HypnoBirthing™ Stories

First-time home birth

This was the first time I gave birth and I have to admit it was wonderful. My husband and I had just gotten married the day before. We had a wonderful wedding night, so I assume that this was what set the birthing process in motion the next morning. On the 30th of May, eleven days before the due date, at 11.10 a.m., I felt as though the baby was doing something weird. But, seeing as this feeling returned pretty soon, I realized it wasn't the baby. I therefore observed it another ten minutes and found that the strange feeling came back regularly. Since it came several times (three) in ten minutes, I chose to call my midwife Renate and ask her if these were practice waves or a false labour. She told me to call again in an hour and tell her how often and how regularly I had these waves. In the meanwhile my husband prepared everything we needed for the birth - just in case. I observed the waves - they were 3 to 5 minutes apart. I had no pain and felt very comfortable. Renate said she would be there at 3 p.m. I spent my time lying in bed, trying the birth pool my husband had prepared or going to the toilet. I didn't have any pain - yet. Since I didn't feel comfortable in the pool I just lay on the sofa listening to Mary Mongan's voice. I was relaxed the whole time and wasn't sure whether I was about to have the baby, as I didn't take the waves seriously. When my cervix was about 6 cm open I got into the pool to better change positions in order to make it easier for the baby to move. The amniotic sac was still intact. When I got into the pool it was about 5 p.m. My husband massaged my back to release the tension due to the waves which were getting stronger. I wasn't scared at all and didn't feel helpless, because I could breathe through the waves. I was in state of trance, but was aware of everything that was happening around me. The last three hours, the waves were so strong, the back massages (which either my husband or Renate gave me) were necessary for me to cope with the intensity. However, between the waves I could talk and smile again. Then suddenly the waters broke, leading to the last phase of the birth. The cervix was fully open, but the Baby wasn't yet in the right position. I therefore started breathing it down using the waves. Seeing as this was not enough for me, I then started to push - even though that is not was Hypnobirthing teaches you, it was necessary for me. I finally pushed the baby out kneeling in the water, with my arms on the side of the pool. My husband and the midwife held their hand on the baby's head, to stop it from popping out too quickly and help it rather to slide slowly into the water - and that is exactly what happened. Then the rest of the body followed. Renate said, "the baby is born! Turn around!" I did so, thus laying in my husband's arms and slowly pulled the baby out of the water onto my chest. It was such an amazing experience for all of us. My midwife didn't know about Hypnobirthing and was amazed at how beautifully I gave birth. It was my first birth and I can honestly say that I'm not afraid of another one. I can now encourage women to give birth naturally, relaxed and at home, so that they can also have such a wonderful, powerful and spiritual experience without fear and dependence. They can learn that they are strong enough to go through this kind of experience without any trauma or problems whatsoever.

I didn't take part in another any other 'normal' birth preparation course and for me it was not necessary. My only preparation was Hypnobirthing and I'm very pleased.

June 2007,

Grit