"I put HypnoBirthing to the test with both my births”

Bluey’s birth - I got a surge routine together in the early stages of labour by doing whatever felt right. I listened to my body and instinctively started doing some of the techniques I’d learned in the months before. I found some information fell away but the things I needed stuck. I liked rubbing my lower back (baby was probably a little back-to-back) and focusing on making my out-breath really long.

I found it helpful to hear my out-breath by making long, low sounds like “om” - and making it last a good 8 seconds and to keep the pitch low. High, panicy sounds don’t help. Another key thing I did for hours and hours was to spiral my hips. It was like doing a slow hula and helped me to focus and move the pressure through.

For much of the birth I was walking around the room, then when a surge came, I was saying long low “ommmm“ sounds and spiralling my hips. It was helpful to lean over the back of the sofa and when in the shower, to have the shower head direct water onto my belly during surges.

When I was around 8cm dilated I got into the pool. It was a wonderful feeling, complete weightlessness and it felt like a warm hug. I was floating for what felt like hours, letting the surges come and go. My sounds then sounded more like pushes so I got into a sitting squat. Apparently this position shortens the birthing canal and it helped bring the head down. I felt him crowning and tried my hardest to keep this part really slow, to allow him to stretch the tissues gradually and avoid tearing.

His head was already out (surreal moment!) and as the next surge came, I gave a big push and he slipped out. My oxytocin levels must have been sky high as I remember saying “I love him -I love him” repeatedly and the midwives laughing. I looked into his blue eyes for the first time and was struck by how calm he was. He was so alert, his eyes open, then made a sweet little cough and started breathing in his own time. He didn't cry and when I put him to my breast, to my surprise, he started to suckling immediately. He must have been hungry!

He weighed 9.5 lbs/4.3kg and had the second largest head the midwives had seen! It wasn’t an issue as luckily I had taken the crowning stage slow and supported the tissues with my hands by cupping the perineum. I’m sure using the Epi-No also helped prevent tearing too*

Having independent midwives offered continuity of care and gave me that feeling that I was not doing it all on my own. So often we don’t know who will be with us during birth and there are so many unknowns that can sometimes feel overwhelming and a little daunting. It was for this reason I wanted to be a doula; to offer a similar continuity of care and support others through this unique experience too.  

*The 'Epi-no’ is a rubber balloon that you start using from 38 weeks by gently inflating it inside you to help prepare you for the stretching sensation and helps to reduce tearing by gently stretch the tissues.