pushing my index finger and thumb together!
Suzanne’s Home birth story
Just wanted to drop a line to say thanks so much for the Easibirthing techniques which I used for the birth of my second child.
Using the breathing and visualisations I felt in control of the birth and was able to enjoy the whole experience. My baby came into this world in a calm and relaxed atmosphere and the birth was less than 2.5 hours from start to finish which i think was helped by me being totally relaxed and very well prepared.
I was even able to be so absorbed in the birthing experience I didn’t use pain relief (gas and air) for a few contractions and I was able to really tune into my body and listen to what the baby was doing. It felt like we were synchronised and working together.
The fantastic birth experience was also appreciated by my spouse who asked why our first baby wasn’t so easy – I said because I hadn’t used Easibirthing then!
I do feel that my new born baby is easier to look after too as she is very laid back which I put down to the birth so thank you again Sharon for all your help!
All the best wishes
Su Morgan and baby Imogen
Carla’s Hospital birth story
My husband and i attended your easi-birthing course back in July and i thought you may be interested to know my recent birth story as i am under no doubt that the techniques and general awareness learnt over those couple of days contributed hugely to the positive experience of the birth of our son at the end of August.
You may recall from our first conversation that i wanted to transfer from Swindon to Salisbury hospital to try and ensure a successful VBAC this time round. My first baby (now 21 months) was born early at 36 weeks and after my waters broke, we discovered she was breech so i then followed a standard c-section procedure at Swindon. This all went well and i recovered quickly etc. However, when i discovered i was pregnant again i was surprised that Swindon offered me the ‘choice’ of another c-section or an attempt at VBAC. I actually found this choice quite difficult to process as i didn’t think i would have any option but to try for a vaginal birth considering there was no medical reason to suggest why i shouldn’t. Anyway, after investigating matters, i came to the conclusion that i should at least attempt a vaginal birth. This then led me to consider how, in an ideal scenario, id like the birth to be and what i needed to do to help get my head around the matter of trying for a natural birth. I must say, at this point, i did feel very daunted by the thought of giving birth and actually quite anxious but felt that i should go for it.
With this in mind, i spoke to a number of friends, professionals – in both hospitals, my midwife, a local doula and did quite a lot of web research into natural births. For me, the most basic need was that i wanted to be upright, mobile and active as much as possible to aid the birthing process and due to the fact that swindon doesn’t provide a mobile monitoring system (telemetry), this most basic birthing need wasn’t able to be met there. I was told i ‘had’ to be constantly monitored once in active labour due to the previous c-section and the slight risk of scar rupture. So, after speaking to a number of midwives in salisbury as well as their VBAC clinic (which was fab that they even had such a thing) i found out that they have a mobile monitoring system which would enable the medical need to be met of me being constantly monitored but more importantly for me, it allowed me to be active…should i wish to be so. It also allowed me to be in the water. I also found the midwifes approach at salisbury to be much more forward thinking and encouraging of allowing women to have as natural birth without intervention as possible. The procedure for VBACs in each hospital was actually quite different and for me, the approach of salisbury seemed a lot more ‘natural’.
So, i quite quickly decided that overall salisbury seemed to be able to provide the kind of environment and approach that most matched what i wanted – in an ideal scenario of course as you can never predict childbirth. I transferred to salisbury hospital and we attended the nhs session that you run as well as the follow on two saturday sessions. This, and the various discussions, massively put my head into focus and i had a completely different and now confident view of my looming birth. I was actually quite excited about it!
The birth itself was a wonderful, peaceful and quite incredible experience. My main goal was to try and attempt a natural birth but i was totally realistic in that this was effectively my first birth and what would be would be. I was open to pain relief (bar pethidene) and just wanted to be active if i felt the need. I also wanted to try being in the water pool. As it was, i gave birth to our little boy Finley John (8lb 9oz) in complete calmness and in the water and without any pain relief throughout!! I just used breathing techniques such as blowing my contractions into a balloon and then releasing at the end of the contraction and also breathe in the colour of calm and breathe out the colour of tension. I used this one a lot!! The birth in total lasted 32 hours (!) although from 3cm to actual birth, it was about 8.5hours which was pretty good. The lengthy part was getting into established labour at 3cm. I still can’t believe i managed that length of time without pain relief!! That wasn’t how i envisaged it at all but i just focussed on dealing with each contraction one by one and consequently was off somewhere else in a world of my own just focussing on getting the baby out.
