The following are birth stories from Cariad's own clients who have kindly agreed to allow us to share their stories:-

"The birth went really well and was very quick! I woke at about 5:30am with what I thought was braxton hicks. I decided to have a bath at about 6:30am still thinking that I was having braxton hicks. At just after 7am, J pointed out that the surges were coming every 10 minutes and he thought I was in labour. All this time I had been lying in the bath visualising our beach in Barbados and breathing out red and breathing in blue! I felt really calm. I still wasn't convinced as it didn't seem to be as painful as everyone had told me it would be. By 8:30 I was out of the bath and the surges were far more frequent and stronger. I was still using the techniques and felt calm.

We actually had an appointment with our midwife that afternoon to make the final arrangements for the home birth, so we weren't actually set up and ready! J went and set up the birth pool and then called our midwife at 9:00am. Much to our relief, she said she would come out to us as we had though they make us go to the hospital as they had always said that I had to get to 38 weeks and we hadn't had this meeting. She arrived at 9:20am and the surges were coming thick and fast. I was convinced she was going to tell me I was about 4 cm dilated so you can imagine my surprise when I told her I felt like pushing so she examined me and told me I was fully dilated!!! I asked J to fill the birthing pool with water to which we were advised there was not enough time!!!

I realised at this point that things were happening very quickly and there was a split second were I felt like panicing as I could tell by the midwife's voice that things need to be urgent. J was advised to find something to protect the carpet and lots of towels and I could hear Margaret on the phone to the hospital saying that they needed the 2nd midwife immediately and that she needed to bring all the equipment and gas and air! I managed to stay focussed using the techniques we discussed and sort of zoned out thinking about my baby starting her journey and that I would be meeting him or her soon.

J was fantastic and rubbed my back and kept talking to me about things he knew I had used as visualisations and offering encouragement. To give you an idea of how focussed I was, they evidently asked me if a maternity assistant could observe the birth to which I evidently agreed. I have no recollection and you can imagine my surprise when following the birth I suddenly became aware that a third person was there helping!

They offered me gas and air when the head was crowning and I decided not to use it as my friends had told me that it can take 5-10 minutes to work out how to use it effectively. I felt in control and focussed and was worried that if I struggled to use the gas and air it would distract me and I would lose focus. I carried on and was thinking about the 'J' breathing and then blowing out the candles when we got to that point.

L was born at 11:47am. It was evidently a textbook birth. Although I didn't have the water birth that we had planned, I managed the birth with no pain relief despite all of the problems with my pelvis. I didn't even have chance to get the tens machine out! I didn't need any intervention and no stitches. L was really relaxed when she was born and very alert following due to the fact that I had taken no drugs.

I have also continued to use the visualisation and relaxation techniques following the birth as unfortunately I have been left with a lot of back pain and pain in my pelvis due to the SPD which is evidently going to take a few weeks to settle down. I find that it really helps.

We just wanted to say thank you so much for the time that you spent with us and everything that you taught us. It really was the birthing experience that we had wanted and we feel that a lot of that is down to all of the things that we learnt from you and the alternative view point that you showed us compared to all of the negative experiences that other people had shared with us."

SW

"This was planned as a hospital birth.  Laying in the bath and using the breathing techniques made the labour pain-free for 5½ hours giving me the false impression that there was still a long way to go.  At 9am the pain began and 3 surges later baby was born at 9.20am.  Despite a rather panicked birth without midwife all was fine.  Next time I will know to go to hospital before beginning hypnosis as it worked rather too well".

DW

"With hand on heart I can honestly tell you that the birth of our little baby boy was the most amazing, beautiful and peaceful experience of our lives.  5 hrs from when they broke my waters and with only meditation, an i-pod with classical music, light touch massage from my husband and the help of a tens machine - out he came calmly and alert.  There were some special circumstances after that with the passing of the placenta and a last minute 3rd degree tear, which meant I went to theatre for an hour - but that was fine as baby was given a whole hour of skin to skin cuddles with Dad during the time I was being attended to.  We're home now and happier than we've ever felt.  He is such a content happy little baby.  I have no doubt that witout hypnobirthing, and without your expert guidance our story may have been a very different one.  As it stands I will look back at the birth with happy nostalgia and only good memories about how capable my birthing body was."

