Birth Stories
'The midwives commented on how calm & in control I was'
Natalie’s Story
Some close friends had attended HypnoBirthing classes and they had had a positive birthing experience, and a calm baby. Although I had been sceptical, this encouraged me to give it a go. My preconception was that I may not be in control, but once we had started the HypnoBirthing sessions it made so much sense. Wendy is so calm and relaxed that I soon felt at ease.
I had been quite stressed during my first pregnancy and hadn’t really connected that the stress would impact on the birth and on my baby. Learning about the history of birthing and how stress can impede on birth was a turning point for me. I realised that this time it could be a different, calmer and a more relaxed experience.
With my first pregnancy I had read everything there was to read about pregnancy and birth, but this time I felt so much more prepared. I felt so confident in my own body’s natural ability to birth my baby that I decided to have a home birth!
I had never even considered having a home birth, but with my new found confidence, having the baby at home birth seemed the perfect and natural place.
Cassian was born at home on 10 October 2006 at 11.20 am after just over 4 hours of labour. I didn’t really experience any pain, just discomfort like period pain, the birth felt calm and I felt in control. The breathing techniques that I had been taught were really effective and seemed so natural. The midwives commented on how calm and in control I was and on the calm atmosphere of the room. Cassian is a typical hypno-baby. So content and so easy going!
Apart from having such a wonderful birth experience I have also noticed the difference in myself generally. With the HypnoBirthing relaxation techniques I cope with stress so much more easily and am so much more relaxed than I used to be. My friends have even noticed and commented on how calm I am these days! I have been recommending HypnoBirthing to everyone!
Chris’ Story
The first session was very significant for me as the concept behind HypnoBirthing made so much sense. I really felt that birth has been hijacked and become a medical event and that it can be returned to the natural process that it really is. I started talking about it at work the next day as I wanted to spread the word, but the women looked at me as if to say ‘what do you know about birth?’
Once we had made the decision to have a home birth I had overwhelming faith that it was the natural and right place to be for our natural birth. That was a big turning point for me.
HypnoBirthing got me fully engaged with this pregnancy, birth, and baby. It felt so much more about ‘us’, a partnership. We really focused on the birth together, a shared experience, unlike the first time around when my focus had been to get the house done up and ready. I felt totally prepared and really confident about what my role was, what I needed to do, and be, to help Natalie.
On the day of Cassian’s birth I looked back at what an amazing experience it had been. Being at home reinforced that it is a natural process and we both felt very much in control. HypnoBirthing really empowered us. I would, and do, recommend it to all fathers-to-be as it really enables you to be a part of your baby’s birth and to support your partner at such an important and amazing time.
Natalie Snelson and Chris Allwright - Derby
