Birth Story by Emily, Hypnobirthing Mum

“After 5 years of waiting (3 of IVF) we had our precious son. Tears were coming from Phil’s eyes as he kissed me and told me how amazing I was. A truly precious moment I will treasure forever. We were so amazed at it all, including getting the birth we’d hoped for.”

Roughly a year ago (Saturday, 17th September 2022) it was my first official day off work. Time to relax and get babies things ready… or so I thought. I spent the morning cutting tags off all of his things ready to wash and I was adding items to my hospital bag. At around 2pm I was outside washing his swaddles when all of a sudden I felt this wet sensation and I was pretty sure I hadn’t peed myself. I went to the toilet to check and had filled my liner pad plus some. I called my husband, Phil, at work to tell him something weird just happened and we agreed we’d wait and see if anything else happened. I was only 36+3 weeks after all! 

Soon enough it happened again and again and I was filling pads. It was mostly clear liquid but began to have a little pink in it which we knew was normal. We questioned going to the hospital since I was just shy of 37 weeks and I was happy, calm and relaxed so we decided to stay at home a bit longer. I let Phil know again what was happening and he asked if I wanted him to come home. I said I was ok and continued to do some more of baby’s washing.

Later, I started feeling some more intense cramping which I now know to be the contractions. I called Phil again to let him know and told him that I was fine. We also discussed a few more things on the birth preferences we’d previously written and added a few things. He then insisted on coming home and got here just after 4pm. I was on the computer getting up the preferences to show him once more before I printed them. We were snacking on strawberries I had cut up. As I was doing this he was packing the hospital bag I had started getting ready earlier that morning. 

The contractions became more intense and I wanted to have a shower to refresh myself. Phil got in the shower with me and did light touch on my back. He could tell when I was having a contraction as I had my head in the corner part of the shower while resting but I’d brace myself with my hands forward in the opposite corner when they came. I didn’t want to be touched while they were happening. When I got out of the shower I found comfort in leaning on the sink bench with towels under my elbows and on the floor. After a while even with slippers my feet began to ache.

I moved into the bedroom and laid on the bed on my side. I couldn’t sit. The pressure was too much. Phil continued to do light touch, I listened to the Hypnobirthing tracks and had some chips. Phil remembers me telling him not to crunch chips while I was having a contraction haha. After a while I moved to the kitchen bench, leaning on it with towels padding my elbows still with light touch and listening to the tracks. Our cat, Chase, came to check on me and was walking back and forwards rubbing his face on me. Phil was reassuring me of my breathing and that I was doing a good job and that he was proud of me. He knew when I had a contraction as I’d lean down onto the bench and move my bottom out so I was almost 90 degrees. 

Soon my feet began to ache again from standing. We moved to the lounge room bed continuing all of the things we’d been doing, as well as some acupressure while discussing when we should go to hospital. I told Phil I couldn’t go in the car but we got up and started making our way towards the door.

I ended up at the kitchen bench again and before long I felt immediately sick. I told Phil and he quickly grabbed a plastic bag. I threw up and had a bowel movement. I got into the shower to clean up, the contractions getting stronger and stronger. Phil helped me get dressed and we made our way to the car.

Again, I told him I couldn’t go in the car. He got me in, laid me down and clipped the seat belt around my tummy. It was too restrictive so he moved it around my arms. Off we went, feeling each bump of the car ride. My hand was up on the passenger seat and Phil held it when he could. We arrived at the hospital some time after 11pm. I had a small pillow in hand and remember seeing the bright lights. I leaned on the car as soon as I got out with another contraction. I heard a man say ‘she looks like she’s about to drop’ and he came over with a wheel chair. I told him thank you but I can’t sit. We made it up the lift and towards to birthing suites. Along the way I stopped to lean on the hand rails when a contraction came.

We made it to the window of the birth suite which is where I leaned as Phil spoke to them about what was happening. I too was speaking to them between contractions which were now very regular.

