Proof that trusting the birthing processing, listening to your instincts and practising your hypnobirthing techniques pays off.

Sophie and Dan booked a private 121 course with me at their home in Wakefield. We spent 3 sessions together preparing them for the birth of their first child. Sophie openly admitted that she had done lots of terrifying things in her career in the army but giving birth was one of the things that she was most scared of. We worked together to eliminate this fear and fully prepare them both for labour. I know how much Sophie practised everything that I taught her and it paid off when she had such a positive experience (even though there were a few challenges during the labour.) Thank you for sharing your story with us and huge congratulations.

“Hi Hannah,

Firstly, sorry it has taken me a while to get this email across to you, secondly, thank you once again for your sessions, without your knowledge alongside tools/techniques we certainly wouldn't feel the same about the birth of our baby girl. It was far from our birthing preference but I feel so positive about it all and we are proud of how we handled the challenges we faced throughout.

So here it goes (sorry it's lengthy):

On Thursday afternoon, I went for my 38-week growth scan, thinking it would be the same outcome as all the previous scans, showing that our baby continued to grow nicely along the chart. However, our consultant quickly told us that her growth was tailing off and had dropped slightly with baby now sitting below the 3rd centile. We soon found ourselves being advised that we would need an induction. Initially, this came as a bit of shock, but we asked for a bit of time, followed the BRAIN technique you taught us, and decided it was 100% the best decision for our baby. I was offered the stretch and sweep at that appointment but declined as time wasn't hugely on our side, and I expected to be given a bed on the induction ward later that evening.

We left the appointment in a calm, positive headspace, excited that we would soon meet our baby girl. We also knew we had to start working on my oxytocin and get my head in the game! Luckily, we had already put all the Christmas decorations up the night before, which gave me all the happy feels, and we were organised, having everything ready to go, which made me feel relaxed and content. I already had a hair appointment booked for that afternoon...I would have 100% cancelled with the news we had just been given; however, following our hypnobirthing sessions, I knew this would be a great way to relax, boost my oxytocin and take my mind off waiting for a phone call to be admitted, so off I went for one last bit of me-time.

The induction process starts…

Later that evening, I was admitted to the Induction suite at Pinderfields Hospital, a shared clinical ward of four, far from my birthing preference of a water birth in the Birth Centre! My Husband, Dan as my birth partner, immediately did everything he could to create a private, calm environment and explained to the staff that we were a hypnobirthing couple, highlighting what was important to us. Once settled, I accepted an initial examination and was surprised when I was told I was already 1cm dilated. Great news! I was given the first pessary, which would be in for 24 hours. Unfortunately, birth partners weren't allowed in the induction ward out of visiting hours, so Dan did have to leave me overnight. I felt much calmer than I thought I would and knew that the induction process could be lengthy, so I knew it would be best for him to rest before things progressed.

About 3am Friday morning, my surges really started to kick in. I worked on my oxytocin as much as possible, taking battery tealights to the bathroom to have a long hot shower in dim lighting. I bounced on the birthing ball whilst watching the film Love Actually and had my lavender-scented flannel by my side. I just tried to stay focused in my own bubble, keeping hydrated and trying to conserve energy but not to remain static. I started to get quite intense but infrequent surges, but found myself coping well with the breathing and visualisation techniques Hannah had taught me alongside listening to the MP3 tracks.

Later that afternoon, my surges became more intense and more frequent. I used an app to monitor surges, and I was adamant I was in active labour by now. However, the staff were unsure. Every time they bought their monitor in to observe, I felt pressure to perform and prove to them I was indeed feeling intense waves and this seemed to almost scare away my surges, as they would turn infrequent again. Rather frustrating, as this meant I had to remain on the Induction Ward rather than being moved to my own private space in the Labour Ward. I used the affirmation 'let go of what you can't control and focus on what you can control' and just carried on in my own zone. Dan & I went for an afternoon walk around the hospital corridors (it was freezing outside), we both knew that we needed just to keep working to boost my oxytocin and endorphin levels.

I was shocked and had my first wobble

Around 10 pm, I accepted another examination to find out my progress, and at this time, the midwife removed my first pessary. I struggled with these examinations as my cervix sat rather high, and I found it difficult to relax much in-between such frequent surges. However, I wanted to move to the labour ward and was feeling confident that I would be 4cm+... so agreed, but it turned out that I was only 2cm. I was shocked and had my first wobble. My frequent intense surges had been going for some lengthy time, and I had only gone from 1cm to 2cm! I was pretty exhausted at this point too. The comments of a second pessary, attempt to break my waters, the hormonal drip were being thrown about in the background... to which I looked at Dan, and said no to all of the above. I couldn't bear any more poking and prodding as I wasn't getting much of a break between my surges. I told Dan I wanted to opt for a C section as I was worried with our baby being on the small side, both of us wouldn't have the energy to carry on and see it through, potentially leading to more intervention down the line, such as forceps, which I was not comfortable with.

Dan was a calm superstar throughout

Dan was a calm superstar throughout and just suggested we wait a few hours to see how my body responded with the pessary now removed. I assumed (hoped) that my surges would calm down as I was desperate for a break and had been asking for pain relief after throwing up my paracetamol. When I asked for gas & air, I was told 'we only give gas & air either in the Labour Ward or if you are at least 4cm+. I just felt it was impossible to get off the Induction Ward due to policy's/procedure and I just didn't seem to meet the criteria. However, deep down, I knew I just needed to get back into the zone to cope with these surges, so I switched my focus back again to my breathing and visualisation.

Just 3 hours later…

It was now midnight and Dan was consistently asked to leave the ward as it was out of visiting hours, however with my surges continuing, he knew he couldn't leave me, and I'm so glad he didn't as roughly an hour later, I had the sudden urge to push! I managed to get myself to the bathroom, where I dropped to the floor asking for the epidural - we both knew this was the transition phase (a normal stage of labour), but half of me couldn't quite believe it after being told I was only at 2cm! Dan politely demanded that I be moved to the labour ward immediately.

I was quickly given some gas and air, wheeled down the corridor and into my own room, and within about 10 minutes, our baby girl entered the world safely, still in her amniotic sac! The labour ward midwives quickly read our birthing preferences and were super impressed with my breathing techniques and how we dealt with the whole situation. Shout out to them as they were so lovely.

I have honestly never felt so proud

Macie Cory Shakespeare entered the world on 04 December at 12:50 am (out of visiting hours), weighing 5lb 8oz. We had immediate skin-to-skin contact, followed by her breastfeeding straight away before I naturally birthed my placenta 50 minutes later. It all happened so fast, but it was magical. We stayed in the hospital for one more night to be monitored before heading home with our beautiful baby girl.

I have honestly never felt so proud. I am proud that I religiously practised the hypnobirthing techniques that Hannah taught us, which worked a treat. I am proud that I trusted my body, instinct, and the natural process, declining further medical interventions. I also couldn't have asked for a better husband/birth partner who took it all in his stride. Hannah really gave us the confidence, the knowledge, tools and techniques to handle our experience, and because of this, we really do see it as a positive birth story. I highly recommend her courses to everyone expecting!

Overall, I left the hospital feeling really proud and positive. Macie and I have recovered really well at home and we are adjusting to life as a 4 (including Guinness, who absolutely adores her and won't leave her side).

Thank you once again! I will definitely recommend you to any of my expecting friends/family in the future.

Lots of Love,

Sophie, Dan, Macie & Guinness xx

Positive Induced Hospital Birth

The Birth Of Macie