Great story for moms who sleep through the CDs and whose birth partner isn’t totally supportive of Hypnobabies.
Welcoming Alexander on December 5th. 8lbs 6oz 20 inches 1st PW to baby in less than 5 hours!
Ok, so I ordered the Hypnobabies home study program for the birth of my second child because our hospital was 45 minutes away in perfect conditions. I was truly a skeptic, but felt I needed SOME tools and techniques to get through that ride in the car…at least to get to the hospital and have the option of an epidural if I needed one. I was not great about doing my CDs, though I tried to do 1 most nights (and slept thru most of them!) I did very little practice as life with a toddler was busy enough, and I think I only did the affirmations once.
I did not have my Dh’s support…he just knew I was using a “relaxation” program on my own to help me. Despite all this, let’s just say, I am now a believer!
Here’s my story…
On Saturday, December 5th, around 1:30 am, I was lying in bed awake, as usual, with a “to-do” list in my head. After 5 weeks of “prodromal labor” with PWs 3-5 minutes apart, but not progressing…(and after 20 hour of birthing time with my DD 2 years ago) I didn’t think much of it when they started up again at 2am. But soon, I could tell things were different. I started timing them…and they quickly went from 10 minutes to 7 minutes, to 5 minutes apart. At 3am, I was ordering Christmas presents on the computer to distract myself, at 4am, a shower and shave and things were getting intense, got Dh up and had something to eat, fully expecting to be starved all day at the hospital as my birthing time progressed.
By 5am, we were in the car and on our way to the hospital. I called my doc and told him we were on our way, and hung up on him basically as a PW started. I then put on my “Easy First Stage” track on my IPOD in the car and that’s when the magic began!!!
I quickly closed my eyes, entered hypnosis and let go. I couldn’t believe it…the 45 minute ride felt like to took about 15 minutes!! Before I knew it we were at the hospital. The best “suggestions” I kept repeating to myself were that “I was safe and baby was safe…” and that I was feeling only intense pressure and tightening and stretching…that alone took any pain out of the picture. It was wonderfully intense!
We got to the hospital and I walked into the ER entrance (the only entrance open at that time) and breathed thru PWs as they got my “escort” to Triage/L&D…I refused a wheelchair and preferred to walk, stopping every few minutes against the wall with my pillow. Between PWs, I smiled, chatted a bit, but was totally relaxed. I don’t remember ever actually using my lightswitch, but simply “went inside” during each PW.
Made it to Triage, and as they checked me, and I just prayed they wouldn’t send me home! Well, I was 8cm dilated! They almost had me RUN to my L&D room, haha! They didn’t believe it as I was calm and quiet, smiling at staff between PWs and joking with my husband. The rest was a whirlwind…my doctor arrived after they called him repeatedly, they got me on the monitor, an IV started, I was at 9 1/2…he ran to put scrubs and when he returned, I was complete.
They didn’t even have time to get an ID bracelet on me and I was signing consent forms during and after the fact!! (including the epidural consent if I needed one, though they all looked at me funny and I realized it was too late). I put on the “pushing track” and I began to push…a combination of what my body told me and a bit of coaching from my nurse and doctor.
I’ve never felt anything so intense! I wouldn’t say it was comfortable at all…and yes, it did hurt (but my main complaint was “cramping spasms” in the back of my legs since my legs were held up!) but it was totally manageable, and I NEVER felt like I couldn’t do it. I knew I could and I was confident and felt great!
According to my husband, I never yelled or vocalized except for some mild moaning/humming and mentioning that my legs were cramping. 5 pushes, and our 8lb 6oz little man arrived. I felt every sensation, of his head and his body sliding out…before they put him on my chest…so alert and perfect in my eyes! I had no tearing/no episiotomy. I was up and to the bathroom in no time at all…and felt amazing.
Here we are one week later, and I feel great! I’d recommend Hypnobabies to anyone who is interested and would like to reassure those who haven’t been “perfect students” that it really can work for you! I have no doubt it helped me enjoy that amazing day to the fullest!
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