QC HypnoBirthing

Little did I know that my birth plan started taking shape when I was 12 years old.  I was sitting in the waiting room of my small, hometown hospital waiting to get an x-ray.  Down the hall in the emergency room I heard the screams of a small girl getting a spinal tap to check for meningitis.  My mother, being a nurse, was able to describe to me what was happening and what the procedure was.  It was that incident that put a great fear of needles into me.  Fast forward 16 years to when we were pregnant with our first child.  I had my mind made up that I wanted a drug-free birth in order to give our child a peaceful introduction to the world that awaited her.  My only choice for nourishment was also breast milk.  I would do anything that would me a better chance of successfully breastfeeding my child.

I was at a wedding reception when I was about 6 months pregnant with our first child.  I was speaking to the mother of a good friend.  She was currently a labor and delivery nurse and had been for many years.  I told her of my desire to have a drug-free birth and my fear of needles.  She quickly replied that the births she had attended that were successful in their quest for a peaceful, drug-free birth were those where the birth preparations included HypnoBirthing.  She explained what it was – as I had never heard of it.

When I returned home, I searched on the internet for HypnoBirthing and was overjoyed to find someone in my area (Janel) that taught it (although I would have been willing to drive hours for it).  I called Janel who promptly responded to all my questions and information I requested.  We decided to do the private lessons due to the challenges of coordinating 3 peoples’ schedules.  My husband and I met with Janel 4 times in our home.  We were both able to participate fully in the preparation.  She taught us what actually happens physically during birth and how to let your body do exactly what it does during birth if you just let it.  I continued to practice what Janel taught us and listened to my Rainbow Relaxation every night.  I must admit, I often fell asleep before completing it – it must have worked well.  I played it out loud on a clock radio CD that I purchased just for that purpose.  My husband was also able to listen to it so he understood exactly what I was listening to.  I wondered about the classes offered by the hospital specifically about birth preparation and Janel assured me that the HypnoBirthing was the only birthing class I’d need – and she was exactly right!  

My OB doctor was also very supportive.  She asked what type of birth I wanted to have and what preparation I planned to do.  She had never heard of HypnoBirthing at the time, but asked me all about it.  She told me to let her know if there was anything she could do to help.  HypnoBirthing is a completely different way of birthing your child compared to what the majority of women I know have used.  Many people leave their birth plan and wishes up to someone else.  It was important for me to take full control over the birth of my baby. 

I had a birth plan that made me want to wait and start the birthing process when my daughter chose.  I continued to work until a week after my ‘due date’.  The day came where I became extremely uncomfortable and could not sit or sleep despite many hours of walking and other ‘techniques’ as advised by others to start the birth process.  At the next appointment, I requested to be induced because of the extreme physical discomfort.  So the time came to birth my daughter.  I wasn’t sure what to expect.  The nurse taking care of me was Jennifer.  She was new to labor and delivery (6 mos) but had previously been a cardiac nurse, so I trusted her ability to deal with potential serious situations.  She had never attended a HypnoBirthing birth.  I settled into my birthing bed, turned off the lights, closed the curtains and took the clock off the wall.  It was time to put my training to use.  I had packed my crackers and some water (you don’t run a marathon without a snack and something to drink, do you?).  My husband snuck away to get a soda, candy bar since he was starting to fall asleep in the darkened room (it continues to be a longstanding joke).  

I began doing the relaxation techniques.  After a couple hours I was checked and was at a 3.  Another hour passed.  I was going to be checked again but had to wait as several nurses where next door helping a mother birth her baby.  I was checked and said I was at 9.5.  My OB doctor came in since we were close and said I was at 5.  How in the world could the check right before that be so off?  My doctor expected it would be a while, so she was going to leave the hospital but stay within minutes when she was called.  After she left, I remember thinking – I’m not going to be able to do this all night.  I buckled down and resorted back to what I had learned.  I put on my headset, cranked my Gentle Surge CD and focused on the big red balloon imagery.  I quickly learned that being able to visualize Janel’s teaching of what was happening to my body was essential to my birth.  Within one hour, I was ready to birth.  My urge to push sent the nurses running to my room.  They called my Dr. immediately.  I held off pushing (a near impossible task) for about 7 minutes until she arrived.  I was willing to wait for her to arrive.  She walked into my room, walked into the gown and with one push, our daughter’s head was out.  With another push, she was born.  She weighed just over 7 lbs.  I didn’t require any sutures, but was given 2 just to avoid any issues of requiring them later. 

