Ayda and Clara’s Birth Story
Sarah’s beautiful birth stories for both babies
Read the extraordinary story of how Sarah used her Hypnobirthing knowledge to birth two babies, 16 months apart.
I was recommended Claire’s Hypnobirthing course by a friend who had done it previously and found her amazing!
I have severe anxiety especially around hospital scenarios and to be honest, Claire and the course were totally invaluable and changed my experience of birth with both our girls and I’ll be forever grateful.
Claire was informative and spent time making sure I was totally comfortable and knew all options for all scenarios to try and reduce any anxieties I’d have around the ‘unknown’ that is birth.
With Ayda, my labour started with contractions after weeks of my mucus plug coming away. I went to hospital to be examined where I was found to be 3cm dilated. I agreed to a sweep during the examination and went home to get some sleep and chill out. We made our way back to hospital at 4am and my waters were broken as I wasn’t getting passed 4/5cms. This was lucky as there was meconium in my waters meaning that labour needed to be hurried up due to risk of infection. I had to move rooms and get the hormone drip, which caused me to have a bit of a ‘wobble’ as it wasn’t in my ‘plan.’ However, after moving and getting sorted in the room I managed to get back in the zone before the drip kicked in suddenly and everything became more intense. I used the Gas and Air and progressed very quickly from there, with Ayda moving down faster than they could trace her – resulting in pushing for 5 minutes and her making a speedy arrival with lots and lots of hair!
We had a 3 day stay for infection that Ayda needed antibiotics for before getting home; this was a struggle but Forth Valley Hospital were amazing in allowing my partner to stay to support me.
16 months later and apparently it was so easy the first-time, that we went for round two with baby Clara! This labour was totally differed which threw me, and I had several ‘wobbles’ with Claire phoning / messaging to support me over a week whilst I was in slow stop / start labour.
My contractions never made it to 3 in 10 minutes but on the Thursday night they were coming in 6 to 7 minute intervals and were getting increasingly intense and longer as time passed. We made our way into hospital at 10:30pm after settling Ayda with my mum. The midwife could see how intense my contractions were and suggested an examination given how quickly they were coming. I was 6cms dilated!!
We were given the last room in the Attached Midwifery Unit with a pool, and we went over my birth plan with the midwife who was so supportive. I had Gas and Air which helped to take the edge off with my breathing. I was lucky enough to be able to use the birthing pool which helped me remain calm as time passed. My contractions never ever came closer together, but my labour progressed regardless, and my waters went in the pool about 10 minutes before it was time to push.
Clara was born in the birth pool at 05:26am on the 7th of January 2022 after 24 minutes of active pushing in the pool and we were back home with Ayda by 2pm the same day.
I have been extremely lucky with both girls and really feel the knowledge Claire provided us with helped support me and my partner through both, very different births! I am so grateful and couldn’t recommend her highly enough. Thank you, Claire!! X