We are delighted to introduce baby Evelyn to you, who was born on Sunday evening. The hypnobirthing practice was worth it’s weight in gold so massive thanks to Kat for that!

We had a natural water birth as planned at the birth centre. I’d had plenty of surges the previous day then my waters broke on Sunday morning and she arrived at 19.07 that night. 

There was a bit of drama in the lead up when the midwife I saw on arrival at the birth centre thought I wasn’t in active labour and said that I wouldn’t be able to stay at the birth centre. She said it was my first baby, it was gonna take a while and I should go for a long walk or go home. I told her I couldn’t walk and that it felt like baby was coming. She indicated it was likely I had a long way to go and I should stop panicking! (it still grates tbh as I was very calm just feeling strong surges) I then proceeded to have a big bloody show in their toilets and when they examined me, I was already 9cm dilated so it was then a rush to get me into the pool and she was born within two hours. A water birth with no pain relief not even gas or air and also no tearing. The perineum massage defo paid off!

The midwife said that she knew I didn’t want it but I would need the injection for the placenta because of blood loss because I’d dilated so quickly. I said I wanted to wait and see the level of blood loss and then decide. I didn’t have to have it and managed to birth the placenta naturally too after about an hour after birthing baby. Figured that might also be a useful anecdote for your other students too. Midwifes don’t always know best!

We’re all home now safe and well. She’s a very contented hypno-baby and we’re in awe of her.  She’s got a massive appetite so breastfeeding is proving a bit of a challenge!

Great news is that Evelyn arrived in the world exactly as we’d hoped, she did everything right, I could feel her twisting round after her head came through and was so lovely and peaceful upon arrival so we had the best birth experience despite everything that had gone before. Also a shift change happened just after Evelyn was born and b4 I birthed the placenta. All of the other midwives that we worked with is couldn’t have been nicer and we were well looked after. 

I’m a total advocate for hypnobirthing and have already been spreading the word.