Empowered Home Birth 🏡Hypnobirth Story: From my Hpnobirthing clients, who took a full 12 hour course 1:1 via Zoom, Hazel and Andy (names have been changed)
“8pm Thursday night: Funny enough the night Andy and I were totally off guard and didn’t think anything was imminent, after me niggling with braxton hicks all week and having quite a few “is this it” moments. I felt a few painful niggles in the bath but nothing that hadn’t been ongoing for about a week. Got out of the bath and straight away the contractions ramped up.
At this point I still felt calm and in control, which I know for a fact would not be the case, had I not prepared myself with your course !
9.50pm decided to phone Midwives, as the pains weren’t stopping like my braxton hicks normally did, although I was still unsure if this really was it !
Mum came and picked our other child up, I thought I might have wanted him to stay, but when it started I felt I needed him out the way to relax !
10.50pm two amazing midwives walked in ! By this point I had “River Dawn” (Hypnobirthing music) playing, and a tens machine on my back but still in control, on the floor breathing through, with my dog by my side 💛
Andy had started filling the pool once we knew the midwives were coming.
The midwives came in and very discreetly checked I was ok, they asked if they could do a quick blood pressure check of me and check baby and all being well I could then get in the pool. I felt the need to ask for a vaginal examination at this point. (Think this was my inpatient personality coming through). I just needed to know this was the real thing and I hadn’t got these poor midwives out of bed for a false alarm 😂
4cm ! 👍🏻 midwives got me in the pool. At this point it was still all giggles and as you call it “butty box” chat. (Private joke from Janet) I was more than fine with this and the midwives, I felt, knew the humorous lighthearted chat was what I needed. The relief of the pool was amazing ! Things ramped up again, Andy had to keep grounding me at this point, with words we had practiced, he kept reminding me to relax my jaw which did help.
I also had affirmations on the wall (I was slightly skeptic of this) but they really worked for me, concentrating on reading the words I felt helped me. River Dawn still playing!! I’m not sure what time it was now, but I didn’t feel I could get much further without the gas and air. Now it really helped with pain and I’m not sure I could have gone without, but I think it unfortunately hindered the Hypnobirthing slightly because I wasn’t as with it, as much, in order to catch my breath.
I had a slight moment of panic, I somehow managed to break the gas and air canister by knocking it over and it leaked out fast, leaving me without when I really needed it. There was an ambulance passing that kindly dropped some off, as well as a paramedic student who needed to witness a birth. So she got to stay and watch. I didn’t mind at all. She was lovely, very helpful and completely faded into the background.
The midwives had picked up on my obvious transition and had totally changed how they were handling me now. Holding my hand when needed but the chit chat had stopped. Allowing me to get in the zone again a bit more.
I definitely felt that feeling you told me about where you throw your head back ! I was throwing my arms out and stretching as much as I could.
Unlike my first birth, although gas and air was used with both, I managed to feel in control in between contractions this time. Last time was just a horrendous blur where I don’t think I paused once between contractions !
A few hours like this and then It was time to push ! No coach pushing was given and I felt I was going with what my body was telling me. The only thing the midwife suggested was to get in my knees instead of floating on my back. This certainly helped because one or two pushes later our little baby was here, born in his waters at 3.09am and very content !
I literally couldn’t believe I had done it ! All at home with no stress and the best pair of midwives I could have wished for. They helped me control my breathing and stepped in at the right points. Both very clued up on hypnobirthing and it definitely showed ! At no point did I feel they were controlling, pushing opinions on me or taking over. They faded into the background but there hand holding and smily faces were 1000% needed.
We had a little bit of time in the pool, but I got very cold very quickly so they got me out and dry where we had skin to skin cuddles and tried feeding.
So here’s where it got slightly more difficult…..My placenta was taking it’s sweet time to arrive, we tried a few different positions and feeding our baby etc. I had the injection, still no joy (unsure again how long this was going on for, but it felt like quite a while) the midwives placed a urinary cath to empty my bladder in case that was blocking its exit ! Loads of urine came out. Still no placenta. I was then told that we were starting to be against the clock with how much longer we could leave it before transfer was needed. (Andy at this point was busy helping the other midwife sort our other child out and get him dressed) the house had got very cold because we hadn’t had chance to get the heating on so think he needed a good warm up too !
I was shattered by this point and was struggling to keep my eyes open, but the thought of a transfer still didn’t send me over the edge like I thought it might have done. I still managed to keep calm although wasn’t keen on the thought of an ambulance ride ! Anyway a good few hard pushes and a few decent tugs from the other midwife it came out ! We possibly hadn’t just given it long enough (it’s hard to say because I didn’t have any concept of time or how long we had been trying to get it out) it did feel like a while though ! One of the biggest placentas the midwife had seen !
We then all got wrapped up and ate toast and chilled out on the sofa while the midwives did paperwork ! Midwives left at 5.30am and we got in bed and had the best newborn cuddles. Being able to get in our own bed was just amazing.
The main thing I take out of all of this was the fact I gave birth at home, and at no point felt out of control, even with the potential transfer!! This categorically would not have been an option for me, had I not completed your course. I’ve now got a birth story completely different from my first, one which I cherish, and look back on and feel mega proud of. Not the birth story of my first which fills me with anxiety !
For that my gratitude towards you is endless. Your knowledge and passion encouraged me to inform myself, and by doing so helped me to remain in control throughout. I had numerous comments throughout my pregnancy, questioning my homebirth choice. People telling me it’s not safe…. I’m so glad I stuck to my guns and didn’t listen to the negative comments. Being informed made such a difference and I feel so empowered now. If I can “pop” a baby out in my own living room I can do anything!
Thank you thank you thank you. I will carry the calming hypnobirthing powers without me for anything stressful now ! Xxx”