how did you manage your labour?

[JanetF]

In the olden days ;) , when all births happened at home, women watched other women birth and learned from each other.

Most first time mums wonder about labour and what it will be like, often wondering about things like what contractions will feel like, how much pain will be involved and how to deal with pain in labour.

I thought we could have a discussion about pain in labour and provide a positive reference for anyone who is wondering about this. We can talk about what worked for us in labour and also about what we would/will do differently next time. A sort of "women's business" discussion that focusses on how we can avoid unnecessary pain in labour and deal with whatever pain is left.

So I'm going to list some things we might discuss and I'll add more as we go.

Has anyone had painless contractions throughout their labour? If you did, what did your contractions feel like and how did you deal with them?

This is the fear/pain cycle which often occurs in labour.
Fear > Chest Breathing > Tension > Pain > More Fear > More Chest Breathing > More Tension > More Pain > More Fear etc etc.
What have you done in your labour(s) (or before labour)to address each of these things and break this cycle?
Fear
Chest Breathing
Tension
Pain

How have you used warm water in your labour(s) and how did it help to manage pain?

Anyone used ice to manage pain during labour?

Where did you walk during your labour, how much and for how long? Share your tips for how to stay active and upright for as long as possible during 1st stage labour.

How have you used counter-pressure in your labour(s)? What was used to apply it (eg. tennis ball, rolling pin, fist, thumbs, hip squeeze)? What difference did it make to how you felt?

When we have a contraction (surge, expansion, rush) our uterus moves forward. Anything that interferes with the uterus moving forward may cause unnecessary pain. Did you find that some things interfered with the uterus moving forward during a contraction?

What was your most comfortable pushing position?

What is the most effective/efficient pushing position? How can you prepare during pregnancy for 2nd stage?

There's enough to get started. Looking forward to having this conversation with you all.

[Benandrewsmum]

Great thread JanetF...

Before I had my little guy I had every intention of having all types of pain relief available....but ended up not having any.

Unfortunately, I had to be induced, due to medical reasons....this made me terrified of labour, given all the risks etc associated.

I used hot showers to help with the pain of contractions during 1st phase and found this helped a lot.....unfortunately the hospital didn't have a bath ...if it had of I think that would of been great!

Just before what I think must have been transition, I became really really sleepy...very strange, not sure if this is usual...anyway, I felt that I had to lie down and take a nap. So, when I lied down the contractions became very painful, which is when I thought about pain relief....

...however, my midwife was great and just coached my husband and me through with breathing....I can not believe how just concentrating on breathing and breathing properly helped me with the pain.....absolutely amazing!! And you know what....in pre-natal classes not one thing was mentioned about breathing techniques!!

So I guess the moral of my story is hot showers and concentrating really hard on breathing exactly how the midwife tells you!!

Cheers

[JanetF]

Great to hear, Donna. Studies on labouring women show again and again that what gets us through most happily is a one on one relationship with a known female caregiver. You fit that to a tee! But don't undersell your own contribution. It sounds like you were very powerful in your birthing drive :D

[Benandrewsmum]

I agree Janet....I look back now and think how lucky I was to have been "assigned" my midwife. She was so fantastic. We spend so much time looking for a "good" obstetrician that I think we underestimate the contribution of the midwife. My OB popped in for the last 10 minutes.....it was thanks to my midwife that my labour and delivery was a positive experience!

Next time I will concentrate more on making sure that I have a great midwife to help me through and not leaving that part to chance....I could not imagine going through birth with a midwife that you did not connect with!

cheers

[JanetF]

That's a very interesting observation you make about Obs. They are really only designed for complications that require surgery so almost all women are really assisted by midwives. Many of us choose midwives only and would never choose an Ob ;) Midwives are the natural birth experts :D Especially private MWs :D You'll love your journey into the midwifery model, I guarantee it!

[Jamily]

Hello ladies

I read your comments with interest as I had Emily at the Birth Centre, RNSH in Sydney and without my midwife support I am certain that I would have ended up using drugs. As it was I had gorgeous Emily in water with no pain relief and masses of help, encouragement and support. My DH was fantastic but without the midwives belief in me and my body I am sure I would have had so much more intervention. I have come away from the experience with the most amazing sense of self-achievement - I am certain it is the event in my life I am most proud of and not just because I have the most gorgeous little girl to come out of it.

Next time (if there is one - fingers x'ed!) I will be going down exactly the same route.

As Benandrewsmum said, great thread JanetF.

:)

[Peaceangels]

I agree, great thread JanetF! I only wish I could have read this when I was expecting!!
For someone expecting no.1, I would say expect the unexpected! I mean during pregnancy people tell you stories (good & bad) about their's or friends labour, but no two labour's are exactly the same, so you have to go into it with an open mind.
Sure you can have a birth plan, but that may all go out the window! Some women find contractions a breeze and not painful at all, but I personally found the pain so bad no word can describe it (and I used to get "the worst" period pain as a result of endometriosis).
Enough rambling, here is what worked for me:
* Hypnotherapy - I was seeing a hypnotherapist during my pregnancy with DS1 and she suggested she teach my DH for labour so she didn't have to attend the birth. DH took it all very seriously, but what happened in the end is that just his touch and certain spoken words (hypno. connects with your sub-conscious mind) triggered my brain to use the relaxation techniques we learnt during pregnancy - at the height of contractions during a 22hour labour I wouldn't let him leave the room or take his hand off my belly! The only pain relief I had was the gas, but I ended up having an emergency c-section in the final hour as bub was distressed after I had pushed for 1.5 hours!!
* I also had a wonderful midwife for both births and what difference that makes (with DS2 the midwife was male and just an amazing person - at first I was a little worried, but my worries soon turned to releif as he was very informative, calm, compassionate and so dedicated to his job i was blown away).
* For both births I had DH and my sis as a support person (they get along great) and it meant that one or the other could have a break and/or support each other.
* I found sitting upright the most comfortable position with contractions towards the end, but in the beginning I used an exercise ball (the one's you sit on).

[drewid]

I love remembering my labour and birth! Thanks for another excuse to look back Janet!! :D

I didn't feel any fear in labour, all throughout my pregnancy I read a lot, and had some great chats with my mum. Women throughout history have been labouring and giving birth naturally and without drugs, so why couldn't I? I went into my labour feeling confident that I too could join that long list of brave mamas-to-be.

I remember when my first strong contraction hit, I was so excited! I jumped out of bed and started pacing the floor with my hands on my belly, just in total awe of the whole process! It really is such an amazing concept.

I found the best way to move through the contractions was to keep walking walking walking. When they started to get really overbearing I just leant forwards bracing against a wall/chair etc and focused on my breathing. Hubby was a darling and kept up a really good lower back rub which really helped.

