What Parents Say
"My husband and I decided to go down the Hypnobirthing route after an article we had read in a Sunday newspaper. We found both the course and Eleanor were fantastic; so much so that I felt empowered enough to insist on a home birth. We were all set and felt extremely relaxed about what was about to happen. My midwife even joked that I was so chilled out that she wouldn’t be surprised if I made them a three course dinner whilst in active labour!
Being my first baby I found myself overdue by 10 days when things started to happen. The midwife confirmed that my contractions were underway and to call if they increased to 3mins apart. My husband and I went for a walk that evening and I lit candles around the house and started to get myself prepared. The contractions increased to every 5mins but no further and when I was examined 2 days later I had only dilated to 3cms.
That night the contractions came back stronger than ever and I spent the night in the bath with James doing scripts and I concentrated on my breathing. I was so relaxed that I even sent James to bed as I felt he would be more useful to me nearer the birth of the baby.
The next day I was still contracting and had a trace to check the baby as I was now 13 days overdue. The contractions were very strong but still not close to birthing. I even managed to walk around Tescos afterwards to do some shopping whilst contracting every 4-5 mins!
Back at home I had another night in the bath feeling totally relaxed and very calm about everything, despite the length of time things seem to be taking!
The following day I was admitted to hospital as I was now 14 days overdue and my home birth was not going to happen. The first midwife I saw could not believe I was having contractions and was surprised that both my waters had gone and that I was now 5cm dilated. Due to very little sleep over the previous 3 nights I laid down for a rest and my husband even took a photo to show people what labour looks like during a hypnobirth. I basically looked fast asleep!
By the afternoon things had still not progressed and after much negotiation a drip was to be administered in 2 hours to move things along. The drip still didn’t progress things and the baby was becoming quite distressed and the heart rate kept dropping and so I was told that a c-section would be quite likely. After another hour the baby’s heart was dangerously low and so I was whizzed into theatre and our little girl Zia was born 5 minutes later.
Although this was not the birth I intended to have, both my husband and I felt calm, relaxed and more importantly in control of everything that was happening. The hypnobirthing course gives advice and help on how to deal with medical professionals and how to cope if things do not go according to plan.
I have to say that without the course I would never have got through the 4 days prior to Zia’s birth and her birth would have become traumatic and stressful.
Following the c-section I healed amazingly quickly and wasn’t even aware that my iron levels were half what they should have been! I was ready the following morning to be up and about! More importantly is the affect hypnobirthing has had on Zia. She is a calm and self reliant baby and has a constant smile on her face! I really notice the difference between her demeanor and other babies when I attend my mother and baby groups and notice how little Zia cries or gets upset.
I thoroughly believe that hypnobirthing not only made my journey through labour and birth calm, focused and relaxed but also helped to create a happy, contented baby." Vikki, James and Zia Gittins