Lisa from Camborne's birth story - recounted by her proud Mum...
I think you were instrumental in Lisa's cool, relaxed feeling about the whole thing. She went in after her waters broke (at 7pm) but came home as she had only dilated 1cm, then she got more pains and decided to go in again at about 3am. A baby girl, Lily Beth, weighing 6lb 5oz, was born at 4.20am! Beautiful baby (I know they all are, but SHE is!) Thanks for all your input, I am so pleased with what you gave them.
Sonia's from Portugal's birth story: Baby Thomas born 16th October 2007
After the course I practised with the hypnotherapy CDs (always with aromatherapy) and remembered the sentences during the birth.
I was able to control myself, breathe calmly and managed my birth right until the end. I stayed at home the maximum time, started my contractions at 4am and reached the hospital at 12.15pm. There I asked the midwife "Are you going to send me home because I think I'm not 
dilated?" The midwife had a quick check and said "You're not going anywhere, you're 10cms - fully dilated, baby is on his way!!!"
I was booked for the birth pool in Mayday but one midwife was there with a woman already, so I went to the labour ward. I also have to thank the midwife Lisa and student Max for they were a great support, very helpful!
Baby Thomas was born at 2.05pm measuring 54cm and 3670g (8.1lbs). He started crying straight away and his Apgar score was 9. I only used entonox and the TENS machine during labour.
I cannot thank you more for the two days spent on the course with a very nice bunch of couples and an awesome teacher! If I have another baby one day, for sure I will use Natal Hypnotherapy techniques! Thank you all.
Sally from St Columb's birth story...
I was induced on Friday at 5pm with a pessary... Mat went home as I didn't know how long things would take to kick off. My contractions started at midnight and came on thick and fast, maybe that was due to being induced? I managed to breathe through them listening to my birth music CD and using '321 relax'. I had a bath at about 4am but I kept needing a wee so it wasn't that relaxing! I got out and things were getting more intense very quickly. I called mat at about 7.30am and he arrived at 9am-ish when he put on the TENS for me.
I am not sure of the time but i think it was about 10am or 11am ish when I asked for gas and air (I had reached about 5cm by then). I continued to use gas and air throughout the whole labour until they took it off me about 1.5 hours before the baby was born. It was a very intense experience... Anyway after the 18 hour process I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy weighing 8lb 6oz (without tearing) and we named him Milo. Thanks for all your help with the course it really helped me to relax leading up to the birth and certainly helped me in the first few hours of labour.
Helena's birth story, Daughter of David and Samantha
Helena was due on 28th September 2007, however following a visit to the midwife the day before I was not expecting her to show up on time. Just as well really because she was late.
I woke on Saturday morning (29th September 2007) between 2 and 3 am with a back ache in the base of my spine. I had not had any lower back pain during my pregnancy so I thought that the best thing to do would be to get up and do something to take my mind off it. As the next few hours wore on I started to get an ache under my bump that generally lasted for about 20 to 30 seconds. It was not too much of a bother though. It made getting back to sleep impossible so I kept repeating 3, 2, 1, relax and I was able to put up with it.
At about 9/10 am I woke David and told him that I was feeling some discomfort. He asked me if it was labour but I honestly did not know so we decided to get on with doing all the things that we had been planning on doing. Within an hour David was sure that I was in labour so he called the hospital to let them know.
We walked to the local high street and went to the post office, library and a coffee shop. By 12 lunch time we went back home and I had a bath. David helped me to continue to use the natal hypnotherapy techniques that we had learned. At about 3pm having spent some time using my birthing ball David encouraged me to do a little bit of baby dancing with him. This prompted a show. At 4 pm David stated to load the car with our bags and items that we wanted to take to the hospital. He had to persuade me to go to the hospital as I was sure that it was too soon and that we would just be sent home. David recognised this as part of the self doubt phase and cajoled me into the car.
We arrived at the hospital car park at 4.30pm. We went to the maternity unit and were shown straight to a delivery suite. I was asked to get into my comfortable birthing clothes and get onto the bed so that they could give me a quick exam. David and I were happy for this, so I changed. As I climbed onto the bed my waters broke. There was meconium in my waters so the midwife asked if she could monitor the baby. She also asked if I would like any pain relief so I opted for the gas and air.
