Super heroes, super parents

Hi Pip

Just wanted to share with you our spontaneous, exciting, fast, intense but beautiful birth experience.

At 40 weeks my midwife booked me in for an induction to be done at 42 weeks.

I felt defeated and felt like I’d come so far and my birth would be taken out of my hands. At the birth centre and once we had completed the Hypnobirthing course, Bodhi and I felt confident, empowered and excited. I was fearing that in a hospital setting Bodhi and I were going to loose our power and we’d be perceived as just a young couple who could be walked over.

Bodhi decided that since we both felt our little girl wasn’t arriving any time soon, he would work the Saturday and Sunday to try allow more time off when she did arrive. On the Friday, I voiced out loud how worried I was that Bodhi was wearing himself out and he’d make himself sick. It’s safe to say I think the universe and my little girl heard and sensed my concerns because that’s where it all began.
At 2:30am on the 21st February I was woken by my waters breaking. I was calm and jumped into the shower. When Bodhi came to check on me I was that calm that I told him I’d probably progress slowly so he might as well go back to sleep to be rested for work and I’d go to the hospital on my own. I said this because I was convinced I’d get there and be sent home because everything was fine and I’d just slowly labour throughout the day. 10 minutes after I was out of the shower I was on all fours, using slow breathing techniques and affirmations to begin getting me into my primal self. Bodhi packed the car and we were off.

The car ride was a blur. My eyes were closed and I was visualising holding my baby. When we arrived we had to go straight to the hospital section rather than the birth centre itself. I had my maternity pillow with me which was a great comfort thing. I was checked internally and was told I was 4cm dilated and surges were regular. Unfortunately my body was reacting to the surges with aggressive involuntary whole body shaking and vomiting. I was put on a drip and giving stuff for my nausea. Bodhi asked before anything was put in me “is this harming her or my baby and will this prevent us from birthing down in the birth centre?” At this point I was no longer talking and just going deeper and deeper into relaxation as I kept reminding myself that each surge was bringing my baby closer to me and I was safe. Bodhi was doing light touch massages and telling me in my ear to allow my body to do what it needs to and to trust my body. Once I was no longer comfortable on the bed I was changing positions from slow dancing with Bodhi to squatting on the floor. At 6:30am a doctor decided that our baby’s heart beat wasn’t showing strong enough signs and we were not allowed to birth down at the birth centre. Instead we’d be taken out of the observation area and put into a room. I was so relaxed and deep that I didn’t even respond to the news. I walked with Bodhi into the new room and was able to fall asleep on my knees and resting over a fit ball. I was able to continue to sleep through my surges with the help of Bodhi massaging my lower back. Our mum’s had both arrived at this point but I was to deep to acknowledge them. At 7:30 my midwife told Bodhi to take me to the toilet. At this point I began crying and saying to Bodhi I was exhausted. Little did I know this was me transitioning. My midwife announced I was fully dilated and our mothers left the room. I remember feeling unsure about what to do now that I was at that stage because I’d been asleep and it didn’t feel real that we were at this point so soon. I got up on the bed, rested over my fit ball and began feeling the urge to push.

Indi Joy De Freitas was born at 8am. 8.8 pounds, 53cm and head circumference 36cm.

It was the most beautifully feeling in the world. I felt and continue to feel like a superhero. I spend most of my day looking at her feeling proud and amazed that Bodhi and I created a little human so perfect and I birthed so beautifully. We are experiencing a whole new and overwhelming love and respect for each other after going through that journey with each other. I know I wouldn’t have been able to birth so well without him.

 

Our only thing we feel was anything near a struggle was the third stage. We told her we wanted to do delayed cord clamping and our midwife agreed. However I lost a lot of blood (over 500ml) so she was beginning to become concerned. Bodhi asked if I’d still be safe if we waited a couple more minutes and she agreed. We cut the cord after 6 minutes.

We can not thank you enough. Hypnobirthing changed our lives. We tell people it was the best thing we did for our pregnancy but also for our relationship. I found in particular the birth videos helped me because I was able to allow my body to do what it needed to do because I’d seen other women do it. I know without Hypnobirthing I would’ve been on my back in a bed not knowing what to do. I found such comfort and safeness because of Hypnobirthing and I really trusted my body.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you Pip.