My midwife suggested spending time in the shower with plenty of warm water on my back - this was really lovely but it was the walking around that helped the most. I probably walked off and on for about 4 hours!! Great exercise!

When I got to the birthing room, I was already 9cm dilated - woo hoo! I felt soooo proud that I had gotten that far totally on my own and never once felt the urge to succumb to drugs. My waters broke naturally a short time later and thats when the contractions REALLY starting getting to me. Spend a lot of time leaning forwards over the bed with cushions supporting me and swinging my hips around - I still can't believe that the swinging motion helps SOOO much.

When I started feeling the urge to push, my midwife encouraged me to use the loo, and have my feet up on a little footstool. I thought it was weird at first, but it made the whole pushing thing so much easier, and it was much easier to focus. Hubby was nearby with a cool towel for my forehead and words of support.

My midwife was in and out of the room and she had a few women labouring that night, but she was sooo supportive, she just really focused on telling me that I was doing great, and to listen to my body, listen to my body, listen to my body. I found that thought to be the best one to focus on....I allowed myself to just sink into that space, just doing what came naturally and not being scared of what was happening.

Eventually I was up on the bed sitting fairly upright but on my side pushing until bub was crowning, then turned to sit more upright to do the final pushes to get bub out. My OB arrived probably half an hour before bub was born, and he assisted the midwife in the end.

It wasn't until after bub was born that I found out he had been posterior! He had been quite often in utero but hadn't known for sure at the time of pushing. I was actually really surprised, thought it would have hurt more to have a posterior bub! I guess I was lucky there.

I feel really positive about my labour and birth - I loved every minute of it! I quite vividly remember holding my beautiful baby boy while I got cleaned up down below and thinking "that wasn't as hard as i thought it would be" :D

The power of the mind is an amazing thing :D

[JanetF]

How inspiring! What a great story with lots of ideas for us to steal ;)

[jaz]

for your wonderful birth stories (i cant post yes as i am pregnant with my 1st :D ) but would like to tell you that your stories have actually made me feel better. As i am scared of (actually petrified :eek: ) of having an edidural.

Thank you please keep your stories coming !

Jaz
xoxo

[bigbubbamama]

When thinking about my labour before a gave birth a thought for sure that I wanted an epidural. It all happened so fast for me I didn't have time for anything but one shot of pethedine, that just mad me feel sleepy and out of it.

through the day I had been having period type cramps, nothing painful. By 7 o'clock they were pretty regular, but I was in denial of being in labour as it was my first baby and I was five weeks early.

I rang the hospital and they were engaged, so I jumped in the shower and rang them after i got out. I told them what was happening and they said to come straight to the hospital. When I got there I said to my husband, "don't bother about bringing my bag in I'm sure it's nothing and we'll be sent back home"

Because I was early they hooked me up to the moniters so they could hear the baby and make sure he wasn't getting stressed. which made it really hard because I couldn't get up to walk around - which definately helps by the way.
I was really sick and vomitted twice.

I went to the delivery room at 7 cms dialated about an hour and a half after getting to the hospital.

I got really cold and the contractions were getting painful, and thats when I had a shot of pethadine. My midwife was excellent I focised on what she was saying and that helped hugely with my breathing, and getting through the contractions.
All of a sudden I had the erge to push and I told the midwife and she checked and said "yep you sure are". The worse part for me was pushing the head out which took 2 or 3 contractions, and that was a really burning sensation. At 11:45pm he was born with a labour time of 4 hours :o

He was healthy and didn't need oxygen or anything but unfortunately he had to be taken to the neborn intensive care unit for 10 days, because he was born before term.

I was up and walking around straight after, I had a shower and something to eat, called all our family and friends (at about 2am) who were gob smacked because no one even knew I was in labour!

So for the next one which we are trying for at the moment, I will know to go to the hospital straight away! :D

[rynosmum]

Jaz, I too was terrified by labour but afterward, I honestly turned to my husband and said 'that was nowhere near as bad as I had anticipated !" :)

My baby was in posterior position and I couldn't move him using the normal techniques - at 41.5 weeks my hindwaters broke (I was due to be induced two days later).

That was 5am, contractions started softly at about 9am when I was 2-3 cms dilated. I walked around the hospital grounds until about 1 when a delivery suite became available. At 2, I was put on a drip and my forewaters were broken (uncomfortable but not painful) - this sped things up a bit. From 2 until 5, I walked around the suite, sat in a recliner with a heat pack, had my husband just rub my legs when a contraction came - this surprisingly helped so much. I tried the fitness ball but that didn't work for me - perhaps due to the position of the baby.

At 6, I found that I was already 10cms and just started pushing (you can't help it - your body just does it). It was quite intense then and my contractions were compounding (seemingly no break in between). The baby still wasn't engaged so I was told that there would have to be some intervention. I chose an epidural (quickly) at that point which I didn't even feel going in.

Immediately I had relief - so much so that I called in my parents (who had been in the waiting room all day). They got to meet my OB and the midwife and have some involvement in the process which I am so happy I had the chance to do. Then it was time so out with the parents and after a few pushes we realised that bubba wasn't coming out so they used a vacuum extraction on him - his pulse was dropping - only later did we realise that the cord was around his neck - twice - but the extraction got him out within three contractions which was great.

My boy was a healthy 8 pounds 4, I had quite a few stitches (which I didn't feel also due to the epidural) which healed without pain relief. He had a little 'cone' head for a couple of days but still very very cute.

I chose no pethodine as I was nervous about its affect on the baby and the epidural was in for such a short time, I was up and about straight after for a shower.

That was an amazing day ! :D

[alissa-mareesmum]

Hi all,

For the first 2 and a half days of labour i did lots of walking and squating with each contraction. When my waters finally broke i used the warm showers at the hospital while being on all fours. I then progressed to the bath/pool when i finally transitioned i got out of the pool and used the birthing ball with my top half leaning against it again in all fours position. During this time i would the only way to describe it was sleep in between contractions. I also had the warm showers on my lower back. When i was fully dilated and pushing i used the combination of sitting on the birth stool backwards and hanging from my most amazing DF.

When i was at the hospital the second time after my waters broke and the contractions kicked up a gear. With each contraction i used my breathing to help keep me focused and calm. When i was pushing i might add for an hour and a half, i would make a low growl sound that came from the back of my throat and i would concentrait on sending it down through my body. I think that is really important especially if like me you push for a long time to keep all your energy flowing down and out rather then screaming out and tensing up. I couldn't even make that same sound now if i tried and my throat ended being in more pain than down below where it was stretching.

Also i had an amazing midwife who just let my mum and DF guide me through. My DF stayed by my side the whole time watering my back and taking my weight while i was pushing and hanging off him.

