HypnoBirthing® UK

[kzknox]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to share my birth story here, as this forum has been a great comfort and help to me throughout my pregnancy and all your stories really helped me look forward to the birth....

I started a 4 week hypnobirthing course here in Glasgow at week 20 of pregnancy and used the relaxation techniques daily to stay relaxed and positive about birth (something I had had real fear about before the course).

Eva Cherry Knox was born a perfect Valentine's baby at 5.37am on the 14th February at 41 weeks exactly.

As to the birth, thanks to my hypnobirthing training i managed a 30 hour labour using only gas and air and with no intervention at any stage. I stayed at home for the first 20 hours, until the surges were about 3 minutes apart, and I really think the ability to cope in a relaxed way and completely without fear up until then was what made it possible to have the natural birth that I wanted. Once in the hospital i must admit I felt that I lost control very quickly, and in fact if I were to do it again I would try to not use the gas, I think once I had allowed that chink to develop in my mental armour, admitted to myself that it was too hard to do on my own, other negative thoughts could get hold and I started feeling really panicked.

At about 6cms (and over 24 hours into the labour) I was so tired and shaky I really didn't think I could do it, and I must admit at this stage I lost all hope and belief and asked for an epidural. Luckily, so so luckily for me, the sister who had first examined me on arrival had some knowledge of hypnobirthing and, having heard that I'd asked for this, came into the room and gave me a good kick up the mental backside (if you'll excuse the imagery!!!) I don't remember much of this stage but DH says I had been like a broken woman for an hour or so, but was back with a vengeance after her chat, determined and positive again, even if clearly struggling to cope with the intensity of the surges.

......anyway, an hour later my body started pushing. the midwife tried to convince me out of the birthing pool to get checked and I wonder looking back if I should have done so then, but something told me I wasn't ready, even though I was pushing strongly with every contraction. I had been experiencing a lot of back pain for a couple of hours and looking back I think Eva was probably back to back at this stage.

An hour later they finally convinced me out of the pool and I began what became just over 3 hours of really intense pushing. I had so little energy left at this point there was no way I could have done anything but exactly what I was told, so I have no idea whether in a different circumstance I would have been able to breathe her down rather than pushing. I just had my eye on the finish line and was clinging onto whatever reserves i had left. So, some time, and an amazing amount of encouragement and support later she made a rather dramatic and sudden entrance (nearly shooting off the end of the bed) and life changed for the better!

I really believe that it was the positive and relaxed attitude i developed through the hypnobirthing course that made it possible for me to have such a long labour and slow 2nd stage without needing intervention. The midwives at the Southern General were so supportive of my wishes, never mentioning time or progress unless I asked and keeping everything very calm and quiet in the room until they realised I needed their energy at the end to get the job done. All in all, this has been a completely life-affirming experience for me and has made me feel so incredibly strong and proud.

I will be singing hypnobirthing's praises to all who'll listen, and although my birth experience was not as smooth and easy as I'd envisaged and hoped, I truly believe without hypnobirthing I wouldn't have been able to deliver naturally at all.

As for Eva, she is a typical hypnobirthing baby, relaxed and happy, feeding and sleeping well and so alert and interested in the world around her. I've attached a photo below, hope it works!!

Best wishes to you all

Kathryn x

[mia]

Hi Kathryn,
Congratulations on Eva's gentle arrival.

You write "All in all, this has been a completely life-affirming experience for me and has made me feel so incredibly strong and proud".

That's what I love about birthing. It is life affirming, and it makes us incredibly strong and proud. Well done you! I know the journey of motherhood will continue to test you, and help you grow in strength, pride and of course, love.

Thanks for sharing your story.
Mia