Davina's Marathon HypnoBirth
"Dear Bee Ting,
Suresh and I are forever grateful to you for educating us on HypnoBirthing. It would have been a completely different birthing experience for us had we not attended your classes (especially with the marathon labour we had). Here is our birth story. "
Suresh and I are forever grateful to you for educating us on HypnoBirthing. It would have been a completely different birthing experience for us had we not attended your classes (especially with the marathon labour we had). Here is our birth story. "
7 November 2015
Went for our 40 th week check-up in the morning. Everything looked good and baby was already engaged. Dr requested if he could do a VE to which we agreed and we were informed that my cervix was 3cm dilated. We were excited knowing that we could meet our little one soon. We had our lunch and returned home, to find that my mucus plug has released. Trying hard to control our excitement we took an afternoon nap. Woke up at about 5.30p.m. as I started feeling some surges, although they were far apart. We decided to go out for a nice dinner and had some nice quiet time together that evening. Surges continued through the night but it was very manageable. I continued to listen to the Rainbow CD and sat on the birthing ball for comfort.
8 November 2015
Woke up feeling a bit anxious as surges were still 15 minutes apart. Went about doing some last minute chores and just relaxed for the first half of the day. Did some walking in between listening to the Rainbow CD to help me stay relaxed. Surges finally progressed to 5 minutes apart at about 8pm that evening. The surges grew more intense at that time and we decided to go to the hospital to see how things were progressing. Being a Sunday, the roads were clear and we reached the hospital within 15 minutes. Once we were at the labour ward, the midwife hooked up the CTG machine and performed a VE. To our dismay, she said, “3 cm”. We couldn’t believe our ears as that meant there was no change from the previous morning’s check-up. They called up our gynae who suggested we could go home (since baby’s heart rate was all normal), and return to the hospital when the surges were about 3-4 minutes apart. We didn’t say much on the drive home, as we were both trying to hide our disappointment I think. Once home I tried to have some dinner but didn’t have an appetite so had hot drinks instead. I continued to sit on the birthing ball and eventually used the hot shower to help me get through the surges (this really helped!). At close to midnight, the surges grew closer (about 4 minutes apart) and more intense. We made our way back to the hospital and once again the midwife hooked me up to the CTG machine and performed a VE. We didn’t have our hopes up this time, but when she announced “4 cm”, it did demotivate us a little bit. However, we were determined to have the normal delivery we had intended….so patience was the only thing that was going to get us through.
Went for our 40 th week check-up in the morning. Everything looked good and baby was already engaged. Dr requested if he could do a VE to which we agreed and we were informed that my cervix was 3cm dilated. We were excited knowing that we could meet our little one soon. We had our lunch and returned home, to find that my mucus plug has released. Trying hard to control our excitement we took an afternoon nap. Woke up at about 5.30p.m. as I started feeling some surges, although they were far apart. We decided to go out for a nice dinner and had some nice quiet time together that evening. Surges continued through the night but it was very manageable. I continued to listen to the Rainbow CD and sat on the birthing ball for comfort.
8 November 2015
Woke up feeling a bit anxious as surges were still 15 minutes apart. Went about doing some last minute chores and just relaxed for the first half of the day. Did some walking in between listening to the Rainbow CD to help me stay relaxed. Surges finally progressed to 5 minutes apart at about 8pm that evening. The surges grew more intense at that time and we decided to go to the hospital to see how things were progressing. Being a Sunday, the roads were clear and we reached the hospital within 15 minutes. Once we were at the labour ward, the midwife hooked up the CTG machine and performed a VE. To our dismay, she said, “3 cm”. We couldn’t believe our ears as that meant there was no change from the previous morning’s check-up. They called up our gynae who suggested we could go home (since baby’s heart rate was all normal), and return to the hospital when the surges were about 3-4 minutes apart. We didn’t say much on the drive home, as we were both trying to hide our disappointment I think. Once home I tried to have some dinner but didn’t have an appetite so had hot drinks instead. I continued to sit on the birthing ball and eventually used the hot shower to help me get through the surges (this really helped!). At close to midnight, the surges grew closer (about 4 minutes apart) and more intense. We made our way back to the hospital and once again the midwife hooked me up to the CTG machine and performed a VE. We didn’t have our hopes up this time, but when she announced “4 cm”, it did demotivate us a little bit. However, we were determined to have the normal delivery we had intended….so patience was the only thing that was going to get us through.
9 November 2015
Finally, at about 7.00 a.m., the midwife performed another VE and said we’re getting close….9 cm. At that point I was quite tired already but my husband kept reminding me of the birth that I had always wanted and continued to remind me to breathe throughout the whole time. Finally, at 9.20 a.m. our little one was born with vacuum assistance (baby’s head position had tilted according to our gynae). All I remember is giving that final push when all of a sudden I felt heat/ warmth (perhaps the ring of fire), after which my body instinctively told me to stop doing anything. Our baby did his little dance and slid out all by himself after that. I almost had my dream en caul birth as my membrane only released when my baby was born. Dad had the honour of cutting the cord once it had stopped pulsating. I only had a minor tear and felt totally recharged within 3 hours of birthing our baby. My husband joked that since pregnancy was a breeze for me, I had one hour of labour for each week of pregnancy. Although the 40 hour marathon labour was quite draining, I believe that I made it through because of the role my husband played as my birth companion. He was completely positive, patient, supportive and loving every step of the way, without which I’m sure I would not have been able to sustain for so long. Best part is, we were discharged the very next morning! Thanks to HypnoBirthing, we were both prepared for each phase of the birthing process and were able to make informed decisions throughout.
Finally, at about 7.00 a.m., the midwife performed another VE and said we’re getting close….9 cm. At that point I was quite tired already but my husband kept reminding me of the birth that I had always wanted and continued to remind me to breathe throughout the whole time. Finally, at 9.20 a.m. our little one was born with vacuum assistance (baby’s head position had tilted according to our gynae). All I remember is giving that final push when all of a sudden I felt heat/ warmth (perhaps the ring of fire), after which my body instinctively told me to stop doing anything. Our baby did his little dance and slid out all by himself after that. I almost had my dream en caul birth as my membrane only released when my baby was born. Dad had the honour of cutting the cord once it had stopped pulsating. I only had a minor tear and felt totally recharged within 3 hours of birthing our baby. My husband joked that since pregnancy was a breeze for me, I had one hour of labour for each week of pregnancy. Although the 40 hour marathon labour was quite draining, I believe that I made it through because of the role my husband played as my birth companion. He was completely positive, patient, supportive and loving every step of the way, without which I’m sure I would not have been able to sustain for so long. Best part is, we were discharged the very next morning! Thanks to HypnoBirthing, we were both prepared for each phase of the birthing process and were able to make informed decisions throughout.