The unmedicated birth I had hoped for

Hi Kate,

I’ve been meaning to email you! My little babe surprised us and arrived 3 weeks early on the 6/1. My labour was only 5 hours from start to finish and I pushed her out in 15mins. She was in a hurry to get here! Everything happened very quickly and a lot of the plans that I had went out the window, but I'm so happy with how it all went! Everyone was very respectful of my wishes! I had spent so much of my birth prep, working on ways to promote the natural progression of labour, when I did not need to worry about that!! I had the unmedicated birth that I had hoped for, and didn't need any stitches (bonus)! Our little Emilia Grace was born at 2202, and we were home by 11am the next day! We've been doing really well since! 

I know the Hypnobirthing breathing techniques and meditations definitely helped me through a pretty intense labour! I birthed her standing up by the side of the bed! 

Thanks for everything!

Kat x

Photos shared with permission

Not quite the birth we had planned

Hey Kate!

Just thought I’d send through an update that we had our baby! We welcomed Marigold Grace Amelia Persson on Sunday 25th July at 5:40am after a 25 hour labour at 41+3 weeks! It was totally wild and not quite the birth we had planned, but she is healthy and doing awesome.

I was very thankful to have done the hypnobirthing course with you in preparation and while we didn’t end up with the natural birth we’d planned for due to complications, I felt empowered and confident to make all the decisions when it came to my birth choices in the moment and still feel great about Goldie’s birth.

I used the affirmations and surge of the sea tracks a lot during early labour and light touch massage throughout the whole labour. I’m particularly thankful that Josh did the course as it equipped him to be a helpful and heartfelt birth partner and help me ride the ups and downs of labour. My waters broke before labour began and then after labouring all day we discovered meconium in the waters which definitely changed things up (namely being in the delivery ward, needing constant monitoring and not being able to be in the water). But she’s healthy and here and we feel super blessed!

Thank you so much for your support and wisdom <3

Soph & Josh & Marigold xx

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Mariana’s positive birth story

I had a plan in my mind for Sasha’s birth: I didn’t want to be induced nor to have an epidural. Every pregnancy and every mother-to-be are different, and I truly believe each person knows best what fits them. Still, those were my main choices as I did want to live this experience in total, avoiding all and any unnecessary medical intervention, just allowing my body to do what it is designed to do.

My complications were: a) I had gestational diabetes; b) I was taking what they consider a significant dosage of Insulin to control my fasting sugars; c) I was getting very close to what they established as my due date; however, I was ignoring it as I knew my baby would come whenever he wanted or felt ready.

I’ve prepared myself mentally and physically throughout the whole pregnancy. I got a doula, and I did the hypnobirthing course. I also did lots of research that led myself and my partner, Yuri, into informed decisions, always considering risks and benefits for every option and casualty we would face.

I tried to convince myself that when the time for birth arose, everything would go as smoothly as practical, and I would breathe through the surges as I had practised, visualising the moment I would have my baby in my arms. But deep down, I expected to be the lucky one that has an incredible ability to handle physical pain or that my body would just spill my baby out during the shower or even in the car on my way to the hospital.

Of course, there’s a lot of beauty in labouring, and we tend to romanticise it a bit, especially first-time moms, but there’s no magic at all. I knew that I had so many things to learn in this process, so much healing for my body and soul, to the point that I believe this was the reason I kept my mind straight most of the time.

From the time my ‘intense’ surges started to the time I finally met my baby, 40h had passed! 40 hours trying to handle my body, which would shake involuntarily and throw up everything I tried to ingest. 40 hours exercising my mind to focus on my positive birth desire and visualising the moment my baby would break into the outside world.

I confess that at some stages during this time, I wanted to give up and just do whatever was easier and faster to get things done. However, I had the most amazing supporting team with me, that knew exactly what I wanted since the beginning and would bring me back to my best self every time I needed. They’ve talked me through my surges for the entire time (going ‘up and down the mountain’, a thousand times with me, massaging my body and my soul with their kind words and strong hands). Yuri Jade I couldn’t have done half of it without you!

The hypnobirthing course gave me the tools I needed to prepare myself mentally to go through all of it and made me believe that everyone can and should have a positive birth story, despite all circumstances.

A special thank you to Kate, who amazingly facilitated the course.

Along the process, I had to dispute my preferences with doctors and hospital policies quite a few times. It is a bit tiring to ‘fight the system’, but at the end of the day, I found supportive people along my way that have treated me with respect and followed my lead (sometimes reluctantly, though, frankly speaking).