I had managed a fairly active labour up to this point but was not feeling overly active so after David asking the reason for monitoring we agreed to it. The midwife was very helpful. She said that I was 8cm dilated and that the part that was left to dilate was all on one side. She then suggested a position that would assist. A few contractions later and I was fully dilated. It was then just a matter of pushing. Our baby girl was born at 7pm on 29th September 2007 weighing 8lbs 5 oz or 3.77kgs. I got a few abrasions during the birth but nothing that required stitches. I was able to deliver the placenta naturally – all inline with the birth plan that David and I had made.
My original birth plan did not include an overnight stay in the hospital however due to the time at which Helena was born it was necessary to stay because all the checks could not be done immediately.
Helena and I were allowed home the next day having been given a clean bill of health. Since then we have had visits from the midwives and have been signed off from the midwife team.
The natal hypnotherapy techniques were incredibly helpful to me during the labour, allowing me to achieve a fairly natural birth (gas aside). David found the gate keeper role notes to be invaluable and he was able to really look after me during the labour.
We are both hugely grateful for everything that we learned during the hypnotherapy course. It had a really positive impact on us and enabled us to have the sort of birth experience that we wanted.
Helena is now 2 weeks old, she is healthy and feeding well. David and I could not be more thrilled.
Birth stories from some other hypnosis for birth courses around the UK
"I've been meaning to send you a thank-you note for a long time now and I really enjoyed your course and found it very helpful. Anika was born on 30 March 2004 and weighed a healthy 3.6kg. We had a natural birth and apart from gas and air, I had no other pain relief. The only negative thing was that I was so calm when we arrived at the hospital that the midwife initially said I wasn't in labour (although i was already 3cm dilated at that stage!) Because of this, my contractions actually went away for a while! I will seriously consider having a home birth next time! Anyway, thank you again for all your help. I have recommended you to all my friends!" Amrusta & Paul, London
"At last I have 5 minutes to indulge myself by regaling the story of Henry's birth to you. At about 5pm on sunday evening I was having a very long and lazy siesta listening to my cd. The sun was coming through the window making me really warm and snuggly. I felt a very mild contraction but knew straight away that the labour was starting. I had the most amazing feeling of strength and power as I lay there , knowing what was going to happen, I felt so ready and so happy that I smiled to myself. Ollie came home a little later and I told him that the baby was coming. We went for a walk to a friends house, had a glass of wine and two paracetamol (!) and arranged childcare for the night. The lovely midwife that I had arranged to have was free and so phoned the unit on my behalf and managed to get the very overstretched co-ordinator to agree to let me have a homebirth even though it was officially 'too early'.
The midwife was sent to check up on where we lived and meet us, we had not met her before but she was seemed really lovely and was thrilled to see my cd 's by my bed as she knew you, her name's jen and she attended Toby and Jakey's births as a student. we couldn't believe it, how fab!
Jen went away again as I decided it was time to take myself off to bed. I spent time listening to the birth prep cd in the dark, under my duvet where I had done all the practising. It felt so amazing, I was so happy with every contraction I was allowing my body to do it's thing and it was working! It felt like the most natural thing in the world and I was enjoying it.
Ollie came to join me after a while and was able to support me in different positions, occasionally prompting me to relax my jaw or shaking my apples!
He felt so relaxed and confident, he did not worry for a single minute and he felt that he knew what his role was and things just came naturally to him too.
Anna was also prompting me, she reminded me to use my 'pain dial'. I didn't think that I had given the pain dial much practice but it was something that really helped me. I used it to get me to the end of really intense contractions. During the early stages with each contraction I had the words 'pressure warmth and power' just arrive in my head when I needed it. -incredible stuff.
Later on I focused heavily on my body and what was happening but I didn't try to focus, it just happened. it was after he was born that I looked back and realised that it just happened like that. Ollie said that I 'just got on with it' that is how it felt, it felt like I was able to accept what was happening to my body and go with it.
The midwife came back at about 2.30 and at this point I decided that I needed some gas and air. I had used gas and air before with Joseph but really didn't like the feeling it gave me but this time felt very different as was able to be in control of it (rather than the other way round as it had felt before) My midwife arrived at about 3 am and it was about then that I had a bit of 'self doubt' and asked for pethadin, I was basically told 'nope' and asked once more (just to be sure) and was actually managed to get through it with Anna and ollie's help.
