Lindsey’s 2 Hour Hypnobabies Home Waterbirth

Hypno-mom Lindsey and husband standing in front of fireplace holding their newborn

Lindsey’s 2 Hour Hypnobabies Home Waterbirth

“I listened to my Birthing Day Affirmations, followed by Easy First Stage (Hypnobabies main birthing day track). Our team arrived within the hour and I was quickly approaching Transformation (Hypnobabies word for transition).”

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.

Our sweet boy, Duncan Reed Shilling entered this world on 9/19/19 at 8:27 AM. I gave birth at home, in our bathtub, accompanied by our Midwife, her apprentice, our Doula, my amazing husband, and our three little dogs.

For weeks prior to our birthing time, I experienced three birthing rehearsals. These rehearsals were very intense, and it was hard to not become frustrated. Though there were weak moments, I continued to trust my body and baby- and understood it just wasn’t time yet.

At 40 weeks, 3 days our boy finally decided it was time for his birthday. I woke up at 6:15 AM to some very powerful pressure waves (Hypnobabies word for contractions). These were different than those I experienced during our birthing rehearsals and I knew immediately that it was time for our baby. I texted our birth team, woke my husband, and by 6:30 AM I was in our bathtub working through each wave. My husband was my rock through our birthing, which perfectly mirrored how he cares for me in all aspects of our life together. They were coming very quickly and their strength increasing. I listened to my Birthing Day Affirmations, followed by Easy First Stage (Hypnobabies main birthing day track). Our team arrived within the hour and I was quickly approaching Transformation (Hypnobabies word for transition).

As my pressure waves intensified, and I was approaching the pushing stage- I began to doubt myself. I was “running” from the pressure waves, and not fully embracing the journey. Because of this, I believe I stalled briefly. Not that everything stopped- the waves were still coming strong- everything was happening with or without me. But there was a moment- my amazing Doula got down on her knees in front of me, she looked at me intently and told me I needed to embrace what was happening. I was running away, and it was time for me to make the decision to lean into the process.

I closed my eyes, listening to the Pushing Baby Out track (Hypnobabies track just for pushing) in the background, and I zoned into my body. I allowed myself to succumb to the pressure, and the strength of our birthing time (Hypnobabies word for labor). Within minutes, our boy was crowning. After a few more pressure waves, with one empowering push, he came earth-side all at once. My midwife caught him and we brought him to my chest. He was simply perfection. Our birthing time lasted just over two hours.

We took an in-person Hypnobabies birthing class, with our Doula. This class, and choosing our Doula were two of the best birthing decisions my husband and I made for this journey. Though after the birth I felt like I had “failed” at a Hypnobabies birth, I realize now that not every birth looks the same. I had imagined my son’s birth being calm and quiet. But found that for me, during the moments of powerful pressure waves- it was necessary for me to make very loud noises, even screams. During Transformation I lost my way, lost my focus, and allowed feelings of doubt, fear, and panic enter into our space. With the help of my Doula and my husband, I was able to embrace our journey and succumb to the sensation of bringing a life into this world.

Hypnobabies provided my husband and me with so much knowledge going into our natural, unmedicated birth. It provided guidance for my husband to be the best birth partner, and affirmations for me each day- building my confidence, my feelings of empowerment, and desire to stay the course. We are so thankful to have chosen this path for our son’s birth.