I just felt my body doing what it needed to do to bring her into the world.
Generally speaking, no two births look alike... and no two "hynpobirthing births" looks alike, either. Keep reading below for a bit of inspiration, and thank you to this Flutterby Hypnobirthing student for sharing her short but very sweet story!
Lucy’s Birth was surprisingly easy. I started having surges on the evening of the 19th, but with the Hypnobirthing techniques, was able to get a couple hours of sleep and then doze for a couple more hours between surges. By the time I started feeling like I needed to give things a bit more focus, my surges were 2-3 minutes apart and 1-1.5 minutes long.
We made it to the birth center a whole eight minutes before Lucy arrived, just barely giving me time to make it into the birthing room and breathe the baby out! I kept thinking as we were driving, “I am prepared to calmly meet whatever turn my birthing may take,” and chuckling as I thought about all the mental preparation I had done to tell myself that when birthing got long and intense! I had read a couple days before Lucy was born that some women report feeling no pain throughout birth when using Hypnobirthing techniques, and I can say that was the case for me. I was certainly aware that I was giving birth, both during surges and while breathing Lucy out, but over all I just felt my body doing what it needed to do to bring her into the world. Thank you so much for your class, and for the opportunity to learn more about my body and process through a miscarriage early last year. I am really grateful for all that I learned. - Mackenzie, Austin, and Baby L
Flutterby is located in the Twin Cities, and provides Hypnobirthing as well as other classes and services for expectant families. Erin Stertz-Follett, Flutterby's Owner, is a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Certified HypnoBirthing Educator, and Certified Birth Doula who has taught and assisted hundreds of families. Email her at erin@flutterbybirth.com with any questions. Sharing is caring!
1 Comment
My HypnoBirthing practice had turned into a reality!
Our baby boy came into this world about 12 hours after my contractions started. I was 38 weeks and 1 day, and Henrik was 7lbs 2oz , 20 inches. I had seen my midwife that morning, and she had told me that I was dilated to 3cm. For the rest of the day at work, I sat on the birth ball and moved my hips in circles. I was excited that I could go into labor at any minute, so I wanted to help the process along. I tried to remind myself that I could also just as easily not go into labor and end up waiting three more weeks for the big day to arrive. I had occasional little “twinges” in my cervix, but I wasn’t sure if they meant anything, so I dismissed them.
My husband Jake and I ate dinner, and then around 7pm I started to feel exhausted, so I decided to go to bed early. I laid on our bed and started listening to the HypnoBirthing tracks like I had done for the past many weeks. After a while I started feeling little “cramps” (I had never experienced a contraction before). At first I thought nothing of them, but as they continued, I realized that it was the beginning of labor! Jake came in the room and I told him the news! He said, in denial, “they’re probably Braxton-Hicks.” He admitted that he would be shocked if our baby really was coming! My contractions increased a little by 9pm, so Jake filled the tub and I sat in it for an hour. I told Jake to go to sleep at 11pm because I knew I would need him to be well rested to support me through the delivery. I didn’t feel I needed him to sit with me during the early part of labor, as I was feeling fine just meditating on my own. I also didn’t want both of us to stay up all night. He downloaded a contraction app so that I could keep track of how long they were lasting and how frequent they were occurring and he went to bed. In the early part of labor, the contractions lasted 30-40 seconds and they occurred every 6 minutes. Then, towards the end of my laboring at home, they were lasting about 60-90 seconds and were 3-4 minutes apart. From 11pm-3am, I alternated between laying on my left side in bed, rolling my hips on the birthing ball, walking a little, and doing some “cat and cows.” Somehow my husband slept through all of my moving about. I breathed through each contraction and rested during the breaks. While breathing through an intense contraction, I would place my hand on my lower abdomen and make sure my hand was moving up and down with my breath; this way I knew I was relaxing and staying loose. During the night, my bowels definitely cleared out (if you know what I mean), and I felt that I passed my mucus plug (it looked like a mucus/clear/blood tinged glob and It seemed to come in stages- smaller at first). At 3am I felt the contractions were increasing in intensity. I had to really focus to breathe and relax, and the contraction app reaffirmed that they were longer and more frequent too, so I knew it wasn’t my imagination! Knowing that I had been “a 3” earlier that day, I was confident that I had made progress after the many hours of laboring at home, and I felt that I wanted to be at the hospital for the rest of the laboring. I excitedly woke up Jake and we packed our bags in the truck (with a few contractions in-between) and left! It was such an exciting moment! Knowing that we were driving to the hospital for the final stretch! I had a few contractions in the car on the way there and also on my walk into the hospital, for which I had to pause and let pass before I could continue walking. We arrived to the