Hi Katharine,
Chris and I wanted to say thank you for taking us on the journey toward a birth experience we can share with a smile.
We had our baby girl 6 days ago … an unplanned homebirth because I hadn’t realised how far I’d progressed because I was coping so well. So calm an experience it had been, that our baby girl was actually born with her waterbag still intact and a 10/10 APGAR rating! I got to cuddle her as soon as she was born and the umbilical cord pulsed for a good 20 minutes between us.
She is our second child, after our son was born by emergency c-section. It was my birth experience with him which made me try hypnobirthing, as I remained completely traumatized from the numerous interventions and ultimate surgery. I actually cried to learn I was pregnant again, solely thinking about the disappointment I felt last time and how scared I was that I couldn’t do any better.
The number of medical visits I had during this pregnancy exacerbated my guilt, weakness, and all those negative residual feelings and fears I carried. It also didn’t help much that due to already having a toddler, and opposite work schedules, it was difficult for my husband and I to find time to do the relaxations together.
But we persevered with 1am relaxations together and lots and lots of replaying ‘statements for an empowering birth’. In spite of all those hang-ups I felt burdened with after the experience with my son, amazingly I remained sooo confident during our daughter’s birth. I took a nice hour long nap during labour, and carried on with my day even managing to play football with my son less than 3 hours before his sister was born!
I’ve attached a picture taken about 5 minutes after the birth because my expression tells just how strongly I felt … how strongly I still feel…
I had this amazing confidence I never expected to have… and then.. I did it!!: a drug free VBAC!
I gave my baby what I know to be the best start possible in life.
Thank you for helping me have my healing birth.
Cindy