I also managed labour especially the last few hours in the room with the bath, with very little lighting and my favourite silverchair cd playing in the background. I mention this as while i was pushing, in between contractions (they stayed 5 mins apart until the end) i would sing word for word with the cd i don't remember this but they all said that i did. I believe that the singing kept me relaxed until the next contraction.

So thats how i got through 3 days of labour, 8 hours of the full on contractions that happen after your waters break and 1.5 hours of pushing all with no medical pain relief or intervention, and yes dear old alissa was posteria and was quite happy to stay that way.

Happy birthing, don't fear it embrace it and let your body take you to that special place inside each and everyone of us.

Best wishes Jade

[JanetF]

Happy birthing, don't fear it embrace it and let your body take you to that special place inside each and everyone of us.

That's really beautiful!
:D

[jaz]

Thank you so much, your stories bring tears to my eyes ! Thank you very much for putting me at ease !

Jaz
xoxo

[Hannah6]

I hardly even remember my birthing experience it was just so quick, 2 hours 35 minutes from the time I was induced. I was admitted to hospital at 39 weeks with very high blood pressure, gestational diabeties and a heart murmur (luckly a health baby though). Due to the high blood pressure I wasn't allowed to walk around so spent the entire labour lying down in bed. I found that moving positions from side to side helped alot with the pain. After about 2 and a half hours of labour I felt I needed to push and also at this time decided I needed some pain relief and of course it was too late by now :) Had my daughter after about 5 minutes of pushing. Had some scary moments just after the birth as the two midwifes rushed her away and didn't tell me what was happening. She had the umbillical cord around her neck twice and wasn't breathing, had to put her on oxygen for around 5 minutes.
This was worse than the whole labour, I'd always imagined the midwife handing me my baby straight away for a cuddle.

It was one of the most rewarding, exciting and tiring experiences of my life can't wait to do it all over again!!! :)

[belinda]

so many of these birth stories were just so so so so lovly.... they really were....
i had a terrible labour as i was induced and then a epidural and then went to thearter to have a forceps delivery 20 hours in total that was just the shorten version of the story but it really wasnt nice but i have a wounderful and healthy little boy and glad we are both fine....

i hope next time around i can enjoy it as much as some of you and have a wounderful birth...

belinda

[JanetF]

I'm sorry to hear that your birth went that way, Belinda. Sadly, it's way too common. *hugs* We know that most women who have epidurals have caesareans (60% in fact) and about 20% have instrumental births. Going into labour spontaneously avoids all this. Babies come on their birthdays :D

[AM]

Has anyone had painless contractions throughout their labour? If you did, what did your contractions feel like and how did you deal with them?

I wish, Janet!
Mind you, towards the end, I was pretty exhausted, and I was not feeling contractions, my midwife had to put her hand on my belly to let me know when to push, but that doesn't really count, does it? :)


This is the fear/pain cycle which often occurs in labour.
Fear > Chest Breathing > Tension > Pain > More Fear > More Chest Breathing > More Tension > More Pain > More Fear etc etc.
What have you done in your labour(s) (or before labour)to address each of these things and break this cycle?
Fear

I read every natural birth story I could get my hands on, and watched videos of homebirth, i remembered my sisters two labours and births, and pretty much came to know in my heart that my body was built to do this, and it is a normal process.


Chest Breathing

This really didn't seem to be a problem for me, and i had read a really lovely book by Frederick LeBoyer called 'The art of breathing' which put me in the right frame of mnd to relax and just breathe this baby out.


Tension

I found the Bradley method books good on this topic, and I did practice relaxation exercises quite a lot in the weeks leading up to labour, and identified that i tend to hold most of my tension in my mouth and jaw, so making sure this part of me was relaxed ensured the rest of me was too.
Dh also knew to watch my face, and remind me to let go and relax if he noticed I was clenching my jaw :)


Pain

I was never afraid of the pain, as i have always had a really high pain threshold - I used to have fillings done with no anaesthetic :eek: - and it was painful, but never above a level I could handle.


How have you used warm water in your labour(s) and how did it help t0 manage pain?

It was really more like really hot water, I had steaming towels applied to my lower back, and it was pure heaven.
I had wanted to labour some of the time in the shower, and perhaps birth my baby in the bath, but for some reason I just was not drawn to water at all.
This time though, I'm going to make an effort to get into some water, as I have heard so many great stories.


Anyone used ice to manage pain during labour?

No, and to be honest, the thought of it is horrible, I don't like cold though!


Where did you walk during your labour, how much and for how long? Share your tips for how to stay active and upright for as long as possible during 1st stage labour.

I did a fair bit of wandering around our back yard in an effort to keep contractions coming consistently, during first stage, I just tried to keep myself mildly busy doing silly little things, pausing when I had a contraction.
I did a fair bit of leaning on furniture!

How have you used counter-pressure in your labour(s)? What was used to apply it (eg. tennis ball, rolling pin, fist, thumbs, hip squeeze)? What difference did it make to how you felt?

I can't say enough good things about counter pressure!
My midwife used her thumbs to press really firmly into my lower back either side of my sacrum, and wow, it worked so well for pain!
The day or so after, I had massive bruises there, but at the time it was just great.


When we have a contraction (surge, expansion, rush) our uterus moves forward. Anything that interferes with the uterus moving forward may cause unnecessary pain. Did you find that some things interfered with the uterus moving forward during a contraction?

Interesting bit of info there, but i really do not remember anything interfereing with foward movement, mind you, I was firmly upright most of the time. I reckon the lithotomy position would be pretty awful!


What was your most comfortable pushing position?

LOL!! I tried them all! After all I was at it for 12 hours! (yes, PUSHING!) Strangely enough, i had a lot of progress up on the bed, reclining against a beanbag, semi-upright, but I actually gave birth standing, leaning over the bed, with my knees slightly bent.


What is the most effective/efficient pushing position? How can you prepare during pregnancy for 2nd stage?

Well, something upright is probably a plus to begin with, but with me, the 'best' position seemed to change over time, so i still do not really know the answer to that question, I think what feels right at the time, and to not feel restricted in being able to move around and try new positions.
During pregnancy, 'The pink kit' is really good for trying out positions and seeing how your pelvis feels in each one, it is good to get that kind of awareness of your body while you can think properly about it, and draw conclusions, rather than just try to completely wing it while you are in the throes of perhaps quite a lot of pain, and not really thinking straight.
Having said that, I really do think the best position changes through labour, perhaps in correlation with the gradual change in the baby's position?
I don't know, but I am sure glad I refused to be hooked up to a fetal monitor, so I could find my position.

