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Birth Stories 

 The following birthing stories are from three women who, using the BirthSkills techniques were blessed with wonderful birthing experiences.

Karen

I started the BirthSkills classes at 35 weeks and sat through the sessions waiting for the ‘magic’, when was she going to tell me exactly how to have a pain-free birth? I was anxious about the pain and about tearing but by the end of the classes had faith that the hypnosis had worked, something had sunk in and I would be okay. At 36 weeks we decided to have a home water-birth and frantically set about finding a private midwife and hiring a birthing pool.

About 4 days before my due date we were having dinner and I started to feel surges, no pain or anything and I though it must just be Braxton Hicks. We put our daughter to bed complete with story and songs, and I did the dishes and the whole time the surges kept coming but still no pain. At about 10pm I asked my husband to fill the birthing pool and I got in as soon as I could and put on the CD and practiced the breathing techniques, ‘just in case’ I was going to have a baby that night! My husband said that he was going to call the midwife but I told him to wait because it felt nothing like the first time, there was no urgency, there was no pain with the surges, and I felt calm and relaxed. Finally, my husband rang the midwife anyway but by the time she got here there were already three of us in the pool, we had birthed our baby our selves 10 minutes earlier with no pushing, no pain and no intervention – it was the most beautiful experience I could ever have hoped for. I tell everyone about BirthSkills, we ask friends who are pregnant ‘would you like to have a pain-free birth?’!

 

Nicola

As planned Darcy was born at the Birth Centre without any intervention. Labour was so much harder than I could have imagined (especially second stage) but a drug free birth was the first gift I wanted to offer my child and thanks to the hypnosis tools we learned I was able to successfully do it.

I believe our calm birthing experience has had a huge impact on Darcy's development. From the moment he entered world he was very alert. I managed to breastfeed him immediately and he has continued to thrive. Tim and I are so grateful for the knowledge we gained from you. We felt so prepared and never once throughout my long labour (21 hours) did we have any fear.

It makes me happy to know that thanks to you and the BirthSkills classes other women will feel empowered enough to have wonderful birthing experiences and bring into the world calm and happy babies.

 

Diane

Jack arrived 2 weeks early, weighing 7lb and 9˝oz. I am really pleased – and proud to say that the birth was totally drug and intervention free.

My waters broke the night before – which was a bit of a shock, but I had a bit of a show the day before so thought that maybe things would happen sooner rather than later. Unlike my fear of the actual moment, the drive to the hospital, which was around 30 – 40 minutes away, did not happen in rush hour, I was not in any pain and lots of the lights were green!! We had a very nice run up there, chatting about what was going to happen, baby names etc – it was lovely. At the hospital I was hooked up to a machine and was having contractions but couldn’t feel them. We both stayed in a room overnight and I got to sleep around 11pm. At 1am I woke as I was now feeling contractions, however I just kept sleeping through them, breathing and going to the loo every so often as sitting there seemed to be more comfortable at times than lying. I decided not to time them or get hung up on time and how long it was taking, just go with the flow and do what my body wanted to do. At 7- 7.30 am the nurse came to wake me up and I walked through to the Birthing Suite and was pretty sure that I was quite far along as I felt sweaty but cold and just a bit odd, which I think was actually transition. When I got to the Birthing Suite the midwife examined me for the first time and couldn’t believe I was actually nearly fully dilated! All my plans for massages etc, went out the window as all I was really concentrating on was breathing, relaxing and some visualization. The midwife was amazed that while checking the baby’s heartbeat, lying flat on the bed, I had a really large contraction, and was so relaxed, but it actually felt easier lying down than standing, maybe because I have done yoga and relaxation exercises mainly lying on my back. The obstetrician arrived and I decided to be on my knees at the side of the bed, leaning towards my husband, who was holding my hands. The midwife and obstetrician were sitting on the floor. I don’t know how long I pushed for, it didn’t seem like anytime at all, and out came Jack at 10am, 9 hours after I felt the first contraction– crying almost before he got out! I had my music playing, which was about the only thing I did manage to use! It was all very peaceful and relaxing, I didn’t really say much to anyone, except to tell them when a contraction was coming – there was no screaming, swearing or shouting at anyone. I was really surprised at myself and how I coped as the pain didn’t seem nearly as bad as I thought it would be, I am so pleased that I did the BirthSkills course and learnt more about the body and not to fight the pain, I think that really helped me.