The birthing room was lovely, we had aromatherapy (provided by the hospital) and the only lighting was in the pool so it was very tranquil – now there’s a word i never thought i’d use when describing childbirth!! I used my TENS machine in early labour which i found helped, probably as it gave me something to do when trying to manage out the contractions. My husband was allowed to stay with me the entire time we were in hospital (sunday 11pm ish until tuesday evening) and although we knew the midwifes were supportive and were there if we needed them, we were left to get on with things ourselves which was great. The aftercare was also lovely and we were back home the same day i gave birth which was wonderful given my last 4 day hospital stay after the c-section.
I totally surprised myself as i no way expected a birth like that but reflecting back now, from that initial panic at 4/5 months pregnant, once i’d made my decision to try for a natural birth, i got my head into gear and became quite focussed and more importantly relaxed and calm about the process. I think this really helped as once i was in labour i wasn’t frightened or anxious, i just knew i had to get on with it as no one could do it for me so being calm and rational was the best course of action.
I have over 10 friends who are currently pregnant (with first and second babies) and it was lovely to come back and tell them a happy positive birth story as you don’t hear many of them. I would recommend to anyone pregnant to try attending a course like yours as it does help provide an alternative, natural view of birth not the predominantly scary, pain driven one portrayed by many. But i would also encourage women to not just accept hospital protocol as being entirely right for them as individuals. Just because a consultant tells you to do something, it doesn’t mean that he or she is 100% right. Childbirth is a natural process and we as women instinctively know what to do – even when we think we don’t. Medical professionals are there to support and ensure events run as safely as possible for both mother and baby and of course we should listen to their advice. However, it makes me feel both frustrated and sad that other women in my position who may not have explored all VBAC avenues, could end up having intervention/c-sections when they aren’t necessary. But as you must be well aware, this forms part of a much bigger debate and one that will take a lot longer to conclude.
Anyway, thank you for providing the course and also thank you to Salisbury hospital for including it to prospective parents as a foundation knowledge course as it really is useful. I wish you continued success for the course and when the time comes for baby number 3, i’ll definitely be back to see you for a little refresher course 
With kind regards
Carla, Greg, Isabella and Finley Watts
Hannah’s Hospital birth story
Rachel’s Home Birth Story
The day before Daisy’s due date I was in playgroup with Emily when I had quite a strong Braxton hicks, I’d had a few in the last few weeks but for some reason I knew this time I’d go into labour that night (don’t ask me how I knew, I just did!). Eddie was working from home as he works 45 minutes away and I thought it’d be wise to have him around given I went through labour so quickly last time, so after playgroup I told him I’d be going into labour soon and to play with Emily for the rest of the afternoon. I had a lovely relaxing afternoon lying down listening to your CDs and chillout music. We had a good dinner to give me strength for labour, then Eddie slept in the spare room so he could look after Emily if she was up in the night without disturbing me
I half woke a few times in the night with a contraction, just enough to register something was starting but not enough to wake me properly. I woke up at 5.30am with a contraction – a small one, then had another 7 minutes later, so I put on my ipod and listened to hypno and chillout music again and kind of dozed between contractions.
At 7am I woke Eddie up and told him it had kicked off, so he came downstairs and made us both tea and we went on contractionmaster.com to time contractions – they were 5 minutes apart at that stage. Emily woke up half an hour later, so I said hello then headed upstairs for a bath at 8am while Eddie got her ready to go off to my friend for the day and set up the birth pool. At that stage we phoned the midwife on call to let her know she’d need to be ready to come out to us. Contractions were still 5 minutes apart and very manageable.
By 9am contractions were 3 minutes apart and I could tell I was in active labour because I was making a noise through the contraction like I did before when I was in labour with Emily. I phoned the midwives and they arrived at 9.30am. When they arrived I got out of the bath and they checked Daisy’s heartbeat and my blood pressure which were both good. At that stage the contractions went back to 5 minutes apart and less intense – I knew it was just because the midwives had arrived though as my first labour slowed when I got to hospital as well.
The midwives didn’t think I was in labour as I was so calm and just sitting up on the bed and breathing through contractions. They were on the phone rescheduling all their appointments for the day as they thought they’d be with me all day. They asked if I’d like to go downstairs and have a walk around to try and speed up labour. I knew at this point I was well in established labour but agreed anyway because I knew they’d realise soon enough and I wanted to have some time to myself with the hypno cd anyway.
