Hello Chery,
My sincere apologies for such an incredible delay in sending you my testimony with regard to our hypno-birth (!!!) - I had not forgotten to do it, but these last 16 weeks since the arrival of Isla have been the most hectic of my entire life!! They have also been the most amazing and happiest and the disturbed nights pale into insignificance whenever I look at her, and think of the wonderful week which we have had with her so far.. I just could not let another wek pass by without e-mailing you my thoughts and experience for others to hear about with regard to your suport, and the power of hypnobirthing...
I have been so keen to let you know how our birthing went, and to share with you a little of what was quite definitely the most phenomenal experience of my life... and to say thank you for teaching us the skills, and for giving us the confidence to hypno-birth our little girl into the world...
Whilst I knew prior to the course that hypnobirthing would be of great value, I know with confidence that without it, our birthing would have been a completely different experience - it would have been absent of the calmness, control and positivity with epitomised it all throughout...
I had induction acupunture wih you on the 15th (my due date was 16th). This session with you was an emotionally powerful experience for me - I left you with an over-whelming and strong sense that everything was going to be totally fine..I have neverin my life experienced such an all consuming state of something which I stil cant quite put into words, but which left me feeling empowered, confident in myself and my ability and truely at peace with myself - it still brings tears to my eyes to remember that feeling when I arrived home from my session with you - for that alone, i sincerely thank you.
Within an hour of the induction acupuncture, I was experiencing mild period pains which were on and off throughout the night (but nothing as strong as my usual period pains - I could get back to sleep with these during the night, to the point that it did not occur to me that I was possibly in early labour..). I woke at 5.30am the next morning to the sensation of my waters breaking and so dashed to the loo (it's surprising just how fast a 9 mth pregnant woman can run when she really needs too...!).
Immediately as my waters broke, my surges started and were three minutes apart right from the beginning at which point i notified the home birth team - they said that I sounded very calm and so would await the shift change to happen at seven and be out to assess me shortly after (I was happy with this plan as I was managing absolutely fine) - these lasted for about an hour and were very manageable with the use of the breathing techniques, my swiss gym ball to rock on/over, and ensuring that I remained 'limp and loose' as I approached each surge individually. After an hour, they increased to one min apart, and I contacted the home birth team once again to inform them of the rapid change: she arrived within 20 mins, assessed me and found that she could not locate my cervix .... I was 10 cm fully dilated already, so at that point she called for her colleague to join her: it was at that point that I knew that our baby would shortly be with us.
From that point onwards, my perception of time became distorted - it felt like it all went so fast: I was in my own little focused bubble - I felt calm and in control and peaceful (which I had not expected to feel). I could hear, respond and fully participate in all that was going on around me, but I was definately inmy own zone of concentration. Due to the speed of the labour, we did not have time to do any of the guided relaxations or scripts(as gus was busy trying to fill the pool - he did manage to fill it just in time and we had a small window of possibly getting me down the stairs to it, however, I just knew that I wanted to be on the bed over pillows to birth our baby - I just knew with absolute confidnce that the pool was not for me when the tine came..). I continued to use my recollection of the affirmations which I had been playing to myself each night on my i pod, and in the car; i used the controlled breathing techniques; we used key hypno birthing language (surges rather than contractions/and my favourite one which really really worked was telling myself to remain 'limp and loose' - I have to say that I have used this one since when i have had to undergo a surgical procedure which i was feeling anxious about - so helpful!). We also had great benefit from light touch massage (did not have time to get the tens machine on, and so used this lots in the early stages and for me it had great effect!).
The midwives were amazing - they arrived enthusiastically, and allowed us to focus on our Hypno-birthing techniques: i could hear them saying quietly to each other that I was so calm and focused and how in control I was. Later, they and their student told me how they had heard of hypno-birthing, but had never sen one and felt privileged to witness one and see its effects. They also told me that the handover which they had received from the home birth team was that when I had phoned them on both occasions, they would not have had any idea how far on my labour was as I was so calm on the phone: they said that the delivery suite is considering asking all mothers on the phone if they are hypnobirthing as they are finding that these mothers are further on than they sound. It might advantageous if hypno-birthing mothers tell them this information when they phone to give the home birth team as much information as possible.
So, our beautiful little girl was born at nine forty one in the morning of her due date! Very punctual,and a uncomplicated and short labour....and that is all thanks to all that you have taught us and hypno-birthing.
It has given us a positive and memorable experience and one which I tell anyone whom is interested to hear (and even a few whom possibly are not..) - we reflect upon her birthing day frequently, and it is something which we will never forget..
I cant thank you enough Cheryl for all your support,
Dian Stead
