HypnoBirthing Experiences

Here are just a couple of personal experiences from people I have taken through the HypnoBirthing process.

From a Proud Mother

I think I'd been in early labour for a few days really but the contractions didn't trouble me and I didn't think much of it. On the 9th July - 3 days over my due date I had a midwife appointment, who on examining my bump, was worried baby was breech and asked to do an internal to check for signs of feet. What she found was engaged head and me 1 cm dilated, she did a very slight membrane massage as she'd already checked the cervix and I went home.

Because it gave me period pains I went to bed with the rainbow relaxation and then felt my waters break. That was about 3.30 pm, I was so relaxed I didn't particularly think to do anything and thought the colour was ok but a friend insisted I phone up and Southmead asked me into Assessment Unit to check me out.

We packed the bags just in case but I felt fine and we got to Southmead which was really busy and I sat in waiting room having regular tightenings I didn't really think much about. Finally saw someone who put me on monitor and said they'd leave me on it for a bit and come back and see if my waters reallly had broken. When they checked the monitor they were a bit confused because of the spikes indicating contractions but I wasn't in pain and quite relaxed and happy talking to them and Keith.

They finally checked my pad and I found out that I had been wrong and the colour wasn't ok it was stained by meconium so they then got more concerned. Obviously I was already due to have the antibiotics so the Dr came to put in the cannula and say they needed to put me on Oxytocin drip to induce labour. I negotiated a delay as I was already having regular contractions even though the Dr didn't quite believe the trace because I said i wasn't in pain.

We explained about the hypnosis and a member of staff who was looking in on us said she'd heard it was really good! Anyway Dr spoke to Registrar who agreed to transfer us to delivery suite and delay drip to see how it went as baby seemed ok. Delivery suite was full though so had another 2 hrs wait before arriving there, hard to concentrate in the hustle and bustle of a curtained bay in the Assessment Unit I tell you!

At the Delivery Suite was put on mobile monitor and introduced to lovely midwife who went through birthplan with us and as my contractions were looking promising on monitor agreed to put off the drip. Sadly despite my best efforts the contractions died off as I felt more pressure about time and stopped completely when the fire alarm went off!!!!!! It was on for a while whilst staff members scuttled around looking for a fire and eventually stopped but by now it was 2am and my waters had broken a long time ago. They said we had to get the baby born but we negotiated one last ditch effort with your only open if absolutely necessary script.

They agreed and K got it out and we went through it, I asked him to do it again and realised that the contractions had completely died off and there were beginning to be spikes of the wrong kind on the baby monitor so I asked him to do it one more time. The last time I'd realised I needed the drip but didn't want that to lead to an epidural etc, etc so what I threw out of my balloon was the fear I wouldn't cope with the pain and I'd have to have an epidural and my birth became one where I could cope with the induced contractions and safely birth my baby...

Well I did it, I had Oxytocin induced contractions and no pain relief until almost the end when I used gas and air with my visualisations to ride out the contractions and suddenly became fully dilated and ready to push just as they were getting concerned again. I had to push rather than birth breathe because the baby was showing signs of distress and it was that or the Dr's interfering so I did it and she's here and the midwives were amazed...

I'll never forget the midwife looking at the contractions on the monitor and looking at me through it and asking what is on those headphones of yours!!! I had the rainbow relaxation followed by the music playing on a loop throughout the whole thing. Keith was amazing and as you said fell in love with his daughter at first sight...

I'm recovering physically very well indeed apart from ME stuff kicking in and complete exhaustion as my daughter took to breastfeeding like a duck to water but was feeding almost permanently for 48 hours. I'm assured now my milk is kicking in it will get a bit easier to grab some kip.

Keith and I have absolutely no doubt that if it hadn't been for the Hypnobirthing things would have been very different, we can't thank you enough... My friends and family are amazed, Keith is so proud of me and we are both telling anyone who'll listen to try it because even if things don't go to plan it turns the experience in to one you are in control of and the most amazing experience of your life (I'm still not doing it again though!)

Thanks again Celia, the most amazingly empowering experience of my life and a set of skills and abilities that will see me through anything life throws at me.

Helen, Keith and littleun x

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From A Very Proud Father

First off we have a beautiful baby girl Kara May born on the 7th May, 7lbs and 3ozs.

Secondly, Hypnobirthing worked brilliantly. Claire went to fully dilated, pain free in 5 hours, the scripts, the music and the massage all did their job perfectly. So practice guys, as much as possible.

Sadly things changed at that point, Kara was back to back and got stuck and nothing would move her, we tried at home to keep things going for 4-5 hours but in the end the midwives were worried enough that we moved to Southmead and after more trying we went into theatre for an emergency c
section.

Claire is recovering really well from the c section but Kara sadly has a problem with a Heart valve. We have been in the Bristol Children's Hospital all week and will be there for a couple of weeks as we wait for an operation. To look at her you wouldn't believe anything was wrong, she is breast feeding very well and putting on weight. We will let people know when we know anymore. All the best.

Cal

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