Second time Mama Rebecca shares her positive birth reflections with us today - a shorter 'story' than usual, but no less inspiring.
Rebecca and her hubby joined me for a private birth preparation and hypnobirthing course, here in Northumberland to help them to prepare for their second babe. Rebecca's first experience of birth had left her with lasting trauma, after a cascade of unwanted interventions ended in an unplanned cesarean.
This time around Rebecca knew she needed things to be different; she knew she needed birth to be on HER terms, and for HER voice to hold the most weight. We began our work together by holding a 3 step rewind session, to help Rebecca process and resolve her previously traumatic experience.
In Rebecca's own words:
"Firstly - Hypnobirthing was BONKERS! It has had a real impact on my critical voice and I didn’t get any flashbacks or fears as I felt contractions again. That had been a real fear.
I said "relax, relaxed, release" (part of one of the PP hypnobirthing techniques!) to myself a gazillion times... the only mantra I needed or used!
Early labour was so magical. My husband was stressed about work so I left him to it (!) and had a hot shower, did my hair (!), lit candles and watched old Seinfeld episodes. It was like my little private secret bubble.
The midwives came round to introduce themselves and check me out. She suggested I rest while I could. I then had the most magical few hours where I would sleep for a bit, wake as the contractions were rising, go and stand by the freezing cold open window and sway with the air on my face, have a few contractions and then fall straight back asleep again.
Being able to sway and move made SUCH a difference compared to being in a hospital bed like last time. And just having the night and the space to myself. I felt so cosy.
I woke my husband when there wasn’t much of a break between contractions (who said he felt sick and needed to sit down… not letting him live that one down! ) and he took over the affirmation and got the pool ready. I just kept my eyes closed and did my thing the whole time the midwives were there.
I was lucky because the midwife was so in tune with me… when I started getting panicky, she held my hands, looked into my eyes and asked me what I was thinking. My urge to push was making me panic because it had been so traumatic with Charlie. She was so reassuring.
Into the pool which was BLISS. Then I had my transition panic (I can’t do this! What am I supposed to do!) and the midwife told me to feel the baby’s head.
And then the whole world went still. I didn’t feel any pain at all. Just total… sublime joy and awe at feeling this little head slowly come out of my body. And then I held his head and waited. it was like time was suspended and I knew I was about to meet my baby.
Then whoosh out he came and I caught him and brought him up. He was so calm and we just looked at each other.
Home birth was everything I could have hoped for. Charlie woke two hours later and we all had marmite on toast and then watched tractor ted on the sofa together
I still don’t fully have words for what this birth meant to me but it was like a real gift from the universe to experience such a primal healthy raw joy. Old wounds have healed, and I'll never be the same again, in all the right ways.
Birth on my terms made me really feel proud and strong that I didn’t let anyone (in the NHS or my husband or my in laws!) tell me what me and my body could do.
When I can’t sleep, I replay the birth in my head. Just such a beautiful unique moments to have experienced.
You, and your unique course really helped me prepare and be confident so fears and pain never took over."
Want to feel confident and prepared as you approach your babies birth? Ready to take the leading role in your birth experience? Then the Positively Pregnant birth prep & hypnobirthing course might be just what you're looking for!
Jessica - award winning doula, hypnobirthing expert, birth educator and pregnancy author runs monthly group & private courses in both Northumberland and Newcastle.
Not in the North East? The Positively Pregnant Online course has been voted "Best Online Antenatal Course - England' at the LuxLife Parent * Baby awards, and has transformed the birth experiences of hundreds of parents across the UK and Worldwide.
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