It wasn’t until around 35 weeks that I began to think beyond pregnancy. Until then I had buried my head in work and avoided focusing on the birth completely. My daughter’s delivery around two and a half years ago had been a long way from the water birth we had envisaged. It ended in no fewer than 6 sweeps, my waters being broken, an epidural and finally an apology from our second midwife for the extremely poor care we had had for the first 9 hours.  

Unaware of how to avoid another traumatic experience I had been determined to book an epidural in advance. It was my midwife that pointed out that this might not be possible given how quickly my daughter had arrived once labour had started. I went home and cried. One very sleepless week later I decided to contact Kat and begin an incredible journey that lead to the birth of my son Sam.

My partner Tom and I began doing the affirmations and meditations from day one, although I must confess that I had never managed to stay awake through the entire recording until I went into labour. However, I instantly began to feel more relaxed. Kat came to our home and started by getting us to talk about our first birthing experience; a very cathartic process.

On the day of my son’s birth I awoke around 2.30am with what felt like period pains, did a couple of hours of yoga and breathing through the surges. By 4.30 I ran a hot bath and lit the room with candles. 2 hours later I was still relaxed and calm, meditating through the intensity, not at all realizing how close I was to meeting my son. The entire time I was listening to Kat’s recordings on a loop. We were so relaxed that an hour later with surges a less than a minute apart we were only just getting in the taxi to the hospital, me with a towel wrapped around my head to avoid any contact with the outside world and Tom continuing with the light touch massage. The only challenge of the entire labour was the walk along the corridor to the birthing centre.  The towel sheltered me from others reactions and advice, my headphones in, while listening to Kat’s Confidence and Power and Birth Preparations allowed me to remain in the zone. We were in the reception area just a couple of minutes before being hurried into the examination room and swiftly onto the birthing room. We arrived at 8.32 and Sam was born at 8.35. No pushing, no pain, just three downward breaths and he was out!  I thought people were making it up when they said that they had enjoyed childbirth. I now know they weren’t.

Thank you so much for all your help Kat.