Birth Stories
My Home Birth
I had a natural, normal drug free home birth. In Dec 2008
My waters broke at 5 am, my little boy Eli was born at 1.20am the next morning.
I remember in the beginning of my baby's birthing day feeling excited and relieved that finally I was going to meet this little creature that had been growing inside of me for so long.
My partner Kris and I had been HypnoBirthing for two months before Eli decided to come into the world. We felt equipped, confident and joyful.
Kris was the most wonderful and attentive birthing partner, he knew what to say, how to say and when to say it. He knew how to touch and hold me and also when to leave me be. I felt loved, safe and supported.
I had Eli at home and was lucky enough to have the same midwife that delivered me.
After I had given birth to Eli one of the first questions she asked was if I thought HypnoBirthing had helped. I thought for a moment with my new baby in my arms in those early hours of the morning and said with absolute clarity "I never felt like I could not do it, it never got too much for me. When things started heating up Hypno was running through my mind the whole time and was always there for me". To be honest after giving birth I felt so full of energy I could have kept on going!!!
I felt so proud of my birth, I kept control and made my own decisions. I conversed with my birth companions and midwife right the way though. My mind was clear and I felt confident the whole time. My partner felt like it was as much his birth as it was mine and when our baby came we both continued to be confident and relaxed parents.
And what about the baby?
Well, he came into the world in peace without a cry, eyes wide open. He looked straight at me and our eyes meet. His dada spoke and he then turned to look at him. Finally he was here born into this world safe, happy and relaxed. He went straight to the breast which is where he stayed for weeks!!
And here we are my boy is almost one year old I love being a Mamma and I loved giving birth . Words cannot describe that moment when he entered the world, but all I know is I can't wait to do it again!!!
Ali, Mum to Eli
Happy, healthy 'early' baby
Hi Amanda,
Our little bundle of joy arrived 4 weeks earlier than expected and caught us by surprise. As you know we were planning a home birth but as our son choose to come before 37 weeks we were required to go to hospital & as it happens the house wasn't really ready for birthing in with the bathroom still uncompleted.
Anyway this is our story,
Saturday 5 Dec - I had quite a high energy day getting the last few things organized for the bag, and picking up the car seat. That evening while lying on the bed giggling at Marc I felt a pop between my legs & stood up to a flood of liquid. Marc was sure I had wet my pants but as the flow continued it became clear that the baby was on the way. About an hour later the surges started, we called our midwife & my mum who booked the first plane up from Wellington on Sunday morning, at that stage thinking she wouldn't get here in time.
The surges started at about 7 mins apart & by the morning were 5 mins apart. As each one approached I sat on the Swiss ball & circled my hips. I had the image of the rose in my mind & attached the 4 steps - breathing, relaxing, visualization, deepening to the circling motion of my hips. I found this really helpful in keeping me relaxed & positive about the discomfort. The morning arrived & our wonderful midwife came around at around 9am, my mum arrived shortly afterwards. I was 5 cm at that stage & Rhonda was happy for us to stay at home a while longer. However things started to speed up then & I was feeling the urge to push by 10am. Off we went to hospital, I was really against going to hospital but the experience we had so just wonderful. We were greeted by some really lovely nurses & showed to a beautiful large room over looking Rangitoto. From that point we didn't see any other hospital staff until we left later that day.
Rhonda checked me again & I was 10cm & ready to birth my baby. 2 hours later and with no intervention our baby boy was born. Leo weighed 6 pounds 1. His Grandma & Dad shed tears of joy at his arrival and I was just incredulous that this beautiful baby had grown inside me.
Thinking back over the birth during the last few weeks it has become very clear to me that the biggest lesson I learnt from your course was the confidence & belief that I could birth my baby myself with no intervention. I'm so delighted that we had a drug free birth & believe that our baby is relaxed & calm because of that.
Thanks Amanda we feel that was money very well spent :)
Tracey, Marc & Leo
Wonderful Water birth
Dear Amanda,
Ella was born on the 3/3/10 and weighed 6lb 10oz. The birth was wonderful! I went into labour the night before at midnight but thought I was just having a few twinges so went to bed. I woke throughout the night with stomach cramps and back pain but still thought nothing.
In the morning I went to my antenatal coffee group, got out of the car and my waters broke! I stayed and had coffee with the girls and Bill came and picked me up about an hour later. We came home, got the bags in the car, had something to and before long it was time to go! We arrived at the hospital at 2.00pm and at 4.20pm Ella was born in the birthing pool. I had no drugs whatsoever and no tearing! Bill was AMAZING, he was the one who really delivered our baby. And he remained calm and kept me focussed on my breathing. It was such an amazing experience and we both are extremley grateful to you for all your help and guidance with the HypnoBirthing. When I first found out I was pregnant I was certain I would have every drug going and was very scared at the thought of it but the HypnoBirthing was amazing and I would happily give birth again tomorrow.
We have a beautiful, relaxed and contented daughter due to it. She hardly cries, has hardly any wind and just wants to feed when she is awake! She has put on 500g since she was born and is doing very well.
Thank you so much for everything Amanda, we are truly grateful for everything.
Natalie, Bill and Ella