I can say this was by far the most intense experience I’ve ever had in my life, but the most rewarding as well! The strength and power I’ve never believed I had were there all the time, and now I can see it every day through the eyes of my baby.

To the first time mamas out there: I wish your pregnancy and birth processes to be a positive one, surrounded by love. And I wish you find all the support you need to persevere in your will, to be heard and respected all the way through!

Mariana Decev

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I had the birth I wanted and I wasn’t scared

Hey Kate,

Hamish Ernest arrived into the world at 11:54pm Wednesday night on July 1st! 3.6 kg 

I had the birth I wanted and I wasn’t scared thanks to doing your course.  I was prepared and confident knowing my body and baby knew what they were doing and to just trust it even if it hurt, knowing that the pain I felt wasn’t something I couldn’t handle, which is what I kept telling myself. With each surge I knew my body was bringing him down and down, and I knew I would always have a rest after each one. 

I had a short 8 hour natural labour just using the TENS machine while at home, arrived at the hospital nearly fully dilated and ready and give birth in the bath a few hours later. We had fancy lights, an oil diffuser and played my affirmations.

Thanks again Kate for everything.

I was already recommending your course before, but now I have an amazing birth story to share with it. 

All the best,

Jessica, Paul and Hamish.

Photos shared with permission

The most amazing experience of my life

Hi Kate!!! 

He’s here!!! (3 weeks early!) 

Fraser decided he wanted to join us early! (I knew you’d like the name Fraser).

It was about 8pm Thursday night and I was laying on the couch waiting for Cam to get home from work. Of all days, Cam had a late meeting that day. He gets up for work at around 3am but is usually home by around 4pm. On this particular day, he didn’t leave work until around 8pm so I knew he was going to be tired and probably a bit cranky depending on how his meeting went.  

When I was laying on the couch, I felt this little ‘pop’ and thought ‘hmmm that felt a bit weird’ but didn’t think anything of it. Cam called to let me know he was on his way home just after 8, and when he called I stood up and felt this little trickle down my leg. I told him I thought maybe my waters had broken and he laughed it off and said no way. Sure enough they had broken with the trickle continuing to come. He was about an hour’s drive from home so I called him back and said I’m pretty sure this is it and said I’d call the hospital to see what they say. They said I had to come in so they could check if it was my waters.

I started to have little surges but nothing painful. I think I was in a bit of denial it was happening and fully expected us to drive another hour to the hospital for them to say false alarm. My bags weren’t packed (of course they weren’t), so while I waited for Cam to get home I got a few things together just in case. I also started cleaning the house and put a load of washing on. 

Cam got home and sure enough, he was cranky and like me didn’t quite believe it was happening. I told him to have a shower and take our time before we headed to the hospital. My surges were coming around every 10-15 minutes but I still didn’t believe they were real surges. I thought it was all in my head. 

We arrived at the hospital at about 10.30pm and she confirmed that yes, my waters had broken and I was 2cm. By this time, surges were coming around every 7 minutes but still very manageable. 

Cam set the room up with little candles and started playing my tracks. He helped me put my TENS machine on and I started pacing the room trying to find a comfortable position for every surge. I tried so hard to get into the ‘zone’. 

It’s all a bit of a blur. Looking back now I feel like it went super quick, but I remember looking at the clock between 12 and 12.30am and thinking omg that was the longest half hour of my life. I continued to move around the room trying to find a comfortable position and I think by this stage the ‘boost’ button on my TENS was just constantly on. I couldn’t really feel it anymore. At around 2.30am I asked for some gas, the midwife checked me and I was 8cm and by this stage I was really starting to struggle. I remember thinking, ‘I know I can do this without the epidural but I just don’t think I want to’. I wanted to be able to enjoy the birth and the negative thoughts were starting to get louder (I guess because I was on the verge of transition). I asked if I could have the epidural. Cam asked me if I was sure that’s what I wanted and reassured me I could do it but I think I had already decided in my head. Looking back now I’m so happy I did. We were able to get an hour’s sleep before I started pushing. The nurse came in to check me after an hour and I was 9cm and she said have another hour sleep and then you should be ready. 10 minutes later she came rushing back in because Fraser had very rapidly dropped into my pelvis and his heart rate started to drop so my doctor said we needed to get him out now. I started to get a bit panicky but Cam was so great at keeping me calm. I started pushing and  it was just the most amazing experience. I wasn’t in pain anymore and I could really enjoy the process of him coming out. I only pushed for about 15 minutes and when his head was out my doctor told me to reach down and feel his head. Oh my god that was just the best. One more push and our boy was born. He was crying, I was crying, Cameron was crying. It was just amazing. 

