McKenna's Healing Birth
I wanted to share my Hypnobabies story with this group. I joined
several months ago and never posted, although I read everything. I
had a traumatic, unpleasant birth experience with my son over 8
years ago. I had pre-eclampsia and was not very well-informed on the
condition.
So when I got pregnant this time, I NEEDED to have a positive
experience. I believed that my body was beautifully designed and
would know what to do. I started looking for a way to reinforce this
belief. I wanted to stay strong and not lose faith in my body
throughout the pregnancy and my birthing time. I was not afraid of
p**n, but I was very afraid of losing control and making bad choices.
First I picked a midwife who would be supportive.
Then I chose Hypnobabies home study.
I listened to the CDs and practiced. My husband was very skeptical at
first, although he kept it hidden from me pretty well, but by the
time I was in maintenance he was a believer.
The first thing I noticed was how relaxed I was after every session.
But the most impressive thing (prior to my birthing time) was my
inability to be scared. No matter what I heard or thought about, I
absolutely could not conjure up any fear. I was relaxed, confident,
and actually looking forward to my birthing time. Not just my baby,
but the experience itself. Like practicing and training for a track
meet and looking forward to the race itself, not just the trophy.
I had a couple of weeks of "practice" pressure waves, and every time
I start to get anxious I would go do my Hypnobabies. I usually chose
the deepening track. And I would come out of it feeling at peace and
with renewed patience for the waiting.
Finally, on April 14, 2007 my birthing time came. At 2:45am I awoke
to the first real pressure wave. I put the Birthing track on and went
through the first hour like that. I realized that the waves were
strong and regular at less than 5 minutes apart. I woke my husband
and told him I was ready to go to the hospital. We took a shower, got
our son (8 years old) up and dressed and headed to the hospital.
We arrived at about 4:00am and got checked in. I was standing and
hanging on my husband for support as I relaxed through the pressure
waves. I got the feeling that I would be most comfortable lying on my
left side, so I got settled in the bed. I was comfortable and aware
through it all. Pushing only lasted about 30 minutes and I was able
to "breath her out". I used the loose jaw and lips described in Ina
May's Guide to Childbirth.
I never even had time for the pushing track, she just came out -
gently, calmly, and lovingly. She was born at 6:54am, 7 lbs 12 oz and
21 inches long - McKenna Elise.
The midwife and nurse were both crying when they placed her on my
chest immediately after she came out. The nurse said she had never
seen a more beautiful birth before. My husband (an EMT) was most
impressed with the fact that my heartrate never went over 80 bpm (I
shoot for 120 bpm in a good workout). The midwife wrote, in my chart,
that it was a beautiful, calm birth with loving support from both
husband and son. She said I should have filmed it for a childbirth
education video. McKenna was an alert baby who nursed just seconds
after her birth. She was awake and alert for hours that morning.
At my two week checkup, my midwife said she had been asked at least
500 times about "that girl who did that hypnobaby stuff". So I gave
her all the info and the website link so she could pass it on. She
commented that I still seemed to but in a state of post-partum
euphoria. At almost 8 weeks, I guess I still am.
I can't say how much this wonderful experience means to me - I feel
free and healed and utterly at peace. Thank you!