A midwife came to get me and we were headed straight to a birth suite until I was turned around and told I needed to have some monitoring and a cannula put in because baby was premmie. We asked what other options there were but they insisted on the monitoring. I remember the lights being so incredibly bright and Phil asked them to dim them. They couldn’t so I closed my eyes. They did the monitoring and explained it was recommended for antibiotics through the cannula to protect baby since he was premmie. We agreed as we didn’t want to risk anything happening to him. They also worked out that I was already 8cm dilated but still tried to do a finger test right as I was having a contraction and couldn’t say anything so I made a loud noise! They knew baby was coming and took me straight to the birthing suite.

When we got there they asked me to move from the bed I was on to another. This was a challenge. We had already learnt at the window that a water birth was out of the question for me due to baby being premmie. They wanted to monitor me again and reassured me that I could come off it when ever I wanted and go to the shower if I liked, as Phil had explained to them this is what I wanted. I was fine with that and requested a peanut ball. I think they knew I wouldn’t be moving though as I was already so close. I held Phil’s hand and squeezed it with each contraction. He set up a photo we had brought of us and our cats as well as the affirmation card we’d made reading ‘I look forward to meeting our baby and bringing him home to meet our family’ with photos. I didn’t see it much though as my eyes were closed. I focused on my breathing and the music to get me through the contractions. They asked if I wanted gas and I declined. 

Soon they asked about the oxytocin injection to deliver the placenta to which we also declined and I reminded Phil of our birth preferences to give to them. It was all happening so fast we’d forgotten! I requested a warm compress which they were applying between contractions.

As each contraction became stronger I felt the urge to push. They removed my dress ready for skin on skin and took the peanut ball too. With each contraction my baby was closer to being born. The leg cramps were very real by this time too and probably the most painful part of it all! I remember them saying you’ll meet your baby soon as they could see his head popping in and out each time. They reassured me I was doing an amazing job. I could feel the stretching and they told me his head would be out with the next push. As his head appeared he came rushing out at 1.42am on Sunday 18th September 2022, the midwives and Phil receiving him! He was placed on my stomach as the umbilical cord was short. It was so surreal. Less than 2 hours at the hospital and we had done it. After 5 years of waiting (3 of IVF) we had our precious son. Tears were coming from Phil’s eyes as he kissed me and told me how amazing I was. A truly precious moment I will treasure forever. 

We spoke to the midwives about how the birth went and they told us how impressed they were and how amazing (and quiet) I was. They told us they don’t often get to see full physiological births and that some midwives go years/their careers without seeing one. Although there is no right or wrong way to birth, we are very proud that we were able to achieve the birth we hoped for. We are so glad we chose to do this truly amazing course. It helped us achieve a beautiful, calm birth and I believe this entry to the world has contributed to my sons relaxed nature. I love sharing my birth story and always recommend this course to everyone. So does my husband!

We were so amazed at it all, including getting the birth we’d hoped for. Soon the contractions started again and my placenta was delivered. Just like our baby, there was no stopping it and it came flying out! Once the umbilical cord had stopped pulsating Phil cut the cord so I was able to bring our baby further up my chest. We just sat for a while, enjoying all that had just happened and our new beautiful baby boy, Villa. A while later, Phil took Villa to get antibiotics through a cannula. This was because he had come so quickly at the hospital and it meant there wasn’t enough time for the antibiotics I was given to go through to him. I got some stitches for a small tear and had a shower before we were reunited for cuddles and a breast feed.

I highly recommend this Hypnobirthing Course. It’s a complete game changer! Kate is an amazing instructor full of energy, enthusiasm and passion for birth education. She empowers both the mother and support person/partner to have the knowledge to make informed decisions. She provides a safe space for learning, sharing her own birth experiences and answers any questions you may have along the way. It’s not about having the perfect birth, it’s about being aware of what could happen and having the tools to help you through. From the moment we stepped into the hospital I knew my options, understood what was being offered to me in terms of care, treatment and drugs, and I felt in control of my birth. I had strategies and tools to help me feel calm and relaxed, I felt confident to ask questions and to say no if something didn’t suit me. Not only did I find this course amazing, but my husband did too. 

He went into it with very limited knowledge about what would happen and what his role would be on the day I gave birth. He was able to use the strategies and tools to help me feel comfortable in labour and was a big part of his sons birth. We honestly can’t thank Kate enough. After doing the hospital ‘course’ we would have left feeling overwhelmed and confused if we hadn’t already done this course. If you are thinking about doing this course, stop thinking and do it! Knowledge is key!