Kristina & Petro's HypnoBirthing story

Kristina & Petro took my HypnoBirthing classes at Seaside Women's Health in Encinitas, CA on Thursday nights in April-May 2011. Here is their birth story:

I wanted to let you know that baby Isabella came early! She was born on May 21 at 2:39am, 6 pounds 8 oz and 17in long!!! The whole labor was amazing and I really wanted to thank you so much for the hypnobirth classes. My water broke at 4:20am on Friday and since I was strep b positive we went to the hospital. The whole time I was calm and relaxed and was listening to the relaxation cd in one ear like you suggested. Dr. Capetanakis met us there and I was only 2cm. So Petro and I were walking around the hospital and outside to get things going. When Dr. Capetanakis came back to check on me a couple hours later I was only 3cm. So we knew this was going to be a slow process. We still kept walking and thinking positive vibes and I kept listening to the affirmations and relaxation cd. When Dr. Capetanakis came back around 6pm I was only 4cm so at this point he wanted me to do pitocin because I was strep b positive and things were not moving as quickly as we hoped. I was fine with it because I wanted to make sure that the baby was ok and if this was the best thing for her then bring on the pitocin. I started feeling more of the contractions and really worked through them. They were intense at times but nothing that I couldn't breathe through. By time 10:30 pm came around I was exhausted. I told Petro I can't do this anymore. Physically my body was super tired and shutting down since I have been up for 17 hours at this point. Around 10:30 pm I decided to get the epidural and instantly felt better. I didn't sleep but my body relaxed and got the energy it needed. By 12:40 am I called the nurse because I started to feel the contractions so she helped me turn to the left side and she told me to press the button for more epidural to come out so I did and then I also mentioned to her that I felt like I had to pee but I had a catheter in. She checked me and said that's why, it's time to push! I was like what?!!? I went from 4 cm-10 cm in two hours! I guess my body just needed a little help. Overall, my birthing experience was amazing and I really owe it all to hypnobirth. I stayed calm throughout the whole process and even now Isabella is such a calm baby. Everyone is amazed that she sleeps, doesn't fuss or cry and I swear it's from hypnobirth!!

Thank you Carol for such an amazing experience!!!! :)

Kristina, Petro, and Isabella
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Congratulations Kristina & Petro! Thank you so much for sharing your HypnoBirthing story! I'm so glad that you were able to have such an amazing birth experience! That's the goal of my teaching...is to give women & their partners the information & confidence so that they can have the most comfortable, calm, empowering birth experience possible! Enjoy your babymoon!

All my best--Carol
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

Bach Flower Essences & Homeopathic Vaccines

San Diego Birth Network, a local non-profit dedicated to promoting the normalcy of birth, recently invited homeopath, Willow Tipton, DIHom, to come speak about Bach Flower Essences & Homeopathic Vaccines. It was such an interesting, informative talk that I asked Willow if she would allow me to share her handouts & my notes so that people who weren’t at the seminar would also be able to learn about them. She generously said yes, so here is the information presented at her seminar. The parts in italics are from my notes.

What Are Bach Flower Essences?
Bach Flower Essences are homeopathically prepared remedies from the blooms of plants, bushes and trees, discovered by English physician and homeopath, Dr. Edward Bach in the 1930’s. There are 38 flower essences (plus one combination essence, Rescue Remedy) that correspond to a specific mental and emotional state. Dr. Bach noticed in his medical practice in the 1920s, that many of his patients’ complaints and conditions seemed linked to their state of mind. He concluded that as a doctor, he was treating primarily the effects of a disease and not its cause. The cause, he concluded, lay in the person’s negative emotional or psychological states. Dr. Bach decided to dedicate his life to the discovery of a system of healing, that would transcend physical symptoms and address the mental and emotional roots of disease. He thought if one’s emotional symptoms are balanced, the body’s own vitality would be strengthened and be able to throw off illness. This led him to categorize his patients’ negative state or inner imbalances and search for the corresponding flower that would restore their balance and transform negative emotions into positive ones. Dr. Bach stated “There is no true healing unless there is a change in outlook, peace of mind, and inner happiness.”

Bach Flower Essences treat the root cause, which is usually mental or emotional. For example, when you’re stressed or angry, you tend to have low energy, feel run down &/or sleepy. So the root cause is the stress or anger, which is treated with the appropriate flower essence.

How do they work?
The Bach Flower Essences contain no scent and are not to be confused with aromatherapy or essential oils. Dr. Bach was inspired by dewdrops on flower petals. He speculated that through the heat of the sun, the healing essence of a flower is brought out to the dew. The flowers release their healing energy into the water. All Flower Essences contain the life-force energy released from flowers in the peak of their bloom. By extracting essences and through self-experimentations, Dr. Bach isolated flowers which address a broad range of psychological symptoms. With each Essence there are accompanying emotions, feelings, attitudes and behaviors…most of them sounding negative. However, it is important to know and read the positive potentials of the Essence.
They are homeopathic remedies made from flowers in full bloom emersed into fresh spring water.

How do I take them?
There are many ways to take the essences, orally, topically, in a spray or mixture bottle and much more. Taking the undiluted essence straight from the stock bottle has a strong, immediate effect, but often not as long lasting. By adding 2 drops of an Essence to filtered water and sipping throughout the day is a more gradual dosage that provides an impulse of the Essence with each sip.

Bach Flower Essences are beneficial to men, women, children, pets and even plants! Like homeopathic remedies, Bach Flower Essences can be combined with other forms of therapy and treatments and still be quite effective and safe. Below is a list of just SOME of the issues the flower essences can help:

*Tension
*Hyperactivity
*Anger
*Fears/Phobias
*Anxiety
*Shame
*Guilt
*Hormonal Issues
*Obsessions
*Concentration & Focus
*Compulsions
*Learning Difficulties
*Addictions
*Emergencies & First Aid
*Depression
*Self-Esteem Issues
*Insomnia
*Transitions & Changes
*Fatigue
*Attention Deficit Disorder
*Mid-life Crisis

They are safe to use alongside medications & have no side effects or contraindications. They are safe for pregnancy & for babies. It can be applied to the skin & absorbed that way, which is an easy way to give it to babies.
For anyone sensitive to alcohol or not wanting any of the minute amounts of alcohol (brandy is used as a preservative & antibacterial compound) present in flower essences, the essence can be placed in boiling water for 5 minutes to allow the alcohol to evaporate. Flower essences can also be placed in food or drinks & you can also cook with them.
They do not expire & stay in their original state even in the heat of summer sitting in your car as long as the bottle is closed tightly & the tip is kept clean.
They are safe to use for people with allergies.

