Evie’s Birth Story
Dawn’s positive homebirth using Hypnobirthing
Read the extraordinary story of how Sarah used her Hypnobirthing knowledge to birth two babies, 16 months apart.
My partner and I did a taster session with Claire, and she offered us a couple of 1:1 sessions, as our due date was before any of her group classes were due to begin. I think the 1:1 for me was absolutely the right thing to do as I had explained to Claire that I had been diagnosed with antenatal anxiety and was worried about the safety of baby and myself as well as the possibility of things going wrong in labour (not for any reason other than my own anxiety).
Claire was brilliant in tailoring her sessions to easing my anxieties around the whole birthing process and explained everything that would be offered to me after I agreed to induction and what this meant in terms of the different processes of induction and pain relief that would be offered, alongside the other interventions and our rights throughout the whole labour.
Claire's relaxation MP3’s and in particular the breathing techniques, were what got us through the labour. My waters were broken at 11.30 and after being told I still wasn't in 'established labour' which was determined based solely on my contractions, and were bloody painful, I asked for an epidural. During the whole epidural being fitted my partner counted while I breathed through each contraction. All the professionals commented on how well we did to work as a team and how relaxed everyone felt, even themselves. This helped me stay as still as possible during the epidural being fitted and once this was done and I was checked, I was 9cm along! This was only at 4.30ish so I really do believe the breathing is what got me through to being so far dilated.
Unfortunately, after giving birth, we quickly found out I had a spinal headache from the epidural. I required two blood patches to help get rid of this and again was able to use the breathing techniques to help keep me calm during the procedures as by the second one, I was a nervous wreck as I just wanted to be fixed. The breathing techniques Claire taught me got me through both procedures.
My partner felt so knowledgeable and much more aware of how to support me through labour other than just doing as he was told and having to take any abuse or my frustrations, which is what we had anticipated would have happened, had we not done Claire’s course. Instead, we worked as a team, and I believe it’s what got me through to 9cm so quickly. I honestly couldn't recommend Claire enough.
Lisa - 1:1 online hypnobirthing course