Hi Pip
I have been meaning to write to you about my birth. I had the most perfect birth .
It was the birth I wanted in a private hospital!
It wouldn’t have been possible without having done your course!
My student midwife has asked me to write to you to tell you my hypnobirthing story – she thought you would want to know!
My waters broke at the stroke of midnight at home and the surges started maybe 15 minutes after that. It’s intensity caught me by surprise.
It was a very intense sensation, and I honestly don’t think I would have coped if it wasn’t for the hypnobirthing relaxation techniques I had been practicing every day for a few weeks before the birth.
It took me about 1 hour at home to calm myself down by listening to the CDs on my fitball – to get into a relaxed state and rhythm with the surges.
By around 2am I noticed that my surges were regular so we called SJOG hospital – to the midwife’s horror – she couldn’t believe that we were still at home after my waters broke and told us to rush in straight away.
Aaron and I were going well so we knew we were OK.
I have to thank you for showing how to get from the car into the hospital. That technique to stop and lean on something made all the difference. The person at the front desk at the hospital was surprised that I didn’t need a wheelchair to get to the maternity ward.
We got to the Natural Birthing Suite at SJOG at 3am, I was 6cm dilated.
My student midwife was able to attend luckily, she arrived at 4am and helped so much. She was so encouraging and helped with the endorphin massage by pouring water on my back and front with the shower hose. Aaron needed a hand as he was falling asleep!
I spent about 4 hours sitting in a chair under the shower, the surges were on my legs and I couldn’t stand. I wasn’t allowed in the bathtub because my waters had broke.
By 8am sitting under the shower wasn’t comfortable anymore, so I moved to the bed where I was able to lie on my stomach over a maternity beanbag. The transition happened then, I was fully dilated and they called my obstetrician. It was a Saturday so it was lucky that he was on roster that weekend. I have to say that he was fantastic during the birth – I wasn’t that impressed with him during our appointments as you know, but on the day he was great.
Our student midwife ‘caught’ William – our big bonny boy – 3.71kgs, 50cm.
My obstetrician asked me to push in a hurry. I would have preferred to sit there and let my body do it, but alas I was asked to push.
Hypnobirthing gave me techniques to cope. I did cry and I absolutely felt everything, but it was always so short lived and I was able to relax and pull myself together between surges.
My student midwife said it was the most calm birth she had seen.
I think even my obstetrician was impressed at how relaxed we all were.
William was born at 9.20am – he didn’t cry when he came out – he just looked at myself and Aaron – very inquisitive.
It is my greatest achievement and the best day of my life.
I am happy to say that I had a calm and easy birth 🙂
Claire x