My doctor put him straight on my belly. The cord was quite short and wouldn’t reach up to my chest. Cameron got to cut the cord and once he did that I lifted him higher. I looked down at him and our eyes locked and we just stared at each other. It was such a surreal moment. 

I honestly had no idea how my birth was going to go but I can truly say that it was the most amazing experience of my life and I 100% believe my hypnobirthing techniques helped me achieve that. Even though it wasn’t a drug free birth I’m still so happy with how it went and the feeling is just indescribable. 

Thank you so much for all of your support and guidance!! I have recommended the course to all of my pregnant friends and will definitely be revisiting it (waaaayyyy down the track) when we think about baby number 2. It truly was a game changer!!! 

Thank you so much again!!!!!! 

Taneal

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My husband knew his role and how he can be an active participant

Good Afternoon Kate,

He’s here ♥️ Kai Levi

He arrived 13th May 2020 at 23:40. 

Labour was about 20hours: 2 hours of pushing, tolerated 12 hours of natural labour.

We did everything we were taught from our Hypno course - we set the room up, I had my hypno tracks plugged into my ears, we did the acupressure, the breathing excercises, dimmed the room and just the two of us.

Post 12 hours I was only 4cm dilated. I was offered nitrous and thought I would give it a go - it was helpful but it made me feel dizzy. I ended up getting an epidural and was loving life after hahaha, I was like why didn’t I get the epidural earlier!

Now I’m cat napping when I can and enjoying all the new born cuddles.

My husband Mud and I cannot thank you enough we advocate to everyone the positivity and beauty of the hypnobirthing course. What we loved the most is that my husband knew his role and how he can be an active participant.

Take care, all the best and thank you again, 
Samantha

Photos shared with permission

Cervidil induction, with epidural and syntocinon

“Hypnobirthing taught us that our birth can take any direction, and it gave us the tools to ask questions and be kept informed.”

Hello Kate! 

So lovely to hear from you. I’ve been meaning to email you to tell you that our precious Humphrey entered the world on the 07/03 at 954pm. 3.8kg and 51cm long. He is a perfectly healthy baby and just absolutely beautiful. 

My labour was very long, complicated and exhausting. I unfortunately had to be induced. It started on the Friday with the insertion of cervidil, which I had a reaction to. My uterus hyper stimulated for 4 hours non stop which was awful and useless. Thankfully at 230am Saturday morning my waters spontaneously broke and the contractions started almost immediately and they were very full on. As I had to be monitored the whole time we weren’t allowed in the birth centre so we went to the delivery suite. I was 2cm dilated when I got down there at about 330am. I tried different positions but ended up in the bath. At about 730am they were going to start the syntocinon drip, and the contractions were so full on I wasn’t coping. After the previous day’s episode, I was already exhausted. I asked for an epidural. I tried the gas first and then they rechecked me and I was still 2cm!! The epidural was put in at about 9am and provided instant relief, however I then had the shakes for the remainder of the birth. 

My blood pressure and heart rate and temperature were all elevated. As the syntocinon started and the infusion was increasing, baby’s heart rate was dropping. The OBs were in and out all day and I had to move from side to side to help baby’s position and heart rate. They kept mentioning we may need to have a Caesarean. 

I can’t remember what time, but I had gone from 4cm to 9cm within an hour! Which was great. And then I just stayed at 9cm for hours. And they weren’t sure what was stopping me from going to 10cm. They gave me 2 options - we go for c-section now or we wait 2 hours and see what happens but we can’t guarantee what will happen in 2 hours time as it may end up an emergency. They also said his position wasn’t ideal and they may have to use forceps as the ventouse wouldn’t work. I was completely exhausted by this stage and was ready for a c-section to just get it over with and preferred that over forceps. Matt and our amazing midwife made the decision for me to wait the 2 hours as it would’ve taken an hour to get me into theatre anyway as they had another case in there. They were also thinking we would have to go to theatre for pushing in case we needed to have an urgent Caesarean.

We had midwife change over at 8pm. The new midwife checked me and I was finally 10cm!! So... we started pushing. I’d just had a top up of epidural as I had a severe pain in my left hip from his position. The midwife put her fingers inside and I could just feel where I needed to push. We had some practice ones and then the two OBs and paediatrician came in. I was given 3-6 pushes and if he wasn’t coming we’d be off to theatre. 

