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Beth Roche, Certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner, teaching mothers and birth companions techniques for safe and satisfying birthing through guided imagery, visualization, and special breathing |
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The Power of the Birthing Body HypnoBirthing®
in the News Once Your Baby Arrives Babywearing
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Some wonderful Sheffield HypnoBirthing Birth Stories Marie describes the beautiful birth of Liam... (July 2009)
I had funny sensations late Thursday night and throughout the night into Friday morning. I spoke to our midwife on Friday morning and she said it sounded like the early stages of labour, I asked her advice about what I should do thinking that the labour would go on for days. I followed the advice and my own gut feeling which was to carry on as normal. We got up and prepared lunch for our guests and got on with our day as we had planned. I experienced a few more of these funny sensations throughout lunch. Just after our guests left at 4.30pm the sensations really kicked in, almost like my body had been waiting for our guests to leave and at this point I knew the sensations were surges. We went upstairs to our bedroom and put on the Rainbow Relaxation CD. I lay on the bed and we started to put into practise all the things we had learned on the HypnoBirthing course (breathing techniques, light touch massage, positive affirmations) in order to stay as relaxed as possible. The surges gradually became stronger and more frequent and I breathed up with each one been reminded to do so by Jim (my husband and birthing companion). A couple of hours later I had a show and shortly afterwards my membranes released and we realised that the labour had progressed and Jim called the midwife again. The midwife was quite surprised at how quickly things had progressed and her words were “I’m on way; I’m getting in the car now! If you need to slow things down try the Polar Bear position. If it looks like he is going to be born before I get there call an ambulance”. At this point Jim decided it was time to get the birthing pool ready (trying not to let on to me that he was thinking he could soon be delivering the baby on the bathroom floor) and we moved downstairs to our labour room! The surges were becoming stronger and I continued with the breathing techniques and listening to the Rainbow Relaxation and positive affirmations supported all the time by Jim. Getting in the pool was lovely, it helped me to stay relaxed and the water was really supportive and soothing. I had only been in the pool for a short while when our midwife arrived at approximately 10.50pm; she was fantastic, really reassuring and extremely respectful of our wishes to have a natural physiological birth and a gentle entry into the world for our baby. As the labour progressed Jim joined me in the pool and we continued to do all the things we had practised, he was great, a real star! The surges became more intense and I began to breathe the baby down and at 2.48am on Saturday morning our son was born. Jim caught him which was really special and passed him through my legs for me to hold. All three of us stayed in the pool for about half an hour for a family cuddle and the midwife carried out all the necessary checks in a completely unobtrusive way with us holding our baby. Our little boy weighed in at exactly 9lb and was healthy, happy and alert. All this was achieved without any medical intervention, any drugs (with the exception of Rescue Remedy and homeopathy), any invasive examinations and any cuts, tears or stitches. HypnoBirthing enabled us to have the gentle birth we wished for, by giving us the tools we needed to help stay relaxed but also by empowering us to make informed choices. All the practicing we did really paid off on the day and kept us both relaxed, I was so relaxed my labour notes actually say “Marie remains calm and is dozing between surges”! We would highly recommend the course and Beth to anyone who is interested in achieving a gentle birth for their baby, it really is possible!" Marie, Jim & Liam, Sheffield ________________________________________________________________________________ Sarah talks of her inspiring experience giving birth to her baby girl Lucy with the wonderful support of her husband ... (August 2009)
"I genuinely believe that the HypnoBirthing was responsible for us being so calm and in control, and enabled us to have a relaxed, comfortable, drug-free birth. " Having heard about HypnoBirthing from my midwife, we thought it sounded like it was worth giving a go – we wanted to achieve a gentle birth, not only for our baby but for me too. Also, it was important to us that Jason had a significant role in the birthing experience. We thoroughly enjoyed the HypnoBirthing course, and the confidence and knowledge we gained as a result. I listened to ‘Rainbow Relaxation’ daily, and was reading the course book for the fourth time by the time we had our baby. By the end of the course we’d booked for a home birth – something I would never have considered earlier in my pregnancy. Our baby was due on 27th August and I felt sure he or she would either be on time or overdue. However, on Thursday 20th August my waters broke at 4am. I didn’t feel at all anxious or panicked; I woke Jason to tell him and we couldn’t go back to sleep as we were both so excited! At about 6am I telephoned the hospital and they insisted we go in for me to be ‘checked over’, as I wasn’t having contractions. We weren’t keen, as we’d booked for a home birth, but figured we’d go, and then come home as soon as