A homebirth HypnoBirthing story

Here is a homebirth HypnoBirthing story from another practitioner:

Dear Rose,
I love you so much! You were born 6 weeks ago on a Friday. My water broke right into the toilet at around 1 am Friday morning when I got up to pee. I knew immediately what had happened and was filled with joy, excitement and a little bit of nervousness- although not much. We let the midwife, Ellen, know and then I got back into bed while Daddy cleaned the house and started the long slow process of filling the tub in the yoga studio. I was having very mild and well spaced surges that, in addition to my excitement, kept me from sleeping. It was a lovely time- I listened to the playlist we had made a few weeks prior- all my favorite feel-good hippie music.

At 4ish Daddy got back into bed and read and stroked me and timed my surges. It was so romantic- quiet and dark and wondrous with the thought of your imminent arrival. At 7 or so, we got up and I had a bowl of cereal since I knew it might be my last chance to eat. I spent the next two and a half hours sweeping the floors and doing the last bit of tidying up. Kevin laughed at me and called me a good peasant woman when I would pause and lean on the broom for support when a surge rolled through my body. It didn't hurt.

At around 9:30 Daddy and I got back into bed and I did some relaxation techniques. At noon, the surges became stronger and closer together and then at 12:30 they really became powerful. It was very intense and I became completely focused and knew you wouldn't be long in coming.

Ellen, our midwife, came at 2 in the afternoon and felt my cervix. I was eight and a half centimeters dilated and she said I could get in the tub and start pushing if I liked. Twenty minutes, later I did just that. At first I knelt facing the edge of the tub, and after a little while Ellen had me turn around and tuck my chin and tailbone to help you slide under my pubic bone more easily. Kevin held me from behind in his loving supportive arms. I also needed my legs held so I wouldn't sink in between surges, so mom and dad, your Gramma and Grandpa, each held a foot! Grandpa was a little overwhelmed at first - he was getting more of an experience than he had bargained for! He soon let his fears subside however, and sank into the moment.

I started pushing in the tub while everyone smiled and encouraged me. When you were easing your way down the birth canal, you got the hiccoughs! Ellen said- "Really? You're going to get the hiccoughs NOW???" We all laughed. And then your head popped out! I reached down and pulled you out myself, out through the warm water and up, up into my arms! I drew you in close and gazed in awe down at your beautiful tiny little being and everyone had tears of happiness and wonder streaming down their cheeks. It was a moment forever crystallized in my mind.

Right after you were born, the electricity went out. We filled the bedroom with candles while you were getting weighed. It was so romantic. You nursed while everyone ate cheese with fig jam and sipped Spanish wine by twinkling candlelight.

Love, Mommy

Great story, and how nice of the power company to choose just the right time to have a blackout :)

Diane Sternbach, CT, HBCE
HypnoBirthing (r)
HypnoBirthng (r) Fertility Program
Interactive Imagery Guide (sm)
EFT

Thanks for sharing that beautiful birth story, Diane!

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

A quick, easy HypnoBirth

This is a birth story told from a doula & HypnoBirthing practitioner in Florida:

I attended the most wonderful birth yesterday... just shows what is possible even in unfavorable circumstances. This couple is very high strung. Both of them affirmed that they were not good at relaxing. On top of that they chose a hospital that is very unfriendly and a Dr. that is unsupportive and downright nasty. A recipe for disaster in my mind! I really was hesitant to attend this birth but somehow couldn't say no.

Here is how it played out...Mom called me at 7:00 pm to say that labor seemed to be starting. She had surges that were 10 minutes apart but they were light and she would call me when things got rolling. At 10:00 pm, husband called to say surges were 5 minutes apart and could I please come because she doesn't want him near her. Hmm.

I rushed over and found Mom beautifully relaxed and in a great labor pattern. Surges/contractions 4-5 min. apart and strong. She was showing a few of the hallmark of labor signs so I decided we should head to the hospital.