Essences for Pregnancy, Labor & Delivery and the Family:

Beech – Feeling irritable, intolerant and critical. Good for impatience, bitchiness, short-fused feelings.

Chicory – For child or parent who feels rejected or has hurt feelings when attention has been placed on the new arrival.

Crab apple – The “cleanser”, for feelings of uncleanliness, or disgust (self-disgust or feeling yourself or others are unclean). Feeling of shame or low esteem. Great for doulas! Good for feeling tainted or nauseous.

Elm – For feelings of overwhelm and stress. Too many responsibilities and a strong sense of duty. Overburdened and overextended. Good for feelings of taking on too much, fatigue.

Holly – For any sibling jealousy or spite towards the new baby. Promotes love and harmony. Heart-opener, increases love & empathy.

Impatiens – Restlessness and frustration, wanting things done quickly. Impatient and irritable. Good for physical restlessness & restless mind too.

Mimulus – For specific fears and worries. Nervous, timid or shy. When you know what you’re worried or fearful of. Can have physical symptoms like heart palpitations or sweating.

Olive – For fatigue and exhaustion (physically or emotionally), during pregnancy and for any lost sleep pre and post-partum. Good for feeling emotionally drained.

Pine – For guilt and self-judgment. Feeling you should or could do more somehow. Good for feeling spread thin, feeling bad, apologizing for everything.

Star of Bethlehem – For any trauma, emotional or physical. For effects of grief, fright, upset. Helps body on an emotional & physical level to release trauma.

Walnut – Assists in adjustments and all the numerous changes. To let go of past links and adjust to new phases. Great for Mom and family, especial once the baby has arrived and families adjust to the new addition. Good for transition & change & when you’re needing help because you feel like you’re straddling a crack that’s getting wider by the minute.

White Chestnut – For restless mind, mental chatter and worries. Preoccupied with persistent unwanted thoughts. Often preventing sleep. Good for people who constantly have To-Do lists.

Rescue Remedy – A combination of Cherry Plum, Clematis, Impatiens, Rock Rose and Star of Bethlehem. For any high stress situation, emergency, trauma or crisis. THE Go-To blend to care for any issue with stress. GREAT for childbirth! A must-have for doulas & midwives!

You can make your own custom blend of up to 7 essences diluted into spring water. Take the essence 2-3 times a day for 3-4 weeks & then re-evaluate if you are still having the same issues. For acute situations, take a singular dose of flower essence.
Willow Tipton, DIHom is available for consultation for custom flower essences as is Carol Yeh-Garner.

There is also a formula called Bach Rescue Sleep for sleep issues. It has all of the essences of Rescue Remedy plus White Chestnut. It is excellent for babies.

One of the guests asked about an essence useful for physical pain & Willow recommended using Cherry Plum, which is good for fear of losing control, but is also good for neurological issues & arthritic issues.

Helpful books:
Bach Flower Remedies for Women by Judy Ramsell Howard
Growing Up with Bach Flower Remedies by Judy Ramsell Howard
Bach Flower Remedies for Men by Stefan Ball

What is Homeopathy?
Homeopathy is a therapeutic system of medicine that is based on the principle of the Law of Similars or “Like Cures Like”. The law of similars states that the same substance that produces disease symptoms in a healthy person, when given in concentrated doses, can also cure a sick person with similar symptoms, when given in a very diluted form. For example, if you’re experiencing running eyes and burning nose like you’ve been peeling an onion, a homeopathic remedy, called Allium Cepa, made from the red onion, will effectively dry up similar allergy and cold symptoms. It is a holistic and natural healing method, treating the whole person and not just the symptoms of the disease. By whole person, we mean, not just the physical symptoms, but also the mental-emotional and spiritual, as well.

How does it work?
Homeopathy aims to aid and stimulate the body’s own immune processes, known as the vital life force. Homeopathic medicines use tiny doses derived from the plant, mineral and animal kingdoms to stimulate a person’s inherent natural defenses. These medicines are prescribed to the individual, rather than the particular illness. For example, a room full of patients, all having symptoms of influenza will present their illness differently and therefore each may require a different, specific homeopathic remedy. The labels on the bottles of homeopathic remedies are not particularly helpful in choosing a remedy that fits the exact symptom picture, which makes the necessity of some kind of education important. Unlike many western medicines, with side effects, in homeopathy less is more, and the remedies are so highly dilute that the treatment yields no side effects. The remedies are given in much smaller and less toxic doses than traditional medications, and are used for both prevention and treatment. I like to recommend a 30C potency for most of the homeopathic remedies. This potency is a medium potency, good for acute and chronic conditions. They are generally faster acting in acute conditions than the low potencies and are used where there is a higher vitality.

The Classical & The Combination Methods
This medicine was perfected over 200 years ago by Dr. Samuel Hahnemann, a chemist, medical doctor and medical transcriber. However, the basis of homeopathy has been around since ancient times. Hahnemann theorized that most cases would benefit from using only one remedy at a time. Homeopathic pharmaceutical companies and some homeopaths employ the combination method. In this method, several different polychrest remedies (remedies that most often treat a particular symptom in most people), in several different potencies, are combined for a certain condition in the hope that one of them will be the correct remedy.

Dr. Hahnemann found that patients he had to travel to treat had better outcomes than patients he treated in his office. He found that the more the remedy was shaken (due to traveling over cobblestone streets), the more effective they were.
1 drop of the original material to 10 drops of water done 100 times & then hand succused (shaken)= C potency. The higher the potency/number, the more dilute & the safer. CK means it was machine succused. C means it was hand succused.
The remedies are so diluted, they won’t be stressful to the immune system. The duration & severity of an illness or disease will be decreased by at least 50% with the use of homeopathic remedies.
Wait 15 minutes after taking a sublingual homeopathic remedy before drinking water or using anything with mint, camphor or eucalyptus because it’ll minimize absorption. Homeopathic pellets are good up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit. Homeopathic liquids are good in any heat (except boiling) or cold temperatures.

HOMEOPROPHYLAXIS
Homeoprophylaxis is the principle of prescribing homeopathics on the basis of
prophylactics or prevention of disease. Hahnemann noted that homeopathic medicines
can act as prophylactic medicines when the remedy, in its proving, matches symptoms
similar to a particular disease. Hahnemann called it Genus Epidemicus – where you
find a remedy that is similar to the symptoms found in a majority of patients suffering in an epidemic disease and if given to the patient before the onset of the disease, it prevents the epidemic disease or when given during the disease, cures the patient.
Usually nosodes (remedies prepared from the pathogen) are used. However, many
times even more effective results can be seen with a commonly known polychrest
homeopathic remedy. For example for Pertussis (Whooping cough) Drosera has
successfully cured cases and Pertussinum, the homeopathic nosode was not needed.

