We attended 2 days of 1:1 sessions in Janet’s hypno pod in May 2016. This immediately changed our views on birthing; from something I was frightened of and secretly hoping for a planned c section, to looking forward to a labour which could be a calm and wonderful experience. We practised the relaxation scripts together and listened to “River Dawn” music and the colours CD almost every evening.
Following the hypnobirthing course we planned for a home water birth. Unfortunately events would not enable this to happen, however, the hypnobirthing was a very effective tool to us.. Unfortunately at a hospital consultant appointment (at 40 weeks + 10 days) my blood pressure was found to be too high and the consultant wanted me to be induced.
This was something I did not want as I strongly believed that “baby will come when baby is ready”. At the hospital induction appointment the next day we were able to discuss this with the staff (using the BRAINS mnemonic) and as I was having regular tightenings by this point, we managed to delay induction on that day.
The ward that I was on that night was an 8 bedder with ladies in early labour post induction. It was therefore very busy, noisy and light. My tightenings stopped over night. When my husband came the next day he linked the environment to this and requested to speak to the doctor about going home as this would be a more suitable environment for labour with reasoning of adrenaline vs oxytocin etc.
The doctor asked if he was from a medical background! The doctor would not sign me out due to my BP but my husband negotiated a single room instead. Once in this room which we made dark and quiet and with “river dawn” playing, my tightening started again and my BP reduced.
My husband requested that staff coming onto shift read our birth plan and tried to follow the quiet and calm atmosphere. He was pivotal to us having the environment we needed and without hypnobirthing we wouldn’t have known to request this.
My surges increased in intensity and frequency although not to the level required by the staff who wished to break my waters. We managed to delay this initially but then after our 3rd day in hospital I agreed to this.
I feel that our knowledge assisted us to make this decision at the right time for us. Janet was also in contact with us throughout this time and was a complete support to us, considering our decisions with us and giving us extra advice and things to try. I know her support was vital to my husband who was a very good gate keeper while I stayed in my calm zone.
As my surges got more intense, the visualisations were extremely effective. On a few occasions the surges made me shaky, but by visualising my special place and seeing/smelling/feeling it I became calm and the shaking stopped immediately. The shoulder press from the scripts was great and instantly made me relax. I also found the “Up breathing” (I visualised hot air balloons) really effective and I felt calm and in control throughout the surges.
Although our labour and birth was somehow removed from our planned home water birth, I feel we still had a hypnobirthing birth (vaginal birth) and that without it, the events would have been incredibly stressful and possibly traumatic for us.
Whereas with hypnobirthing we felt informed, calm and in control throughout.
I therefore couldn’t recommend Hypnobirthing enough, especially with Janet, as her calm approach and support was a vital part of our experience. We now have a beautiful and very chilled out hypno baby boy….. with thanks, Louise