Jess gave birth in 2021 when she had covid - what a lot to deal with! Her birth story is such a great lesson in listening to your body and trusting your instincts. Jess’s healthcare providers could have really got in the way of her smooth birth here - but she, along with her partner Paul, used all of her hypnobirthing knowledge and techniques. We can all learn a lot from baby Paul’s birth and I thank them for sharing this with us.
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“At 36 weeks and 4 days (29/12/21) my waters broke with a little trickle. I was having tightening' straight away; I thought this was constipation but I now know it was surges. I went into the maternity assessment unit to ask for a laxative in the early hours of 31/12/21 to be told my waters had broken but my cervix was closed.
Immediately I wanted to go home. My original plan was to labour as long as possible at home and then go into the birth centre to deliver our baby boy. After speaking with the midwives and messaging Rebecca (and having a super quick reply) during the early hours of the morning I decided to stay in the hospital. I felt confident that I was able to relax and return home to get the oxytocin flowing if labour didn't progress.
I was taken to a ward with other women. I put on my eye mask and put in some ear plugs and begun to really relax. I swayed, stood, sat and bounced on a birthing ball. I ate some sugary sweets and drank some Lucozade. My surges were consistent and building in intensity. I was confident my body was doing all it was meant to. However, I was continuously told I was not in labour as I was denying pain relief. I had multiple midwives and consultants refuse to transfer me to the labour ward as they didn't believe I was progressing. I decided to take a bath and relax. I had been desperate for a bath my whole pregnancy (we only have a shower at home) and so this was a dream for me. I was so happy, relaxed and calm. My surges were growing and I trusted myself.
After returning to our bed I agreed to a vaginal examination as induction was mentioned. I was confident I was dilating and the examination showed I was 5cm. Still, the midwives wanted to push towards an induction due to the early rupture of my waters. I agreed to be taken to the delivery unit but not to an induction. We took a slow and steady walk there. Once we arrived, I agreed to a 2nd examination and I was 7cm. The midwife was happy I was dilating and left me to labour without any induction.
I was then told that my heart rate was high (something I have had in the past) and they were struggling to distinguish between baby's heart rate and my own. I agreed to a monitor being attached to his scalp.
I moved onto my knees to get comfortable and let gravity work its magic.
My body began to push and I knew I was ready. The consultant came in and placed me on my back to start guided pushing, I was too zoned out to decline. As soon as I laid down my contractions stopped. I was been told to push but was refusing as I had no urge to. My partner asked the doctors to move to the side and he placed me back on my knees. Immediately my contractions started again.
I naturally moved into a position with my knees close together and ankles wider, more than once the midwife tried to pull my legs apart "to make room". I kept moving myself back how I was comfortable but was too in the zone to talk. I finished pushing, ignoring the directions of when to push and instead going with when felt natural.
At 6.34am on 1/1/22 baby Paul was born weighing 5 pounds and 5 ounce at 36 weeks and 6 days.
After delayed cord clamping and a quick check over he was passed straight back to me for our first breastfeed.
I am so glad I had hypnobirthing knowledge on my side. I strongly believe that without taking Rebecca's course my birth would not have been as positive. I also think baby Paul’s birth shows the importance of birthing partners having hypnobirthing knowledge. Had Paul not helped me back onto my knees and continuously advocated for me to be left alone, I believe my birth would not have ended without intervention.
14 months on and I still view my birth as hugely positive.”