One of the largest trials of homeoprophylaxis was against an outbreak of
meningococcal disease in Brazil. 65,826 children were given the homeopathic nosode
Meningococcinum and 23,539 were not protected. The effectiveness of
homeoprophylaxis after 6 months was 95%, and after 12 month follow-up 91%. (Source
taken from Mroninski C, Adriano E, Mattos G. Meningococcinum: Its protective effect
against meningococcal disease. Homoeopathic Links Winter, 2001. Vol 14(4); pp. 230-
4).

Isaac Golden, ND, PhD, DHom, in Australia has been extending homeoprophylaxis to
long-term use (homeopathic vaccines), with an average effectiveness of around 90%,
and a very high level of safety, which is comparable to measures of vaccine
effectiveness, which range from 70%-90%, depending on the individual vaccine and the
type of trial used. References for studies may be found in Vaccination and
Homeoprophylaxis – A Review of Risks and Alternatives, 6th edition.

It is also important to state that no method of disease prevention is ever 100% effective. However, homeoprophylaxis provides a definite level of protection against infectious diseases, which is not 100%, but which is comparable to that of vaccines.

There is a theory that recommends giving a patient their constitutional remedy (if
known) as first response. The idea is to boost the immune system and vitality in order to enable the patient to resist illnesses to which they are exposed.

NOSODES
Homeopathic remedies may be derived from plant, mineral, and some animal origins. In the case of nosodes we are concentrating on remedies derived from biological sources, which can be of immeasurable value in homeopathic therapy.

Nosodes are homeopathic remedies prepared from human diseased tissue, matter and
discharges (like cancer or pus). All the tinctures and potencies are prepared like other remedies. The end result is that these medicines do not contain active or live
organisms.

The nosodes were originally prepared and proven in the 1930’s by the
Glasgow Homeopathic Hospital, in Scotland, by Dr. John Paterson and his wife
Elizabeth and Dr. Edward Bach. To the date, there are nearly 200+ nosodes available.
Nosodes are primarily used in prophylaxis (preventative measures), which makes them
an important alternative to most common vaccinations.

One should not be overly apprehensive that these nosodes are prepared from diseased
tissues. In practice, the remedies in their potentized form contain killed viruses or bacteria that are entirely safe themselves and are not pathogenic. Excellent notes on nosodes are given in further detail (beyond Boericke’s Materia Medica) in Robin Murphy’s Lotus Materia Medica, Hahnemann’s Chronic Diseases, Berkeley Squire’s
Repertory of Homeoapthic Nosodes and Sarcodes, Allen’s Keynotes with Nosodes,
Allen’s Materia Medica of the Nosodes.

PROTOCOL FOR EPIDEMICS
Homeopathy has a more than two hundred year history of success with epidemic
diseases. Hahnemann himself used Belladonna to treat and prevent scarlet fever in the epidemic of 1801. He then went on to use homeoprophylaxis to prevent such diseases as cholera and typhoid.

Typically the common potencies used for nosodes, are 200C, 1M and 10M (higher potencies but safer because they are farther away from the original source; also have no side effects at the higher potencies). However, especially in short-term or acute situations, we cannot stress enough the importance of
matching the potency to the person’s vitality and level of health. For prophylaxis, you can take a dose of the appropriate nosode 3 times a week. If there has been exposure, or possibility of exposure, you can take one to two doses of the appropriate nosode daily for 7-10 days. If symptomatic, three to four doses daily until symptoms improve. If you do not have nosodes available there is usually polychrest remedies that will be effective if they correctly match your symptoms. Please note, in situations with serious infections, especially bacterial, an allopathic treatment is recommended and may be used concurrently with the homeopathic remedies, successfully. There is no active material left in a 30C or greater potency & homeopathic remedies are so diluted that they won’t be stressful on the immune system.

Nosodes are not readily found over the counter (with the exception of Histaminum and
Oscillococcinum). You can usually find them online and some of the resources below:

CelleTech www.celletech.com 800-888-4066

Helios www.helios.co.uk

Homeopathy www.homeopathyovernight.com 800-ARNICA30

Overnight Ainsworths www.ainsworths.com 888-689-1608

Or you can order them through Willow Tipton, DIHom.

PROTOCOL IN LIEU OF VACCINATIONS:
Use the appropriate single nosode remedy or nosode blend.

Examples of nosode blends:
Pedia Pro - DTaP
RMV Pro - MMR
Vesi Pro - Pox
PF Pro - Polio
TBR Pro - Tuberculosis
HP Lvrpro - All Hepatitis
Flumaxpro - All influenza strains

Take TravelPro & PF Pro (polio) for international travel. You can also use homeopathics on your pets. She encourages you to request that the vet run titers on your pets because they usually over-vaccinate pets. Your pet may have gotten enough of the vaccine to have caused the body to develop immunity, which is what the titer will measure.

Introduce one nosode or blend at a time, when healthy - 2 sprays 1 time a day for 2 weeks or 200C 1 dose daily.

Repeat yearly until 5 years old.

Do a “booster” at puberty time.

If exposed 2 sprays of appropriate spray 2 times a day or 2 doses a day of single nosode (200C) for 2 weeks.

If symptomatic, 2 sprays of appropriate spray 3 times a day for as long as needed or 3 doses a day of single nosode (200C).

PROTOCOL ALONG WITH VACCINATIONS:
Choose the appropriate or corresponding nosode or nosode blend for the vaccine given. Take 1 dose of 200C 2 times a day for 3 days, or 2 sprays of blend 2 times a day for 3 days.

COMPLICATIONS FROM VACCINATIONS AND PREVENTING COMPLICATIONS:
Thuja 30C and Silicea 30C 1 dose of each before vaccination (If able to prevent).
2 doses of each after vaccination for 3 days. Throws out inorganic material in the body.

Use Ledum Pal 30C if injection site is very painful.

Use Belladonna 30C or 200C if a fever comes after vaccination.

LINKS TO VACCINE DECISION AND HOMEOPATHIC VACCINES

http://arcanum.ca/2009/05/17/homoprophylaxis-in-cuba-a-monumental-success/

http://hpathy.com/homeopathy-papers/dr-hahnemann%E2%80%99s-two-approaches-to-prevention/

http://www.heilkunst.com/directory/michelle.html http://theatlasoflife.com/2010/06/08/natural-disease-decline-immunization-effectiveness-and-immunization-dangers/

http://thedoctorwithin.com/index_fr.php?page=articles/sanctity_blood.php


http://www.naturalrearing.com/J_In_Learning/Vaccinations.htm http://thinktwice.com/nosodes.htm

http://thinktwice.com/vaccine.htm http://www.sriaurobindosociety.org.in/activity/editorial.htm

http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/ask-the-doctor/2007/05/pros-and-cons-of-vaccinating-y

http://www.attachmentparentingdoctor.com/vaccinations.html

Willow also spoke about the recent ban by the FDA of teething tablets due to the fact they contain belladonna. She said that the amount of belladonna is minute in teething tablets. She recommended using Boiron’s Chamillia teething tablets which still contain belladonna but at the higher potency so there is no risk of any side effects or harm to your infant.