[PinkBinkie]

Hi Guys
Great to hear all your birth stories. I just feel so proud that I did it and came out ok. Isn't it amazing what we women are capable of doing? My husband couldn't believe how strong I was. When I was in labour I was so caught up in the moment I forgot to ask for drugs or to change my position to push the baby out. I wanted to be on all fours as I heard this was the best way but ended up on the bed on my back with my knees up around my ears! Anyway, the midwife was great and gave me gas and peth which sent me into a twilight land but that wasn't such a bad thing :) I found that strong back massage worked wonders as well as hot packs and hot showers. What kept me going was the excitement of seeing my baby girl especially when the midwife did an internal and told me she could feels lots of hair! What an adrenilin rush :D

[JanetF]

I really do think the best position changes through labour, perhaps in correlation with the gradual change in the baby's position?

I think you're absolutely right, Angie. I moved totally differently at different times in my labour and knowing what I know now about my baby's position, I know I was instinctively responding to it. We also forget that babies are not stationary lumps in labour. All those reflexes they're born with are employed during labour to move themselves out of our bodies. You can see them rotate on the perineum all on their lonesome to come out better. Very clever it all is! Like the spinning babies website says, "Mother's job is to dilate, baby's job is to rotate" LOL


I don't know, but I am sure glad I refused to be hooked up to a fetal monitor, so I could find my position.

You are so onto something here! All EFM does is tie women down and cause foetal distress. A doppler used every so often is more than sufficient if we need to check a heartbeat and better decisions are made with this kind of evidence than with the EFM readout. There have been so many studies done where Obs were tested by being given the same readouts through a test scenario and most times they give a completely different interpretation of the same test strip each time they're given it! EFM increases c-sec rates but doesn't improve outcomes for mothers or babies. You were wise to miss it!

[jaydensmum]

With my pain magagement i used breathing exercises mostly. To also help with the pain i walked alot to take the pressure away and also give my mind something else to think about. I practically lived in the shower with hot water hitting me in the back (most of my pain was in the back). I had a great midwives who helped me the whole way through it as well as my Mum and my Partner. My partners hand became great at one point for pain relief! :D
I think if you go in the birthing room with a strong mind beliving yourself that you can do it, then you will. I know it's hard to do that sometimes especially with your 1st because you have no idea what to expect. I think alot of the pain relief is willpower, telling yourself its not that bad. How i went through the pain was thinking like that. Also telling myself that with contraction that goes by is one closer to seeing my little baby!

jaydensmum. :)

[melfunction]

I had a rapid delivery and after my waters broke at 2.30am, I didn't have any contractions until 8am. They then started at 2 mins apart. I dilated completely in 1 hour. Sitting in a toilet/shower chair with dh spraying me with water, I was trying to relax. My pain threshold is very high (didn't know I'd badly broken a leg for 3 weeks) so I didn't really need anything, but I was soooo stressed, because it was happening too fast (I was told to expect the normal 12+ hours, so thats what I was prepared for), I had some gas and left the mouthpiece in my mouth. It was just good to relax a bit. Then I started pushing uncontrollably - thats when I really felt it. I decided to breath deeply and think happy thoughts - like seeing my baby soon. It really helped. I didn't utter a sound while giving birth and the midwife was asking dh to check I was breathing. It was the best pain I could ever feel. I was getting a baby as a result of it and basically thats how I managed the pain. Kaiden arrived in 2 hours 20 mins 8lb 8oz. Am a bit scared of doing it again as Dr told me I wouldn't make it out front door. Worth every sec though.

[HoopDeeDoo]

I was a bit the same as you kaidensmum my labour was four hours, so I didn't have anything but a shot of pethadine, because I didn't expect it to be so fast (I was thinking 12 - 18 hours for a first baby)! Not to mention I went naturally 5 weeks early with no explanation :eek: This next one I'll be down at the hospital with the slightest twinge asking for an epidural :D

[mel]

i was terrified of giving birth when i was pregnant, actually just scared i would have to have a c section.
but once it all started fear was the furthest thing from my mind.
i spent a long time in the shower at home with my DH which was great, and again at the hospital in the shower 1st sitting on the birthing ball with one shower head against my lower belly and DH with the other on my lower back, amazing pain relief, then lying over the ball with water on my back.
my 1st stage was very fast, but 2nd stage was very long, had shot of pethadine and sucked back on the gas for a while. but once bubby starts to enter the world, the gas is not helpful, you just have to listen to your body and your midwife, mine was just amazing, she was so relaxed it made me feel really relaxed and safe.
together with my wonderful DH and midwife, my birthing experience was beautiful, so relaxed and not stressful at all. i felt strong and supported, and the noise i was making i coudnt replicate now, someone else posted that they made a real low grunting, i was the same, the sound pushing down and out, if you scream you dont utilise your contractions because the energy is directed upwards.
my DH has seen me in a whole new light, and i have too, i cant wait to have the 2nd! (well i can, Arwynn is only one month old... think i'll wait a little longer than that!)
we never learnt any breathing at classes, but once my midwife told me to pant, i did, and boy did it work.
the biggest fear factor for me beforehand was the fact that it was the unknown, no matter how many stories you hear.
:p

[DoulaFelicity]

Great thread, Janet. (I suspect you're the Janet I've recently met at another site, yes?) :)

Any excuse to revel in the glorious coming of age that was my labour is very welcome! It was my transition into womanhood, my rite of passage into the power that all women carry quietly within them, and I love testifying about it.

My contractions weren't painless, at any stage. My Braxton Hicks, of course, weren't what I would call "painful"; more of a tightening, a dull but insistent ache, that I welcomed as a sign of impending birth in the not-so-distant future. My early, early labour pains (after a Stretch and Sweep at 12 days past EDD, and, 48 hours later, after my plentiful show) were akin to noticeable, but not bothersome, period aches. I knew when I saw that show that my baby was coming; I know sometimes a show can occur weeks before labour, but I knew that my show meant labour. As such, my early labour contractions thrilled me.

The fear/pain cycle is very, very real, and has a powerful impact during birth. Once my labour established and moved into the realms of contractions that needed all my concentration to integrate, I focused on breathing deeply and steadily in during the onset of a contraction; and then releasing that breath down into my belly and my baby (visualising and also physically doing it) with vocalisation of "mmmmmmmmmmmm-AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH" (the "mmm" was as the contraction built; when my body told me to, and when the contraction was intense, I let my mouth fall open wide and loose, and my vocal slip into the "AHHHHHHHH" and really breathed it down into my birthing energy centre). I had to work hard sometimes to keep those breaths steady and deep, and to keep my vocal low and controlled (rather than allowing myself to take short, shallow, panicky breaths and waste energy and scare myself by letting my vocals become shrill, screamy, panicked sounds). This saw me through many, many hours of intense labour (my entire labour was very strong and all in my lower back; we believe my labour was Posterior, with bubs turning perfectly at the last moment before birth). In transition, as many women do, I lost my focus, and entered a "lost world" inside myself. I let my vocalising and breathing get high and panicked, started trying to fight the intensity of the process, became tired, angry, defiant, and wanted to stop my birth. As a result, the pain during transition was something I'll not soon forget. Agony. But not just physical agony; a sort of soulful agony. I was trying to interrupt something primal, all powerful, and bigger than me. By doing so, I was fighting myself. I begged for help; I begged for an Epidural. Even as I said the words, I hated them, I was saddened by them, I didn't mean them. With the support and belief of my Midwife, Doula, and partner Stephen, I slowly made my way back into myself and my focus; and took the final step to total surrender and release. When I did, my pain became once more something beautiful and manageable, and my baby came out smoothly and fast. I worked hard; I roared my baby out; I sweated; I put my all into it. But I never resisted it after that point. And it never hurt me again in that horrid way after that. It was sublime.

