First Time Mom Angie’s Hypnobabies Birth Center Waterbirth
“I was so proud that I got to have the birth experience of my dreams – It was incredibly empowering. People have since asked me if I felt nervous or anxious about the birth leading up to it and I say no, I really didn’t as Hypnobabies really gave me the confidence to have the easiest and most comfortable birth for me.”
Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis really does help you enjoy a much easier and more comfortable birthing! Use code hypno1528 for 10% off our Hypnobabies Home Study Courses.
On Friday, May 22nd I was five days past my guess date (Hypnobabies term for due date) and though I listened to my joyful affirmations daily and tried to tell myself “my baby will come at the perfect time” I was getting more and more antsy, mainly because I knew that if I went past 42 weeks, I wouldn’t be able to give birth at the birth center and I was determined to have a no/low intervention birth and wanted to avoid going to the hospital as much as possible. So, on Friday afternoon at around 2 pm, at my midwife’s recommendation, I reluctantly went to get a membrane sweep at the birth center. Before the procedure, I asked the midwife if I could have a moment to prepare myself and listen to my Hypnobabies relaxation music. To my surprise, it only took about five minutes and I didn’t feel any discomfort. At the suggestion of my Hypnobabies instructor, before and after the procedure I listened to the “Come Out Baby” track (Hypnobabies track to help encourage baby to be born) from Hypnobabies. Me and my husband also talked to our baby girl to ask her to come out and meet us! I also played Stevie Wonder “Isn’t She Lovely” and got all teary-eyed thinking about how we were going to meet her soon.
When we got home from the birth center, I decided to do my late-pregnancy workout routine which involved three sets of 30 lunges, 30 squats, 10 dips using a chair and 10 elevated pushups. When I reached the end of my workout, all of the sudden, I felt something wet and I thought that maybe there was a chance that my water had broken, though I wasn’t sure.
I called the midwife and she said that it sounded like my water had broken but suggested that I come into the birth center just to make sure. I told them that I would shower and eat and be there around 9 pm.
Before heading to the birth center, we ordered a takeout dinner from a local restaurant — the same place where we ate in August 2019 right before I found out I was pregnant, so we thought it would be appropriate to come full circle!
Around 9 pm, we went to the birth center and they confirmed my water had broken. We went back home to wait for my pressure waves (Hypnobabies term for contractions) to start.
After we got back home, I tried to go to bed, but pretty quickly started to feel something happening, though I wasn’t sure what it was…looking back, now I know that it was my early birthing time (Hypnobabies term for labor)!
My husband ran a bath for me and as I got in the tub, I tried to relax and listen to my Hypnobabies tracks like Your Birthing Time Begins (Reminders of all the Hypnobabies tools for birthing) and Birthing Day Affirmations, though the discomfort did make it difficult to fully get into hypnosis in the same way that I did during my practice. At one point the waves got more intense and I got out of the tub. I wanted to just lie on the bathroom floor but decided instead to move to the couch where I tried relaxing in different positions with lots of pillows, all while listening to Hypnobabies. I wasn’t able to sleep, but I did rest as much as possible.
At around 4 or 5 am, I texted our doula, to let her know my waves were getting more intense. Then, I called her, and we talked about when I should go into the birth center. She said my pressure waves seemed pretty close together, but it was hard for her to tell if I was ready to go, since I seemed so calm. After I got off the phone, I woke my husband up and told him it was time to go. He was disoriented, since it was so early in the morning and he thought we would have more time, but he jumped into action and started getting the car packed. While I waited, the waves started getting more intense and I told him, “I really want to go NOW!”
It was pouring down rain when we headed to the birth center.
When we arrived, the midwife checked me and said I was 5 cm dilated. I continued to listen to my tracks like Deepening Your Hypnosis (Hypnobabies track for deepening the level of hypnosis) and my husband and doula helped me get into different positions to find what was most comfortable for me.
I got in and out of the bathtub about four times throughout my birthing time.
I had no concept of time and didn’t eat anything the whole time, I just drank coconut water and Gatorade.
