A Birth Experience Like No Other – Pain-Free and In Control

06/14/2012

With my first baby 6 years ago, I had absolutely no idea
what to expect during my birthing experience. I was induced at 40 weeks for
high blood pressure, and when the contractions began to come fast and
furiously, I felt as though I had no time to adjust. I remember looking at a
dilation chart when I was barely 2 cm, thinking, “I’m only here, and I have to
get there?” I was positive I would
never make it out alive if I ever got to 10.

Well, I got there, but to be honest I really don’t remember
much of the 4 hours in between the beginning and the end. It was a blur of pain
and emotions I had never experienced before, and I clearly remember saying to
my husband, “There is no way I am EVER doing this again”.

Well…. 17 months later, there I was again. I did remember to
ask at 4 cm for an epidural, which was a great choice for me at the time. The
labor was quick – 3 hours and my second son was born. The epidural took away
the pain of the contractions, but not the pain of the delivery. However, I
didn’t say I’d never do it again!

Twenty five months down the road, I was 4 days overdue with
baby number 3. I was done. We tried every natural induction trick in the book,
to no avail. It wasn’t until I had laid down for a nap one afternoon, in
desperate need of a rest after chasing two preschoolers all day, that my water
broke and the contractions began with only 5 minutes in between. We rushed out
the door, and an hour after arriving at the hospital our third son was born. The
only way I can describe C’s birth was to compare it with getting hit by a
freight train: zero to 500 in 96 minutes. Crying over and over again, “I can’t
do this, I can’t do this”.

When we found out we were expecting our 4^th baby,
I knew right away that I wanted a different experience from the others. I had
heard so many women describe their birth experiences as empowering, beautiful,
and graceful. There was NO WAY anything I’d been through could be described as
beautiful and graceful. I had felt like labor was something that was happening
to me, instead of something that I was in control of, and I knew it didn’t have
to be that way. I desperately wanted a beautiful, comfortable, joyful birth,
too.

When I happened upon an ad for a HypnoBabies class in Red
Deer when I was 30 weeks pregnant with Everleigh, I knew it was something I
wanted- and needed-to do. The description of the program struck a cord
somewhere deep inside of me: “Experience your baby’s birth in comfort, joy and
love”. This was my last baby, and I wanted to make it a new kind of experience
not only for myself, but for my husband and our baby, too.

My husband – well, he wasn’t convinced. He was concerned
that hypnosis would a) simply not work, or b) make me unable to remember the
birth. He didn’t understand, but he could see my desperation in not wanting
another experience like our boys’ births, and he agreed to let me try it.

The 6 weeks of classes were beyond anything we had even
hoped for. We learned so much – about how my body was preparing and nourishing
this small soul, about the natural birthing process, avoiding unnecessary interventions, and
full-body relaxation techniques. I learned to completely relax so that every muscle in my
body, every nerve, every inch of me was like jello. I found my safe place,
where I could instantly go by flipping the switch in my brain to “off”. I
learned to relax in a way that I never even imagined was possible. The kicker
for my husband was the pinch test. In deep relaxation, I was asked to state
whether I felt pressure or pain with my husband’s touch. Although I could feel
my 6’1”, 200 lb husband’s arm shaking with the exertion he was using in
pinching my forearm, all I felt was light pressure. As though he was pressing
his finger into my forearm. He was floored. And he was convinced that this was
going to work for me.

On our baby’s due date, my contractions began just after I’d
gone to bed for the night. Right away I know that my labor was going to be
fast, judging by the intensity of the initial contractions, but I immediately
flipped my “switch” to off. I leisurely put on my makeup and did my hair,
packed the last few things I needed into my hospital bag, and finally decided
it was time to wake my husband. He called our doula, and we were off to the
hospital.

When we arrived in the assessment room, the triage nurses
couldn’t believe how calm and focused I was, despite the intensity and duration
of my contractions. They had only seen one other hypno-type birth before, and
were intrigued by my ability to relax through my contractions, without making a
sound.

I was admitted to a labor room right away, and spent the
next two hours walking, relaxing, and progressing quickly. I felt as though I
was in very early labor the entire time, despite the fact that my contractions
were nearly right on top of one another. I could eat, talk, and even felt like
sleeping in between contractions right up until the end. My husband and our doula only knew a
contraction was starting by my head dropping to my chest as I relaxed into my
“pressure wave”. I allowed my body to work, instead of fighting it. A far cry
from the excruciating pain I had felt at the same stage with my previous
labors.

I easily birthed my baby in peace, comfort, and joy. Not
once, did the thought cross my mind that I needed something for pain, because
there was no pain. Not once, did I
feel like I was unable to continue. I knew I could do what my body was designed
to do. I was in control, and I was able to enjoy every minute of my baby’s birth.

Our baby girl’s birth was by far the most exciting, empowering,
and amazing thing I have ever experienced in my life. She came into the world
calm, alert, and perfect. I couldn’t have asked for more.

And my husband’s thoughts afterwards?

“This was incredible…unbelievable. I’m telling everyone I know about this”.

And he has – although it seems too good to be true, it is entirely possible to have a comfortable birth. I can’t even begin to describe the amazement that my family and friends have shown after hearing my story and watching clips of my labor. My mom, who has been a nurse for over 35 years, has never seen anything like it. It really is possible to enjoy your birthing experience in comfort.

If you’re interested in learning more about HypnoBabies and to see if there are classes offered in your area, visit www.hypnobabies.com. There is also a home-study option for those who aren’t able to attend instructor-led classes.