As soon as I got downstairs and saw Eddie (who was making us all tea) I had a really big contraction and the labour sped up again – it was as if as soon as I saw him my body knew it was safe to carry on. We both went into the living room where he’d set up the birthing pool – he’d even lit candles without me even asking, it was very relaxing! I had a few more contractions and listened to my Ipod through them, these were very strong and I made a noise through them again.
The midwife upstairs heard me and knew by that I was close to 2nd stage so came downstairs. She was a student and was fantastic – she and Eddie just sat by the pool (I’d got straight in the pool – it was great for pain relief) and were quiet during a contraction while I listened to hypno. I held Eddie’s hand through each contraction, and drank tea and water and chatted to the midwife in between contractions.
At about 10.45am (an hour and 15 mins since the midwives arrived) I panicked a bit and decided I really needed the loo. They helped me out of the pool and I ran to the loo between contractions, but as soon as I got there I realised I didn’t need it and ran back to the pool just before the next contraction hit. This was the only time I panicked, and Eddie reminded me I did the exact same with Emily’s labour just before her head crowned. As soon as I remembered that I had a pushing contraction and Daisy’s head crowned and I calmed down straight away.
I’d made up my mind I wasn’t going to push this time and we’d talked through it during hypnosis. So this time I didn’t push at all, I just relaxed and let my body take over and in 5 or 6 contractions she was born at 11.11am. It was a bit weird not doing anything at that stage, but I clearly remember on the second ‘pushing’ contraction thinking “this is great, I don’t have to do anything now except sit back and wait to meet her!”
The pool was great – Eddie said Daisy’s eyes were open and she was looking around when her head was out, as the water supports their head. The midwives had been sitting by the edge of the pool while I delivered her, but I’d asked them to pass her to me instead of me catching her as I was a bit wary about how quickly I should lift her out to take her first breath if I did it. She was put onto my chest and we stayed in the pool for about 45 minutes while they kept it topped up with warm water to keep us both warm. The placenta hadn’t arrived by then so Eddie took Daisy and the midwives helped me out of the pool, as soon as I got out the placenta came – there was no pain at all. I had a very small tear and a couple of grazes.
The midwives filled in the notes (they hadn’t had time to write anything!) while I fed Daisy and Eddie cleared up the pool and tarpaulins. I was able to walk and have a cuppa and biscuit straight away. By 1pm I’d been able to pee so the midwives left, Daisy was asleep after her first feed, I was showered and changed and we sat down to watch the Ireland rugby game with a pizza and a glass of champagne….
The home birth was fantastic, but the hypno made it all very relaxed as well, and I was able to do it without any pain relief at all again so I had a very quick recovery. Daisy was really alert (another 9.5 APGAR score!) and fed well straight away
Thanks for all your help, I can honestly say I enjoyed every bit of labour and would really look forward to doing it again if we decide to have a third!
Thanks again,
Rachel O’Brien
Joyce’s Hospital Birth Story
This was my second child, with my first I had Grade IV Placenta Previa and knew that I would have no option other than a caesarean section. After some extensive bleeding I had an emergency caesarean under general anaesthetic at 35 weeks. Both Ben and myself were physically very well considering his entry into the world (!), but emotionally I found it very hard and don’t feel that I bonded with Ben until he was nearly a year old. I really felt that I had missed out on his birth and didn’t feel like a real mother. I am also convinced that the drugs and anaesthetic made Ben very sleepy for days after the birth and we struggled with breastfeeding.
When I found out that I was pregnant again I was keen to try everything to have a different birth experience. I also knew that we did not want any more children after this and so was aware that this could be my last chance to experience a ‘normal’ birth. As it was my second child I did not have the standard antenatal classes to go to, but having had a caesarean section I knew nothing about natural labour and childbirth. Therefore when I saw Sharon’s workshops I was really keen to attend.
I came to the first workshop when I was about 36 weeks pregnant and enjoyed it so much that I brought my husband along to the next one. The workshops gave me confidence that I could have a different birthing experience and that I could do it! I was still very aware that things can go wrong at any stage in pregnancy and birth, but I felt better informed and more confident in making decisions during labour and birth. I left the workshops very positive.
