My Birth Story:
I did not enjoy my pregnancy at all. I did not have any complications but I felt very sick and had no energy. I was worried about birth because I felt I couldn’t cope with the pregnancy and how on earth was I meant to survive 24 hours + in labour if I couldn’t even walk up the stairs! I attended the hypnobirthing course at the suggestion of my midwife and on a recommendation from a friend. I was 34 weeks pregnant when I started the course, and I wish I had started it earlier.
I felt my first contractions at 2pm on Wednesday, they felt like back ache, but they stuck around and by 8pm they were 5 mins apart, although not painful. I walked a lot and at midnight, the contractions were starting to be painful so I had a bath and listened to the hypnobirthing tracks, my husband sat beside me and coached me through the breathing.
At 1am the contractions were 2 mins apart and we drove to hospital – the birthing tracks were on in the car. We were admitted straight to a delivery room and I was 4cm dilated. I used a birthing pool and listened to my birth playlist, my husband massaged my back and coached my breathing. Visualising the baby moving down and my uterus opening up really helped me to feel in control of what was happening, even though it got very painful very quickly. I used gas and air whilst in the pool, but did not continue to use it when I got out. My waters broke at 3.30am and I was at 7cm. I stayed sitting up, either on the toilet or on the couch.
I started pushing at 4.07am and my daughter was born at 4.10am on her due date, weighing 7lb 3oz. Within two hours of birth I had had an hour of skin to skin, a first breastfeed and a shower – I felt incredible! – and I definitely put this down to having felt in control throughout, even when everything was progressing very fast! There were no complications with myself or my baby either during or after the birth. I was in hospital for 48 hours.
I have used self-hypnosis in the early days of breastfeeding, and I also listen to the hypnosis music as it helps me to relax enough to go to sleep.
I would definitely recommend this course. All my anxiety surrounding birth completely disappeared and I felt fully in control, working with my baby, so that ultimately meeting her was amazing.
Thank you for running such a fantastic course.
Best Regards,
Rachel