You can contact Willow Tipton at www.place360healthspa.com or call 858-793-1104. She is available for private consultations in her office located in Del Mar as well as over-the-phone & Skype sessions. She also teaches seminars in San Diego, CA about Homeopathy & Bach Flower Essences through www.LearnHomeopathyNow.com.

You can learn more about San Diego Birth Network & find a list of practitioners (childbirth educators, doulas, midwives, OBs, chiropractors, acupuncturists, homeopaths, cranial sacral therapists, clinical nutritionists, osteopaths, etc) that support the normalcy of birth at www.sandiegobirthnetwork.com. They have monthly meetings for practitioners & often have them open to the public like Willow’s seminar. If you are pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant, please visit the website for great articles.
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Thanks again to Willow for coming to San Diego Birth Network's March meeting & for sharing this very useful information!

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

Keris & Jeff's Birth Story

Here's the full story of Keris & Jeff's HypnoBirthing experience:

The Story of Grayson’s Birth

Carving time to sit down and write out Grayson’s birth story has not been easy while I spend most of my time tending to or gazing at my little boy, and the hours and days seem to melt into each other. But, I want to make sure that I write down as many details as possible from this amazing experience before they feel like a dream.

On Tuesday, January 11th, I felt a strong desire to go out to dinner with my husband, Jeff. I hadn’t wanted to do much of anything the last two weeks of my pregnancy, but suddenly I wanted a date night, knowing that it would be our last chance to go out before our baby was born. While we were at dinner, I noticed some mild contractions. They were very subtle, and because I was at 40 weeks and to the point where every little sensation made me anxiously wonder, “Could this be it?”, I simply mentioned them to Jeff and then tried to put it out of my mind. We enjoyed a lovely dinner and then went home to relax on the couch. As we sat and watched TV, the surges became more noticeable, yet still mild. They were, however, different from anything I had felt up to that point in the pregnancy, so I began to feel more and more excited that something significant was taking place. Jeff went to bed and I stayed on the couch, hoping that the TV would be a nice distraction. I dozed off for about an hour, only to be awoken by stronger surges. It was 1:00 am, and I tried to get into bed and sleep it off. It soon became apparent that it was nothing I could sleep through. I told Jeff what was going on and then got into the shower to relax. The surges felt pretty strong but were very irregular, happening anywhere from every 5-10 minutes. After the shower, I tried to go to bed, but the contractions and the excitement kept me wide awake.

By sunrise, the surges were getting stronger, but still irregular. Jeff and I called our parents and told them what was happening, assuming that the baby would be born some time that day- and on his due date to boot! We spent the morning moving through the contractions at a leisurely pace. We took a walk down the block to the lagoon and sat on our favorite bench. We spent time taking in the beauty around us, giving thanks for our many blessings, and saying prayers for a healthy birth. As the day went on, the surges got stronger, but were still not forming a pattern. So we waited...took more showers, listened to music, and waited. As the surges became stronger, Jeff and I found our rhythm as laborer and birth partner. Through each surge, he would apply counter pressure to my hips, which really brought me relief. He kept me focused and breathing, using key terms and cues that we learned in our Hypnobirthing course. Finally, we got to the point where the surges were finding some regularity and we began to time them. Over the next couple of hours they increased and at about 5:00 they were coming on every 4 minutes and lasting for at least a minute. We rode this out for another hour and then called the midwives at the UCSD Birth Center. They told us to come down and we were thrilled to be moving on to the next phase!

During our 30-minute drive to UCSD, I put on my headphones and listened to the relaxation CD that we had been given in our Hypnobirthing class. Up until that point, I had only wanted to hear Jeff’s voice, but since he was driving I knew that would be difficult. The meditation relaxed me and made working through the surges easy. But, I noticed on the drive that the surges seemed to be slowing down. We got to the hospital and went to check in at the birth center. We were told that at that moment the rooms were full but that someone was about to be discharged, and that I would briefly have to go down to the regular labor and delivery floor to be checked and admitted. This threw me for a loop, but I tried to breathe through the glitch and focus on the surges. Arriving on the labor and delivery floor, they had no idea why I was there and had to track down the midwife to see what was going on. Eventually, they put me in a tiny triage room where I changed into my nightgown and had my vitals taken. Through all of this, I was aware that my surges were again irregular and not nearly as strong. I did not like this feeling at all, and was really concerned that my labor had just regressed a few hours. The midwife came in to check me and I was at 4 cm and 80% effaced, but it was obvious to everyone that I was hardly contracting anymore. I felt so confused.

Meanwhile, the room upstairs opened up and they moved me into the more comfortable space that I had been expecting. Also, while this was happening, my dear friend, Julie, and my parents arrived at the hospital, and we went upstairs together. Upstairs, the midwife explained to us that she was not going to admit me until she saw that my labor was picking up, but that I could hang out and walk around to try and get it moving again. So, we did just that. I moved around the room, having stronger but again irregular surges. My brother and sister-in-law arrived and soon the room felt very full of loving, but staring eyes, and I started to feel extremely self-conscious that they had all come to witness the birth, and here I was barely even having contractions. We finally had to ask everyone to leave so that I could really focus on my labor. Julie stayed, however, acting as a doula to both Jeff and me. We spent the next few hours pacing the hospital and working through surges, but they never did resume their strength or pattern. I felt so sad and frustrated, and very, very tired.

At 11:00 pm, the midwife came in and told us that I was in, what she called, ‘early labor hell.’ Essentially, my labor had stalled out and I was only becoming more and more exhausted, having now been up for 24 hours. She offered us two choices. She said that I could go home and take a Benadryl to try and get some rest, or that I could stay in the birth center and receive an IV of sleep medication, of which she referred to as Therapeutic Sleep. I was torn. I cried. I felt so confused. I had really thought that I was having my baby that day. I knew that the surges were too strong to sleep through, but I had never had an IV of anything before, and I didn’t want it to interfere with my natural birth experience. Jeff, Julie, the midwife and I all talked it over and eventually decided that if I wanted to have the strength to have my natural birth experience, then the best choice would be to induce sleep through the IV and hope that I woke up in active labor. And so we slept...for about 6 hours, and although I did not wake up in active labor and was actually still quite groggy, I felt so much better and stronger after having had some sleep.

