1st baby, birth centre (water birth)

“The workshop gave us much more information, the opportunity to chat about our fears, understand where they come from and practice different coping mechanisms as well as hypnosis sessions.”

After being filled with the fear of god by TV, media, and every Tom, Dick and Harry’s tales of horror I was becoming increasingly anxious bout the birth of my first baby. My biggest fear was being enduced, as I know the statistics increase for intervention as a result shoot up. I didnt want to feel like that, I wanted to look forward to this amazing and precious experience. I had heard of Natal Hypnotherapy through a colleague and thought it sounded worth a shot. On Gemma’s recommendation and her wonderfully positive story I bought the Natal Hypnotherapy CD and my husband and I attended her workshop. I listened to the CD once a week to begin with then every few days, ramping up to every day before the birth. It helped me relax and consciously think about the birth and my body and try to visualise the sensations and practice coping mechanisms. The workshop gave us much more information, the opportunity to chat about our fears, understand where they come from and practice different coping mechanisms as well as hypnosis sessions. I didn’t go in thinking I would achieve a drug-free labour, I just wanted to feel more relaxed and positive about it – but that was the outcome.

“Natal Hypnotherapy helped me stay calm, helped Mark stay calm, feel positive about what was going to happen”

After having my first contraction about 9am on Saturday 2nd I told my husband and we felt immediately excited. We carried on our day, taking the dogs for a 2 hour walk, packing up our flat (as we were in the middle of moving) and around 4:30pm I decided to take things a bit easier as the contractions were getting much stronger and I was having to stop what I was doing to concentrate. I took a bath, put my aromatherapy on, and listened to the CD. By 6pm my waters had burst and we had called the birth centre as we felt it was time to leave. I’m not going to lie I was in pain however I was not petrified and knew that this meant I was going to be seeing my baby very soon. We arrived at the birth centre at 7pm and I was already having to push. Unbeknown to me I had reached 10cm at home! I was using the breathing and visualisations techniques mostly. 25 minutes later Ava was born in the birthing pool.

“I had a wonderful and positive experience”

I can honestly say the Natal Hypnotherapy helped me stay calm, helped Mark stay calm, feel positive about what was going to happen and as a result I feel I had a wonderful and positive experience. Even if you think ‘it’s not for you’ give it a go.