ND

"Hi Tracy, our baby girl was born on Saturday evening weighing 7lb 9. I will call soon and tell you all about it but just wanted to thank you! I only made it to hospital with half an hour to spare as we never thought I was actually in full blown labour! I was getting no more than bad period pains. Even the midwife was shocked! God bless Marie Mongan! Thanks again x"

This is the full version:

"The birth was AMAZING!
As you know, I wasn't actually sure it would work. I know that I could relax into quite a deep state when practising everyday but couldn't help but think that when the surges started, I would just freak out and it would all go wrong again.
Anyhow, when the surges did start, at about 3.40am I actually thought they were just practice contractions as they weren't very strong and were coming irregularly, between every 12 - 8 mins and so I practised my breathing, as I had done with these for weeks and I even managed to sleep in-between each surge. Then in the morning J and I went for a walk for an hour or so. But there was still no set rhythm to the surges and they weren't getting any stronger. So we came home and then I went for a sleep again, still waking up during a surge but managed to sleep for about an hour.

Then they started wearing off and becoming less regular. So we went for another walk at lunch time to see if they'd come back. I had a few whilst out walking but nothing strong or regular. So we came home and I went to sleep again and when I woke up, they seemed to be back again. It was about 5pm at this point. Again, they weren't really strong so I said to J that I'd have some dinner and then could we walk again. Which we did!
 
J was timing them and they got to 4 mins apart while we were on this walk, I think they must have started at about 6 mins apart. But I wasn't feeling anything more than strong period pains. No pain in my back or anything. We got back home and I went to our room, as inlaws were here, and sat on the birthing ball and put the Steven Halpern cd on while J did some light touch massage on me. J asked if we should call the hospital and I said we could wait 1/2 hr and see what happens as I was just convinced it was early labour. He said it wouldn't do them any harm to know we would be coming in so he called. They asked to speak to me and asked if I'd like to go in or stay at home for a bit. I decided to go down as I was really concious that J's Dad was here and if I started screaming etc I would really be aware he was here :-)
So J used one of the scripts to relax me even more before getting into the car as I was really worried about the car journey as it was awful with E. But I was fine just doing by breathing and visualisations in the back whilst listening to the hypnobirthing cd on the ipod. J said in the car the contractions were coming about every 3 mins.

When we got to the hospital and I got out of the car, the contractions were stronger than before and I was squatting through them and couldn't talk, but they were bearable. Still no pain radiating into my back just strong cramping type feelings.
Then we got into our room at 8.35pm and the midwife started doing her obs, urine sample, listening to baby, blood pressure etc. The contractions started to get much stronger now and I was asking for an epidural as I didn't think I'd be able to cope as the surges got stronger for another few hours. J thought they were getting stronger because I was in hospital and was freaking out so told me to put my ipod back on and we agreed to try and give it 1/2 hr to get back into the 'zone' and see how I felt from there. So I got on a ball, listened to the Steven Halpern cd, and J did some more light touch massage and this worked and I was able to cope with the surges again. The midwife gave me some co-codamol and gas and air too. She told J that she had the doctor right up a prescription for some diamorphine for me for later in case I wanted some.

The midwife was concerned as O's heartbeat was higher than they would like and asked me to get onto the bed so she could listen to her on the monitor. I had just had a surge and on moving from the birthing ball to the bed, I had another and it was really strong. The midwife asked how I felt and I told her that there just felt like alot of pressure down below. She asked if I felt like I wanted to push and I didn't, so she told me to get onto the bed so she could listen into the baby. She was just strapping me onto it and I made this crazy African tribe woman type noise from deep within! The midwife looked at me and said, 'what's the matter? Do you want to push?!' As I had an epidural with E, I had no idea what I felt so said, ' I don't know'. She said, 'i think we need to examine you' and I was full dilated and O's head was 'right there' as she put it. And so an hour after arriving at the hospital, and only being in pain for about 30 mins, O was born at 9.34pm!
I couldn't believe it. If we'd have waited that 1/2hr before calling the hospital, I would have given birth in the car! I was on such a high for days!