I felt my breath change and knew that the baby was making his way down and this felt really incredible. I was so happy and I knew he would be here soon. I heard the music change to the bit where the baby comes and told Ollie and Anna (up until now I hadn't really done much talking) my waters broke at the last minute and little henry was born very easily and quickly at 4 20 am. I didn't feel any pain at all pushing him out, all I felt was pure joy!
I then had a natural third stage where the placenta came away in 6 minutes, apparently that is quick?
It couldn't have been a more perfect experience. I'm over the moon.
9 days later and I have a very happy baby, very chilled, is great at feeding, really happy to receive big sloppy snotty kisses from his big brothers and who entertains us all. I am managing the sleep thing so far and am about to get started on the post-natal cd to get some super sleep! There is no doubt in my mind that this fabulous pregnancy and birth experience I had was because of the natal hypnotherapy, so thank you." Kate and Ollie Room
"Just wanted to mail you to let you know that we had a little girl last week! Her name is Katja and she was born safely at home.
I wanted you to know that the birth was amazing....gritty....but amazing! after doing your course in March I dedicated the start of my maternity leave to practising all that we'd learnt from you and I believe her gentle safe arrival was mainly down to the hypnotherapy techniques that you taught me. At the start I wasn't even sure if I was in labour and we spent the morning pottering around the house, then decided to go into town for some lunch! I was having contractions whilst eating my tuna feta wrap!! I didn't even say much to David. I just closed my eyes each time and breathed through gently, thinking about the 'relax' technique. When we got home in the afternoon I thought I'd better rest as much as possible and listened to the birth prep cd again. During this, they began to become more intense and so I transferred to all fours, supported by lots of cushions and a bean bag on the bed. I called my midwife. She arrived at 8:30 and checked me - hoorah! i was already 6cms dilated!she told me to get into the pool and then whoosh!! i was off!!
I was really conscious of keeping my whole body as relaxed as possible and let the sensations just take over as they needed to. david put the birth music on and I was able to focus well each time a wave came over. I progressed well and my primal side came out of me - I started to make these involuntary low deep noises which really helped at the peak of each contraction. There were self-doubt stages when I felt like I couldn't take it anymore but david was there to gently remind me to 'stick with it' and relax. Words like 'power' and 'strength' came into my head - echos from the birth prep cd that helped me to go on. I did have to push for 2 hours and needed to get out of the pool to 'wiggle' her down a bit but it actually worked out for the best as david held me in a supported squat and it felt like we did the last 'heave ho' together!
I wanted you to know what an impact you had on me and the huge amount we both learnt from you. I am so proud that I managed to do it without any intervention and the fact that I was so focused I didn't even want gas and air. I had always hoped and visualised it like this but to actually experience it was magical. Hard work but worth it! Because the experience was so intense and powerful I've found it so comforting to listen to your post-natal cd too as this had helped me to sleep a bit in between all the feeding! Anyway, I've been recommending the course and cds to everyone i know who's pregnant as I desperately want them to learn from you and understand that their experience can be as amazing as mine. As long as you're prepared to put the effort in, of course! Thank you thank you a million times thank you!" Nicky and David Walker
"The techniques we learnt from your course/cd were invaluable not only during the actual birth (I managed to avoid the gas and air until the last 8 hours of the 24hr labour - and felt I only used it when really necessary) but helping me to relax during the pregnancy - particularly in the last two tense weeks when Grace was overdue I felt extremely empowered (and confident) to make the decision not to be induced. Also Brian was confident that he was doing the right things during the whole process to support me - 'shaking the apples' was great!.
I definitely feel that Brian and myself managed and ran my labour (The Birth Centre midwives were of course great supporters and were very low key just checking every 15 mins until the end of course). It was a wonderful experience!". Brian and Anna Morgan
"I just wanted to say a huge thank you for your fantastic course. I finally gave birth 10 days late and have just had the most amazing experience of my life!
My midwife kept commenting that she'd never seen anyone so relaxed! I felt so in control, totally able to breathe through the contractions,.The most amazing part was the birth itself, it went exactly as I had dreamed and hoped it would, just breathing the baby through the birth canal, then 1 push for the head, 1 for the body.
