You probably get loads of these emails but I wanted to share my birth experience with you and to say thank you!
In short, we didn’t have the experience we planned but my partner and I know that Natal Hypnotherapy played a very important role.
I know Natal Hypnotherapy encourages you to distance yourself from negative birth stories so firstly I want to say that this isn’t a negative experience it just didn’t go as planned. Also, Natal Hypnotherapy works. In the height of panic I did have a thought that it was all for nothing but then my mind seemed to click into a different gear and I was able to focus and reassuring thoughts kept coming to me. I didn’t get the chance to go to my beach or think of the other visualisations I had been practising but the thoughts around trusting my body, being safe and focussed all came to the surface.
My labour started just after I had finished listening to the Effective Birth Preparation track My waters broke and contractions started immediately. I rang my partner who left work. I was calm and took my time getting last-minute bits ready and had a shower. My partner arrived and we set off to the midwife-led unit at our local hospital where we planned to deliver. On the journey my contractions were 2 mins apart and intense. I listened to the ‘serious-phase’ track from the Labour Companion track on repeat.
Arriving at the hospital I was examined and was initially told that we might get sent home! I then went into the toilet where a strong urge came over me and panic set in. I called for the midwife who was able to see that our baby was breached, his toes were visible! At this point it really all went a bit haywire as the midwife-led unit needed to transfer me by ambulance to the hospital 25 minutes away. My partner wasn’t able to come in the ambulance so we were separated. My contractions were massive and all I wanted to do is push but I was being told not too. The midwife looking after us was fab, she had the experience of natal hypnotherapy and although it was no longer a calm environment she took on the role of my partner, staying close to me, holding me etc. We were transferred to an ambulance and set off, blue lighting to the big hospital.
5 minutes into the journey I delivered our baby weighing 8lb 9oz, feet first. In all it was 25 minutes of chaos but I was able to tune out. I wasn’t quiet but I felt focused, the ambulance actually made me feel very safe as it was small and quiet (once we had stopped). I also remember a strong feeling to trust in my body which I know was the hypnotherapy working. Also, throughout all of this our baby’s heart rate never increased, it was perfect throughout and again I like to think that was due to the hypnotherapy. We carried on to the hospital where my partner was waiting and he met his son. We were home later that evening.
A lot of friends keep describing the birth as traumatic as a footling breech birth is so rare – especially in an ambulance!
It was definitely dramatic but I do not feel it was traumatic.
I feel proud of my body and very empowered by the whole event just like hypnotherapy prepared me for.
Although my partner wasn’t there for the birth he feels strongly that my calmness up to the point of discovering baby was breach, was down to all my preparation.
I really wanted to share our story as it’s a bit different, and I realise it’s quite extreme but Natal Hypnotherapy played a significant role in keeping me calm initially and triggering empowering thoughts when I was in the midst of chaos helping me do what I needed to do.
So, thank you for this programme. I would definitely recommend it as even if birth doesn’t quite go to plan, it really doesn’t matter it will help, a lot.
Kate, Allan and Eddie Pepperell
If you know your baby is Breach whilst you are pregnant then check out the “Turn your baby” track