Having had Ben at 35 weeks I had my bags packed and was ready from about 30 weeks! So when my due date came and went I was very, very fed up! A routine swab then picked up that I had Group B Strep and I was told that I would need intravenous antibiotics during labour. I already knew that I would need continuous monitoring due to my previous caesarean, and suddenly I felt like the doors were closing around me. The days went on and I was then booked in for an induction at 12 days overdue and was told that due to my previous caesarean the only way they could induce me was if I was dilated enough naturally to break my waters, otherwise I would need another caesarean. I really began to lose hope that my natural birth would work out.
At 10 days overdue I began to have the odd contraction, maybe about 30mins to an hour apart. I was unsure at the time whether they were Braxton Hicks or actual contractions and I kept asking everyone around me what a ‘real’ contraction was like and how would I know when I was in labour, they all replied that I would know when I was in labour and that I would really know when I had a real contraction. So I assumed that as these contractions were not that big a deal and I could easily cope by focussing or breathing through them, that I couldn’t have been in proper labour and so continued life as normal! That night the contractions got a little bit more established, but they never got closer than 15 mins and never really got into any pattern. I phoned the hospital to tell them that I was getting some irregular contractions but that I was happy at home. At about 4am the contractions stopped totally and I was pretty disappointed, however I got some sleep and spent the next day (Monday) with my husband and 2yr old as normal. By early evening I started getting contractions again and after a long discussion we decided to pack Ben off to his grandparents as I was sure something must happen that night, but if not at least I could get a lie in as I was shattered from being up the night before. Just like the night before my contractions did start up again but never got more than 15mins apart. After phoning the hospital we decided to take a trip up there to get checked over and see what they thought. In the car my contractions got up to 5mins apart and we really thought things were beginning to happen! All this time I was very happy using the ‘breathing in calm and out tension’ technique and I had invented my own focussing technique which was a kind of amalgamation of all those taught on the workshop! However when we got to the hospital my contractions totally stopped again! I walked round and round Salisbury Hospital at 2am, but nothing, they monitored me and the baby but still no contractions. As I had been so relaxed and happy at home I decided to come home and maybe get some more sleep. However as soon as I got home the contractions kicked right back in again! Im sure it was because I felt so safe, uninhibited and relaxed at home and that the hospital made me anxious. I had contractions through the night and was getting more psyched up that this was it… then when morning came they stopped again. I reached a real low.
It was now Tuesday, I was missing my son and I was shattered from two nights of broken sleep. However we decided to make the most of the day without any children, so went out for breakfast, viewed a house we were thinking of buying, and went for a walk in the New Forest. Throughout the day I was getting the odd contraction, but no more than about 30 mins apart and I didn’t perceive them to be very painful and was managing them fine with my breathing techniques. When we came back to the house at about 4pm the contractions were beginning to pick up again just like the previous two nights and I then hit another low as I couldn’t face a third night of no sleep. I remembered that the community midwives hold a clinic on a Tues and so phoned up and arranged to pop round to see my midwife. She offered to do another sweep to see if we could get things going. I got up on the bed and she did her thing but then said ‘Sorry I cant do a sweep for you…’, I nearly cried again with despair, then she continued ‘…because you are 5-6cm dilated and your waters are bulging!’. We both laughed so much that my husband came in to see what all the fuss was about! The midwife suggested we got up to the hospital straight away given my VBAC and Strep-B conditions and phoned the labour ward to warn them. However it was now 6pm, the traffic was awful and I was scared that going up to the hospital would slow things down again and as I was so comfortable at home we decided to go home and get some dinner. By 7pm my contractions were coming thick and fast but I was managing them just fine between mouthfuls of pizza!