Warm water (the "Midwife's epidural") was my saviour. At home in early labour, when it was beginning to grab my attention, I got in the shower and leaned on the wall with the hot spray on my lower back during contractions, vocalising and revelling in the sensations. Once in very established labour at the Birth Centre, I tried a big, hot bath, which felt good, but juxtaposingly also felt awful. The water was lovely; the experience of being prone in such intense sensation and not being able to have space to move, was awful. Also, I couldn't lean back, as it made me violently ill. I needed to sit up. We abandoned the bath for the birth ball in the shower, and that was exactly what I needed! I sat on the birth ball, rocking and swiveling my hips smoothly in between contractions, with Stephen directing the shower head all over my body to keep me lovely and warm. I would either remain inward and silent, enjoying the relaxation, or I would chat to Stephen and my Doula at these moments. Whatever I felt like. When a contraction would start to roll in, I would grip the bars on the wall in front of me, and begin my "mmmmmm" vocal, usually stopping rocking. At this cue, Stephen would direct the full force of the very warm shower spray at my lower back, and hold it there for the duration of the contraction. This was heavenly; simply wonderful, and an amazing help with integrating the contraction. Once over, I'd release the bars, recommence rocking, stop vocalising, and Stephen would wordlessly redirect the spray all over me again. We laboured in this way for hours; until I felt such immense pressure on my tailbone that I couldn't sit on the ball any longer (next time around, I will recognise that pressure as commencement of transition and second stage :p ) and I felt that innate knowledge that I needed to shift positions and environs.

I've no experience with ice in labour, but I did read a little about it in "Birthing From Within" by Pam England and Rob Horowitz. Some interesting techniques for finding pain integration methods to suit you during labour, by way of holding an ice cube in your closed hand and utilising different techniques of managing the sensations...I'll be practicing with that next time around. I can see how it would help with contractions.

In early labour at home, wanting to bring it on, I walked endless laps around my loungeroom. I spent a good 12 hours upright, walking, swaying, gently dancing; just remaining active and moving that baby down. I would notice the difference in time between contractions. If I sat down and rested, contractions slowed. If I moved around, they came closer together and more intensely. It did become tiring at times to keep moving, but I believe it helped shorten my labour. Walking into the Birth Centre, my contractions went insane! I startled many people on the street with my frequent stops to grasp my belly and vocalise loudly. In transition, I walked from my room to another room, at the suggestion of my (clever) midwife and Doula. That brief (and difficult) walk moved my baby into position and threw me into pushing stage. I literally felt it happening. Walking is the natural friend of labour. It's finding the mental gumption to do it, and pushing past established labour tiredness, that can be the challenge!

In early labour I enjoyed the counter pressure of Stephen pushing quite hard and deeply on my lower back with a very hot towel. He had to really apply a lot of force; I was constantly saying "harder, harder". It was a great relief. I loved it. In established labour, I didn't want to be touched, other than by water. Which, in itself, was a sort of counter pressure, with it's heat and presence.

I couldn't lie down (I didn't even try to on my back as I knew that was a foolish thing to do; but when very exhausted I did try to briefly lie on my side) during labour at all. It would make the contractions unmanageable, and I just felt I had to get up, in a very urgent way. Even leaning into pillows was unbearable; I didn't want anything to touch my tummy with any form of pressure. Exhausting sometimes, but following my body's cues to remain upright and not put pressure on my belly was invaluable.

I moved positions during labour as I felt I needed to. I didn't always know what position I wanted to be in at first (how would I?); my body would simply tell me the position I was in was no longer comfortable and I had to shift. Sometimes it was a restless process of wandering about. Sometimes I tried a few positions without success before trying one and thinking "ahhhhh, yessss, that's it". Sometimes I instinctively moved into the best position right away. Being upright (walking, sitting on the birth ball, swaying) was something I needed to do in labour. When pushing, I assumed the all fours position (after trying to push standing up and finding I involuntarily clamped my knees closed when doing this!) on the bed, and it was wonderful. I leaned over the head of the bed (I could do this comfortably now, as my baby was no longer high in my belly but moving low in my birth canal, meaning pressure on my belly no longer pained me) on the pillows, gripping the headboard, my knees on the soft mattress. I would lie limply there in between pushing contractions, breathing deeply, awake, but in my own world, resting as my body needed while Stephen gently wiped my hot brow with a cold cloth. When my body would push, I would grip the headboard with immense strength, pulling it towards me (luckily it was very strong), letting my body push with immense force, roaring, growling, yelling down into my belly. My midwife, Doula and Stephen never once interrupted what I was doing or directed me. They would simply be quiet presences in the room, telling me "beautiful, wonderful, you're doing a great job Felicity, just keep doing what you're doing". I was in the position I was meant to be, and my body knew it and went full steam ahead.

(Carried across to next post, as too long!)

[DoulaFelicity]

(End of previous post)

The position I was in was very efficient and effective for pushing. My pushing stage was relatively short. I sustained a small second degree tear, but that was my doing; when crowning, the midwife began to gently tell me how to push so as not to tear; I got impatient and did the exact opposite of what she said, and added my own extra effort to the push, so his head shot out super fast. Next time I will know there is no need to rush, and I believe I won't tear. Standing or squatting were my other pushing positions; squatting was difficult as I was so tired and my legs were shaky; and for me, these positions weren't the best as I somehow kept locking my legs together! To prepare whilst pregnant, I would suggest gentle exercise, such as walking or prenatal yoga, just to strengthen and tone the body. Some supported lunges and squats during pregnancy will assist if wanting to squat during labour.

If you've read this far, congratulations. :) This is something I could write a novel on. I believe so strongly in the instinctive nature of birth; I've experienced it's beauty and smooth success myself. The key, above all, is letting go. Fighting the process will not stop it; it will only make the process fight back, and it will always win. Surrender to it, and let the birth guide you and your body into the methods, positions, and breathing you need. Birthing is a natural, primal, strong process. We don't need our intellect for it. We need only our bodies; they know what to do, and how to do it.

