Wondering how Hypnobirthing and Induction Of Labour Works?
This hypnobirthing story will inspire you.
Even though Shelby agreed to an induction due to clear medical reasons, she and Steven stay committed to their Hypnobirthing Australia training and had the most beautiful birth.
They were also really well supported by the care provider they chose. Choosing an obstetrician who is truly supportive of Hypnobirthing makes such a difference .
Their video is beautiful too.
“Dear Pip,
This is our story of the birth of our son Harvey James Nicholas:
I had a pretty relaxed and trouble free pregnancy up until about 36 weeks when my blood pressure decided it would spike. I was also having blurry vision and with a history of preeclampsia in the family, both Steven and I thought it would be best for me to finish work 2 weeks earlier than planned. Throughout the next couple of weeks with lots of rest, my blood pressure had dropped and was staying down.
At my 38 week appointment, my blood pressure was starting to rise again. There had been talk of a possible induction if my blood pressure was unstable so for the next week we tried everything to bring my labor on naturally as we knew my OB wouldn’t recommend going on past my due date. At my 39 week appointment, my blood pressure had yet again gone up. We discussed with my OB the pros and cons of waiting past my due date but we decided with the circumstances it was better to have a little bit of an intervention earlier on than need bigger interventions later.
My OB was really great and even let us decide what day we wanted to go in.
The day before our induction I was really nervous. I was scared that the induction was going to take away everything that we had worked towards and that I wouldn’t be able to use my hypnobirthing techniques that I had been practicing. I spoke to Pip that day who restored my confidence and I knew deep down that I had made the right decision.
On Friday the 7th August we went in for our induction.
We immediately set up the room.
We dimmed the lights, closed the curtains, placed the hypnobirthing sign on the door and I placed my orange birth colour blanket on the bed. I think the sign really helped to keep our room in the zone as anyone that came into the room knew what they were walking into. We also showed the midwives our preferences and the sheet about hypnobirthing and how they can help.
At 8:30am we met up with my OB who put in the first lot of gel. I was already 2cm dilated which was good to hear. Pretty much straight away I started feeling very mild surges almost like period pain but a bit stronger. The midwives check me again at 1pm. I was having regular short surges so my OB decided not to put in another lot of gel as I was progressing.
He understood that we wanted as little interventions as possible and there was no rush.
For the rest of the day, I spent time rocking on my fit ball, walking around and listening to the surge of the sea track. We met up with the OB again at 6pm, I was now 3cm and he was happy to just wait and see what happens throughout the night and morning.
The surges still weren’t strong so he suggested that we should go out for dinner.
We were only just around the corner from Stevens parents house so we went to visit them for an hour. We were a bit sneaky as they had no idea I was in early labour or that we had been at the hospital.
At 7pm my birth photographer Amber arrived. She stayed for a couple of hours and took some photos of around our room and the hospital.
When we returned back to the hospital I had a terrible headache. The surges hadn’t gotten any stronger so we both decided it was a good time to try and get some sleep. I woke at 1am with the headache pain again and took two panadol and went back to bed.
I woke again at 3am with this strange pressure, I just thought I needed to wee. To my surprise as I walked to the bathroom my waters broke.
I woke Steven to let him know and jumped into the shower. While in the shower, I started having regular surges. They were mild at this stage so I spent most of the next 4hrs on my yoga mat kneeling over my fit ball rocking back and forth and breathing through each one.
We had the hypnobirthing birthing tracks on the whole time which really helped me focus on my breathing.
At 4am my amazing birth photographer Amber returned. I hardly even noticed her or any of the midwives as I was in my zone the whole time.
I was having surges every 3 mins and they were lasting 40-60 sec each. They slowly progressed and at around 8am they were now very strong and I was finding it difficult to relax to breathe through them.
Steven was so great and held onto me, I was able to hang off him which helped me to relax all my muscles. I honestly couldn’t have done it without him.
At around 8:30am I had this eminence pressure to bear down. I kept wanting to sit on the toilet as this was the only position I found comfortable.
Steven called for the midwife and I think she was surprised how far along I was.
She wanted to monitor bub to see how he was coping through the surges. Unfortunately, his heart rate was dropping so she encouraged me to bear down. We put the bed up all the way and I knelt over the top of the bed. With each surge, I beared down. I kept trying in that position but bub wasn’t moving and his heart rate was still dropping.
At 9am my OB explained what was happening with bubs heart rate and said it was really important that we get him out soon. I changed positions onto my back and bub seemed happier that way too. I kept bearing down but it got to a point where bub was just a little stuck. My OB used the ventouse to just lift his head so he would come out. The whole time Steven was encouraging me that I was doing a great job.
At 9:34am our son was born and was placed on my chest.
Our poor little man had the cord around his neck twice which we quickly unhooked, he gave out a few little cries and then settled. We had an uninterrupted first hour and while I was having a shower Steven had some skin to skin with Bub too.
Seeing him for the first time was the most beautiful, amazing moment. I couldn’t believe he was actually here and how quickly everything happened.
I was super surprised to find out that Harvey weighed in at 9lbs 7oz and was 53cm long.
I was so proud of myself that I birthed my baby drug-free and I had an amazing OB who made sure I didn’t need an episiotomy or receive any tears (to many people’s surprise). Apparently, we were the talk of the town on the ward as the “hypnobirthing parents” they were all in awe of how relaxed and in the zone we all were.
I have to give out a huge Thank you to all the staff at St John of God Mt Lawley and my OB who were so incredible and supportive and respectful of our preferences.
Pip thank you so much for sharing all your knowledge with us.
I had the amazingly beautiful birth that I always wanted even with those little interventions. I always knew I could do it but you gave me the tools to make it possible. So many people said I couldn’t do it but did I show them!
I’ve been telling everyone about hypnobirthing and how possible a beautiful birth is smile emoticon
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you
Shelby, Steven and Harvey”