We got up to the hospital at about 8pm and I was really pleased to be checked in by the Student Midwife that I had seen the week before in the community, and then to be assigned the midwife that had seen me the night before and I had really liked. Her name was Becky and she was wonderful. She found me a wireless monitor so that I didn’t need to be sat down at all and could keep moving and be monitored continuously, she got the Step-B drip up and running and told me that it wasn’t a big deal at all and that it would be done and out within 5 mins. They cant have been very busy when we arrived as she stayed with us all evening and we laughed and joked, I was having very regular contractions at about 5 mins apart but they were totally manageable and I felt really good bouncing away on the birthing ball! As the Strep-B drugs need 4 hours to work before delivery, Becky said she would just leave me be and then check me at midnight. The evening seemed to fly by and soon it was midnight, Becky assessed my progress, I was really optimistic, and then her face fell – I was still only 5cm! I was gutted. She suggested breaking my waters and I agreed. Becky left the room then to get on with other jobs and boy did things start happening fast! The contractions got stronger and even more frequent and I began to feel that my breathing and focussing wasn’t enough. I asked for gas and air but this just made me feel totally out of control and made me cry! At 1am I had reached the ‘I cant do this’ stage and I sent Chris to get Becky back. With difficulty she got me on to the bed and while assessing how far I was asked ‘do the contractions feel any different?! As you are 10cm and ready to push!’ No wonder things were painful! I ditched the gas and air and just used my own focussing techniques to push and after 50 mins of pushing Kaitlyn Grace was born on Wednesday 2nd September at 1.52am weighing 8lbs 11oz. She went straight in to my bare chest and it was amazing! It was like walking out of a dark tunnel into the sunlight, I felt no more pain, suddenly had loads of energy and was laughing and joking. Kaitlyn was very alert and fed straight away, no problems at all. I don’t even remember the placenta coming out, but I do remember asking the midwife to show it to us (science teachers, we were very interested!). All the time I had Kaitlyn in my arms and she was totally happy snuggled up against me. I needed some stitching so Chris held her then (more painful than actually giving birth, they don’t warn you about that at ante-natal!!) but within a couple of hours I was up having a bath and getting dressed.
Such a totally different experience compared to my son’s birth. I felt empowered, I felt like a really mother this time, and I felt an instant bond with Kaitlyn. Since her birth several people have commented on the closeness of our bond and I am sure that this is due to her amazing birth.
Thank you for the workshops as without these I would not have had the confidence to believe that I could ever have a birth experience like this!
Joyce x
Emma’s Home Birth Story
My pregnancy wasn’t exactly planned but was welcomed none the less. It was all fairly straightforward although I did have low iron levels and suffered with terrible heartburn. I had always hoped to have a home water birth from the beginning of my pregnancy, having researched birthing options and reading about other people’s experiences.
I wanted to keep my birth as natural as possible and to use just gas and air if I was able. Of course, I was aware that things don’t always go to plan but I felt if I did go to hospital the chances of medical intervention would go up and I would probably be at the mercy of hospital target times.
I decided to enrol in the advanced hypnotherapy course as I had used hypnotherapy in the past and it had really helped me. My course didn’t start until two weeks until my due date so I just kept my fingers crossed I would make it.
At 30 weeks my baby was lying in a breech position and my iron levels were still very low, putting in jeopardy my hopes for a home birth. In the following six weeks I spent ages bouncing on my swiss ball to turn the baby and eating bowls of curly kale, spinach and dried apricots to get my iron levels up. It was worth it in the end as at 36 weeks the baby had turned and my blood test results showed my iron levels had returned to normal so it was all systems go for the home birth. The birthing pool and gas and air were delivered at 38 weeks and I just waited!
I attended the hypno course on two consecutive Saturday mornings, battling through the January snow and ice to get there! I found Sharon to be a warm and informative tutor and the course environment was small and welcoming with lots of like minded people there. They all had their own differing reasons for attending but ultimately the aims were the same- for as stress free and smooth labour and birth as possible. We were given lots of techniques for focusing on our breathing, controlling pain and visualising success. I felt a lot more confident that I could ‘do it’ afterwards as the course very much focuses on childbirth being a natural physiological process which our bodies are designed to cope with.
On my due date I started to have a bit of spotting and this continued for a few days. By the following weekend my partner was concerned when I mentioned I was still bleeding a bit and I hadn’t really had many movements so he convinced me to go to the hospital to be checked out. All was fine which proved my partner was being a lot more panicky than me! Whilst I was there the midwife performed a cervical sweep to see if it would start my labour off. I’m not sure if it worked as it was 48 hours later when my waters broke in front of the workmen who were replacing some windows on our house!
My contractions started two hours later and were just mildly uncomfortable for the first three or four hours. I spent time trying to rest and relax during this time and bounced around on my birthing ball to ease any pain. When I found the contractions were needing more focus my partner started to time them and I started to use some of the techniques from my hypno course particularly breathing in the colour of calm and the colour of tension out. I also visualised my cervix dilating but using the rainbow colours.