After a quick breakfast, the midwife came in and checked my progress. I was still at 4 cm and having only mild surges. So, as hard was it was, we packed up our things and headed home. The nurses and midwives were all so sweet, telling me that I would be back it no time at all. But, emotionally, it was rough. I got home and sat on the couch, still very heavy lidded from the sleep medication. I felt so sad and so discouraged. All I could do was sit there. I dozed between mild surges and found my mind wandering to places that I didn’t want it to go. Jeff encouraged me to get up and move around, but I couldn’t. I began to cry and told him that I didn’t even feel like myself. My head wasn’t in the game anymore. I felt like I would be having surges every 10 minutes for the rest of my life! By this point, it was 3:00, and my labor was still stalled. Jeff was concerned and he called Julie for support and advice. Together they decided that they needed to do whatever it took to get me moving. And, at the same time, I had decided that I needed to do whatever Jeff told me to do, no matter how difficult it seemed. So, when Jeff turned on the shower and told me I had to get in it, I did. I stood in the shower crying. Jeff told me that he was going to read me a Hypnobirthing script. He chose the balloon script, which is one about letting go of fear, anxiety, and anything else that you might be holding on to that could interfere with your birth. I sat down in the shower and he read. It was hard to focus and hard to feel positive, but, subconsciously, something shifted. After the script, my surges began to pick up. I got out of the shower and Jeff told me to eat. He fed me yogurt and coconut water and noticed that my face was coming to life again. The surges were becoming stronger and more frequent and all of a sudden I was back in the game!

The surges increased with such strength and frequency that it was only a couple of hours before they were 2-3 minutes apart and we were ready to head back to the birth center. Again, I listened to my relaxation CD in the car, but this time the surges stayed strong and consistent. Leaving for the hospital at 5:00 pm put us in the middle of rush hour traffic, but I didn’t notice. Jeff, on the other hand, was saying prayers to all of those who passed before us, calling on them to get us quickly through traffic...and they did! By the time we arrived, I couldn’t even make it through the lobby without stopping to breathe through three surges. When we got to the 4th floor, our room was ready for us and we were greeted by smiles from everyone who had seen us leave earlier that day. I quickly changed into my gown, put the relaxation CD on the speakers, and Jeff and I continued moving through surges together. By this point, Jeff and I were so in sync, and he was such an amazing support, that when I was offered the doula service that I had thought I wanted (the hospital has a volunteer doula program), I decided against it. I knew that Jeff and I could handle it. Jeff was my chair, literally, and through each surge, I would squat down on his lap as he pressed counter pressure into my hips. I was very focused and breathing hard, using a range of breathing techniques, sighs, sounds, grunts, and moans. It was not a quiet labor. As the relaxation track played on repeat in the background, I would tune in every so often and use whatever part I heard to keep focused. All the while, Jeff was behind me offerings encouraging words and Hypnobirthing cues to help me stay motivated. The midwife came in and checked on my every so often and every 30 minutes the nurse would check the baby’s heartbeat. Finally, I reached a point where my surges were on top of each other with no break at all. The midwife told Jeff that I was “double peaking,” and that she would get the birth tub ready for me. Wow! The double peaks took my breath away. This is when I wanted out. No more. No, thank you. I was done. Silently, I was cursing natural birth and all my Hypnobirthing training. If I could have jumped out of my own skin, I would have. I don’t know what came out of my mouth at that time, but I know that what was being said in my head would have to be censored! Just when I thought I couldn’t handle the double peaks anymore, the voice of my HypnoBirthing instructor, Carol, echoed in my head. I remembered her telling us that we might get to a point of wanting to throw in the towel. That there might be a moment when we would want out of the situation and want to get the drugs, and, that when this time came, we had to hold on, because it meant that the end was near. She explained that soon after, the surges would slow down and give you a break again. So, I rallied and worked though it, and after a little while I was getting a break between surges once again. By then, I was in the tub, which offered some relief and a welcomed change of position. As the surges slowed down a bit, I felt a shift and became very aware of feeling the baby move down the birth canal. I knew I was getting very close. My breathing changed and became more of a deep moan followed by a yoga lion’s breath to clear my throat. Again, this was definitely not a quiet labor! The nurse was keeping both Jeff and me hydrated with coconut water between each surge. Soon I began to feel like I needed to push. It was not as strong as the urge would later become, but an urge nonetheless. I began to use my birth breath at this point, very gently breathing the baby down. The midwife came in to observe me and could tell I was close. She put a mirror under me but could not see much, so she asked me turn over so that she could check my progress. I actually remember feeling quite annoyed at this point because I was already so aware of my own progress and I didn’t want my focus to be disturbed. I knew that I was fully dilated and the midwife confirmed not only that, but also that she could feel the baby’s head right there!



The UCSD Birth Center does not yet allow for water births, so they moved me from the tub onto the queen-sized bed that we could later sleep in as a family for the first time. Unbeknownst to me, at the same time that all of this was happening, there was a woman next door who was fully dilated and also ready to give birth, so the back up midwife had been called in to tend to my birth. As I was getting situated on the bed, she walked in, and I could not have been happier to see that it was our own midwife, Rebecca, the one that we had been seeing through all of our appointments. As soon as she got there, my need to push became incredibly strong. I no longer felt like I could breathe the baby down and had to succumb to my urge to push. Jeff sat next to me on the bed, but I didn’t want any more cues at that point and asked him to turn off the relaxation CD. I was completely inside my head and needed to focus. Rebecca led me through a few different positions, trying to find the best one to help move the baby along. He was having a hard time moving over my pelvic bone and I ended up having the most luck laying on my right side. It was about 10:30 when I really started to push, the room was quiet and dark and the midwife and nurse were using nothing but a flashlight to watch my progress. Rebecca gently encouraged my pushing, quietly saying things like, “You’ve got it sweetie, that’s it. You’re doing it.” She was fantastic. I pushed hard for about an hour. In the last few minutes, Rebecca asked me nudge the baby gently, and again I found myself practicing the birth breath. I wasn’t sure why she asked me to do that at the time, but later Jeff told me that she was trying to keep me from tearing by gently working the baby’s head out. After a few nudges, the baby’s head was out and looking right at Jeff! Rebecca instructed me to give one more gentle nudge and that the baby would do the rest. She told Jeff to put his hands on either side of the baby’s head and, with one more nudge, the baby was out and Jeff was holding

him in his arms! He announced to us all that we had a baby boy and quickly put him on my chest. Amazing! He was healthy, had beautiful color, and was crying to clear his lungs on his own. He lay on my chest and settled down as the midwife watched carefully for the cord to stop pulsing. When it did, Jeff cut the cord. The three of us laid there together for a while, taking it all in, as the midwife and nurse quietly gave me 2 quick stitches (after his head cleared, the baby nicked me with his elbow and gave me the slightest tear) and cleaned up around us. When all of this was done I sat up in bed and was finally able to get a good look at his little face. I couldn’t believe how gorgeous he was and that this tiny little person had been inside me all those months. It was instant love.

