“Hi Janet, Once again thank you for everything!! When the surges started in the morning I felt like I wasn’t going to be strong enough to get through the day but started the techniques we talked about and suddenly a few hours later our baby boy was here 😀 so thank you very much. I had a great experience and again please thank the midwives. They were so key to me having a positive birth.
Speaking to other women when you start to tell people your pregnant can bring out very different birth experiences. Some women love to tell of a painful/unhappy experience and I wanted to make sure I wasn’t one of those. I learnt about hypnobirthing from a few friends before I got pregnant and instantly new I wanted to birth that way. When people find out you want to hypnobirth they think it’s something unusual/for hippies/expensive. I can definitely say it was worth every penny and should be seen as the most normal and best way to birth.
I attended classes at around 20 weeks in which your made to you feel prepared and takes away fears of the unknown. All options/choices are discussed and by the time you leave your feel you will be able to make the best choices for you and your baby to have the best experience possible.
I woke up at 4.30am with cramps unsure if this was the start of anything as It was three weeks before my due date. I was determined to stay home as long as possible so ran a bath and breathed through my surges as they grew stronger. By 8/8.30 i knew this was me preparing to have our baby so called the midwives at helme chase who advised I make my way in and they would be ready for me. When I arrived they had a lovely pool room prepared with cold drinking water next to the bed and dimmed lights. I was examined by a lovely midwife at around 9/9.30 who said I was 7cm dilated and could get straight in the pool. I put my hypnobirthing cd on and the midwives provided some lovely aromatherapy and I got in the pool. I hadn’t had time to write my birth plan or pack a hospital bag but as soon as ivmentioned I was hypnobirthing the midwives used the word surge, dimmed lights etc and new that I wasn’t talking as I wanted to concentrate on my breathing.I stayed in the pool with the midwife discreetly checking me every now and then and quietly letting me know I was doing great. My partner stroked my neck and though I didn’t speak to him the whole time I really felt he was there to support me.
At 2.40pm I breathed our baby boy out into the pool and caught him myself before spending some quality time in the pool cuddling him. I was then pampered by the midwives with constant support and lots of tea and toast!! They supported me through our first feed and I asked lots of questions about sleeping, feeding etc and they suggested I call or pop into see them anytime with more questions. They ran a bath for me when I was ready and helped me and my partner prepare to take our beautiful boy home. I left around 7pm and am very proud of how quick the labour had been and that I used my own breath and power to breathe our baby out without pain relief. I believe none of this would have been possible without hypnobirthing as it took away the fear I had of pregnancy and birth and helped me to understand the choices and options available to me.
Thanks
Claire, Eddie and Charlie xxxx”