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Welcoming Sophia!

I have news…I’ve had my baby girl!

We had her on the 10th April. The birth was fairly fast to be honest…My waters broke at 1am and I had her by 6am. By 1.30am I  started having surges which more or less became fairly strong within half an hour! They were already a minute long and five minutes apart from the get go! But I remained calm and just sat on the sofa, closed my eyes and did deep breathing for the next four hours.

When we rang city hospital when my waters broke and told them how my contractions were…They told us it’s probably not contractions as that’s too fast and it may be period type cramping pain to begin with. Obviously it wasn’t but I think that it actually helped to play down what I was experiencing and helped me get through it.

We had another hiccup….City hospital had no records of our transfer to them (even though it was confirmed a week before!) So Mizan was on the phone to and fro from one hospital to another trying to work out where we need to go! He spent 45 mins on the phone and by this time I was really uncomfortable and felt like I should be at a hospital! But I didn’t let the change of hospital phase me…Mizan was really angry inside but he decided.not to show it as he didn’t want to freak me out.

We finally arrived at (the right) hospital at 4.45am and when they examined me I was 8cm! However, I felt they didn’t really look at my birth preferences and I was whisked into the delivery suite. We had to wait another 20 minutes for someone to tend to us which felt like the longest 20 mins ever! I had asked for water as I was so parched from the deep breathing and they took their jolly time! Have to admit towards the end of the 20 minute wait I did lose control a bit as i just wanted water!!

When they came I was put on gas and air for the rest of the delivery which helped to take off the edge. I just carried on doing deep breathing into the gas and air  tube. My blood pressure dropped too low towards the end though and I ended up having some assistance to get her out.

All in all I would say labour was easier than I was expecting….Staying calm and focused really helped the hours fly by and no doubt hypnobirthing played a huge part. I was anxious that I wasn’t prepared enough but in the end I managed to pull it together.

Mizan was a great birthing partner too he comforted me the whole way either by holding my hand or rubbing my back.

Thank you so much for your invaluable guidance and support. I am a true believer in hypnobirthing! I think it’s the reason why I had a quick delivery…I let my body just get on with it and worked with the contractions not against them.

I am preaching hypnobirthing to whoever needs to know about it! And I am highly recommending you along with it too….Thank you again.

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Woody’s Unplanned Homebirth!

I was getting fed up as I neared a week overdue. I saw the midwife on Tuesday morning and politely declined a sweep or induction as deep down I knew that baby would come when ready and not when everyone else told me…I hated the pressure of being overdue again, but kept reminding myself that we weren’t quite ready.
I went for a long walk on Tuesday and bounced on the ball for hours practising my breathing. I was getting a few mild pains but I didn’t think much of it. By about 9pm that evening I was getting more discomfort and braxton hicks but nothing major so I watched a nice film and went to sleep listening to affirmations.

I woke at 1.30am with a definite surge but managed to breathe through it fine. More surges started soon after but I was managing them really well just using surge breathing and listening to the affirmations and I couldn’t believe how much it helped.
I really felt like I was breathing so much oxygen into my abdomen and that it completely changed the way I experienced the sensations (compared to my previous birth experience). Tony, my husband, was due to take Eva (our daughter) to the childminder at 8, but by about 7.20 I suggested maybe we ask the childminder to pick Eva up for us as I felt I couldn’t let Tony leave… She arrived to collect Eva at 7.45 and then after another two very big surges we decided it was definitely time to get to Solihull Hospital.

I took one step down the stairs and had the biggest surge I have ever experienced and my waters gushed everywhere and suddenly I had a huge and uncontrollable urge to push! I put my hand down my leggings and could feel his head starting to emerge!

Tony called an ambulance and somehow managed to carry me back up the stairs and into our bedroom where I got on all fours on the rug. Two paramedics (neither of which had ever delivered a baby!) arrived and said we needed to go to hospital.  I (not very politely at all) told them that there was no way I was moving!

Within 5 mins the head was out and then his body followed a few minutes after. Tony helped to deliver him and cut the cord once it had stopped pulsating. It was very intense at the end, and I definitely wasn’t quiet (our poor neighbours must have got a fright!) but I was so glad that I managed it and that everything was OK.

