Sook Yee's birth story - A drug-free, gentle birth with an awesome birth companion, baby turned from breech to optimal position
How did we get to know HypnoBirthing®?
During my pregnancy, I had been reading on and searching for topics regarding birth. I wanted to get myself prepared because all this while I had been terrified about vaginal birth. One day, I came across HypnoBirthing® via the Internet. I shared this with my hubby and both of us just didn’t care much to research more because we noticed that a course fee was required. But, maybe thanks to fate, HypnoBirthing® kept on appearing in front of us when we went to talks held by The Gentle Birthing Group Malaysia during a Baby Expo at KLCC, and a whole-day event that took place at Grand Seasons Hotel. Most of us like to grab baby stuff at promotion prices during baby expos, but we should also always look for talks arranged by the organisers, as I’m sure these will benefit you too. By that time, as we got to know more about HypnoBirthing®, we started to look for a HypnoBirthing® practitioner, and Bee Ting (BT) came into picture. After knowing the benefits of HypnoBirthing®, we knew the course fee was definitely worth it, as both mummy and baby are able to
minimise use of drugs and medical interventions. Isn’t it worth it, for a drug-free, safer and gentle birth?
How Hypnotherapy helps from breech to optimal position?
At week 32 (before our HypnoBirthing® class started), my baby was still in breech position. I was so stressed because my gynae advised me to have a Caesarean, which was not what I wished to have. I just couldn’t let it be. I told myself I needed to do something to improve the situation, and once again I did some reading. Articles showed that the most effective way to turn a foetus from breech to optimal position is by hypnotherapy.
How I wished the HypnoBirthing® class we enrolled into could start as soon as possible. The class finally started at week 33. I shared my feelings
and situation with BT, and she advised and supported us so much. She taught us the relaxation plus imagination technique (talk and communicate
with the baby in womb) and how to perform the polar bear position daily. Besides that, I also tried a few methods taught via the “Spinning Babies”
website. Oh, and not forgetting about swimming! Before pregnancy, I used to be shy with the bikini, but I developed a different mindset during
pregnancy. I found myself feeling sexy and confident in the bikini with my bump. As people always say, “The sexiest women are the pregnant
mummies.”
Every night before sleep, I talked to my baby and visualised swimming with her, holding her hand and showing her the way to the birth canal.
Finally, at week 36, her position changed to anterior, but still yet to be optimal. My hubby and I were happy because that was a great
improvement. We kept our positive mindset and encouraged our baby. I could still remember BT’s happy smile when we shared the good news
with her; she hugged me and I was really touched.
How were the days before birth?
My last day of work was two weeks before the birth. I still went about my daily routine, doing household chores and cleaning my room by kneeling
and squatting down to wipe the floor. If you are fit and exercising, already have a great squat form and want to become pregnant, good for you!
Squatting will be a powerful tool, not only for birthing but throughout your pregnancy.
I’m not a yoga person, but since I had plenty of time, I went on YouTube and followed the tutorials on pregnancy yoga. Of course, I searched for those with simple techniques which suited the “me” that time with my bump. That time, I caught the attention of so many people in the house as they came up to the second-floor living room while I exercised. One by one they came (mum-in-law, sister-in-law, cousin-in-law and the maid). Their eyes popped out when they saw me, and I could sense that they were quite worried because according to conventional Chinese thinking (no offence), pregnant women should rest more and shouldn’t be so active.
During the last few check-ups, we submitted our birth plan and visited the labour room. Please do so if you decide to have your birth at the hospital, so that you can at least familiarise yourself with the environment and visualise yourself in the room during the birth. In addition, we preregistered
our admission because my hubby said he wanted to be with me throughout the process on the actual day.
The Eve of Labour Day (on Labour Day, 1 May 2013)
My EDD was set for 9 May 2013, but we didn’t even care about this specific date, as we decided to let our baby choose any date she prefers.
This little baby girl signalled us with a blood show two days before Labour Day. I called BT to reconfirm and BT told me to stay calm and wait for the
birth arrival. We were so excited and happy, we didn’t even feel nervous because we knew that was normal (no need to rush to hospital and to
avoid induction). We were joking among ourselves saying, “Mummy (me) is a Merdeka baby, would the baby arrive on Labour Day and become
another holiday baby?”
