Hudson’s Birth Story
My First contractions started at 1am on the morning of our first wedding anniversary. My husband and I were so excited and thought it was so special that our little boy would likely be born on our anniversary. We were both too excited to go back to sleep. The contractions were very mild at this point. We watched TV in bed for a while, had some breakfast and swapped anniversary presents. Eventually I became uncomfortable in bed so I got up and bounced on the birth ball, used my tens machine, listened to music and read my affirmations we had hung on the wall. I felt very calm, relaxed and confident that my body and my baby knew what to do.
The surges were becoming close together, however I felt that I was still managing really well. The contraction timer app had been telling us we needed to go to hospital for a couple of hours and my husband was starting to get a bit nervous and called the midwife who said we needed to come in. I felt like I was doing so well at home and was very reluctant to go yet but my nervous husband made me get in the car. We got to the hospital at about nine and the midwife said I didn’t seem to be in active labour and should probably go back home. I said to my husband I told you so! I was not surprised at all as I felt very in control, the contractions were uncomfortable but I could easily hold a conversation through them. The midwife said on second thought maybe we should check your dilation seeing as you live out of town. She said I was likely only one centimeter dilated and could go home, but maybe if I was about three centimeters we should stay in town and go out for breakfast. She checked and then said I wasn’t going anywhere other than straight to birth suit as I was seven centimeters. That was my husbands turn to say I told you so. The midwives were surprised and were all calling me ‘the silent achiever’.
Once we got to birth suite my husband set up the room with my affirmations and fairy lights. I bounced on the birth ball for a while, listening to music and reading my affirmations. The affirmations made me feel strong, powerful and in control. When things started to get a bit more intense I hopped in the shower. My husband was squeezing my hips during contractions which helped a lot. I started to use my breathing techniques and birth comb which were also very helpful. At three thirty I got into the birth pool. My husband did light touch massage and we put on my Hypnobirthing tracks. The tracks helped me to stay calm and in control. Despite the intense feelings I trusted my body and knew that I could birth my baby. I managed without any pain relief.
I had a long pushing phase, which was definitely the hardest part and where I really relied on my Hypnobirthing techniques. Although I didn’t want to be informed of my dilation at the time, the midwives told me afterwards that I was fully dilated/pushing for 2-3 hours. I was becoming tired after a long labour, I remember thinking that on the next contraction I would get my baby out. I gave a big push and he made a bit of a dramatic entrance as he came out very quickly and head butted the mirror that the midwives had been holding at the other end of the birth pool. The midwife picked him up and passed him to me. I couldn’t believe I was finally holding my precious baby boy in my arms.
It was the most special moment of my life the hard work was so worth it. We got into the bed and the three of us had lots of cuddles, we couldn’t stop staring at our perfect, beautiful baby boy. What a special anniversary present. Afterwards, I felt so proud of myself and my body and I’m sure that my Hypnobirthing techniques played a big part in having such a beautiful, natural labour and birth. My husband learnt so much at the Hypnobirthing course, he said that it really informed him and made him feel confident. He was amazing during my labour. Thank you so much Caitlin
-LF