birthing unit at 4am and I was happy to find out that I was dilated to a 6. It was nice to know that my “work” of relaxing and breathing through contractions had paid off. The nurse checked on the baby when I was admitted, but then let me move around the room, go on the birth ball, and sit in the tub as I pleased. The midwives and nurses were amazing! They told me about all of my options, but gladly supported my wish to deliver my baby naturally. I didn’t have a birth plan or instruct them to avoid any certain vocabulary, and I didn’t feel I needed to. They were all very respectful, and allowed me to take the lead. They told me I could eat lightly and drink too, so that was nice to know I had the option. I had a bite of an energy bar, but other than that I didn’t have an appetite. I focused inward and used my husband as my main support. I would talk between contractions, but once a contraction started up again, I would stop talking and focus on my breath. I didn’t want to spend any energy by talking during contractions. Jake played meditation yoga music in the background, which I realized I liked for the final stages of labor. I had a hard time focusing on the HypnoBirthing tracks during a contraction, and just thought of the affirmations on my own as it worked for me. I sat in the tub for about an hour, and then for the rest of the time I laid on my left side in bed or stood up and folded over the raised bed so Jake could massage my lower back (which tightened up whenever I had a contraction). If I felt any nausea, Jake would hold peppermint oil near my nose. The smell really seemed to help. I threw up a few times, but I didn’t mind, as I knew it could mean that my labor was nearing the end. I was amazed at how great I felt in-between contractions; it was what I could look forward to after a contraction. Towards the end, when my contractions were quite strong and more frequent, humming calmed me and kept me focused; it let others know when I was experiencing stronger contractions, too. At about 8am I was full dilated and effaced. The midwife offered to break my water, and after about 15 more minutes of contractions, I decided that I was ready for that. I continued to breathe baby down until about 8:45pm, when the midwife told me that I could start pushing if I wanted to. At first I declined and continued to breathe baby down, but the pressure started to increase and I felt that my body was feeling ready to naturally push at that point. They could see his head too, so after about 3 pushes, Henrik Jacob was born! The last few minutes of the delivery were so amazing to experience. So much preparation... and the time had finally come. When my midwife placed Henrik on my chest just seconds after he was born, it was the best feeling I have ever experienced. The feeling of his warm (so warm) and waxy skin on mine is something I will never forget. My baby did so well on his journey into this world. Jake was an amazing birth partner and was just as amazed as I was that our baby had finally come. We felt so blessed. After enjoying our baby for a while, the midwife showed us that all of the blood had been pulsed out of the umbilical cord and it was ready to be cut. I did the honors, since Jake has a weak stomach when it comes to things like this. Henrik stayed lying on my chest for at least the next hour and a half and my nurse patiently helped me through learning how to breastfeed right away. The entire birth was a blessing. I was so grateful that I was able to deliver Henrik naturally. My HypnoBirthing practice had turned into a reality. Right after Henrik was born, I was amazed at how great I felt physically. Mentally, I was exhausted, as I had been awake for over 24 hours by the time he was born. I didn’t have any tearing either which was really nice. I had done perineal massage throughout the later part of my pregnancy, so that may have helped me avoid it. The goal for my son’s birth was to deliver naturally. I used a well-rounded approach that incorporated things I had learned throughout my life, including what I learned in the HypnoBirthing class. I chose a midwife as my provider so that I would feel more support in my goal to deliver naturally. I encourage everyone to seek a care provider that aligns with your birthing preference and thoughts, beliefs, and assumptions about the birthing process. But whether you plan to deliver with an OBGYN or a midwife, with epidural or naturally, I feel that Erin’s HypnoBirthing classes can provide some wonderful tools for making the birthing process more enjoyable. The relaxation techniques, confidence-building, and increased knowledge about the process can help anyone in the early hours of laboring at home, and beyond. Erin empowered me to follow my dream of delivering my child naturally and gave me wonderful tools, both physical handouts and then mental preparation practices, which I was able to utilize when it came time to deliver my baby boy. The birthing affirmations that were in the HypnoBirthing tracks were great too. They were calming, and gave me a good energy for my pregnancy and birth. I would highly recommend Erin’s class to any pregnant mamma! It was money well spent. Thank you for everything, Erin! Erin Stertz-Follett, Flutterby's Owner, is a Certified HypnoBirthing® Educator, Certified Hypnotist, and Certified Birth Doula who has taught and assisted hundreds of families. Feel free to email her at erin@flutterbybirth.com with any questions! The more you can ignore "early labor," the better....We had our baby five days ago, and I used HypnoBirthing myself for the first time (baby #4)!