When, by about midnight, my contractions were beginning to get quite a lot stronger I found it best to be on my feet and moving around, something which is a lot easier when you are at home. I went from room to room and stopped to breathe deeply and control the pain when a contraction came. Meanwhile my partner was kept busy filling the birthing pool. At 1.30am I was beginning to find it quite painful and I rang the midwife to let her know I thought I was definitely in full on labour and that I thought things would be happening that day. She asked if I could hang on any longer before she needed to come out and I said I would ring her when I really felt the need to get in the pool. At 3.30am I asked Nick to ring her as I was now struggling with the contractions and wanted to get into the water. She agreed to come over to the house.
My lasting memory of that night will be me standing in the bathroom with my forearms on the cold tiles and my forehead on my arms just sweating in pain! However, when each contraction started I would breathe and turn the pain down and it got me through. I would then just enjoy the 30 seconds or so until the next one!
The midwife arrived and examined me and I was glad to find out I was 6-7cm dilated so she agreed I could get in the pool. What a relief! It did slow the contractions down initially but it was nice to have a bit of respite for a while before they started up again. The water was a great relief as it takes the weight of your body and makes it easier to manoeuvre. I stayed on my hands and knees as I found this most comfortable and about 7am I started to have the feeling that I needed to push.
This was good as it gave the contractions a reason and me something to do when the pain came along. Again I tried to think about pushing the baby along the birth canal as we visualised in the course.
I was pushing for two hours when the midwives (there were two there now)told me they could see his head and it gave me the energy to keep going. When the head crowned I must admit it did burn but it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Probably because I was in the water and because I was just concentrating on pushing!
Baby George was born at 9.10am on the 3rd February in the birthing pool at my home. I was so pleased and relieved! He was put straight onto my chest and we sat in the warm water and cuddled whilst I waited to deliver my placenta. George was very alert and was rooting for a feed within about twenty minutes so I was able to give him his first feed in the water. It took about another half hour before the placenta came out and George’s cord was cut.
He was 8lb 2 when weighed and seemed to be healthy and happy from the start. I survived the whole experience relatively well with just a couple of small tears which needed stitching. It was exhausting and I must admit, very painful at times but the result is my gorgeous baby.
I truly believe that by choosing to have George at home in water and having prepared for the birth by doing the hypno course ,he and I managed to have a really positive and happy birth experience.
Fiona’s Hospital Birth Story
We attended your Hypnobirthing course in October. Our first child, baby boy Joel Harry Tatem arrived on 24th November 2009, 2 weeks early, weighing 6lb 15oz, and he was perfect in every way. He is growing so quickly, I can’t believe he is now 3 months old already!
I went into labour on Monday 23rd Nov, we were on our way to a couple of appointments. The initial labour was absolutely fine, we carried on with our appointments, and went to a garden centre for lunch. They were becoming more and more regular through the day, and we just kept an eye on them. (For info of any of your new mums to be, iPhone have a fantastic app for counting contractions, you simply download it to your phone, and press start and stop each time they come, it automatically charts them and gives you a report on how often, time between etc!)
We got in touch with Salisbury hospital at around 6pm, they said to hold on at home as long as possible. The contractions set in properly at what I would consider stage 2, by around 10pm. So we headed in. I was lucky enough to get use of the birthing pool from 1am, this combined with the breathing and visualisation techniques lead to an amazing labour experience.
Whilst I was unable to get into a complete hypnosis state, the breathing worked fantastically. The birth was not all as I expected, and nothing like the horror stories your ‘friends’ very kindly tell you!
The use of positive thinking and a positive attitude are key to getting through. The pool was fantastic for assisting with supporting the body in relaxing whilst you get on with a contraction and the breathing. I got out of the pool at around 5am, and Joel was born at 0649 on the Tuesday morning. I would consider I was in stage 2 & 3 for about 8 hours in total. I only used gas and air along with the pool and breathing, and had no stitches! For a first baby my midwife was extremely impressed.
So in short, thank you for passing on your knowledge and skills. Giving birth was fantastic, and yes, its does hurt, but you can control it, and it is just the most amazing thing I have ever done. I would do it again tomorrow if I needed to.
Kate’s Home Birth Story
My name is Kate Hunt and I came to you back in July for three birthing hypnotherapy sessions. We live down in Cornwall so you very kindly arranged to fit them all into one week when I was up visiting my mum.
Anyway, I am just emailing to say a huge thank you as the birth of my son Dylan on Oct 26th was a joy and I feel sure it was due to your help and the preparation I did before hand.
