Alfie, 8 lb 7 oz
"I went up to bed at 11pm and had a 'show', which was just a few pinky spots so we phoned the midwifery birthing unit to check with them what to do. They asked the colour and how much, at that point it was a teaspoon, if that, but by the end of the conversation more fluid was coming out so the midwife asked us to go in so she could check the colour.
We got to the birthing unit at 12 midnight and waters were flooding out of me by this point, and kept coming! The midwife said that contractions usually start naturally after waters breaking, so advised us to go home and relax, to get sleep and energy for if and when contractions and labour do start. But when we got home I found that I couldn’t get comfortable laying down and realised the contractions were starting.
My birth partner started timing contractions at 2am and we phoned the birthing unit to let them know contractions had started. By 5am the contractions were coming stronger with less time in between them so we phoned again, and decided to go in.
I was assessed when we arrived at 7.15 am was surprised to be only 2 cm dilated, but we stayed for an hour to see how we felt. Contractions continued regularly, and following my instincts, I wasn't keen to go home. We were shown to a birthing room and the midwife was happy to 'let us see how we went', and to call her if we needed her. I felt this worked well as I felt comfortable and safe, and with help at hand if needed. The contractions felt too strong to move too much, let alone go home.
At 9.45am I was checked again and was still at 2cm dilated but the baby was a long way down the birth canal so we needed to mobilise to progress the birth. Looking back I really think that this was the turning point. I was reluctant to mobilise initially as the contractions were strong and painful but my birth partner was really great and got me moving, between contractions, when the waves died down. We stood up together moving, bobbing, dancing movements with my hands on his shoulders, and that helped to move baby’s head into the right position. The mobilising really was the key, and the turning point that progressed my labour. We got into a good rhythm of mobilising between contractions, and I also felt better for this too. I declined a further check of my cervix, and the midwife was happy to wait and see how we progressed.
At 11.40am I felt urges to push so my birth partner called the midwife; at this point the contractions were lasting a minute and were coming every 3 minutes. Over the next 15 to 20 minutes the contractions became even stronger and the midwife started to prepare for delivery. The urge to push was instinctive and my body felt the need to do it; I didn’t need any prompting.
At 12.25 the baby’s head was visible and through some very strong contractions, at 12.58 baby Alfie’s head and body flew out all at once (I felt that!).
I felt in control through the labour, my body doing what it needed to do and the midwife really respected my birth plan and wishes which was really reassuring. I used the hypnobirthing techniques throughout the whole labour, focusing on the breathing and getting through the contractions, seeing them as waves, which would die down from the 'peak' of intensity. Visualising them as waves really helped me to work through the contractions.
I was told that I was very calm throughout the labour. I was in my own world and very focused. In fact, focused to the extent that I didn’t want any music playing during the labour as I found it a distraction, however the music/tracks were essential to my preparation to enable me to relax & recharge my energy levels during later months of pregnancy and I also used it in very early labour when I was at home, and initially when arriving at the birthing unit. Things were calm and peaceful and I was in control throughout. I had 2 paracetamol but other than this, a very natural labour which is what I wanted very much.
In summary, the hypnobirthing workshops enabled me to believe labour and birth could be positive and natural without the need for medication for pain relief, or the need for medical intervention. Hypnobirthing gave me positive thoughts and methods, and showed me ways I could help myself. One of the things I learnt is that positive reinforcement and believing you can do something gets you a long way. For me it was hugely beneficial, and I was so pleased I came across it and attended the workshops. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with the 3 of us."
"I went up to bed at 11pm and had a 'show', which was just a few pinky spots so we phoned the midwifery birthing unit to check with them what to do. They asked the colour and how much, at that point it was a teaspoon, if that, but by the end of the conversation more fluid was coming out so the midwife asked us to go in so she could check the colour.
We got to the birthing unit at 12 midnight and waters were flooding out of me by this point, and kept coming! The midwife said that contractions usually start naturally after waters breaking, so advised us to go home and relax, to get sleep and energy for if and when contractions and labour do start. But when we got home I found that I couldn’t get comfortable laying down and realised the contractions were starting.
My birth partner started timing contractions at 2am and we phoned the birthing unit to let them know contractions had started. By 5am the contractions were coming stronger with less time in between them so we phoned again, and decided to go in.
I was assessed when we arrived at 7.15 am was surprised to be only 2 cm dilated, but we stayed for an hour to see how we felt. Contractions continued regularly, and following my instincts, I wasn't keen to go home. We were shown to a birthing room and the midwife was happy to 'let us see how we went', and to call her if we needed her. I felt this worked well as I felt comfortable and safe, and with help at hand if needed. The contractions felt too strong to move too much, let alone go home.
At 9.45am I was checked again and was still at 2cm dilated but the baby was a long way down the birth canal so we needed to mobilise to progress the birth. Looking back I really think that this was the turning point. I was reluctant to mobilise initially as the contractions were strong and painful but my birth partner was really great and got me moving, between contractions, when the waves died down. We stood up together moving, bobbing, dancing movements with my hands on his shoulders, and that helped to move baby’s head into the right position. The mobilising really was the key, and the turning point that progressed my labour. We got into a good rhythm of mobilising between contractions, and I also felt better for this too. I declined a further check of my cervix, and the midwife was happy to wait and see how we progressed.
At 11.40am I felt urges to push so my birth partner called the midwife; at this point the contractions were lasting a minute and were coming every 3 minutes. Over the next 15 to 20 minutes the contractions became even stronger and the midwife started to prepare for delivery. The urge to push was instinctive and my body felt the need to do it; I didn’t need any prompting.
At 12.25 the baby’s head was visible and through some very strong contractions, at 12.58 baby Alfie’s head and body flew out all at once (I felt that!).
I felt in control through the labour, my body doing what it needed to do and the midwife really respected my birth plan and wishes which was really reassuring. I used the hypnobirthing techniques throughout the whole labour, focusing on the breathing and getting through the contractions, seeing them as waves, which would die down from the 'peak' of intensity. Visualising them as waves really helped me to work through the contractions.
I was told that I was very calm throughout the labour. I was in my own world and very focused. In fact, focused to the extent that I didn’t want any music playing during the labour as I found it a distraction, however the music/tracks were essential to my preparation to enable me to relax & recharge my energy levels during later months of pregnancy and I also used it in very early labour when I was at home, and initially when arriving at the birthing unit. Things were calm and peaceful and I was in control throughout. I had 2 paracetamol but other than this, a very natural labour which is what I wanted very much.
In summary, the hypnobirthing workshops enabled me to believe labour and birth could be positive and natural without the need for medication for pain relief, or the need for medical intervention. Hypnobirthing gave me positive thoughts and methods, and showed me ways I could help myself. One of the things I learnt is that positive reinforcement and believing you can do something gets you a long way. For me it was hugely beneficial, and I was so pleased I came across it and attended the workshops. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience with the 3 of us."