It took about 40 minutes for the placenta to come out, which was actually the worst bit because I was really struggling to hold him or do anything because the surges were still so strong. When it finally came out we were taken to Solihull Hospital where I had some stitches and we both got checked over. I was in a bit of shock (all a little too quick) and we ended up staying the night which was nice.
In retrospect, I should have really gone to the hospital at about 6am as I had started to really moan through the surges without being able to stop the noise and I sensed that something had changed, but as I was still coping so well I thought I would carry on for a bit longer.
My lovely cream John Lewis rug will never be the same again, but it was all worth it. Edward, (Woody to us) was born at 41+8 and 7lb15, exactly when he was ready!
The breathing techniques helped so much to keep me in control so thank you for everything!

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Sliding Doors- how can your decisions impact your birth?

hypnobirthing solihull, pregnancy, antenatal classes

Sometimes deciding to do something which is a bit (or a lot) outside of your comfort zone can feel really strange. But what is the impact of NOT getting out of your comfort Zone?

I bet most of you have seen that lovely Rom Com Drama “Sliding Doors” staring Gwyneth Paltrow …where two versions of one person’s life run alongside each other at the same time…and the viewer gets to see both versions of that life… Well let me take you through a little Sliding Doors scenario right now, to help you understand the impact that the decisions you make can have on your life.

In this ‘movie’ Gwynee  isn’t the star.

It’s you.

Let’s give YOU (the heroine in this story) a name. I’m gonna call you Belle*.

One day, Belle, who is 20 weeks pregnant, visits a local Baby & Pregnancy Fair. She has gone with the intention of finding a local yoga class and picking up a few bargains for the baby. Belle notice’s a woman with long, red hair and a friendly face, chatting to some other pregnant women. They are exchanging details and talking quite intently. Intrigued, Belle makes her way towards the lady. The lady introduces herself as, Liz (c’mon- I was always gonna star in my own movie!). Liz begins to talk to Belle about the Antenatal Course she teaches. It’s called Hypnobirthing. Belle is vaguely familiar with the word and so listens to what Liz has to say.

This is the sliding door moment. Belle can either smile politely, declining any further information or she can decide to book onto a course (Liz is running some good offers at this fair!).

The Belle who decides to not to do Hypnobirthing actually says to Liz. “I have a really low pain threshold, all my friends have had horrible birth’s, I am just going to take all the drugs I can and hope for the best. Thanks- Bye!” This Belle walks away and carries on with her pregnancy.  She pushes away the fear, rushing from her job to home and vice versa, trying to sleep at night but struggling due to the anxiety which is beginning to creep in. She hasn’t done any real preparation. She never does get round to doing that yoga class either. Her partner, is a lovely supportive person but doesn’t really know how to help her during her pregnancy or during labour and so he is feeling anxious too.

The big day comes. Labour begins. All those horrible stories from her friends come rushing to her mind in images and words. She thinks “this is going to be so awful and painful…I can’t wait for it to be over”. In response to those thoughts, Belle’s body tense’s up, she holds her breath, grits her teeth and just waits for the contraction to be over. This goes on for what feels like hours when eventually Belle goes into the obstetric led unit at her local hospital. There is no birth centre just a delivery suite environment which Belle had selected because she thought it was the safest option. Belle has never visited this hospital before today and upon entering her new environment, her fear increases and her contractions decrease.

When she is examined, Belle is told that she is 4 cm and can stay in the hospital. Belle feels gutted…it feels like it has taken so long to get to 4cm, she doesn’t know how much longer she can go on for… Her contractions have come back but she isn’t making as much progress as the midwives would expect. The doctor wants to speed her labour up and Belle, not knowing there are other options, goes ahead. Her contractions become stronger, the pain is unbearable now, she is so afraid. She asks for pain relief. Again, Belle doesn’t know what her options are or anything about the drugs on offer. When the drug takes effect, she feels the pain dim but not go away. She begins to feel spaced out, not in control and her fear increases.

