This week’s birth story comes from a lovely couple Sarah and Timmy who attended a TCBS Hypnobirthing Course with Charlotte Inkpin of Hypnobirthing with Charlotte, covering areas across Braintree, Essex.
Thank you for sharing your birth story of Albert with us!
“When the announcement came that it would be highly unlikely the William Julien Courtauld hospital would be available for our birth due to temporary closure, I used techniques that Charlotte had taught me to deal with the disappointment and frustration and refocus our birthing preferences to Broomfield.
Saturday 9th October 2021 – 41 weeks
I wake up about 7am, very awake and a little downhearted I hadn’t gone into labour overnight. I reminded myself that baby would come when they are ready and went downstairs and settled myself on the sofa.
About 8am I felt an odd sensation like I was wetting myself and rushed to the loo. I was pretty sure it is my waters going.
After assessment at Broomfield, they confirmed it was my waters but as I had no surges yet so we were advised to come back at 8am the following day if surges hadn’t begun.
We went home and made sure to do activities to get the oxytocin flowing so went out for lunch with one of our NCT parents, took the dog for a long walk and relaxed watching Netflix with the diffuser going. At 5pm my surges began. Surges became stronger and more consistent around 7pm, I put on the TENS machine and with the help of my husband Timmy and even Hank the dog, we breathed through each of the surges using the techniques Charlotte had taught us.
At 10.30pm surges were about 60 seconds long every 3 minutes so we headed to Broomfield. After an hour wait managing my surges with TENS and breathing we were seen but at this point my surges had slowed due to the environment in the DAU not being optimal for my oxytocin levels. They advised us to go home and come back in a few hours when the labour was more established.
Knowing we were in for potentially a long night, I sent Tim to bed for a couple of hours sleep as knew I would need him at the later stages of labour
I laboured in the company of Hank downstairs for a few hours waking my husband at 3.20am to say we were heading back to Broomfield. My surges were coming very strong and fast at this point and felt I needed to get to Broomfield to carry on the rest of my labour in the water birthing pool.
Quick assessment upon arrival determined I was 8cm dilated. I was given gas and air and taken to our low-risk water birth suite where I was able to relax more and get in the ‘zone’. I was able to get into to pool at 5am where I only used breathing and the water as pain relief.
With one final push at 7.17am our gorgeous little boy came swimming into the world.
Looking back now I cannot believe that everything we had wanted for our birth was achieved. I do believe that this was all down to the preparation we put in with all we were taught from Charlotte and maintaining a relaxed and calm attitude to labour.
I want to say a huge thank you to Charlotte for all the help and guidance she has given without which we may have had a very different experience.
Also, a huge thank you to my husband for making the journey with me and being my rock during the birth, reminding me to breath and giving me the support I needed throughout.”
If you want to create your own positive birth you can start today!
Sign up for our FREE Hypnobirthing Videos here or get in touch with one of our instructors here