My birthing environment was exactly as planned: low lights, bedroom-like setting at the birth center, Hypnobabies tracks playing in the background, I really enjoyed the Relaxation music and visualizing my Orange Hypno-anesthesia, and my husband and doula by my side, with the nurse and midwife checking on me every now and then. Using my Peace cue (Hypnobabies cue for instant physical comfort) really helped.
I had a few moments where I felt discouraged, and at one point I thought “Is this going to last forever?” but whenever I started to sense any negative self-talk coming into my head I was able to go back to my Hypnobabies tools.
As I went from the bathtub to the toilet to pee, my husband went to ask the nurse how we would know when I was moving to the next stage of my birthing time. Right at that moment, I threw up what felt like everything in my system and they said that was a sign that we were progressing. I also remember when I went to wipe, there was some blood tinged mucus and my doula said that was good.
Then, the midwife came in and checked me and said that my cervix was pinched and swollen, so while the baby’s station (head positioning) was very low in my uterus (a good sign!), my cervix was in the way of the baby coming out!
While I was in the tub, the midwife tried using her fingers to move my cervix to the side while I pushed simultaneously – we tried that a few times, but it didn’t work!! At that point, I was focused and ready to try whatever position necessary to get my baby out!
I just kept thinking; my body was made to do this. I deserve an easy and comfortable birth. My baby and I are grateful for this powerful experience.
My husband and doula were by my side the entire time and reminded me that this was only temporary, stay focused, you can do this.
When it got to the point where I was feeling particularly intense pressure waves and discomfort, I looked at my husband or my doula and said calmly but firmly, “This is hard!”
As I moved from early birthing time to the transformational stage (Hypnobabies term for transformation), my doula encouraged me to make noises as she said that it could help me release energy — I wasn’t sure if I should make noises cause in the videos of hypnobirths I saw previously the women seemed so quiet — but, since my doula encouraged me, I made guttural oooohhs and aahhhs and grunting noises as she suggested — even though I was completely naked and making weird noises I didn’t feel self-conscious at all!
Throughout my birthing time, I mostly kept my eyes closed, only peeking them open as necessary to move into a new position.
Finally, my midwife checked me again while I was in the tub and said that my cervix had moved and was no longer in the way!
The midwife and nurse got on their N-95 masks, gloves and gowns and set up a tarp on the floor.
My doula encouraged me as I got out of the tub, feeling exhausted, and said, “Look, Angie! You are getting ready to meet your baby girl! You’re almost there!”
With renewed energy, I got into a squatting position with my husband supporting me and started pushing. The midwife and nurse commented on how strong my legs were as I stayed in a low squat and they gave me a stool to sit on to support my weight.
Then, the midwife suggested that I get into a tabletop position on the bed.
They said they could see the baby’s head, and everyone got excited.
They encouraged me to touch the baby’s head and see it in a mirror, but I was so exhausted and just wanted to focus on pushing the baby out.
After her head was out, it felt like I just pushed for maybe a few minutes more and her entire body slid out of me.
Our daughter, Josephina (“Josie”) was born on Saturday, May 23rd at 2:33 pm.
The midwife caught her and handed her to me immediately.
I was totally shocked and in awe.
My husband had tears in his eyes.
I felt elated! We did it!
Afterwards, I birthed the placenta, got a few stitches for a minor tear (I didn’t feel discomfort during pushing despite the tear) and cuddled with our new baby girl.
I was so proud that I got to have the birth experience of my dreams – It was incredibly empowering. People have since asked me if I felt nervous or anxious about the birth leading up to it and I say no, I really didn’t as Hypnobabies really gave me the confidence to have the easiest and most comfortable birth for me! I think also giving birth at the birth center, in an environment and with people where I felt safe and comfortable also made a HUGE difference. I am so grateful to my husband, doula and Hypnobabies for helping me feel prepared for my birthing time, so that I could bring my daughter into the world gently, naturally, safely and surrounded with love. I absolutely recommend Hypnobabies and plan to use the program for any future pregnancies!
Here is another great Birth Center story!