In the car the surges became closer now 2 min. apart. Mom doing great!! We arrived at the hospital to ER where Mom smiled and said can we get up to Labor and Birthing? The nurses asked "Are you a scheduled induction/section?" (She looked way to calm to be in labor). I explained that things were moving quickly and we needed to get up stairs. They ignored us. Didn't believe she was in labor. Too calm! Finally annoyed at my persistance, they had us walk (a really long walk) to the floor.

We were welcomed by the Nurses who again didn't think much was happening. I again give the rundown of the progress and they look at me like I am totally out of my mind..we wait. Mom starts to squat and is strongly breathing baby down. I emphasize again that this baby is coming. We are all calm and decide that squatting in the hall is better than being confined to bed as this hospital requires.

Her membranes release. I tell the nurse. She says I don't see anything...you are ok! I tell her Mom is wearing a pad..this baby is coming! We wait. Another nurse gets the message and offers to take us to a room. This is a great nurse who is also a doula and gets it! We get into the room at 11:20pm. She checks Mom and she is complete/fully dilated.

Mom gets on her hands and knees, breathing down. Nurse #2 says you must get on your back for monitoring. Mom says "No", I hold the monitor. Baby sounds great. Mom continues to breathe down. Nurses leave room to get table, supplies and call the Dr. Mom begins to spontaneously bear down. Nurses come back. Baby is crowning. Mom is laughing! Smiling! Says "This is great! This is beautiful! I love this!", as baby is emerging! She eases baby gently out. It is 11:36pm.

We all are smiling and hubby plays "Sweet Caroline" and we all start singing along as we meet sweet baby Caroline. So joyful. So perfect. It was exactly what she wanted! No interventions! No Dr! No pain! INCREDIBLE! It happened so quickly and beautifully, but we did get some video. I am visualizing that this couple lets the Institute have this one. It would make a wonderful training video. Please send some energy towards that happening!

Still smiling,
Vivian Keeler
www.amazingbirths.com

Thanks, Vivian, for allowing me to share this beautiful story that just goes to show that birth is a normal, natural, healthy event when left alone!

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

Every pregnant woman needs to read this

Every pregnant woman or woman planning on becoming pregnant needs to read this questionnaire to help dispel the myths about maternity care. Please forward it to any of your pregnant friends...
http://www.consumerreports.org/health/medical-conditions-treatments/pregnancy-ch/ildbirth/maternity-care/maternity-care-quiz/maternity-care-quiz.htm

Most of this information is taught in HypnoBirthing classes. One of the things I love about teaching HypnoBirthing is that I am helping to educate parents so that they go into their birth having true informed consent & so they can make educated decisions instead of fear-based ones.

http://www.awelllivedlife.net/
http://www.awelllivedlife.blogspot.com/

Additional life benefits of HypnoBirthing

Here is a testimonial of some side benefits of HypnoBirthing from a former class member:

So I have been meaning to write to you for weeks! I just wanted to pass along my thoughts about the skills I learned in HypnoBirthing post birth. More than a year after Caroline's birth I still use "HypnoBirthing" daily...although admittedly I have forgotten much of the official lingo. It is so normal for me I barely notice it but I have noticed a true impact.

I have had borderline blood pressure for as long as I can remember in my adult life. In the last year it has been excellent (well within normal limits) and I attribute completely to regular use of relaxation techniques. The other time I use techniques regularly is when I am trying to sleep, especially if I am in a strange place or their are noises disrupting me. For example, recently a neighbor was having a party and instead of allowing the noise to disrupt me I just told myself that every time I heard a noise from the party to relax deeper and deeper. Worked like a charm. I do the same thing for elevator noises and air conditioning in hotel rooms and for my husband's occasional snoring.

Anyway, I just wanted to share these examples with you because I think that hypnobirthing has an impact far beyond labor and delivery-it is truly a valuable life skill!
-Christine

Thanks, Christine, for sharing that! HypnoBirthing is a childbirth education class, but it was developed to be used more as a philosophy than just a class by Marie Mongan 20 years ago.

I know that several former HypnoBirthing clients (moms, dads & partners) have reported that listening to the Rainbow Relaxation CD after the baby arrives helps them get more restful sleep & helps the mom relax while breastfeeding, which also helps with milk letdown.

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com