Looking back, it was obvious I was about to give birth - squatting through surges, unable to sit on the toilet without completely pulling my underwear off, the feeling of not being able to or wanting to do it any more but as I wasn't in any distress and wasn't experiencing any pain, I wasn't convinced I was in labour. The midwife couldn't believe it either.

Even my healing process has been much much better than my experience with E. I was out for dinner 6 days later - I didn't leave the house for 10 days after having E. I only had 1 stitch and my episiotomy stitches held. And 16 days on, my bleeding has practically stopped!
I still get tired of course but just try and rest when O does.

The only bad point I have to say is that when the baby blues kicked in, I had such a long way to fall because I was on such high. It lasted 3 days and it was horrible but I made sure I got lots of rest and got plenty of fresh air and I was fine.

So I wouldn't hesitate in recommending hypnobirthing to anyone. In fact 3 of my friends are pregnant and I have told them all to book onto a course. I would now love to do what you do and teach it to people as every woman giving birth should experience this! It's amazing and I actually would go as far to say, I would give birth again tomorrow.
Thanks again for your help Tracy!"

KC

The following birth stories are from HypnoBirthing mums around the UK (source www.HypnoBirthing.co.uk):-

"I can't imagine how anyone gives birth without it! HypnoBirthing® kept me feeling calm and in control throughout labour. The contractions were no problem at all.

I knew what to do and what to think. It gave me a better understanding of the physical and psychological aspects of childbirth. It also gave me greater confidence in myself and in my partner to work as a team, as I knew that we had the tools to ensure a safe and calm birth.

This meant that I avoided the use of pain-killing chemicals. I believe in myself (mind and body) a lot more now, and feel that perhaps there's even more I can achieve if I only put my mind to it.

I would advise every mother-to-be and her partner to try HypnoBirthing® even if they intend to use drugs."

KW, London

 

"Using the breathing and relaxation techniques we were taught, I was able to get through twelve hours of contractions with absolutely no pain at all. All I could feel was pressure.

The final part, where I was pushing Mia out, stung a little bit but that was all, and I didn't need any pain relief - not even gas and air.

What's more, my sister saw me soon afterwards and said I looked as if I'd just come back from a health farm, not just given birth!"

CJ, Jersey

 

"As soon as we knew the signs that our baby was coming to us, we were very excited, we talked about what the baby would look like.

We were very positive and both extremely relaxed. We knew this was going to be a great day.

I was feeling only tightenings in my stomach, I visualized the muscles stretching up then pushing down to open the cervix. I felt very happy to have this feeling as I knew the baby was coming to me.

I was never uncomfortable and it was very peaceful as I listened to music and the colours of the rainbow tape. With each wave it was if my body went into a totally automatic relaxed but focused state. Between the waves I felt so relaxed, I felt sleepy.

Soon I felt the urge to push, Our little "Lucy Maree" was handed to us after 3 pushes of non interference labour.

The HypnoBirthing® programme and Peter had shown me how to enjoy my labour. With each surge I felt very happy and confident. Labour is a beautiful, beautiful thing and I wish everyone could experience the peace and calmness that I did whilst birthing our baby.

My recovery was very quick as I had not used my energy in fighting fear of my birth. The HypnoBirthing® technique has become a very special gift in my life. I feel totally privileged to have this knowledge to have given me the ultimate birth experience.

I remember at one session with Peter watching a video of this total in control mother giving birth and I thought, wow. But no I still don't think I'll be like that. .... Well from the first wave to the last I was like that lady, but I wasn't even trying to be.

It's exactly like I learned, "Turn your labour over to your body". I was so proud of myself, and my husband couldn't believe what I was like. Due to work commitments my husband was unable to come to all the classes, he was happy for me to do the programme.

The point I would like to make to all the mothers is, "It is possible to do this on your own". Geoff my husband was extremely supportive throughout the pregnancy and the birth and was so proud of me. He is now so positive of the HypnoBirthing® Programme.

Thank you so much for helping me to enjoy birthing as it should be enjoyed, also enjoying life as it should be enjoyed."

TS