In the hours following his birth, our baby boy was greeted by his grandparents, took to breastfeeding beautifully, and took turns sleeping on Mommy and Daddy’s chest through the night. It was so special to be able to sleep together as a family in the birth center bed and to wake up to his sweet little face nuzzled up to mine.

In the morning, Jeff and I decided on the name Grayson. We had come in with two possible names, and Grayson seemed to fit him perfectly. We spent the entirety of the next day lounging in bed as the nurses came in to check on us only when we called for them. They were so respectful of our time to rest and bond. More family and friends came to visit that afternoon and again that night we slept together as a family. In fact, Grayson slept for five hours straight, curled up next to me on the bed, exhausted from his grand entrance into the world. It was hard to get any sleep, because all I wanted to do was stare at my beautiful baby boy.

Slowly it began sinking in that he is my son and I am his Mommy, forever and ever.

What a gift. What a blessing. What an honor.
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Wow Keris! I didn't expect you to finish writing up your birth story so quickly! I really appreciate it! I'm sure your birth story will inspire others.

For anyone considering a natural birth, UCSD's Birth Center is a great option. They have tubs to labor in, midwives that support natural birth & the availability of the regular hospital in case of a special circumstance.

For information about my HypnoBirthing classes, please visit my website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net or if you're outside of San Diego, CA, please visit www.HypnoBirthing.com to find a practitioner near you.

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

A HypnoBirthing announcement--Keris & Jeff

Keris & Jeff took my Tuesday night HypnoBirthing classes at Babies by the Sea Boutique in Cardiff in November 2010. Here's the short version of their birth story:

I am holding my sweet little boy in my lap right now- Grayson Edward. :)

He was born last week, January 13th, 2010. He tried to arrive on his due date, the 12th, but my labor stalled out...I am working on writing up my birth story and hope to have it done over the next few days.

My birthing experience was totally different in a lot of ways from anything I had envisioned, but equally beautiful and satisfying in its own right. Jeff was beyond amazing as a partner, so much so that I didn't even end up wanting the doula there with us. And the UCSD Birth Center...wow! The midwives and the nurses were all superb. I wish more people knew about that option. We were extra happy because at the last minute another midwife had to be called in as there was another woman delivering at the exact same time as me. The midwife called in happened to be the one that we had been seeing for all of our appointments and it felt so wonderful to see her familiar face.

I want you to know that your voice was distinctly in my head at a crucial moment. I remember clearly that when I was at the point where my contractions were double peaking and I was leaning into Jeff's counter pressure as hard as I could, I thought to myself that all I wanted to do was jump out of my body. I was cursing HypnoBirthing and natural birth in my head and I just wanted relief! Right then, I heard your voice telling me that when I got to the point of wanting to throw in the towel, it meant that I was almost there. I just kept focusing on that and it was not long after that they had me in the birthing tub and I was getting a break in between contractions again. I knew exactly what was happening at that point and knew that I was fully dilated and could feel the baby making its way into the birth canal. In fact, when the midwife came in to observe me and said she wanted to check my dilation, I responded with "What? Why?" (in kind of a why the hell are you bothering me voice), only because I was so aware of where I was at. She checked me and said, "Oh, you're fully dilated and I feel his head right there." "Um, yeah, I could have told you that. Now can I go back to what I was doing please?!" ;-)

Anyway, just wanted you to know that you were present at my birth in a very important way!

We have told so many people about your class and how empowering it was. Thank you again for everything.

Keris & Jeff
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Congratulations Keris & Jeff! I can't wait to hear/read the full account of your son's birth experience! I'm so glad that the HypnoBirthing classes helped you have a wonderful birth experience & that my voice came to you just when you needed it.

Enjoy your babymoon!

All my best--Carol
www.AWellLivedLife.net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

A HypnoBirthing announcement--Kristie & Michael

Kristie & Michael took my classes on Tuesday nights at Babies by the Sea Boutique in May/June of 2010.

Here is the email that they sent me to announce the birth of their baby:

Eggroll M (we actually don't have a name yet, so referring to him as his in name in utero) was born on July 8 at 3:45 pm. EVERYTHING went just as you said it would-so perfectly. We were completely prepared and excited, not scared at all! 6 lb 7 oz 19 inches. Honestly Carol, we know we couldn't have done this without you. We feel so empowered and special to have been able to have the birth experience we wanted. More details to follow, as we would love to share our incredible story with others.
smiles and hugs, Kristie and Michael M.

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Thanks so much for letting me know how your birth went! I'm glad that it went so well & look forward to hearing/reading your birth story. Thanks for letting me share your announcement. Enjoy your babymoon!

All my best--Carol

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For more information about HypnoBirthing classes with Carol Yeh-Garner, LCSW, HBCE, please visit her website at www.AWellLivedLife.Net. If you live outside of San Diego County & want to find a HypnoBirthing practitioner near you, please visit the main HypnoBirthing website at www.hypnobirthing.com.
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www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

A Labor & Delivery Nurse's HypnoBirthing experience

Gail & Matt took my HypnoBirthing classes at Indigo Dragon Health & Wellness Center on Tuesdays starting in April 2009. She is a Labor & Delivery Nurse at Sharp Mary Birch. She's seen every intervention used at Sharp Mary Birch, some as standard procedures for laboring moms & some for special circumstances. She knew that when she was pregnant that she wanted a natural birth & that she didn't want interventions for her birth. She chose to birth with Dr. Biter & at Scripps Encinitas.

Here is her birth story:

Hi Carol--

I took your suggestions for Evening Primrose, acupuncture, and prenatal massage last week and started having surges the same day as my acupuncture and prenatal massage treatments at Indigo Dragon. That was Thursday. I had surges that lasted the whole day on 8/20 until 9 pm and then they subsided and I had the best night's sleep I'd had in about a month. The surges started up again on 8/21 after breakfast and continued until after my appointment with Dr. Biter. I had surges the entire time even when he checked my cervix and found that I was dilated to 1.5 cm, completely effaced and the baby was low at -1 station. Dr. Biter offered to strip my membranes which I declined. Then he said I'd probably go into labor very soon and said that he'd see me either that night or sometime over the weekend. I laughed and said that I'd probably see him at my next appointment which was scheduled for Monday.