I really appreciate everything you taught us, to experience such a wonderful birth after such a terrible one last time, was just fantastic. I've found it so easy to adjust and recover. hank you so much for teaching me your amazing skills, I'd recommend the course to anyone!" Cathy and Steve Smith
"Even though we had a few challenges during the birth, we were both really happy with the whole experience under the circumstances and thanks to you felt informed and able to ask for things to be done the way we wanted. I am convinced that the techniques I learnt with you enabled me to cope in an environment that felt very alien and not at all relaxing. I religiously listened to your cd every day since the course and I really did feel in control which is amazing under the circumstances. " Kevin and Estelle
"The birth of my son, Angus has been an amazing journey. The first steps in my journey involved me making a big shift in my thinking about birth. This was helped by my sister and friend’s positive experiences of birth and then by a course my husband and I undertook with Natal hypnotherapy. This course helped us learn how a woman’s body is made to give birth; the emotional phases a woman goes through when giving birth; techniques for working with my body while it gives birth and above all, the importance of mentally getting out the way and allowing my body to do its job.
On the 24th of April, I woke at 3am to the dawn chorus and feeling a bit peculiar. I soon realized Angus was on his way. I lay in the quiet stillness of my room, feeling the gentle tightenings of my uterus. After an hour or so I woke Michael, and together we lay chatting, listening to the day awake…full of excitement and anticipation.
We called my doula, Maggie and awaited her arrival. I rested in bed, listening to music. By the time Maggie arrived I’d got a little caught up with timings! Maggie took away my watch and suggested I come downstairs – allow my son to join in, move around. This was a great move – I think primarily because I disengaged my mind and just got on with being excited about the day ahead and enjoying everyone’s company.
Gradually though I had to concentrate more deeply on my breathing and started to try out different positions. I remember the birth had reached a more serious point when I got off my gym ball and lent over it rocking gently. Understanding that this was the next natural phase of the birth helped me to focus on ways I could help my body – for me, this involved deep breathing and changing positions frequently. I constantly kept telling myself too, “Allow your body to do its job”
I had decided to give myself plenty of time to get to the hospital. On the journey my husband recounted a special day we’d spent together which I visualised. We also said, ‘321, Relax, Emma’, a trigger for my brain to let go and relax. I felt myself breathe deeply as I uttered these words.
On reaching the hospital, we realized we’d forgotten our hospital notes. Michael had to go back to get them. At this point I either lost my focus or reached the self doubt phase I’d learnt about. To my relief, Maggie allowed me to hang on to her and took me through a visualisation which helped calm me. As soon as Michael returned I felt I could get down to business. As a complete surprise to me, I stood up and began to stamp my feet and say very loudly, “Come, Angus, come”, “Come, baby, come”, “Come beautiful boy”. It felt so empowering.
When I reached the delivery room I lent on the window sill and continued with the stamping and was soon shouting. I think the whole hospital knew his name by the time I’d finished! The next hour I experienced more as 10 minutes and remember it as moments in time: staring at Michael’s face; Maggie and Michael encouraging me to breathe down; Maggie’s relaxation music. It felt quite supernatural and above all, my body felt in control. The midwife said that when I felt to push to start panting. I found this a bit confusing as I started asking myself questions: How hard should I push? When? In retrospect I never felt a desire to push, just an amazing bearing down that my body was in charge of, not me…To my delight, when Angus’s head and arms had emerged, the midwife asked if I wanted to deliver him. Instinctively I reached down and pulled him up to me. I was lying on a beanbag and it felt safe to be close to the ground with this little life. Angus breathed his first breath and took his first cry. What an amazing and perfect sound.
The time after this was one of immense peace, calm and joy. Michael and I just sat in complete amazement, cradling our son, examining every part of him. We didn’t feel rushed but relaxed in an atmosphere of joy and peace.
I was particularly amazed how great I felt so soon after giving birth. I was up and about chatting, eating toast, marvelling at my son. I felt ready to get on with looking after him and felt well and elated. The last hour or so my body worked hard, but it wasn’t unlike running up a steep, steep hill at the end of a long run. But unlike a run, my body was in charge of making my uterus work hard, not me, in a similar way to my heart beating with or without my help. I wasn’t exhausted at this last stage either, having spent the day managing the contractions peacefully and in a relaxed atmosphere at home.
Angus’s birth has taught me a great deal: the importance of giving my body and mind good, positive images and thoughts, nutritious food, adequate sleep and ways to relax. In doing so, I feel more able (most of the time at least!) to manage more challenging situations in life…Above all, I am just so happy that the first hours of Angus’ life were so beautiful and that I was happy, well and overjoyed to see him" Emma and Michael Trim