The big day finally arrives
On Labour Day’s Eve, the surges came and I told my hubby. I then went to bed after dinner. Around midnight, the surges became more and more
frequent. We went to hospital around 7 a.m. on 1 May 2013, and I was 5cm diluted at that time. We brought along my pillow to make myself
as at home as possible, my birth ball to support some of the birthing positions, a CD player to play the Rainbow Relaxation script, a few sheets
of HypnoBirthing® icons prepared by ourselves to cover up the clock inside the labour room and some luggage (consisting of daddy, mummy, baby stuff and some finger food). We reminded the midwife about the birth plan submitted earlier. I still managed to walk around, chat, have meals (provided by the hospital and even finished up all the finger food we brought in), drink and so on, because I didn’t need the IV drip and managed the surges with HypnoBirthing® techniques. In the evening, my cervix was fully diluted but the membrane was yet to rupture. Because of the perfect membrane, the baby was completely protected and the heartbeat was good.
Finally, at 7.36 p.m., we received our baby. I was fully awake and aware of how my baby was being birthed, which was as per my birth plan. Our
baby was then carried to my chest and we encouraged her to suckle my breast while waiting for the pulse of the umbilical cord to stop. There was a
natural tear, but I didn’t clarify with my gynae regarding its size. I felt it was not important as a natural tear is better than an episiotomy. I had my baby bonding with me even during the birth of the placenta and wound stitch.
How important is a HypnoBirthing® Practitioner to us?
We are glad to have had Bee Ting as our practitioner. Without her, we wouldn’t have had such a memorable childbirth. She is really a nice, friendly and generous person as she would share with us her HypnoBirthing® knowledge and information on other topics such as breastfeeding, baby massage, baby care and so on.
How did HypnoBirthing® strengthen our relationship?
The role of the daddy as a birth companion is essential. Frankly speaking, I couldn’t have gone through all this without my supportive hubby. His
efforts mean a lot to both me and baby. He attended the HypnoBirthing® course together with me. He read up on articles, books and did revision
on HypnoBirthing® relaxation and imagination scripts, and even gave me light touch massages at night and during the surges in the labour room.
He was well-prepared and participated steadily in the entire birth process, witnessing the crowning, cutting the umbilical cord and receiving our
baby. I managed to overcome each surge with his moral support, hugs and kisses. Normally, birth time is announced either by the doctor or
midwife, but ours was not. Daddy was the one who announced the arrival time based on his watch (because as mentioned earlier on, the clock was
being covered by the sheets we brought!
Our bonding and relationship got closer and tighter after going through HypnoBirthing®.
During my pregnancy, I had been reading on and searching for topics regarding birth. I wanted to get myself prepared because all this while I had been terrified about vaginal birth. One day, I came across HypnoBirthing® via the Internet. I shared this with my hubby and both of us just didn’t care much to research more because we noticed that a course fee was required. But, maybe thanks to fate, HypnoBirthing® kept on appearing in front of us when we went to talks held by The Gentle Birthing Group Malaysia during a Baby Expo at KLCC, and a whole-day event that took place at Grand Seasons Hotel. Most of us like to grab baby stuff at promotion prices during baby expos, but we should also always look for talks arranged by the organisers, as I’m sure these will benefit you too. By that time, as we got to know more about HypnoBirthing®, we started to look for a HypnoBirthing® practitioner, and Bee Ting (BT) came into picture. After knowing the benefits of HypnoBirthing®, we knew the course fee was definitely worth it, as both mummy and baby are able to
minimise use of drugs and medical interventions. Isn’t it worth it, for a drug-free, safer and gentle birth?
How Hypnotherapy helps from breech to optimal position?
At week 32 (before our HypnoBirthing® class started), my baby was still in breech position. I was so stressed because my gynae advised me to have a Caesarean, which was not what I wished to have. I just couldn’t let it be. I told myself I needed to do something to improve the situation, and once again I did some reading. Articles showed that the most effective way to turn a foetus from breech to optimal position is by hypnotherapy.
How I wished the HypnoBirthing® class we enrolled into could start as soon as possible. The class finally started at week 33. I shared my feelings
and situation with BT, and she advised and supported us so much. She taught us the relaxation plus imagination technique (talk and communicate
with the baby in womb) and how to perform the polar bear position daily. Besides that, I also tried a few methods taught via the “Spinning Babies”
website. Oh, and not forgetting about swimming! Before pregnancy, I used to be shy with the bikini, but I developed a different mindset during
pregnancy. I found myself feeling sexy and confident in the bikini with my bump. As people always say, “The sexiest women are the pregnant
mummies.”
Every night before sleep, I talked to my baby and visualised swimming with her, holding her hand and showing her the way to the birth canal.