[terri]

i love reading everyones birthstories as it just makes me even more confident of what im about to do! i even read the bad ones... :confused: duno y but honestly im NOT scared not even in the slightest!
I've come to the conclusion that being scared will only make me freak out on every little pain, and also females have been doing this forEVER!! (literally) and only recently have we needed all these drugs.... i feel if i needed these drugs to deal with child birth my body would produce it's own.... :o and this whole process of child birth and raising a baby no matter what age (im 15) my body wouldnt have allowed me to fall pregnant if i "couldn't" do it so to speak... :D
so thanx heaps for your birth stories and tips on labor etc! they really help and make me so much more confident of wat im about to do!

Love Terri-Lynn 15
Jacob Xander Luke EDD 27th Nov 05 :D

[Funkychicken]

i love reading everyones birthstories as it just makes me even more confident of what im about to do! i even read the bad ones... :confused: duno y but honestly im NOT scared not even in the slightest!
I've come to the conclusion that being scared will only make me freak out on every little pain, and also females have been doing this forEVER!! (literally) and only recently have we needed all these drugs.... i feel if i needed these drugs to deal with child birth my body would produce it's own.... :o and this whole process of child birth and raising a baby no matter what age (im 15) my body wouldnt have allowed me to fall pregnant if i "couldn't" do it so to speak... :D
so thanx heaps for your birth stories and tips on labor etc! they really help and make me so much more confident of wat im about to do!

Love Terri-Lynn 15
Jacob Xander Luke EDD 27th Nov 05 :D
You have a great attitude Terri-Lynn,
I also went into my first (and my second even though I knew what to expect 2nd time) without fear. I reasoned that women had been having babies for millenia and if they had all done it, so could I! Also, our bodies are designed as vessels to carry babies and give birth so surely mine could do it too. It has done it twice before and will again in about 8-9 wks. Good luck!
Sal-counting down in single weeks now!

[Tracie]

With my first pregnancy, I started out feeling absolutely terrified of labour. Just not knowing what the pain would be like and what my ability to cope with it would be was completely nervewracking.

I was also working with alot of women at the time and MANY of them had had caesarians and MOST epidurals. I never encountered anyone who had attempted to birth without drugs. And of course everyone kept saying, oh, just go the epidural! I did have a niggling in my mind though, that I could and should do it without drugs - hard to explain that feeling - a bit primal I guess. Anyway I was pretty confused at that time.

Then, I was directed to a pregnancy yoga class (now Yogababy in Bris) and started attending at around 17 weeks. Boy did things change....we did yoga for about an hour and a half at each session and the rest of the time was dedicated to talking about lots of things relating to our impending labours including our fears....the other great thing about this class was that almost every week, a mum who had given birth, say a couple of weeks before, would come along with her bub and recount her birth story - we would all sit in a circle and just listen intently to every word. And each and every mum that came back had a completely different story, although all had something in common - they ALL birthed their babies with little or no intervention and felt overjoyed and completely empowered by their experience. So by the time it came to my turn I was feeling very confident that I could do it too and when, the day before I was due, I had my "show" I remembered just feeling so excited that my time was NOW!

Apart from the Yoga, I also read alot of books which gave the complete story on the various drugs which could possibly be offered to me and also on the various interventions that might be suggested. That really helped me to feel confident enough to negotiate with the midwives and doctors. Came in handy because on arrival at the hospital, the first thing they wanted to do was break my waters - but, because I knew that leaving them intact meant there was some nice soft cushioning for my cervix, I refused. I was then able to deal with the contractions as they slowly built, allowing my body to build up those lovely endorphins and prepare itself for the REALLY big ones.

I also used the pain relief techniques in "Birthing from Within" by Pam England.
I practised quite a bit in the last month of my pregnancy and I gotta tell you they really worked for me. There are quite a few different methods to try and I found that one or two were my saviours. Particularly "Edges of Comfort" where you concentrate on a part of your body where there is no pain....I was wearing fluffy socks and I remember during each contraction, just breathing out and focussing on how nice and fluffy those socks felt. Needless to say, the first thing I packed for my second labour, were my FLUFFY SOCKS!

Hmmm...what else? Music and Hot Water and little snacks and drinks all helped!

I had a 21 hour labour and I would say that it was only the last 4-5 hours where the pain was pretty fierce and it took ALL my strength to deal with it.

Just to add, my second labour was quite different although exactly 21 hours too! (hmmm!?)
I spent the first 12 or so hours at home, made scrambled eggs for breakfast, baked a cake, got my little girl ready for nursery school, wandered to the shops to buy her a little present etc etc. The contractions weren't too hard to deal with at all during that time.

I went to the hospital too early I think (damn it!) and things slowed down a bit.
I was 2.5cm dilated for what seemed like hours - well, it was around 6 hours! I was in a hospital overseas, and the midwives were a bit absent unfortunately so I did get into quite a teary stage, wondering what the hell to do, to get things moving. Nipple stimulation definitely helps!!! And also, finally, a midwife did pop in and I remember asking her - "What should I do?" "What should I do?" Next minute, she rolled in a big pink birth ball and said simply, "bounce". So, I summoned up ALL my energy and bounced and bounced and bounced. With each contraction I tried really hard to push down and "open" everything up and even held out my arms with my hands palm up and wide open, just willing my cervix to dilate! I really surprised myself during that time - after nearly 19 hours of labour, I managed to summon the strength to really try and work WITH the pain. And within 2 hours, I was fully dilated and my little fella was here! Amazing what we women can do!

Of course I couldn't finish this post without mentioning that my hubby was also great - his poor neck must have killed because I hung off it during lots of contractions!

So, I guess my tips would be to prepare yourself physically (yoga is great for stretching and moving the right bits!), prepare yourself mentally - read up on interventions and drugs and the pros and cons and decide what you want to try and achieve (this makes it sooo much easier to deal with doctors or midwives who might be pushing you in the wrong direction) and read up on the various methods of drug-free pain relief techniques (and practise them!) It is also sooo helpful to surround yourself with women who believe in our bodies ability to birth, and to read lots of birth stories (good and bad).

And finally, there is so much power and strength in simply having belief in YOURSELF.

