Perseverance Pays Off for a First-Time HypnoBirthing® Mom!

"I am prepared to meet whatever turn my birthing takes."
- HypnoBirthing Affirmation for an Easier Birth

Willow Midwives Birth Center

 After several days of on-and-off labor surges... 
On Wednesday, I got out of bed around 9AM and got into the shower, which eventually turned into a bath. With each surge (coming every 4-5 minutes), I found myself becoming more and more vocal and having a harder time relaxing. I started to feel pressure in my bottom and remember hearing a voice in my head that said, "If you don't get up and out of this tub right now, you are going to have a baby right here. You need to get up." So I got up. I yelled for Ben and asked him to make me some oatmeal since I had not eaten anything and I knew I would need the fuel for sustaining energy. Standing up and getting out of the tub seemed to intensify the surges, and I was having a harder time staying calm. I just needed to moan and get loud to really work through them.

I called Clare (our doula), and when she answered, I was crying and moaning through another surge. I told her to meet us at the birth center (Willow Midwives in Minneapolis), but I expressed to her my frustration with how long I had been laboring. I was feeling like I couldn't do this any longer. I made her aware that if we got to the birth center and things had not progressed, and if I hadn't opened much further,  I was tapping out and going to the hospital and getting the epidural. Clare was so sweet and supportive and assured me that I was so close, but she would support whatever decision I made.

Somehow I managed to eat half a bowl of oatmeal and magically put clothes on so we could get into the car. When we arrived at the birth center, I couldn't wait to get into that room. I immediately made my way into the bathroom and sat on the toilet, and when another surge came, I was having a hard time breathing through it. Clare sat in front of me, held my hand and helped me find my breath. I began to cry when my midwife came into the restroom, and she very calmly pressed her cool hands onto my forehead and around my face - this right here is why I chose midwifery care. The patience, compassion, and nurturing care provided by these amazing women is the exact kind of support I needed in that moment. They did another cervical check and told me I was at 7cm opened. Instead of feeling relief and excitement, I remember feeling annoyed with the fact that I had another 3 centimeters to go (haha!).

The tub was ready and I was eager to get into it. The water was such a relief, but those surges were at their peak of intensity. The midwife encouraged me to get into a different position every 3-4 surges to keep things moving. I just went into THE ZONE. Labor lala-land for sure! I focused on my breathing and squeezed Ben's hand with every surge. I was determined to let my body do its job. When I got into the cross-legged "campfire style" of sitting in the tub, I could feel her head move past my cervix and begin the journey down the birth path. I wasn't aware of what was going on outside my body, but Ben and my doula could see my waters bulging. They burst with the next surge (which I could not feel), and Clare got up to let the midwife know they had broken and there was a bit of meconium in the fluid. I started to notice my surges had spaced out and gave me time in between, but when they came again, I could feel my body "nudging" her downward.

With my body taking over, I had to really focus on my breathing and not forcing anything; but, even my breath started to sound grunty and "pushy." I let my birth team know at this point that she was close. I could feel her inching downward with each surge and then sliding back up a bit. This feeling didn't worry me, because I knew it meant progress, and I wanted to go slow so my body would have time to stretch. Clare encouraged me to move into another position so I got onto my knees, faced Ben and held onto the outside of the birth tub. The next surge, I started to get that pressure and burning sensation with my skin stretching. I spoke to my body in that moment and commanded it to go "nice and slow" but that's like going 80mph and trying to stop on a stretch of black ice (haha!). With the next surge, I let out a great roar, and my body moved her head out with her shoulders quickly following in the same surge. My midwife caught her from behind and slid her between my legs. I just remember her telling me to reach down and get my baby, and when I opened my eyes and looked down, I saw this little baby staring up at me in the water. I picked her up and turned onto my butt and held her closely to my chest. She hardly cried and was suckling her little fist. She was finally here and she was so healthy and strong!!! We got to snuggle until the cord stopped pulsating.

Ben cut the cord and took her into his arms for some skin-to-skin. I could feel my body surging, and literally felt the sensation of my placenta being released and pushed out. I let my midwife know and she was ready to catch it. It came out quick and painlessly. We were monitored for five hours, and then we got to go home, get into our own bed and snuggle. Ben picked up a pizza and some beers to celebrate! What a ride that was, and we were all so exhausted. Looking back at it now. I am so grateful for you and the HypnoBirthing class we took. I felt strong, empowered, educated, and trusted my body to do what it was created to do. I did not tear, both me and Willa were super healthy, and my recovery was AMAZING!!! Thank you for everything you taught us!

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 [email protected] with any questions!
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