Finally, at week 36, her position changed to anterior, but still yet to be optimal. My hubby and I were happy because that was a great
improvement. We kept our positive mindset and encouraged our baby. I could still remember BT’s happy smile when we shared the good news
with her; she hugged me and I was really touched.
How were the days before birth?
My last day of work was two weeks before the birth. I still went about my daily routine, doing household chores and cleaning my room by kneeling
and squatting down to wipe the floor. If you are fit and exercising, already have a great squat form and want to become pregnant, good for you!
Squatting will be a powerful tool, not only for birthing but throughout your pregnancy.
I’m not a yoga person, but since I had plenty of time, I went on YouTube and followed the tutorials on pregnancy yoga. Of course, I searched for those with simple techniques which suited the “me” that time with my bump. That time, I caught the attention of so many people in the house as they came up to the second-floor living room while I exercised. One by one they came (mum-in-law, sister-in-law, cousin-in-law and the maid). Their eyes popped out when they saw me, and I could sense that they were quite worried because according to conventional Chinese thinking (no offence), pregnant women should rest more and shouldn’t be so active.
During the last few check-ups, we submitted our birth plan and visited the labour room. Please do so if you decide to have your birth at the hospital, so that you can at least familiarise yourself with the environment and visualise yourself in the room during the birth. In addition, we preregistered
our admission because my hubby said he wanted to be with me throughout the process on the actual day.
The Eve of Labour Day (on Labour Day, 1 May 2013)
My EDD was set for 9 May 2013, but we didn’t even care about this specific date, as we decided to let our baby choose any date she prefers.
This little baby girl signalled us with a blood show two days before Labour Day. I called BT to reconfirm and BT told me to stay calm and wait for the
birth arrival. We were so excited and happy, we didn’t even feel nervous because we knew that was normal (no need to rush to hospital and to
avoid induction). We were joking among ourselves saying, “Mummy (me) is a Merdeka baby, would the baby arrive on Labour Day and become
another holiday baby?”
The big day finally arrives
On Labour Day’s Eve, the surges came and I told my hubby. I then went to bed after dinner. Around midnight, the surges became more and more
frequent. We went to hospital around 7 a.m. on 1 May 2013, and I was 5cm diluted at that time. We brought along my pillow to make myself
as at home as possible, my birth ball to support some of the birthing positions, a CD player to play the Rainbow Relaxation script, a few sheets
of HypnoBirthing® icons prepared by ourselves to cover up the clock inside the labour room and some luggage (consisting of daddy, mummy, baby stuff and some finger food). We reminded the midwife about the birth plan submitted earlier. I still managed to walk around, chat, have meals (provided by the hospital and even finished up all the finger food we brought in), drink and so on, because I didn’t need the IV drip and managed the surges with HypnoBirthing® techniques. In the evening, my cervix was fully diluted but the membrane was yet to rupture. Because of the perfect membrane, the baby was completely protected and the heartbeat was good.
Finally, at 7.36 p.m., we received our baby. I was fully awake and aware of how my baby was being birthed, which was as per my birth plan. Our
baby was then carried to my chest and we encouraged her to suckle my breast while waiting for the pulse of the umbilical cord to stop. There was a
natural tear, but I didn’t clarify with my gynae regarding its size. I felt it was not important as a natural tear is better than an episiotomy. I had my baby bonding with me even during the birth of the placenta and wound stitch.
How important is a HypnoBirthing® Practitioner to us?
We are glad to have had Bee Ting as our practitioner. Without her, we wouldn’t have had such a memorable childbirth. She is really a nice, friendly and generous person as she would share with us her HypnoBirthing® knowledge and information on other topics such as breastfeeding, baby massage, baby care and so on.
How did HypnoBirthing® strengthen our relationship?
The role of the daddy as a birth companion is essential. Frankly speaking, I couldn’t have gone through all this without my supportive hubby. His
efforts mean a lot to both me and baby. He attended the HypnoBirthing® course together with me. He read up on articles, books and did revision
on HypnoBirthing® relaxation and imagination scripts, and even gave me light touch massages at night and during the surges in the labour room.
He was well-prepared and participated steadily in the entire birth process, witnessing the crowning, cutting the umbilical cord and receiving our
baby. I managed to overcome each surge with his moral support, hugs and kisses. Normally, birth time is announced either by the doctor or
midwife, but ours was not. Daddy was the one who announced the arrival time based on his watch (because as mentioned earlier on, the clock was
being covered by the sheets we brought!
Our bonding and relationship got closer and tighter after going through HypnoBirthing®.