Apparently my pushing was amazing and he was coming out. When his head was out the OB told me to touch it! It was the most amazing feeling in the world and I just screamed, ‘Come on team! We got this!’ and the next push he was out. The OB let me catch him and pull him on my chest and reveal his gender! I am so grateful we had a vaginal birth and only a small 2nd degree tear. Then my placenta wouldn’t come out so I almost went to theatre for that but thankfully with extra medications it came out. 

In the way of hypnobirthing - this was by far the complete opposite of what I would’ve liked. However - hypnobirthing taught Matt and I that our birth can take any direction and it gave us the tools to ask questions and be kept informed as to what was happening. 

Throughout it all I was able to use my breath that we were taught to keep calm and get through each contraction as best as I could. Although I had an epidural I could still feel contractions which I liked. 

We had dim lights the whole day - even at the end the team respected our wishes and kept lights to a minimum. We had fairy lights, a beautiful music playlist, affirmations, a diffuser. And everyone who entered our room on the ward pre and post delivery and in the delivery suite commented on how beautiful it was. 

What a journey !! 

Photos shared with permission

Positive birth with gestational diabetes

Hi Kate,

Thanks for your email and yes we did have a positive birth, thanks to hypnobirthing!

Since I had gestational diabetes and a little bit of protein in my urine, at 39 weeks, on Mon 30th Sep, I went in to the hospital to get my first round of gels (first out of 3) to start my induction. Then I was going to get my membranes broken and given drugs the following day to start my labour.

The gel was given to me at 5pm and the second dose was due at 11pm. My husband had to actually leave by 9pm because I wasn't delivering until the next day and he wasn't allowed to stay at the hospital. In the meantime, the midwife had given me panadol and wanted to check how far along I had gone as I was in quite a bit of discomfort. By 11.30pm, the midwife had called my husband to come back because I was already 2-3cm dilated and was having strong contractions. Luckily we live close to the hospital because my husband ran over within 10-15 minutes. By that stage, midnight, I had been moved over to the delivery suite, was given gas for pain relief and my surges were coming more frequently and stronger. By about 2 or 2.30am the midwife checked me again and to everyone's surprise, I had dilated from 4 to 8cm in about 15 minutes. Not long after, I was trying to breathe my baby out but I just couldn't seem to get her head out far enough. She kept slipping back inside and was stuck in my pelvic region. As this continued for about an hour and a half, the doctors recommended to use a vacuum and have an episiotomy to help the baby come out. When I heard the word 'episiotomy' I remembered what you said Kate (I have the option of saying no) and so I said no, even after they asked me twice. I would rather tear naturally than get cut. And thank goodness I did because 5 minutes later, I pushed her out. I think the episiotomy was the motivation I needed to just get things done! Haha

So looks like our daughter Mila couldn't wait to see us, so was born on 1 Oct at 4.25am.

Thank you so much for the class Kate! Hypnobirthing absolutely changed my mindset in the most positive way! I felt reassured and in control of my body, amongst all the chaos and crazy external factors that I had no control over, so thank you again!!!

With much love,

Mila, Tanya and Moana.

Photos shared with permission

My body brought baby down and did everything on its own

Hi Kate!

Just writing to introduce you to baby Elijah!

Baby was born on Monday, August 26 at 1:44am at exactly 39 weeks. I started having cramps around lunchtime Sunday and I had a sneaky feeling it was early contractions! Long story short, I called the hospital at about 4pm and they told me to stay home as long as possible. By 830 my contractions were 2 minutes apart and quite intense. The hospital said I still sounded calm but I could go in for an assessment if I wanted - and when they assessed me I was 6cm dialated!

We went straight to the birthing suite and I hopped in the bath but was so uncomfortable I had to get out after 15 mins! I had gas for pain relief but nothing else, and ended up giving birth sitting upright on the hospital bed. At the time it was so intense, it was all-consuming. I didn’t have the urge to push until the absolute end, my body brought baby down and did everything on its own - just crazy how the female body works!!

Elijah was 4.285kg, 50cm long with 38cm head circumference. Unfortunately I did need stitches but the recovery has been fine. He’s such a good, calm baby - we are so lucky!! Thanks again for our classes, even though my birth didn’t go to plan with the waterbirth or fit ball, I was still able to breathe and focus no matter the situation. And Nau really stepped up and was the most encouraging partner!! He definitely drew on skills learned during the class!!

Thanks again for your help in our journey.

Kam xx

Photos shared with permission