My Hypnobirth, By Brita Thomsen
On Monday the 11-11-13, I had an appointment with my OB (Anna) at 41+1 weeks pregnant. After being monitored, it was discovered thatin 2 weeks since my last appointment, my unborn son had lost weight. Also my amniotic fluid was scarce, so instantly I got worried and was afraid my dreams of having a hypno birth were slipping. Out of fear, I booked in then and there for an induction the following morning. Things were not going to plan!
The following morning (after a night of about 3 hours of stressed sleep) at 7am 12-11-13 we arrived at the hospital. Straight away the nurses put me on a heartrate and contraction monitor. I was surprised to find out, I was already having very mild surges, this was great news! At 8am the OB arrived to check how everything was going. It was discovered I was 2-3cm dilated, and if things kept going along as they were, I would not need to be induced at all.
Anna attempted to break my waters (but didn't) and was due to return at 12pm to check my progress. The next four hours proved to be extremely eventful! I immediately began walking around the hospital, everywhere, and bouncing on a fit ball. Only going back in every 30-40 minutes to check my heart rate. I would do everything in my power to avoid being induced. I began actually feeling very mild surges atabout 9.30/10am and began timing them. They went from being every 14 minutes, to very quickly being every 10 minutes, then to being every 7 minutes. At 12pm Anna came back and things were progressing quickly, she confirmed I was not going to need to be induced, I was now 4cm and she told me she would be back at 4pm for another check up.
Now things were In full swing, every time asurge would come along, I would pace and close my eyes and go into my own zone,concentrating on my breathing. The intensity crept up quickly and I requested some heat packs, which I kept on my abdomen as I paced. The intensity increased again, this time proving to be to much for me. As much as I wanted to have a drug free birth, that wasn't going to happen and In the heat of the moment requested an epidural.
At 1.30pm I had a low dose epidural, I could still walk around, it was just to take the edge off. I instantly felt better, and was able to continue to enjoy the experience. Just 45 minutes later, it was wearing off and the intensity kicked in again. The nurses were not allowed to do an internal on me, so were not able to see my progress, I think however if they had of checked, they would have seen I was 10cm already, hence my epidural not feeling effective so quickly. I told the midwife I felt I needed to push and my body sort of convulsed without my control. The midwife told me it was to early, but my body knew what it needed to do, my baby boy was getting ready to enter the world. As I pushed, my waters broke. I told the midwives to get my OB quickly. At this stage it was 2.40pm and Anna had just arrived.
It was time, the third and final phase of my birth was now underway! The best part of the entire experience was beginning, with every surge at every minute, my son was that bit closer. When the surge was happening, I would again be concentrating on breathing him into this world and go completely into my own zone. In the breaks between surges, I felt completely normal and would engage in conversations and laughter with my fiancé. I breathed my son down over a period of 50 minutes, with amazing support and encouragement from my OB. I could still feel every surge (even with my epidural) and knew when I needed to do my part.
My very last surge brought my son into this world all on its own At 3.28pm and he was instantly put onto my bare chest. After a 20 minute period, when my cord had finished pulsing it was cut by my partner and he was then weighed in at a healthy 2.995kg. This was the single most amazing experience of my entire life, and I know hypnobirthing helped me achieve this wonderful birth experience.
