My Birth Story - The Natural Birth

I went into labour on a Sunday in September 2016.
My mum had arrived from overseas a week earlier for the birth. On that Sunday morning, we decided to venture out for lunch, do some shopping and treat ourselves to a pedicure. While we were having lunch, I could feel surges coming and going, and I put it down to Braxton Hicks; I mean, they weren’t bothering me too much at that stage. During the pedicure, I did notice the surges were getting stronger in feeling, I mentioned to mum that I may be in pre-labour. Once the pedicure had finished, we went home.

I decided to take a nap, and when I woke an hour later, all surges had ceased and I announced to my husband and mum that I wasn’t in labour; false alarm. I then went to the loo and my show (mucus plug) had come out! I am in labour!

Not even 10 mins later, my first noticeable surge came on, and I felt like it came out of nowhere; they were coming in fast, one after the other. I remember thinking I needed to use all the tools and techniques I had learned from our hypnobirthing class. My husband ran a bath, and I got in and started to shave my legs (not sure why of all times).

At this stage the surges were 1:30secs apart, and I was In disbelief because my midwife told me that my first labour usually takes up to 12 hours; it had only been 30 minutes since my surges started.

We ended up calling the midwife, who advised I was in the beginning stages of labour and that I had at least 12 hours before needing to go to the hospital. We knew this baby was coming and coming fast, so off into the car we went. Thankfully the hospital was only a 15-minute drive from home because halfway there, I wanted to push.

We arrived at the hospital and located a wheelchair. Walking was a challenge because I felt like the baby was crowning; I got to the reception, and the paperwork was taking forever! By that stage, it had been an hour since my surges started, and I felt like I had to close my legs to stop birthing in fear that he would come out on the reception floor. I remember having a giggle after the birth because the only position that gave me relief was the downward dog, imagine seeing that in the middle of the birth suite reception.

When we finally got into the birthing suite, my midwife was shocked to see I was 9cm dilated. They asked me to get into the spa (per my plan), but I didn’t want to move. Thankfully my husband and midwife talked me around because as soon as I got in the warm water, the pain halved in seconds.

I regret telling my husband off for taking a video, I wish We had spoken about it previously, and I wouldn’t have been taken back at the time; mind you, I was right in the middle of the transition so anything would’ve upset me.

I looked at my midwife and said, can I do this? She came back with a strong “YES, you can!

The midwife then advised she could see our baby’s head and that he was en caul. After the birth, my husband explained what it looked like; it was like our baby was in a fine pearl.

After that, there were two pushes, and our beautiful son arrived!

Reflecting on my birth story, I genuinely believe in Hypnobirthing. The course materials and resources were so valuable in our journey. My husband felt included; we were both educated on the process and choices offered to us, we both felt safe in the natural way of birthing, and most importantly I felt empowered. The tools and techniques gave me the courage to believe in myself and give birth naturally and calmly.

This experience changed my life forever, we are so grateful for our son.