possible. After checking that the baby and I were fine we came home, although there was the black cloud of having to be induced the following afternoon if labour hadn’t started. At home, we went for a walk, and rested for a while. I wasn’t getting any surges, but felt some mild period-type pains low down in my abdomen. My community midwife popped round about 3pm to see if I was OK and I explained the period pains I was getting but she said that wasn’t proper labour, and real contractions would be higher up. She knew I really didn’t want to be induced, and telephoned the labour suite on our behalf to negotiate until Saturday morning for the induction if labour hadn’t started. She also said she was on call that evening and joked that if I was going to have the baby, could I please make it at a reasonable hour! 3 hours later, following another short walk, the surges I was feeling were more frequent, although I still wasn’t convinced I was actually in labour. I felt completely calm and in control. Jason phoned for the midwife to come. I was practising the breathing exercises we learnt on the course, and was comfortable throughout. When my midwife arrived I agreed to be examined and she couldn’t believe it – I was 8 or 9cm dilated, only 3 and a half hours after she’d called round! She immediately telephoned for the second midwife to come. We settled in the kitchen, where we’d prepared to give birth. Jason put the ‘Rainbow Relaxation’ CD on and encouraged me to continue with the breathing techniques. I felt completely ‘in the zone’, but was vaguely aware of the midwife saying ‘I don’t think the other midwife will make it in time – this baby’s going to be born soon!’ The second midwife arrived a short while later and they then said I could push whenever I felt ready. 2 or 3 gentle pushes resulted in our beautiful baby being born! Jason announced it was a little girl, and she was immediately placed on my chest. It was truly magical! Afterwards, the midwives settled us in the living room; Jason helped them clear up in the kitchen and we sat and had tea and biscuits while they completed their paperwork. They were amazed that as a first time Mum I’d managed without any pain relief and that I hadn’t needed stitches (which I put down to the perineal massage and me being so relaxed during the birth), and also that I’d only been in labour just under 3 ½ hours, with the last 2 stages taking only 10 minutes each! They also said that baby Lucy could well have been born a good half an hour earlier, but as they could see I was managing so well, they didn’t want to rush things and were happy to let me do things in my own time. The labour and birth of our daughter was such a positive experience. I genuinely believe that the HypnoBirthing was responsible for us being so calm and in control, and enabled us to have a relaxed, comfortable, drug-free birth. As a result, we have a beautiful, happy little girl who sleeps and feeds well, and is so pleasant and content. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend HypnoBirthing to anyone wanting to achieve these results! Sarah, Jason and Lucy, Barnsley
Thank you Sarah for sharing this wonderful story with us. It is a fantastically inspiring one, and really shows how important it is to feel in control and comfortable about birth, so that it can just happen with ease. __________________________________________________________________________________ Rachel speaks of her wonderful experience gently helping her little girl Annabel to enter the world... (May 2008) "The most amazing birth" Rich and I had thought a lot about the birth as I’m sure all soon to be parents do. We did lots of research and found one way of birthing that really felt right for us. Hypnobirthing seemed to be just right for us in so many ways, but what we liked most about it was the wonderful birth it gave to the little one as well as the Mommy. It focuses mainly upon becoming deeply relaxed during the birth so that everything moves along very quickly. Hypnobirthing relies on this wonderful relaxation, breathing and visualisation. We started a super hypnobirthing class with Beth Roche that very sadly we didn’t have time to finish due to little one’s early arrival. The course was really very special and Rich and I enjoyed it immensely. Rich described the weekend of the course as “the most beautiful weekend we have had for a long time” So we learned how to relax and rid ourselves (well mainly myself) of the fear of childbirth, we learned how to breathe through the different stages of the labour and Rich learned lots of ways to help me relax and enjoy the birth. The idea of losing the fear is very helpful in allowing the birth to be nice and quick. I was looking forward to a calm, peaceful and drug free birth to welcome my baby into the world, especially after such a poorly pregnancy, I wanted something special for my Angel. On Bank holiday Monday we were due to have our third lesson (of four), when I awoke with strange feelings. By the time we had got to Beth’s, our Hypnobirthing teacher, I was having this discomfort every five or six minutes, and was beginning to think that maybe Lulu was on her way. Beth helped me relax and we went over the main things that I needed to know. We went to Jessops Monday afternoon and they ended up keeping me in, not because of the contractions but because of a minor abnormality in my blood test results. So Rich was chucked out at just after ten when I was admitted to the ward. L Since I was on my own it was a little harder to do all the relaxation and breathing exercises but equally there was nothing else to do, so I focused myself on it and suddenly it was 1am without me even really noticing – contractions still every four minutes but hardly noticeable, I was so relaxed and happy. The midwife did pop to see me at 1 am, and asked how I was getting on, I said that the contractions were fine and not painful at all but that I was very, very tired. She advised that I have a couple of paracetamol just to help me get some sleep and that the birth was obviously a long way off – a few days probably. Eek! I fell right asleep and had an incredibly refreshing hour and a half sleep. I woke at three with the contractions a little sharper and hotter but I relaxed myself and was able to drift in and out of sleep with the contractions for another hour or so. At four I got out of bed to go to the toilet and soon realised that I was not as good at my breathing and relaxing exercises when standing, and found the contractions really difficult. The midwife met me on my way back and said that if I wanted another paracetamol in a little while to buzz her. By the time I got back to bed I had decided that a paracetamol might be nice but when I buzzed another midwife arrived and instead of getting me a paracetamol, she called down to the labour ward to say that they were sending me down. I was gutted as I was sure that I was only in the very early stages of labour still and that everyone would think I was a wimp if I went to the Labour Ward so early; so I declined the help of the wheel chair and walked down to the Labour Ward. At the Labour Ward the midwife called Rich at 4:58, telling him I had just arrived and to not rush but start making his way over to Jessops. She then came and asked if I wanted to be examined, to see how far along we were. I said ‘Yes please and could I possibly have another paracetamol, sorry for being a wimp.” She started to examine me with promises of paracetamol when she had finished, when suddenly she squealed: So that was at about ten past five, the urge to push started shortly after and in the middle of Donna (my very very lovely midwife) telling me to stop pushing as she wasn’t ready and Rich wasn’t here, Rich walked through the door and baby’s head crowned. “Ok then, carry on” said Donna, giggling. A couple of pushes later and Donna told me to definitely not to push or there would be tearing. Unfortunately, as I had not finished my Hypnobirthing course, I did not really know what do to do with pushing, certainly not how to not push! Donna told me to take some gas and air to ease the urge of pushing, so I started sucking away and trying desperately to not push. Oops, one more push and out popped my glorious, very eager little Princess – she arrived with one gush. Rich says that when the head crowned he started walking round the end of the bed and before he even got to the other side Annabel Rose had completely arrived. The last two stages of labour lasted about 8 minutes in total – an amazing, wonderful birth. Going on the Hypnobirthing course was the best decision I can remember making in a very long time and we are so immensely grateful to Beth Roche for helping us have this amazing birth." Rachel, Richard & Annabel, Sheffield "Armed with everything we had learned, we awaited the birth, like all mums and dads, with huge excitement and anticipation. As the 40 weeks cam and went I realised this baby was not going to hurry and when 42 weeks approached, a date was set for induction, which clearly I didn't want. My waters broke just a day before 42 weeks and then, at 42 weeks and 1 day, the birth process started of its own accord, just hours before I would have to be induced. As a first time mum, I didn't recognise the surges (contractions) for what they were, and thought I was experienceing yet more strange twinges as I'd felt throughtout my pregnancy. As they strengthened in intensity it dawned on me that this was it. The HypnoBirthing breathing really came into its own over the first morning of my labour, with me using this as a way to focus as the surges came and went. Rather than panic or feel stressed, I was able to close my eyes, breathe and repeat the affirmations I'd learnt thoughtout the course. The labour seemed to progress well in the first few hours and it looked as if baby would be making an appearance before the day was out. I think and hope also that my home was a happy and calm place for everyone to be - we spent much of the first day of my labour talking, laughing and relaxing. As the day went on though, this progress seemed to slow down, until it eventually go to the point that I needed more help and had to be admitted to the Jessop Wing. Although when I got there I did opt for a low dose epidural and was put on an Syntocinin drip, this wasn't an issue and I was impressed with all the care and support from midwives through to hospital staff. I continued to use the breathing techniques and had fantastic light touch massage from my birth partners throughout the time in hospital. My evening and night of labour in the hospital saw Emma Jane arrive at six in the morning, weighing a healthy 8.3lbs and looking alertly at everyone around her. I was a happy and excited mum, and had no regrets about the way any of it developed, thanks to the care and attention of everyone around me and, I strongly believe, to HypnoBirthing. Thank you very much Beth!" Thank you Sarah for sharing your positive reflections on the birth of Emma Jane. Your experience really shows that with a positive perspective on things, you can feel good about even unexpected events that may occur in birth. __________________________________________________________________________________
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For more information and to book a class please contact beth@sheffieldhypnobirthing.co.uk |