Birth Stories
'It was a completely natural birth - no pain relief with the use of HypnoBirthing all the way through - it was awesome!!'
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Jane's story
Our baby boy Oscar arrived on the 15th November. I started feeling odd on the 13th, small twinges like mild period pains and also had what I later found out was a 'show' which continued to happen on Friday morning (14th). I was determined to carry on with my day although the 'period pains' had got stronger, but nothing to worry about or stop me from going shopping with my mum. We'd planned to have friends over in the evening which we also decided to keep to plan... period pains were getting much stronger at this point I knew something was going to happen just not sure when or if these were practice surges as I’d had practice surges before. Our friends left at 10.30pm, and as soon as they walked out the door I must have let my body relax as the surges became slightly stronger and coming every 15 mins.
I said to Will, “This is it! I’m going to bed” (I wasn't sure what else to do). By 11.30pm my surges were well on their way and I had to roll on to my hands and knees with every surge (instinct I guess, that position just felt right). Will rang the midwife at the hospital, she was lovely and reassured us both that all was well and keep going at home until I really feel like I couldn't cope any longer. 4.30am came and Will had noticed I’d gone into my own world, so put the bags in the car and we were off. From 11.30pm onwards Will had been reading from the scripts that Wendy had provided… I preferred one particular one which Will kept referring too, he stopped reading once my surges became more intense and we switched to using the CD's which turned out to be priceless!
Got to the hospital, and after being examined found I was 4cm dilated so we went straight up to a lovely big room where there was a pool for me to use if I wanted. Will put the CD straight on (we had also had it playing in the car) and the lights were dimmed. In the rush we'd forgotten the birth plan! It didn't matter as Will was brilliant and explained to the midwife what we wanted from the birth but if anything went differently because of our baby being in danger then we would want the best for baby and me. Our midwife was wonderful; she hadn't experienced a HypnoBirth before, but soon got to grips with the fact that we didn't really need too much help - only monitoring Oscar’s heart beat in regular intervals.
I was then examined at 9am and to the surprise of the midwife I was fully dilated and perhaps had been for 30mins or so. She asked if I needed to push but Will said no she has just been breathing through it. I could feel Oscar moving down slowly but surely... it’s difficult to know what stage I was at because I’d never felt these feelings before... looking back I should have started to breathe him down sooner. Anyway, we managed to get into the pool which was lovely. So nice in fact that my surges had got weaker as both Oscar and myself were so chilled. The midwife started to get a little concerned that Oscar would start to become distressed although his heart rate had stayed perfectly steady all the way through. It was decided that I was to get out of the pool, walk down the corridor into another room. I was also told to push which I did… I had become scared as they had mentioned getting a doctor involved and I didn't want all our hard work to be wasted so I pushed, which left a few stitches but nothing major.
I’d got myself into such a place that all 'pain' was transferred into, me being so excited about meeting our baby. I kept telling myself 'no-one is trying to hurt you and any uncomfortable feelings are your muscles moving our baby down' and visualising this process seemed to work for me. Will was amazing and I could not have done any of it with out him; he slowed my breathing down and reminded me to breathe, as it’s easy to forget! I couldn't speak really but a gentle nod or shake of my head and Will knew what I wanted. He also spoke to the midwife on my behalf which left me to get on and bring Oscar into the world as calmly as I could.
I was nervous about changing rooms but I did as they said and lo and behold Oscar arrived looking beautiful, perfect and very chilled about 15 mins later at 11.29am. We had skin-to-skin for at least an hour and then Will had his turn as I had to have a few stitches which gave me chance to have a cuppa tea and a bourbon biscuit!
Throughout the whole process I had no pain relief at all, not even a little paracetamol. It was a completely natural birth - no pain relief, with the use of HypnoBirthing all the way through - it was awesome! I can honestly say that HypnoBirthing was an amazing experience and made mine and Wills time in hospital bringing Oscar into the world a calm and (what we thought) quick experience.
Thank you Wendy and thank you HypnoBirthing... a wonderful experience!! And Oscar seems to be a very happy and extremely alert little boy.
Now for a word from Will!
Will's story
I have to say I am the proudest man alive. Jane did so, so, so well.
I must admit I'm not the best in hospitals and wondered how I'd be able to cope having to be the one directing Jane. I didn't have the greatest start when I told the midwife we had planned a HypnoBirth...she hadn't done one before...I said "not a problem I'll get you the birthing plan"...off I went to Jane's bag...oh dear I've forgot to bring it...eeek. Anyway I put the CD on...and off we went. As we'd started with the breathing techniques at home...we just picked it up again. All I had to do was help Jane to concentrate every now and again and make sure she stayed relaxed and calm...she did absolutely brilliantly. The room was so chilled and the midwife just let us get on...only checking Oscars heart beat every so often.
The midwife was so surprised with how quick things progressed...and so overwhelmed how well Jane was doing. No screaming, no shouting...just really good animal like sounds as she breathed Oscar down.
Anyway I could keep going on and on...but will shut up and just say - Wendy you're a star...HypnoBirthing was fantastic...thank you so, so much for making Oscars birthday very relaxing! BLOODY AMAZING!
Jane, Will and Oscar Hives - Derby, Derbyshire
