I was so scared when I found out I was pregnant with my now 2 year old daughter. I wasn’t scared about how I was going to raise her, or what I was going to do once she was born, I was scared about how she was going to get out of my body. All I had heard my whole life was how horrific birth is. I had heard my mother’s stories, which sounded more like war-stories than real life, and I had seen movies on t.v. of women screaming like someone was cutting their arm off. So, I wasn’t super stoked about going through this, but now I was pregnant, and there was no way out but through it. I couldn’t press pause, I couldn’t stop and change directions. This time I had to barrel through.
So I started searching on the internet, and watching a lot of “The Baby Story” and any other program that could tell me anything about what in the heck I was supposed to do here. I knew I didn’t want to birth the “traditional” way, because I hadn’t heard too many great stories so far going that route, and I definitely knew I didn’t want anyone sticking any kind of needle near my spine; that scared me more than the pain. I was searching for a way that was natural and non-horrific. I knew it had to exist.
At one point, I came across a clip from a credible news channel that had done a segment on pain-free birth. The method was called, “hypno-birthing.” The word “Hypno” reminded me of something hokey at first, but after watching the two women in the segment go through incredibly calm, natural labors, I was on board. I attended the hypnobirthing classes, read the book, and listened to the cd, and I was so ready. When the time came, I felt like I had gone through the motions a hundred times in my head, and not even being transported from the birthing center to the hospital in the middle of labor fazed me. (I was transported because of a Florida law regarding how many centimeters you have to be at a certain point in your labor at a birth center.)
When I got to the hospital, I met my delivery doctor for the first time, popped in my super-calming Indian music, and I was off dilating. About six pretty calm hours later, my hypno-baby daughter was born. I’m not going to say that the labor was pain-free. In hypno-birthing, they use the word “uncomfortable.” And that’s all it was. I had some back rubs during transition because I had heavy back-labor, but it wasn’t anything I couldn’t handle. It definitely wasn’t the labor I had heard about from my mother and the movies. And I’m so glad for that.
I had found the calm in the middle of my most terrifying storm. And the post-labor happy hormones? They were definitely real and well worth the work. They made me feel like Super Woman.
From Jill of Au Natural Baby.
Photo by Orange Sparrow via Mary Ruffle — I thought it was such a calming image (like Jill’s story).
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Note from Design Mom: for the duration of my pregnancy, I’ll be posting advice, memories and stories about pregnancy, childbirth, adoption and growing a family on Wednesdays. You can find them all by clicking here. I’d love to hear your story or memory or advice, feel free to submit it to gabrielle@designmom.com.
{ 22 comments… read them below or add one }
Yea! Being less than 6 wks. away from childbirth. I need more of these kinds of stories! Not the war stories and battle wounds we so often share. Thanks for this one!
I had a calm, natural birth too with the help of hypnobirthing CDs. I’m actually looking forward to the birthing process again..I don’t think many women can say that!
My story is here and info on the CDs I used: http://logansbabyblog.blogspot.com/2008/02/all-about-my-birthday.html
Yay! I love this story. I have had one attempted hypno-birth(long story), and one that was 100% successful. All the “comfortableness” was worth it for me to take an active role in birthing my babies. My second birth experience was something I will never forget and treasure for the rest of my life. When I think about having a third baby, the labor part isn’t what scares me(thanks to hypno-birthing)…. It’s the laundry!
Totally with you Jill. I had such similar feelings last year during my first pregnancy and my sister had a really good experience with Hypnobirthing (it does sound kinda hokey) and I liked the philosophy so thought it was a good fit and it was.
at 26 weeks I was admitted into the hospital due to really high blood pressure and other preeclamptic symptoms. I had doctors telling me I would probably give birth within 24 hours. I was scared and felt completely unprepared. I hadn’t done any of the “things” I wanted to have ready and my dream of a natural birth with my midwife was fading. But by some serious positive thinking, I was able to go home.
The rest of the pregnancy, I went to the hospital 1-2 times a week to check on the bubs and make sure all was well and I think from experience, the midwives and doctors expected my condition would get worse and I would have to be induced. I won’t go into it all but Lars was born full term (on his due date nonetheless), I labored 11 hours at home, got to the hospital and had him 40 minutes later.
I was able to practice all the breathing I had learned in Hypnobirthing and I feel blessed that after being told to expect an induction or c-section, it was seamless, manageable (painful and difficult but manageable) and quite miraculous. In fact, all the mediation and breathing I practiced during my pregnancy really helped keep me relaxed and my blood pressure more stable which I think helped me get to my due date. Who knows…there is so much vagueness around Preeclampsia, but that is another topic.
Thanks, Gabrielle for having a place to ready positive birth stories I couldn’t get enough of them this time last year. Sorry for the long post, but I feel excited and grateful about my experience with deep breathing Hypnobirthing and wanted to share.
that is so interesting, i have never heard of hypnobirthing. i did just watch “the business of being born” and i am incredibly interested in these alternative births (even though i’m not pregnant or anywhere near :)
notrebellemaison.com
I did hypo birthing when I delivered my daughter 3 years ago.. almost to this day. Felt like it was only yesterday when I kept trying to “breath her down”.