Prior to my sessions with you I would not have seriously considered giving birth at home as I would have been too scared due to the birth experience I had with my daughter, but after talking with you I realised that it actually made total sense to have him at home and that’s what I did!
I felt very confident and totally in control both prior to and during his birth. It was a lovely experience and would like to tell you about it as I feel it was your help that made it possible.
On the morning of the 25th my waters ruptured, but not fully, they just began to trickle, so after a check up at the birth centre I was sent home to wait. Mum came down from Romsey to help out and we went shopping and out for a lovely walk. At this point I was only experiencing very mild twinges.
By dinner time they still hadn’t got any stronger so we had a nice and very relaxed meal together. After dinner the contractions started to come but were irregular and not very strong, so we sat about chatting and playing cards and generally having a lovely evening!
At about midnight they got stronger and started coming every 3 minutes so mum suggested we call the midwife. I was convinced I was nowhere near ready as I still felt so in control, I was practicing all the exercises you had suggested and the breathing techniques and was feeling ok about the whole thing. Anyway, I gave in and let Mark call the midwife who arrived at about 1am, she them immediately called the 2nd midwife who arrived at 1.30am. By this point I was feeling the pain but dealing with it very well and only needed the entinox for the final stages. The midwives examined me and I was fully dilated, I couldn’t believe it!! After half an hour or so of gentle pushing Dylan was born at 2.55am weighing in at a substantial 10lbs 1 oz!!
It was just such a lovely experience. I couldn’t believe how in control and ok I felt throughout the whole thing. I felt so elated and proud of myself that I had actually managed it at home and without pain relief! After having Evie I felt sure I would need another epidural as her birth felt so traumatic, I cant thank you enough for helping me avoid that.
I would gladly recommend your services to anyone and really cant thank you enough for what you helped me to achieve!!
Many, many thanks,
Kate Hunt x
Jolie’s Home Birth Story
Thank you for instructing me in Hypnobirthing and equipping me with skills which were instrumental in having the most amazing and empowering birth experience!
I gradually moved from a person who was petrified about the prospects of giving birth, because of having life long hip problems, to someone who felt confident enough to trust their body and opt for home water birth even when my family and partner were quite nervous about it.
For me, the mental and emotional preparation for the birth was really important. I’d read lots of books about birth, but they didn’t do much to address my worries about becoming ‘overwhelmed’ and coping with the ‘pain’ if it all got too much. Hypnobirthing equipped me with actual skills to keep me calm and confident and centred. And the more I practised by listening to the tape and even using the music to drift off to sleep at night, I felt more comfortable about the prospect of birth.
Of course, I was worried that I might forget everything in labour, so I made posters to remind me of techniques as well as personal positive affirmations to inspire me, and I stuck them all around the living room where I’d be giving birth!
When labour finally happened, late on a Sunday evening, I was relatively calm until I found out that my midwife was off duty until after 6pm on Monday night! I told her, matter-of-factly, that this would be the slowest labour yet and she would be delivering this baby! And this is when Hypnobirthing really proved its worth to me. I stayed in bed all Sunday night and all of Monday, listening to the tape and repeating in my head that “this would be the slowest and most comfortable labour”. I laboured during the evening quite comfortably, and made a drawing of my ‘cervix’ with a rainbow of coloured rings to help me visualise moving from centimetre to centimetre with ease. I was even able to watch my favourite TV show Prison Break, and it was only after that, the sensations in my body really picked up and I needed to call the midwife! As she arrived and examined me she was surprised to find that I was already 8 cm dilated and it was time to get in the pool.
Getting into the water was probably the hardest transition. I did suddenly feel panicked and focused on breathing in my colours of ‘calm’ and by putting my fingers together and saying the word ‘calm’ out-loud, my anxiety levels sharply reduced. My midwife used my posters to remind me of some of my affirmations from time to time, and when it became it hardest, I felt grateful that someone understood what to say to help me remain calm and confident in the moment. Suddenly two hours passed, although it felt like minutes, and my beautiful son Beau had been born in the water, at home, in just the way I wanted it to be. It was a truly exhilarating, inspiring, unforgettable experience and in my mind, Hypnobirthing was instrumental in being able to experience birth in such a positive way.
Beau Alexander Roberts born on 6th Feb 2007 with Mum, Dad and Grandma!