I keep telling people it is not about how or where you birth it is about how you feel before, during and after your birth.
It is really important for our babies that we stay out of fight and flight (our sympathetic nervous system) too, so they keep getting the oxygen they need.
Amélie’s story is such a beautiful example of this.
When I asked Amélie if I could share her story, this is what she wrote:
“Hi Pip,
Thank you for your kind words. We agree, our hypnobirthing training really supported us to calmly manage the path of Audrey’s birth!
We would be more than happy for you to share our story – if it helps other expecting couples understand that things don’t always go to plan – but that we can prepare ourselves with hypnobirthing to manage and enjoy the journey, regardless of the path it takes – then that would be wonderful.
Thanks again for everything you did for Paul, Audrey and I, we loved our time with you and looked forward to it every week – so thank you for all of your teachings and support! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Much love,
Amélie, Paul and Audrey
Xxxx”
And here is her story 🙂
Dearest Pip,
Well, this email has been a long time coming….
Paul and I would like to introduce you to Audrey Cécile Ivkovic who was born on Monday 9 July 2018 at 5:07 am in the morning.
She weighed in at 3.805 kg (or 8 pounds 4 ounces) and was 54 cm long with a head circumference of 34 cm.
Audrey’s entrance into the world was beautiful but not quite how we had anticipated – but we were well prepared to deal with the challenges thanks to our amazing experience and learnings from our Hypnobirthing Australia™ classes with you.
In the lead up to Audrey’s estimated due date, which was the 6 July 2018, we had a couple of stretch and sweeps and also went and saw Michelle and Ian at East Meets West for pregnancy and induction acupuncture.
We were booked in for an induction on Monday 9 July 2018; but low and behold, I awoke at 2 am on Sunday morning with the beginning of contractions.
The contractions continued steadily throughout the morning and day, and I was able to utilise the relaxation techniques you had taught us at our hypnobirthing classes to get through them at home.
However, by around 1 pm that day, I was in quite a lot of pain and my contractions were coming on top of each other, I had wondered whether it was because Audrey was posterior, but this felt quite different.
Unfortunately, around 3:30 pm, while at home I had an antepartum haemorrhage and had to be taken by ambulance to KEMH – which meant, we couldn’t birth at the birth centre.
Once at KEMH, they assessed us, and Audrey was an absolute champion. Her CTG was absolutely perfect. They couldn’t identify where the bleeding was coming from but as she was stable, they were happy for me to continue to labour naturally.
So that’s what we did…. I laboured for 19.5 hours naturally, no pain relief, just our hypnobirthing techniques and acupressure points, but after 19.5 hours, I was exhausted. The only way I was comfortable was standing, and by this time, I was so tired. So I opted for an epidural.
Once I had the epidural, I was so much more comfortable and could rest for a period of time.
The midwives and the doctors were absolutely amazing. They couldn’t get over how stable Audrey was and how much of a little trooper she was being, despite the ongoing bleeding.
Because she was posterior, it took me quite a while to dilate, but we got there eventually.
The midwives were phenomenal, they used our birth plan and ensured that every element we could implement in the labour ward at KEMH, was implemented.
They were amazing advocates for us and Audrey!!!!
I pushed for 3 hours – which is amazing – but after this time, the obstetrician wanted to deliver Audrey, so after negotiating with him to help deliver her via forceps without an episiotomy, all he had to do was lift her head above my pelvis and then I panted her out…. with only second degree tear!
The mood in the room was amazing, so supportive, the lights were off, it was dim, we had our diffuser going and music playing and every wish we had in relation to this ever-changing birth plan were met.
The midwives took photos of the birth for us…. and, after 27-hours, I was able to bring Audrey up from below and onto my chest.
We had delayed cord clamping and I was able to cut the umbilical cord. Audrey came out with APGARS of 9 and 9…. And so remained on my skin for over an hour with her first feed happening then too! WOW!!!!
The midwives kept saying that this was the most beautiful instrumental delivery they had ever been a part of, everyone in the room was so supportive and respectful of our desires and of each other.
They all worked together to ensure our experience was amazing and that Audrey was born safe and sound – we couldn’t have felt more safe and secure.
So, although she didn’t quite make her estimated due date and we didn’t have the water birth we had hoped for, Audrey came naturally and is healthy and happy – which is all we can ask for!
The APH was from a large retro-placental haematoma – so that combined with a 450 ml PPH – made for an eventful birth!
Thank you so much for everything you taught us, Pip. You have given us life skills to deal with a whole range of situations, not just birth. We are forever thankful to you for teaching us the hypnobirthing way.
Much love,
Amélie, Paul and Audrey
xxxx