The surges stopped as soon I left the office and my husband and I went out for dinner with his parents. I settled in for bed around 9 pm but couldn't sleep because my little one was kicking me hard all night.

Around 5 am, the surges started again but this time they felt different. I tried to use my breathing and visualization but it was very difficult. I used the ball, a bath, and took a shower to cope with the contractions. In the end, moaning and making noise distracted me. At 7 am, the surges were really strong coming about every 2-3 minutes and I couldn't talk through them. We started preparing to leave for the hospital and finally left at 9 am.

We got to the hospital at 9:30, got into the shower around 10 am. The nurse checked my cervix when we got there and I was 3 cm dilated. I started seriously thinking about an epidural. My nurse, knowing that I was using HypnoBirthing techniques, called Dr. Biter and he came in to talk me through labor. He asked me to get into the shower and "ride the waves one at a time". That visualization worked and I stayed in the shower for about 1 hour. He came back when I got out of the shower and checked me and found that I was 8 cm. 1 hour later, I was ready to start pushing. I'd been feeling the urge to breath my baby down since 5 am so this was great.

I pushed my baby out for 53 minutes. We didn't know the sex of the baby until she was out. Delilah Rose was born at 12:53 on August 22. She was 6 lbs 14 oz and 20 inches long. She was very alert and calm. She's absolutely adorable and we're totally in love.

Thanks for the class. It really helped us achieve a non-medicated and calm birth which is what we wanted.

Gail and Matt (Tuesday class in April/May 2009)
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Thank you Gail & Matt for sharing your birth story! I think it's really great that you were able to have the non-medicated, calm birth that you wanted. You had a lot of visuals to "let go" from being a labor & delivery nurse! I think it's important for future HypnoBirthing moms to read your story, knowing that you still made noises, but not out of discomfort, but rather to distract yourself. So many moms want their birth to look like the videos we watch in class, but sometimes you need to make noise to release all of the energy you're feeling inside or like in your case, to distract yourself.

Happy early 1st birthday to Delilah Rose!

All my best--Carol
www.AWellLivedLife.Net
www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

A HypnoBirthing C-Section story

Julia & her husband, Andrew, took my HypnoBirthing classes on Tuesdays in July 2009. Her birth didn't go exactly as planned, but she was still able to utilize the HypnoBirthing techniques to help her. Here is her birth story:

The interesting emergence of Eamon Andrew…

My guess date was October 9. Eamon’s emergence came on October 23, 2009.

Here’s his story! My husband and I had been trying for a baby for 8 months before we got pregnant. It took the flu with consistent high temperatures from a fever for our baby to decide to nestle in for the long haul. The passing of a good friend also ensured that he had a fierce guardian spirit to watch over him as he grew. I’m pretty positive about the date that he became the star of my universe, and was pretty sure about the approximation of the guess date. I suppose my baby boy enjoyed continuously tapping into the universal womb, because no amount of acupuncture, massage, Reiki, or supplements were going to ease him out. I kept saying to our doula, Linda Goldsmith, and friends of ours that our little guy had sticky fingers and toes!!

I am thankful to Dr. Biter and Dr. Cap (Capetanakis) for respecting my wishes for a natural birth. They let me wait it out as long as possible. Nonetheless, Thursday, October 22nd rolled around and Dr. Cap and I discussed induction. My husband and I headed for Scripps Encinitas Hospital that evening at around 6 to admit ourselves. At about 8 the nurse applied Cervidil, and left me to “sleep” until the next morning. To say that the process was extremely painful and borderline barbaric would put it mildly. (For some reason I didn’t think to listen to my HypnoBirthing cds during this time!!) The next morning, about 12 hours later, Dr. Cap checked my cervix, and I had dilated 2 cm, but our baby hadn’t descended at all. So much for natural birth!!? We began Pitocin. This is when I started listening to the HypnoBirthing cds. Despite my hesitancy with the whole medical process, it actually made for an enjoyable day with my husband and Linda. I was standing, swaying, talking – and I felt absolutely NO pain. We kept having the nurse increase the Pitocin slowly, and I still didn’t feel any contractions!! At 6 pm that night there still wasn’t any progress, and Dr. Cap had to discuss the inevitable with us: we were going to have a c-section that evening.

Having a c-section was not what I desired or expected for the birth of Eamon. However, I accepted the reality and continued to listen to the HypnoBirthing cds on my ipod throughout the surgery. I wouldn’t describe my mood as calm and relaxed, as I was terrified. I knew nothing about what happens during the c-section itself and never had surgery before. The different sensations were foreign and jarring to me. However, I would have to say that without the HypnoBirthing cds I would have been an absolute basket case and out of my mind the whole time. It’s not the most enjoyable thing to have the surgery and to wrestle with the recovery, but I couldn’t think of a more wonderful outcome. Our little butterbean was 9 pounds, 1 ounce and came out a’screaming!!

I am thankful to Carol for offering such an enjoyable class that my husband and I looked forward to each week. I am thankful to HypnoBirthing for helping me have the most enjoyable pregnancy that anyone could ever wish for. I am thankful to my son for teaching me that not everything in life can be planned, and that time frames are all an illusion. I am thankful to Dr. Cap for being so compassionate and for bringing our baby boy into this world. I am thankful to Linda Goldsmith for being a wonderful doula. I am thankful for the experience of being a mother.

To future HypnoBirthers out there: even if you’re not having your ideal birth, remember to listen to your HypnoBirthing cds and to trust your baby and your body. Your baby is there to teach you the most powerful lessons you will ever learn. Your body is the vessel that allows your baby to reach you. Much love and strength to all of you…

Thank you, Carol! :) Thank you again for being part of our support system throughout our pregnancy and birth!

Thank you Julia for sharing your birth story! I hope that for the moms who have taken HypnoBirthing classes and ended up with a birth that they hadn't planned for will find your story healing & inspiring.

If you are located in San Diego and are interested in learning more about Dr. Biter, Dr. Capetanakis or the doula, Linda Goldsmith, you can find their contact information on my website's resources page located at www.AWellLivedLife.Net.

www.AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

A HypnoBirthing story-from an OB & his wife

Angie & Nick-Dr. Capetanakis (otherwise known as Dr. Cap, Dr. Biter's partner) took my HypnoBirthing classes in April 2009. They finished the HypnoBirthing classes with less than 1 week until their due date of May 25th. Dr. Cap had heard about HypnoBirthing from Dr. Biter & their patients & had gotten recommendations to my classes from them. He was present for many of my HypnoBirthing clients' births & was impressed with how calm many of them were. Here is their birth story:

Yianna Nikole's birth story:

Amazing is really the only word that comes to mind. Her delivery was everything I could have hoped for and then some.

