Thanks to RaeAnna from the Hypnobabies Yahoo Group for sharing her birth story with us.
I am sitting here with my precious baby girl on my chest and I’mgiving thanks again to a God who answers prayer! I was hoping to go
into spontaneous labor with Eva Mae but as 41 weeks came closer and
closer I began to lose hope and knew that I would be heading to the
hospital on Monday night, Dec 5. I prayed that if I had to go in at a
as my son’s 2 years ago.
At 9:00am on December 5th I drank a mixture of castor oil/juice/almond
and labor. It started working around 3pm and we enjoyed a relaxing day
at home getting ready to head to the hospital. My mom came over around
hospital for the induction. I was having contractions but they were
really easy to work through. Just pressure and a tightening sensation.
At 9:00pm we checked into Vanderbilt and met our nurse, Sylvia. She is
good 6cm and -1 station. Effacement was only 50% but she said that
pregnancies. She allowed us to spend a few hours walking around and
tell that they were getting stronger! Whenever I was hooked up to the
mentioned that with the progress of the contractions there was no need
to worry at all about having pitocin. My body was doing what it needed
to do!!! Yay! (In fact, I was also allowed to decline a Heplock IV so
I had NOTHING in my arms!!!!! I was so glad to have that freedom to
At around 11:30 or 12:00 Melissa came in again and asked if I wanted
to be checked. I am so glad that she continued to let me labor on my
women have experienced in labor situations. I knew it wasn’t time to
check on dilation later on. She was happy to work with me and my
wishes! Throughout all this time I was in such a great place mentally.
outside the room I played my tracks on my iPod. The most helpful
tracks to listen to were “Easy First Stage,” “Birthing Day
Affirmations,” and “Visualize Your Birth.” I love the relaxing
Hypnobabies!
on progress. I had a very bulging bag of water and progressed to a 7
but I was still 50% effaced. She asked if I wanted her to break my
water broken as long as the baby’s head was engaged low enough to
eliminate a risk of cord prolapse. I think I was a -2 station at the
water so I agreed. It was a weird sensation to feel all the water gush
there was!!! I was really happy to hear that there was so much
diabetes at 40-41 weeks gestation.
The contractions were a lot stronger after my water broke and I had to
really concentrate through them. Fortunately not many were right on
the discomfort. I also spent time in and out of the shower with the
hot water spraying on my back and that helped a lot! Throughout the
“Peace” “Relax” “Release” and “Open” – all those reminders helped me
keep my body loose and limp throughout a contraction so that Eva Mae
could descend quicker and I would dialate faster.
At 3:30ish I had several really hard contractions that were more
intense but not as long. I could also tell that they were a little
different – like they were lower than the others. All of a sudden
during one of the contractions I knew it was time to push!!!! Sylvia
helpers to the room while Nick tried to find Melissa.
I jumped up on the bed and yelled “She’s coming!!!” and started
pushing! I couldn’t wait and my body knew exactly what to do! Sylvia
but Eva Mae’s head started coming out before Melissa got there! When
just coming in to check her!!!” She came over and guided Eva Mae’s
out! She came out so quickly that she completely slid past Sylvia’s
hands into Nick’s hands! From the time I got on the bed to push to the
Melissa helped me position myself on the bed to hold Eva Mae and I was
able to bond with her for 45min to an hour before they took her to
weigh and get her footprints! She latched on to breast feed quickly
and has been a champion feeder ever since!!! When they took her to
weigh I couldn’t believe she was 10 pounds! She seemed so much lighter
lighter!!! (10lb 1oz, 22in)
her sweet nature and easy disposition!!! I am so in love with my baby
safe and comfortable childbirth!!! Just like Christian’s birth in
support of natural childbirth! Nick says I’m the “poster child” for
Hypnobabies!!! The Vanderbilt Midwives are so supportive and
to have a hospital birth with a midwife! Melissa was amazing and my
primary care under Linda was such a wonderful experience!!! I pray
that the Lord will allow us to have more children in the future with
