Erin's Birth Story

First off a huge thanks to Cassie and to HypnoBirthing! I knew I wanted a wonderful Birth but I never realized how wonderful it was going to be!

Everyone thought I was crazy for doing HypnoBirthing. It was like friends and family thought it was their duty to tell me how labor "really" was. I just didn't understand how come I couldn't birth the way I wanted too without everyone else's input. I had a friend tell me that she had heard that HypnoBirthing really worked for natural births. I spent nights researching and poor Tim got an earful of everything I learned. He was a trooper and supported whatever I felt was best.

We contacted Cassie and started the classes. To say I loved them is an understatement. They were GREAT! Not only did we learn alot about birth, Tim and I learned how to communicate on a whole different level. My favorite was when Cassie passed out cards for us to keep that reminded us ways to say no and avoid intervention at the Hospital. She asked Tim to practice in front of her and even though it made me laugh really hard it comforted me to know he would really do that. I, on the other hand practiced the techniques every day like my life depended on it. At the time I wasn't willing to admit that I practiced all the time because I really was afraid that my friends and family were right. Right, that labor hurt. Right, that it is best and normal to have an epidural. Right, that I was weird for not wanting one and for so many other reasons.

Well, May 16th came and it was like any other day. I ran errands, took a nap, Met Tim for lunch and cleaned the house. I had been having practice labor for a couple weeks and thought nothing of the small surges that I was having throughout the day. Most of the time I didn't notice them unless I was sitting doing nothing. Tim got home from work and we settled in watching a movie. During that time I noticed that my surges were still there and I just couldn't get comfortable. Tim started timing them while doing some light touch massage. I just nestled my head on his lap and found my spot within. The end of the movie came and the surges were about 8-10 min apart. I told Tim to go get some sleep while I tried to relax on the couch. That was around 9:00 I kept falling in and out of sleep when I woke up with a start. I didn't know if I had dreamed a really big surge or if I really had a big surge. I looked at my phone and started timing again. This time they were much stronger and they were about 3-5 min apart. I really needed to concentrate! I then went and woke Tim up and told him I would feel better if we could go to the hospital (there was still fear in me).

The drive was calm and uneventful. We were both excited. We got to the hospital and went to the baby floor. I called on the phone to have them let us in. When the nurse came and opened the doors and I told her I was in labor. She gave me this smirky smile and asked if this was my first baby. I replied yes and she told me they would check me but don't be disappointed if it's a false alarm. You're very calm for being in labor. I was so mad! I wanted to say something mean. Tim not thinking anything about what this nurse was implying let her know "oh she's doing HypnoBirthing and that's why she's so calm". The nurse gave him another smirky smile and said "ok, well we'll just check and see".

Once I was changed and hooked up to the monitors the nurse came in to check how dialted I was. I told her how I didn't want to be checked anymore after that and if I could just have occasional monitoring. The nurse on the other hand told us how important it was that they continually check me and that I shouldn't be embarressed when I get to a point that I want an epidural. I was fuming. I looked at Tim and he just looked sad/shocked. The nurse did her check and was suprised to see me dialted to a 6. HA take that! I wanted to say. She then smiled and said "well looks like you'll be having a baby soon" and "I'll let your Doctor know". Then my knight in shining armor really cemented himself into my heart. As she went to leave the room Tim said " Will you also request another nurse that will support our Natural Birth". I wanted to clap I was so excited! The nurse was suprised and said they all supported natural childbirth. My Tim calmly said "That's great but we want someone that supports it to the extent that we do". If I wasn't strapped to the monitor I would have jumped and danced all around my bed. He then just calmly turned back around to me and took my hand not needing to say another word to that smirky nurse.

I wish I remembered her name but another nurse came in and she was heavenly! She unhooked the monitors. Brought in a birthing ball. Talked about all the positions I could try and was just there for whatever I wanted to do. Thank you heavenly nurse! My Doctor came in said his hello's. He too wanted to check me and I politely declined because it had only been a half hour since my last check. He was fine with that and has always had the stance that he's fine with whatever I do. He's just there to catch the baby and make sure everything is ok.

I was able to lay down for the next hour and rest. After that the surges really started coming one on top of another. I have never had to focus so hard. Tim would try to talk to me and I just couldn't talk. I had to focus on my relaxation. Tim said that at one point he started asking me what he could do to help when the nurse stopped him and told him that I was focused within and it would be best to leave me alone until I started to vocalize. I'm not a screamer or a loud person I like to keep to myself. Cassie had shared in class a friends birth and how she had found her birth song. I thought it was pretty and I liked how it worked for her but I just never pictured myself making a peep. Well I did make noise and it felt like I couldn't help it. I needed to make noise to help my body. I tried a few things I had learned in class but when it came down to it I needed to find my birth song. The nurse was fantastic in helping me find it and making the sound with me to show me how to really control my "song". By then the Doctor was there telling me that it looked like I was almost there and he would feel better checking me. At that point I didn't care and said ok. He went to check me and didn't even need to. I was there. It was such an intense feeling. However, it wasn't anything that my friends and family described. It was completely do-able and I was in control. It was intense and I felt strong. My Doctor told me to push on the next surge and sweet Tim said "She's not supposed to push" (I LOVE my husband!!!!). I'm sure my Doctor looked at him like he was crazy. Then my song turned more into a bellow and Adelle started coming out. About 5 minutes later and our life was changed forever!

Yes, I have never had a medicated birth and all I can say is it wasn't for me. Was it intense where I had to focus like I had never had to focus before? Yes. It was so worth it. My birth was wonderful and I can't wait till next time so I can do it even better!!!!!!