 

Erika

 Well, it was all a success!  After a 6-hour labour and no drugs or interventions I gave birth to Kate - 8lb 10oz. Shari’s BirthSkills course was fantastic.  It focussed on self-hypnosis or relaxation with affirmations for an empowered birth.  There was also a lot of information explaining the whole process and explaining how to remain in control and relaxed at each stage.  For the weeks after the course I tried to set aside Daniel’s sleep time so that I could go to bed and put on one of Shari’s hypnosis CDs - and usually fall asleep!  It seemed to work though as I got no blood pressure problems, felt great, and as soon as I put one on in the delivery suite I became relaxed just hearing Shari’ voice.  I also invested in some essential oils and an electric burner, and made up some massage oils too.

 So, at 12.15am on Sunday 16th, the day before she was due, my waters broke.  I rang the hospital before 1am to let them know nothing was happening but that I'd be in sometime then went to run the bath.  The phone rang - the midwife had checked my file and had to ask me to come in for monitoring because of the c-section last time - but said I  might as well have a bath first and get organised!  So we got there about 2.30am, contractions were irregular and mild, the midwife was one I knew and she let us set up the music and oils and left us to it.  She rang the obstetrician at 3.30, he asked her to do an internal and let him know what was happening - I was about 3cm.  She told us to order breakfast and lunch as it could be a long day - that it would be about 1cm an hour - like a first labour.  Then she left us again and I put the hypnosis CD on and didn't even notice time passing until after 5am.  I got up then and had a walk around - and things really started becoming intense.  At 6am the OB arrived and put a line in my hand just in case (!!!) and another midwife did a check and said I was about 4cm - but then at 6.30am when the OB checked I was 8cm!  He had been planning on just checking on me before going for his Sunday morning walk - he didn't make it out for that!

  They got me back on the bed for those checks and monitoring - but after that I couldn't get up because even trying to roll over brought on intense contractions.  Another midwife I knew well came in for the birth and both she and the obstetrician were really supportive and positive.  Although I was on my back they tried to get me on my side - it just didn't work - so instead they made sure I wasn't on my tailbone.  Unfortunately when she was crowning my body took over and pushed her out - they were trying to slow things down - so she was born at 8.07am, and came straight up onto my chest for a cuddle and feed while I was stitched - a tear but healing well.

 I hope that isn't too much information for you! I'm certain that confidence plays a huge part in going through with a VBAC.  


More BirthSkills Birthing Stories

The following birthing stories are from two women who, using the BirthSkills techniques were able to remain calm and focused despite the difficulties they experienced during their birthing. Although the BirthSkills program is appealing to women hoping for a natural birth, the techniques are equally effective and perhaps more important to women who require medical intervention.

 

Julie

Absolutely nothing went to plan!!  I started leaking amniotic fluid but after 24 hours had no contractions… so we went into hospital and the obstetrician advised induction asap.  So an oxytocin drip was started.  I requested an epidural as well as many friends had advised me the contractions can be particularly strong.  The anaesthetist was caught up in theatre for the first 3 hours so I used the BirthSkills techniques during all this time, which was excellent - the contractions by that time were getting really painful but I managed to stay calm.  I actually dilated really well and after 7 hours had fully dilated so we thought everything would be fine.  But when the obstetrician did an internal exam, the baby turned out to be posterior and her head was flexed so her brow and eyes were the first thing he could feel instead of the top of her head… so off for a caesarean. 

BUT, through it all, I stayed really calm and focused.  Theatre would have been overwhelming if it wasn't for my relaxation.  She came out really pink and had very high Apgar scores.  The nurses kept commenting on how she wasn't like a "normal" Caesar baby, which are apparently pretty flat for the first few days.  She started suckling straight away and has taken to the breast like a total natural.  I think about 5 midwives commented how unusual this was for a Caesar baby and I put it down to the relaxation and staying calm during the whole thing.  She has been so calm and contented and so far has slept for 6-hour patches during both nights at home.  We have only really heard her cry on the first day home when everything was new and different.  The whole time I was in hospital, I could hear other babies absolutely screaming in the other rooms but our baby has been a gem.

 

Kym

The birth did not go according to plan as I had scar tissue on my cervix that would not dilate. Thankfully my doctor who would have normally just performed a c-section, respected my wishes to have as little intervention as possible & I had a Syntocinon drip. Things progressed at a very fast rate with half my cervix dilating to 9cm in 2 hours. I managed to stay calm & relaxed for most of the labour, but then the pain had way outrun my endorphins & I found it too much, so I opted for an epidural. As I was so far along in my labour they only gave me a weak epidural. Once I had had the epidural they were able to stretch the scar tissue on the other half of my cervix & 40 minutes later we had our beautiful son. Although my plans for a natural labour did not eventuate the BirthSkills techniques helped me to remain calm & relaxed through the whole experience. Luke did not realise I was in so much pain until he saw tears running down my face when I turned to him & said that I needed some pain relief. My doctor has told me that now the scar tissue has stretched I will not have the same problem with the second baby, so I am looking forward to trying the techniques again then.

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Last modified: November 08, 2007