On Tuesday night around 9 pm I started feeling some cramping, but these didn't feel like the Braxton Hicks/practice labor - they were a little lower and I could feel them in my back as well. A bubble bath sounded nice, so I got in the tub and just hung out there with Nick for about an hour and a half. We were just talking and spending time together like it was any other day, but I would tell Nick when I was feeling some tightening and pressure so that we could keep track of when they were coming. The bath was great because it just helped me relax and I was excited knowing that this was what my body was supposed to be doing to get ready for this little girl. Because the contractions really were not that bad at all, I thought it was just practice labor (but I was excited nevertheless).

I finally got out of the tub and they were still coming every 5 minutes or so ... they still weren't painful, but I didn't think that I could sleep through them. Nick checked me and I was dilated to about 3 cm. He felt that the baby's head was starting to turn a little (being married to an OB definitely has its upside!). So, rather than lying on my side I got into the child's pose position - I think also called polar bear- but that wasn't very comfortable for me so I went and got our big blue exercise ball. We finally watched the season finale of Grey's Anatomy and I just hung out on the exercise ball and bounced and rocked around. It was awesome.

Because the contractions were still not "painful" I really didn't believe I was in true labor. Nick checked me again after Grey's and I was about 4 cm. So, then we watched the season finale of American Idol. Now, I know this isn't quite the Rainbow Relaxation CD, but it was distracting and fun to not necessarily be focusing on what was going on. Every now and then I would just get crazy goosebumps and the hair on my arms would completely stand up with the contractions. But it honestly still was not painful. (I'm not one to sugar coat things and I'd absolutely have no problem saying that it was if that was the case). Nick noticed that I was sweating a little with the contractions and that they were coming closer to every four minutes.

We finished watching American Idol around 2 am and Nick checked me again and I was 6 cm. He said that we had better go to the hospital, but I just thought he was being overprotective and still didn't believe that this baby was coming that night! The car ride was about 25 min and I was not uncomfortable at all - although the seat heaters definitely felt great on my back!

We got to the hospital around 2:30 am and parked. We checked in and signed the final few forms. I remember thinking that if I was really in labor and had to stand there for 10 minutes filling out forms that I'd be really angry - especially since we had filled out the packet and done everything ahead of time that we could have. I went back into a room around 2:45 am and felt like I had to pee. I sat on the toilet but couldn't get a drop out; however, when the contractions came my body shook and pushed a little. It was kind of a strange feeling.

Anyway, they hooked up the monitors to see baby's heart rate and see the contractions. We were in that room for about 10 min until they had one of the delivery rooms ready. I got up and walked into the delivery room and again felt like I had to pee. I tried again, and same thing. But this time when I got up my water broke and I felt a little nauseous. I did throw up a little. Apparently Nick knew this meant I was close. I still didn't think so and thought it might be hours until she came or even that I may have been in practice labor (I really like that term). :-)

As I was walking to the bed, someone asked me if I was going to do this naturally. I said that I wasn't so sure about that and just wanted to see how it goes. If this was just the beginning of labor and things were going to get a lot worse, I wanted the option. So, I got into the bed and they strapped on the monitors. We put on our favorite CD of Greek dance music and were just singing and dancing. It was great. By this time it's probably about 3:30 am.

The nurse asked me what my pain level was when the contractions were coming and I told her they were about a four. Nick saw baby's heart rate dip and knew I was close. (Again, I'm completely oblivious). He kept asking the nurse to check me (he did such a good job of playing dad and not doctor). After a minute or two, she checked me and was pretty surprised to find that I was complete plus 1. Haha, no one was more surprised than me. Nick said, almost laughing, that it looks like you're going all natural. We both just started laughing.

They dimmed the lights and we were still singing and smiling. Dr. Biter came in and was so excited. They said, "Let's have a baby." It still felt like a dream and I couldn't believe that she was really coming. I pushed three or four times and out she came! I could feel some stretching, but I remember being happy thinking, this is what it's supposed to feel like - she's coming. We were talking between pushing and Nick said my heart rate never went over 100. We went nice and slowly so that I wouldn't tear and it was so incredible to feel her moving through me. Then all of a sudden I saw this little head. She was born at 3:47 am. She was born on May 20, 2009. She weighed 6 pounds 11 ounces and was 18 inches long. Dr. Biter was so amazing the entire time!

She was so alert and happy. She just had her eyes wide open and was checking out her new world. They put her right on my chest and it was such an unbelievable feeling.

I was never set on going naturally and have always believed (and still do) that there's nothing wrong with an epidural if you need one. But it was such an amazing experience and I was up and walking around after. I felt great... honestly great, and was so happy that I didn't get an epidural. I wasn't confined to a bed, I didn't have a catheter and I was just so present for the whole delivery.

It truly was a pain free delivery ... I didn't realize how other physicians dealt with birth until Nick and I talked about it more. It makes me sad to think that the experience I had was not the norm. There were no harsh lights, no surgical gowns, I wasn't strapped down to a table, and I got to hold my little girl as soon as she made her way into this world. They bathed her and did everything in the room with us - the nurse practically had to kick me out of bed to even take a shower because I just didn't want to put her down or not be able to see her for 5 minutes. (and the shower was in our room too!).

It was such a blessing. I still am amazed that we have a daughter. Thank you for all of your help. The bath and birthing ball were great tools to have ... as well as the positive reinforcement from the HypnoBirthing classes that this is what my body was supposed to be doing and to just relax and work with it.

If posting this story can help more moms have the same experience, I'm all for it. It was truly amazing and something that I'll never forget. It makes me smile to just think about it!

All our best--Angie & Nick

I am absolutely thrilled for them & know that Dr. Cap's patients will benefit from their personal experience of having a calm, peaceful, relaxed, joyful birth!

Congratulations! Enjoy your babymoon & thank you for sharing your birth story!

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

The beautiful side of birth

Hi-
This is a video of a woman birthing at home & singing while having contractions/surges. It is amazing...what a wonderful thing to see. Her voice is beautiful...what a gift she is giving to her unborn baby...the peacefulness, tranquility, the loving kindness. That's what birth is all about! Giving your unborn baby the gift of endorphins...the gift of a peaceful, calm birth.

For those pregnant moms watching it, visualize yourself being this woman...so calm, so peaceful. If you don't sing, you can hum or rock back & forth or listen to calming music...whatever brings you that sense of calmness during your contractions/surges. The more relaxed you are during your contractions/surges, the better your body & uterus will be able to do the work for you instead of against you & therefore, you'll feel less discomfort.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3WA9iHz5ww

Enjoy! Please forward this to anyone you know who is pregnant or planning on becoming pregnant so they can see how amazing birth can be.

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
awelllivedlife.blogspot.com