[mygirls]

I agree GREAT thread :p

I had 3 natural births, but i guess the 1st was where i "learnt" how to manage my labour. My wonderful midwife taught me how to breathe - very simple - & by making my "tummy breathe" it made the contractions not hurt (well they still hurt just not as much :D ) it was amazing she would put her hand on my tummy when i was having a contraction & say "come on now Kristy let me feel your tummy breathing" truely inspiring words! I guess it helped that when we went into the birth suite & met my m/w we told her that drugs were something we really didnt want. It was like from that moment my m/w wanted to help us reach our goal of having no drugs & we did it! Hot showers also did the trick for me - all 3 times- however i HATED the bath, maybe it was to small but i felt like a big whale in there & i couldn't move - really i just wanted to drown myself :o - so i never went into it for #2&3. Bub #2 was quite active & enjoyed standing & walking around & lots of rubbing on my back! Plus the shower! & with bub#3 i nearly had her in the shower as i didnt tell anyone i was pushing! I love hot water on my tummy & i have found with all 3 i really need to focus - so for me having a minimal number of people in the birthing suite really helps & having only lights on when required also enhances my concentration ( do i sound like an idiot?!) . Sorry to go on hope this helps :o
Kristy

[JanetF]

Kristy that's great info. Your experience bears out exactly what the research about hormones, light and people in your space says :D Ain't that cool ;)
http://sarahjbuckley.com/articles/ecstatic-birth.htm
http://sarahjbuckley.com/articles/labour-hormones.htm

[Foxymoron]

Great thread, great birthing stories!

The BIG thing for me was Deep Breathing.... I avoided the whole escalation of contractions and fear by focusing on my breath while I had a contraction. And I was surrounded by family who smiled and said "that was a good one" "won't be long now" and reminded me each time I started to hold my breath or get carried away by painful feelings to breath slow and deep.

I pace constantly, with my birthing partners close by to lean on during a contraction. I was so relaxed with my last child that I paced right until the urge to push was irresitable.

My daughter will be attending this birth, she is very keen to be with me and hold the baby.

I think educating the people around you about what your needs will be is an immense help.

[JanetF]

That's excellent, Keara. We have it all inside of us if only we can access the right birth support and environment :) My son will be at my next birth, I think it's wonderful to make birth just a part of life!

[MissSparkle]

Wow I just love hearing other peoples birth stories! Its such an amazing thing!
My son came out after a very long but fairly painfree labour! I had "mild" contractions for 50hours (and by mild i mean a bit of tightening and a very light period pain feel) then i had one back wrenching contraction and 5mins later there he was! I was drug free and very proud of myself, especially since i was 18 and the thought of pain made me shudder!!
Im hoping all my other labours r that easy with no drugs and no stitches! WHat are the chances of that tho?!

[LilShenanigans]

I congratulate anyone how didn't use drugs in labour, thats a powerful thing to do... one I just couldn't bring myself to do!

My fear started when I was at the hospital and they said we need to take you to the delivery room! I turned to my mum and said "no, I think I want to go home now... please take me home!!" hehehe I have a big fear of hospitals in general!

I walked for a bit, I had huge back pains because the baby was sitting against my spine, but that was the only pain. Also helped with a heat pack - a midwife told me that they don't usually allow heat packs and hot water bottles into delivery, I remarked with "Would you like to try and take it off me?" :p

I had an epidural which didn't actually hurt when they put it in! Apparently getting it put it when your contractions have already started is the best way... not saying it's any easier, but it either gets your mind off the contractions or vice versa!

During labour I had my mum and bestfriend as support. My mums a midwife and found it amusing to 'catch up' with old friends!
The one thing she swears she has told me all my life is when you push, pretend your doing a big poo!
At times like these, I forgot.
But it is the way and goes faster if you remember that from the start - most midwives won't put it in those terms, one midwife told me to push at the point she was touching (it doesn't help if you have painkillers).

And the pain, well, it existed. I had an epidural to calm me down and help me sleep, but by the time to push they let it wear off.
I can honestly say the most pain I felt was in my legs! I literally couldn't move them anymore after 2 contractions, which is where my support came in much use!!

It's amazing that how quickly the pain can escalate, it just disappears immediately afterwards. I thought it felt odd when she came out, that feeling you just can't explain! Strange but nice, but... really odd.

And in the fashion of helping other women out, my bestfriend had the best time during delivery! She said it was amazing and can't wait to have one herself! :D

[taragowland]

Hi Jaz,

I am also very scraed of an epidural - even though I am not good with pain, the fear of a huge needle in my back petrifies me too!

I am researching hypnobirthing and water births. What are you looking into?

BTW, I am due April 7 of 2006!

Tara

[danik]

Nicole79 thank you so much for the uplifting birthing story.

Although I am yet to give birth I found your words to be comforting and I totally agree with you-the mind is a powerful thing. I was thinking of learning how to meditate to help me through the birthing process.

My sister in law is pregnant with her 5th child and she is studying to be a midiwfe. I watched a vid of her 2nd birth and it all seemed so effortless although I know that everyone's experience is different. She was quite calm and focused through out the ordeal and hardly made any noise.

It is so great to gather all this info from these forums!

[lozzenator]

Nicole79, I am sure that going into the birthing suite with a good attitude helps too. Thanks for your story, it's encouraged me a lot. I am expecting my first baby in a few weeks due date 6th Feb. I'm now 35 weeks and the baby's head has been engaged since I was 33 weeks. I've been getting lots of cervical pain and discharge (no blood or fluid leak though) and lots of episodes of regular, strong BH contractions.

I decided halfway through my pregnancy to switch from elective c-section to vaginal birth, I originally went with a c-section decision mainly because I'm 33 years old. Also, I was never super confident in my pain-management ability.

I am with all you ladies on the midwives being great for your birth.
My obstetrician has been nothing but a discouragement to me.
When I had bleeding in my 6th week, the treated me for urinary tract infection. His ultrasound machine in his office didn't pick it up at all. I found out that it came from my placenta when I had my 12th week scan.
He never bothered to palpate or check whether the baby's head was engaged until I asked. Anyone in Sydney looking for an obstetrician should avoid spending a fortune on this man.

[Jenko]

I was booked into the birth centre, but with an open mind that if I wanted an epidural then I knew I could be moved.

Unfortunately the birth centre was very busy with 3 of us labouring and the other 2 mums were a few hours ahead of me, so the poor midwife was rushed off her feet. I had my partner and mum there, and told them (or was that yelled):D that I wanted an epidural several times. I think that if the midwife were able to have spent more time with me, I would have been more confident and determined not to want the epidural.

Anyhow, in the end I was moved (actually I waddled, stopping for several contractions in the hall) to the delivery suite as the midwife had finished her shift and by the time I got there the new midwife wouldn't do an internal for another half an hour and when she did I was already pushing and DD was born 35 minutes later! :)

So in the end I didn't have anything except from a few sucks of gas in the last 5 minutes before the pushing started!

[alicesmum]

Wow Jennasmum!! What a great story!

And were you pleased in the end that you hadn't had the epi? I mean, do you think it was for the best in the end?

By the time i hit, i think, about 8 cm i was thinking, get me something, anything, i really don't want this pain anymore!!!! However, was in so much pain i couldn't speak, so ended up natural and was v thankful in the end :)

[Jenko]

Hi alicesmum

I am glad that I didn't end up having an epi! I know I will be able to do it again...heheh i hope!

