HypnoBirthing® UK

[Danielle]

I was sort of hoping someone else would post first...

First I am a HB practitioner and this was my first baby. I had planned a homebirth, but went for a 38 week scan to make sure he was in the right position and the fluid was low. Everything had been perfect till now and I was disappointed. I had a couple more scans, drank lots of water and did lots of visualisations etc. The hospital wanted to induce me as soon as they found out it was low, but there was a great midwife there ( who I cried on for about an hour) who convinced the doctor to let me wait till 40 weeks. I was dreading have a drip in. The doctor tried breaking my waters and told me they had gone, I said I'd never noticed anything. We went for a walk, and then my waters did go. We told a midwife who put me on a drip as the surges weren't doing anything, for several hours we just sat there, the surges were quite nice, but I didn't like being monitored continually and having a drip in. Then at 4pm I was sick-due to the drip and lost my concentration for a bit, I had a bit of gas and air, but got relaxed again and back in control, the doctor came in too and said the babies heart rate kept dipping-how come things only went wrong when the doctor came in? Then we moved to a different room and I was still relaxed and the doctor 'wanted to move things along...' The anathesia guy stood outside and shouted to my midwife 'when does she want her epidural?' If I hadn't been relaxed I would have gone and battered him, the midwife shooed him away and said she's fine. The midwife had a look and said I wasn't dilated enough yet. Then I decided I need the toilet, she the midwife looked again and said 'ooh I can see his head', then it took a few more minutes and I had a bit more gas and air and then had a beautiful baby boy. His name is Joshua and he weighed 8 pound 10.5 oz, and was born on the 20th April 04. I arrived at hospital at 7am and started having surges at 12:30, regular ones at 5pmish and Josh was born at 9:25.

I think the support I got from the midwifes, who had never heard of hypnobirthing till I walked in was great, but the doctors could have been a bit more supportive and not assume I wanted an epidural etc. I have found out since that 45% of births at the hospital are assisted and think the doctors there are just a bit too quick to jump in. My community midwives, who would have come to the homebirth, had been told lots about hypnobirths and couldn't wait, they learnt all the terms and were disappointed that they weren't there.

I think some people would have fought harder not to be induced, but I just wanted my baby to be ok, but next time I might be stronger.

Anyway I am happy with the way it went, I really enjoyed it and can't wait to do it again. I think if we had been at home, with the midwives I had gotten to know, I wouldn't have had gas and air. The surges were just like pressure and the worst bit was having a drip in my hand. I was really calm and relaxed throughout most, except while I was sick.

[MrsR]

Congratualtions! Sounds like a very positive birth experience. Shocking how the doctors allways want to intervene!
What did it feel like when the head crowned? Was it still painful? I am wondering as this was the bit I couldn't cope with in my last labour, which is why I'm thinking of a HypnoBirth for this one.