I slept through 90% of my labor! I went to bed listening to the (hypnosis) audio track, and woke up the next morning to what I thought were mild waves/surges. I breathed through them for about an hour using the surge breathing technique, never leaving my bed. Then I started shaking... Realizing the shaking was transition, I called my midwives, and they started on their way over (this was our first home birth as well). 45 minutes later, Baby E was received by my husband on our bathroom floor. Then we waited for the midwives to arrive to help us with the rest. She was my biggest baby, and this was by far my fastest, easiest birth! It was truly amazing! I had so many people tell me throughout my pregnancy that having the baby this way "wouldn't work," and I'll admit that at times, even I was skeptical. But it really did turn out just the way I was hoping. I am so happy to have discovered HypnoBirthing, and am even more excited to support clients choosing this program now that I have personal experience! - Kara (doula with Sacred Space Birth Services)
I went into prodromal labor on Wednesday night (two days before the birth), and wasn't consistent enough with my surges to go to the birth center (Roots Community Birth Center). I didn't get much sleep Wednesday or Thursday nights - and, without my HypnoBirthing techniques, I don't know what I would have done. My doula also spent Thursday night with me, and her familiarity with HypnoBirthing and overall attentiveness and knowledge was a true gift. (I see why labor outcomes are more positive with doulas!!).
When I finally did go to the center for an assessment (my membranes hadn't released, so I wanted a cervical check), I was at 4cm opened. After an hour and a half of Benadryl-induced 'somewhat-sleep' at the center, we did some Spinning Babies techniques and the surges really started to ramp up! Six hours later, H was born!!... Completely naturally and unmedicated; received into her fathers hands, placenta born still attached, observance of a golden hour of bonding, very little postpartum bleeding on my part - it was all we wanted and more! I can't tell you enough how much strength and ability to have the birth WE wanted came from the HypnoBirthing class you taught us. Especially as a first time mom, not knowing what to expect but having the grace, knowledge and faith to surrender to the miracle of birth. Especially a natural, out-of-hospital birth. From being able to counter my own family's concern/fear to being out-of-hospital to the moment-to-moment passage of each surge as they literally took hold of my body in their unrelenting series of rushes... I had tools to use from HypnoBirthing class! The cost of the class was hands down the best, most comprehensive investment we put towards our birth preparation. If this helps persuades one couple to take this class, the value they will receive be worth it. They say a woman remembers her birthing experiences for the rest of her life, and you helped ours be one of pride, strength and fearless love. Love and deep gratitude, P, N + Baby H
Erin Stertz-Follett, Flutterby's Owner, is a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Certified HypnoBirthing® Educator, and Certified Birth Doula who has taught and assisted hundreds of families. Feel free to email her at erin@flutterbybirth.com with any questions!
"We truly felt empowered in our birth and it was such a positive experience!"
We went to the family cabin on Friday night (my guess date was the following Tuesday)...
I woke up early Saturday morning feeling like I was peeing in my pants. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on, but thought it might be something with my bag of waters. I let Andy sleep a bit longer and tried to go back to sleep for a little bit. After a while, I woke Andy up and told him we probably should head home because I thought the baby might be coming. We took our time and made breakfast and said goodbye to family and then headed home. It definitely was my water (aka "membranes releasing") because I leaked all the way home! We got home and it was a beautiful sunny day. We had the most wonderful, quiet day at home. We went for a walk, took naps, showered, ate food, etc. I eventually got to the point where the surges were more noticeable. We finally called the hospital (we delivered at United) late in the afternoon and they asked us to come in. My surges were right on track with the guidelines you gave us for when to go in, so I was happy to go in. They admitted us when we got there and we ended up in the room with the tub they use for water birthing. I spent the next number of hours in the tub, in bed, and moving around a bit. We had the birth affirmations playing throughout the birthing process and they were so helpful! I had no idea what time it was or that the doctor was even in the room when Cohen was born. We had the most wonderful skin to skin right after he was born and he latched so well and ate like a champ right from the start. Our nursing staff and OB were amazing and they supported us in all of our birth preferences and didn’t push anything. Cohen is such a happy, content kid and we love him more than anything! Thank you again for all you helped us with! We truly felt empowered in our birth and it was such a positive experience! - Rachel, first-time mom ------- Erin Stertz-Follett, Flutterby's Owner, is a Certified Consulting Hypnotist, Certified HypnoBirthing® Educator, and Certified Birth Doula who has taught and assisted hundreds of families. Feel free to email her at erin@flutterbybirth.com with any questions! Sharing is Caring! Please use the social share buttons to spread the joy from this story on Facebook, Twitter, or Pinterest! |
AuthorErin Stertz-Follett, Owner Categories
All
Archives
January 2024
|