Eventually, Belle becomes exhausted. The midwives and consultants are concerned and so they intervene. It feels like there are a lot of people in the room, coaching her on when and how to push, the cord is cut immediately, after a minute or two, Belle’s baby girl is passed to her and she feels relieved that her ordeal is now over. She can concentrate on getting to know her baby. But she can’t shake the feeling that it could have been so very different.

Let’s go back to the Sliding Door moment at that Pregnancy and Baby Fair. This Belle has decided to book onto the Hypnobirthing course. The course begins in two weeks and Belle and her husband, Tom, are looking forward to it. Even after the first session Belle begins to feel calmer. She understands the mind/body connection which is something she has never thought about before. In earnest she begins to listen to her MP3’s and looks forward to each weekly Hypnobirthing session. Belle learns how her body works and how to work with it, she learns about what happens during labour and how to help increase the flow of Oxytocin and Endorphins. Tom learns how he can support Belle and he completely understands what his role is. Together they finish the course knowing all this as well how the induction process works and how Hypnobirthing can help in Special Circumstances. Armed with a toolkit of breathing and relaxation techniques Belle and Tom continue their practice at home, listening to the MP3’s daily. Belle feels positive, is enjoying her pregnancy and even looking forward to the birth. Belle and Liz stay in touch throughout the rest of the pregnancy and when Belle has a wobble at 36 weeks, Liz is there to help her get back on track.

The big day arrives. Labour begins. Initially Belle feels anxious but she talks to Tom, practices her Calm breathing and soon she feels calm again. As labour progresses she can’t believe how effective her breathing techniques are and she feels so in control. Her body is relaxed and she visualises her body opening and expanding- doing the job it is designed to do. She runs her favourite affirmation through her mind “Your surges are not stronger than you because they are you”.

Tom has been timing her surges and together they decide it’s time to head to the Birth Centre. Belle spent a lot of time looking at her local hospitals and birth centres and settled upon one which was 20 minutes from her home. When she arrives, the midwife greets her with a smile and notices how calm she is. “Are you doing Hypnobirthing?” she asks. Belle is elated that her midwife seems to know and approve of Hypnobirthing and immediately begins to feel relaxed in her care and in her new environment.

Belle decides she would like a vaginal examination at this stage but that she doesn’t want any more unless it’s necessary. The midwife tells her she is 4cm. Belle is elated! Established labour! The midwife says she will start to fill the birthing pool soon and Belle and Tom settle in. Tom puts up some affirmations and starts to play Belle’s MP3’s. He gets out the aromatherapy oils and then applies some Light Touch Massage to Belle’s back.

Belle starts to “moo” after some time and make some deep throaty noises. Tom feels hopeful that things are progressing quickly! Belle gets in the water and it isn’t long until she feels the need to breathe her baby down. She panics a little as her body starts to push her baby out. It’s a feeling like no other! Tom gets Belle to look him in the eyes and he reassures her. They breathe together and she feels calm again. She takes her time, going with the lead of body and eventually she feels her baby’s head crowning. The midwife encourages her to keep doing what she is doing and Belle takes comfort in that. When the baby’s head is born, Belle knows that it won’t be long until she feels her baby in her arms. Another surge of her body and Belle slowly scoops her baby up in her arms and holds her close to her chest. She feels elated! She did it!!! Her baby looks into her eyes and Belle has never felt love like it. The cord ceases pulsating and Tom cuts it. He feels so proud that they both worked as a team to create such a positive experience.

Belle’s decision NOT to do Hypnobirthing impacted her whole pregnancy. She was frightened, ill-informed and Tom didn’t really feature in her birth experience at all. But the Belle who decided to give Hypnobirthing a chance had a totally different experience. This Belle begins parenthood confidently and feels self-assured.

So, here is your “Sliding Door” moment….

On the 21st January I am holding a FREE Hypnobirthing Taster session. If you want to find out more about how Hypnobirthing can help you prepare positively for labour and birth send me an email to liz@enhanceyourbirth.co.uk and I will book you on!

*Belle is totally fictional

 

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