My daughter latched on immediately.  The first pictures we have are of her lying on my chest and having her first nursing session.  You can see the elation on my face and the headphones in my ears.  I chuckle when I see that picture – remembering my devotion to my HypnoBirthing tools until the very end. 

When it came time to birth my son 3+ years later, I was nervous that I wouldn’t remember the techniques.  I reread over the book and training.  Having a 3 year old and all the other craziness of a full-time + job left little time for other tasks.  I met with Janel over lunch and she assured me that if I reviewed the material and did the Rainbow Relaxation, I would just fall back into it and do fine.  

Since I had already been through the birthing process, I felt I knew what to expect as far as the stages (starting with the assumption that the births would be relatively the same).  I was induced 2 days before my due date because I was extremely uncomfortable.  We had also moved to a different town since the birth of my daughter and were about 45 minutes away from the hospital in good traffic.  I didn’t want to risk having an even quicker birth on the way to the hospital.  I went in around 8am.  Since it was a Wednesday, my Dr. was in the office which is in the same location as the Labor and Delivery.  She had screens with the monitors so she could monitor my situation at any time from her office.  It was about a 3 minute walk to my room from her office when it would be time for her to come to my room for the birth.  The nurse tending to me during the day was told she should get an early lunch since they figured I’d have a quick birth.  My labor with my daughter was only 5 hours total.  

Lunchtime came and went.  I was doing my relaxation techniques and not progressing as far as I expected.  The nurse commented that I was sleeping quite a bit.  I wonder how many births include a comment from the nurse that it seems the mother is sleeping quite a bit.  I think that shows what the deep relaxation can actually do for you during the birthing process.  Shift change came and I was elated to find Jennifer was my 2nd shift nurse.  She was told it was a HypnoBirthing birth.  She remembered my first birth, but hadn’t had one since.  She was surprised to find the same patient for her 2nd HypnoBirthing birth.  I continued to work through the surges in my favorite laboring furniture – the rocking chair.  I was checked around 3:30pm and was at a 6.  My Dr. was notified of my status and was prepared to come whenever they called.  Jennifer recognized I was getting close and knew that the 2nd part is often very quick.  She asked me to move back into the bed but I could continue to sit up on the break-away bed.  I was amazed later that she could pick up on that.  

Less than an hour later I felt the urge to push.  They called my Dr. immediately and she started her walk down.  I felt I need to push and asked where she was.  They assured me she was walking down the hall.  They also said they were there and would take care of me if I felt I needed to push.  That was all I needed to hear.  One push and my son’s head was out - another push and his entire body was out.  My Dr. came in right after he was born.  She told me later that next time I’m at a 6, she is going to sit outside my door and just wait.  

My son latched on immediately too.  He weighed almost 9 lbs.  I didn’t need any stitches and had no issues whatsoever.  

Reliving both of my birth experiences truly brings back great memories for me.  My Dr. has never forgotten my birth and neither did Jennifer.  I was very lucky to have a have a birthing coach (Janel) and Dr. who was so supportive of my birth plan.  I wanted to wait to go into labor until nature decided it was time.  I wanted to have an unmedicated birth.  I wanted to bring my children into the world as peaceful as possible.  Although it was important for me to plan my births, it was also important to realize that I must be flexible if necessary.  I trust my OB Dr.  I knew if she gave me 3 options and let me choose, she would support whatever I decided.  I also trusted that if she told me I only had 1 option (ex. C-section) that I trusted that was really my only option.  That trust has been built up through many years of being a patient of hers and many other mothers who she has helped during their birthing process.  She delivers her own patients’ babies.  She also supports a mother’s desire to have natural births after previous difficult births – something many OB doctors aren’t even willing to discuss.  She truly is supportive of a mother’s wish to bring her baby into the world in a peaceful way. 

HypnoBirthing via Janel’s training was an essential part of my birthing process.  I highly recommend HypnoBirthing taught by Janel to any mother who has the desire to birth their child in the most natural way possible and to give their child the best possible chance at a great breastfeeding experience.  Not only did it provide me a great birthing experience, but it gave me another gift that is useful when patience run low with my children or the stresses of work and life – the ability to completely relax myself in 5 seconds.  So almost 6 years since my first birth and over 2 years since my last, I’m left with fond memories of my births and a lifelong skill of self-relaxation. 

Thanks, Janel, for contributing to my wonderful birthing experiences.  I hope many other mothers in my area get to experience your teachings and guidance so they can have amazing, empowering, exhilarating and enjoyable births like I was able to experience.  Birth is truly a gift, a miracle and something that should be appreciated.  Your teachings enable all of that and more.  Thanks Again! 

With Gratitude, Molly