From the moment I was pregnant, I knew I wanted to deliver the natural way. I figured if my mum can do it, so can I.
However, almost everyone I know had epidural or C section. I cannot fathom that while being pregnant, one would go to great lengths not to fill her body with unnecessary drugs, but yet on the final lapse, one would choose epidural to manage the pain.
Whenever anyone ask me about my experience, I have only good things to say. I strongly believe this is largely thanks to hypo birthing. The breathing technic works brilliantly and I didn’t even scream. In fact, I was so quiet throughout the whole delivery that my husband fell asleep.
Thanks for the story. I recently saw an ad for hypno birthing and it makes me interested for the next time around!
Oh I really, really wanted to do this for my 2nd baby, but there was this minor issue of me not feeling her move anymore, an ultrasound showing the cord wrapped around her neck three times, and an unexpected C-section to get her out- fast. Next time, maybe?
I don’t mean this to be a commercial, but since there seems to be a lot of interest in hypnobirthing, I thought I would let you know that my sister is a certified Hypnobirthing educator in the Colorado Springs area:
http://www.hypnobirthingcs.blogspot.com/
I just wish I lived close enough to take her class…NOW!
Thanks for sharing your story. I love inspirational birth stories. I actually have gathered over 250 birth stories from moms using hypnosis for childbirth at http://www.pregnancybirthandbabies.com
Enjoy!
I am so glad you appreciated my story! Isn’t Hypnobirthing the calmest way? I love it. For anyone interested, I will be teaching Hypnobirthing classes in St. George, UT area hopefully starting this summer. I’ll keep you updated on my blog: http://www.aunaturalbaby.blogspot.com.
If you’re not in the area, you can go to http://www.hypnobirthing.com and find an instructor near you.
Oh, thank you for this! I have had two less than ideal deliveries so far and would really love to add an experience like this to my delivery stories. Thanks Gabrielle for posting this and thanks Jill for writing it down!
Beautiful story. I am passing it on. Thank you.
I had a wonderful, easy, quick hypnobirth with my second child, and now I can’t wait for labor and delivery with my third! I labored for an hour or so at home, comfortably breathing on my sofa. My husband was making chocolate chip cookies in the kitchen. When I said, “Will you come over and time these surges?” he took one look at me and said, “We’re getting in the car. Now.” Our little guy popped out 10 minutes after we arrived at the hospital; I had no idea how far along I was in the labor process. I love the memory of breathing that baby down and out – it was so beautiful! I agree with your assessment, Jill – “uncomfortable” is the right word for the sensation, not excruciating pain like in the movies. Thanks for opening up an area to share positive birth stories! Hypnobirthing is the best!
I had a hypnobirth as well. I only read the book (couldn’t afford the classes), but that was enough for me. I think it was less about being practiced in technique than it was genuinely having no fear. I wasn’t afraid or nervous, and I ended up with a very easy, quick labor. Like some of the other women described, it was uncomfortable, but totally tolerable. I can’t wait to have another baby someday and I would recommend to anyone to at least read about it. It’s a fascinating theory at the very least.
What a great birth story.
I used Bradley with my first (wasn’t impressed) and hypno with my second. Love the hypno and would use it again.
I loved using Hypnobabies for my childbirth. Although I was in labor for 36 hours, I was able to calm breathe through each pressure wave (contraction). The nurses could not believe I didn’t have any drugs to keep me so calm. With the help or a supportive husband, doula, and my birthing music mix, I had a great experience. The best part was the feeling of euphoria I had after my girl was born. I felt like I had conquered the world!
I wish more moms knew about hypnobirthing and how it can help them have a positive birthing experience instead of all the horrible ones you hear about. I hope hypnobirthing becomes more popular!
I still use the relaxation techniques I learned for things like sleeping and performing.
I was totally into hypnobirthing and did it all (class, cd, book). I thought I was ready. But once it all started, I got scared and tense and had a hard time relaxing like I saw all the other woman did in the movies/videos. And regretfully, I followed the nurses prompts in breathing instead of breathing my baby down and it hurt badly. On an upside. The entire labor only took 6 hours – and I had my little guy in a bathtub (totally cool experience). When I do hypnobirthing again, I will do more labor at home and less in the bathtub (and I wont listen to nurses who tell me to: “hold my breath and push”)
Thank you for posting this! My husband and I are thinking about trying for a baby soon and the only thing that is stopping me is the thought of the ridiculous pain that comes along with labor! I’m terrified and need more calming and positive birth stories. Thanks for the posts!
This is amazing. I am 12 weeks along, and have already been inundated with horror stories and the “you just waits”. This is so calming and reassuring that you can have a natural and calm birth. I am looking up the info right away! Thank you!
Thanks for sharing, Jill. I hope I can someday tell a similar story!
Woo hoo hypnobirth! I’m planning to use hypnobabies in May for my second baby. Can’t wait to feel the difference.