I wish I got to stay in the birth centre, as I feel that with the midwife's encouragement I would have had a more active birth. I only saw her for a couple of short 5 minute visits.

In the end, I ended up on my back with feet in the air, 3rd degree tearing and an episiotomy. But, we were both safe and healthy, so that is the most important thing to me.

Next time I will try for a more active birth and move around more. I just couldn't move.

The best thing I did do was have a very long bath in the huge birth centre bath...that was bliss!

[♥Heaven Sent♥]

hi there
My first stage of labour expirience was great i had a really nice midwife she rubbed my back when i was having contractions and everything but they were all amazed how well i went with my breathing when i was getting a contractions i would take quick small breaths and thats what got me through most of my labour.I was induced with sintocin(sp?)so the pain was very intense for the first part i just walked around in my room and i had a birthing ball wich i sat on wich was really good.For my last part of labour i was in heaps of pain and really tired (10 hrs later) so i hopped on the bed and layed down for a while.I was still very tired and not getting much rest so i had my first lot of pain relief which was morfeine for then next 4 hrs i had a rest inbetween contractions which was great.I was getting towards my second stage of labour (transition) and wasnt coping too well they didnt know i was 10cm dialated and didnt check cause i asked for an epidural so they gave me one when they gave me and epi it clicked to them that i was 10cm and checked and i was in the second stage of labour and said i could push i had trouble pushing cause i felt nothing along with the epi they gave me a spinal block and pushed for 3 hrs before my baby was born.If i could change it i would have opted for gas or something else but i guess i know now what to do this time;)

[Hokey Pokey]

I have a fear of drugs, loosing control of my body and feeling "druggy and wooze" just freaks me out too much :o
So I had no drugs with both my labours (except after the emergency C/S of course was on morphine after that)
I remember I did alot of "shutting off" from everything going on around me. Sort of like I was in a world of my own, trying to concentrate on my breathing and keeping my body, such as my jaw and fists relaxed to keep my body as relaxed and open as I could. I didn't talk, didn't cry or yell or anything(even when pushing for 1.5 hrs), kept VERY silent and still... I don't know how I did it, but I did :rolleyes:

[elissas]

Sorry, this is a long one...

My waters first broke on Christmas Eve at about 10am, and contractions started only a few hours after that, We were back and forth to the hospital over those couple of days, being monitored. Our Christmas lunch was made up of dodgy hospital sandwiches and prepackaged orange juice. Yummo! DH got a semi-melted dixie ice cream cup though, so at least he got some dessert! Christmas night the midwife sent me home with a couple of panadeine forte and sleeping pills, which I took – and they did nothing! I still had to get up with contractions and walk around the room, before going back to bed. Should have given the pills to DH, at least one of us might have got some sleep then!

The next morning (Boxing Day) the contractions were more frequent and more intense. By the time we were in the car on the way to the hospital, things were looking like they were on for keeps. Then we got to the hospital, and the plans went belly up. We couldn’t have the waterbirth we'd wanted, because my waters had been broken for more than 48 hours, and we would have to be transferred out of the family birth centre and into the normal delivery suites for that same reason. So with all the uncertainty the contractions slowed down again. DH and I had a moment alone and talked about it and accepted pretty quickly that the experience we had dreamed of was not necessarily the one we were getting, and figured we'd go with the flow and learn from it - still determined to have minimal intervention, but relax about where we were headed (as we didn't really know anymore!). We like to put a "spiritual experience" perspective on things, which helped a lot. Once we settled into the delivery suites, which were actually really nice, and we were the only ones in that day anyway, we relaxed a bit and things started moving again. I think they’re going to need to reseed the lawn in the hospital gardens, where I walked laps and laps and laps. And the fitball was fantastic!

About 1pm I got in the bath, and they hooked me up to Syntocinon. Because it had been going for so long, it was recommended that we give it a nudge. So for the next 5 hours I stayed pretty much tranced out in the bath as the contractions came on faster and more intense. (DH is a hypnotherapist, and we meditate regularly, so it all felt natural to us). Of course, it didn't tickle, but I was able to ride each contraction like a wave and was in pretty much a trance state for most of those 5 hours. At that point the trance ended instantly, I became intensely conscious (an amazing experience in itself) and I told DH it was time to get the midwife (DH and I spent 95% of the time by ourselves, which was great!). 28 minutes later Will Andrew was born, 7lb10.5oz, 51cm long.

It’s the most amazing, intimate and intense experience ever. When Will was first placed on my chest, our eyes locked, and it felt like he was looking right through me, through to my soul. I wish I could describe the feeling, but no words will ever do it justice. DH had the same experience – when he held our beautiful boy for the first time only minutes later, he described the same eye contact, the same intensity. We were then transferred back to the birth centre for the rest of our stay.

What makes it all the more beautiful is the experience DH, myself and Will had together. It is incredibly intimate and transcends everything we’ve known to date. It was the 3 of us - not me in labour and DH holding my hand. There were no lines between us – it was all about us as a whole, greater than the sum… we each had our roles to play and, although different, the roles perfectly complimented each other.

It was an incredibly healing experience too, emotionally, mentally and spiritually (and physically too of course). It is the ultimate process of manifestation. DH and I have deepened our relationship and have in days worked past the little niggly issues that tend to bog us down. Life is so much bigger than us, and it was humbling and empowering to go through such a life-altering experience.

The greatest pain relief for me was the hypnosis/trance, and eye contact. DH and I faced each other and looked through each others eyes through each contraction, and it helped me to transcend beyond pain. I felt increasingly powerful after each contraction, and more excited...

I can only hope that others get out of childbirth what we have. I have found so much more self-respect, and feel so empowered, both as a human being and a woman. Friends and family look at me with awe when they find out I did it without any medical pain relief - I feel for them that they think it's so difficult. And DH tells me every day how proud of me he is. :) It's a very validating experience.

Lis :p

[Liam&Sienna'sMum]

That's wonderful Ellissa! What an amazing birth. I am envious you got to stay in the bath! :) I had syntocinon and wasnt allowed to get in the bath as they wanted to do continuous monitoring. I think water would help greatly for pain relief. I really wished I'd done hypnobirthing-reading your lovely experience confirms this.

I managed my labour with the help of the wonderful woman birth attendants I had and my DP. My doulas and midwives got me through the whole thing without an epidural(even though I asked for it several times!) Those women formed a protective circle around me-I felt safe and was able to be in my own world which is where I needed to be. My DP isnt the spiritual or empathic type-but he was wonderful for physical strength-I hung off him for well over an hour pushing her out :D He also managed to some decent back rubs. Maybe he learned from the (my first labour) birth of my son where the midwife told him off for doing wussy little rubs "You gotta do it hard!" LOL