“Hi Janet, sorry I haven’t been back in touch yet – it’s been a bit full-on with the little man! I wanted to thank you for all your support and help during my pregnancy. I ended up going two weeks ‘overdue’ and was under a lot of pressure from doctors to get induced, something that I really didn’t want to happen.
The methods that I learnt on the course – as well as your invaluable support at the end of the phone – helped me stay calm during this time and I felt informed and confident in the choices I was making, particularly the decision to let my little one come when he was ready. Things started naturally, and the midwives at the hospital were very respectful of my birthing plan and intention to Hypnobirth – one even put affirmations up on the walls of the birthing pool room as inspiration!
I ended up having a very long labour, which was quite testing, but the relaxation techniques helped me stay calm when things weren’t moving along as quickly as expected. After many hours, I ended up accepting the offer to have my waters broken as I was getting exhausted and wanted to avoid intervention later if I became too tired. Again, this is something I felt was right for me at the time, as I had all the information I needed to weigh up the benefits and risks, and had considered these beforehand. Things moved more quickly then and I got into the birthing pool.
The active ‘pushing’ stage took four hours, again something I couldn’t have predicted, but the midwives later said I ‘breathed beautifully’ through it all and baby didn’t get distressed at any point. I’m sure this was down to the daily practice I had done with my birthing partner in the months leading up to the birth. I felt focused and, although it was tiring and intense, I went within myself and found the strength and focus to have the natural birth I wanted. I had to get out of the pool for the final moments to let gravity take a helping hand, but with the next surge I delivered my beautiful boy into the world.
The lights were dimmed, my relaxation music was on, and my baby was placed skin to skin for an hour to enjoy that special bonding time. I am so grateful that I was able to have the natural birth I wanted, even if this precious boy took a little longer than expected – perfection takes time! ❤️
My baby boy weighed 9lbs 2oz. Permission to use any of my message xx”