My husband and I stumbled upon the hypnobirthing classes by accident, whilst trying to sign up for the four trimesters antenatal class. I was considering a VBAC for the second birth and decided to learn more about the labour process. As we went through the classes, we found listening to the relaxation affirmations very encouraging, reassuring and calming. It reassured me that a natural birth is normal and possible. We then decided to engage Ginny as our doula to help with the birth.

I had been having tightenings in my stomach area for weeks before the birth. The day before my gynae checkup, I passed out the show. The next day, at the gynae check up, my gynae did a VE and discovered I was 3-4 cm dilated! As I was not feeling any pain, I was given an appt to see him in 2 days time, but was told to go to the labour ward if anything changes.

The next morning 5am 29 th Dec, I was woken up by 3 intense surges about 5-10 minutes apart. Called Ginny who asked me to monitor and keep her updated. By 630 am, the surges were progressing in intensity and frequency. Hubby called Ginny, and she said she would come over. Meanwhile I bathed, washed hair, brushed teeth and changed my clothes, and sent my older son downstairs to his grandparents.

Ginny arrived at 715am, I got on all fours with hubby rubbing my back and reading relaxing affirmations. During some surges, I felt bone ache and the feeling of my pelvis splitting so Ginny heated up a heat pack to place at my lower pelvic bone. By 820am, we decided to go to the hospital. Hubby carried the bags to the car. Ginny helped to support me especially during the intense surges. Some of the surges I barely felt but some of them were really very intense and painful. I concentrated on breathing through it. Reached hospital at 930am, the midwife brought me straight to the labour room, did a VE and I was fully dilated with a slight anterior lip. She quickly paged for my gynae, who arrived at 10 am. My son was born at 10.08 am!

My hubby and I are really thankful to the Lord for the quick safe delivery of our baby, and to Ginny for her encouragement and support throughout the pregnancy and labour.

I really enjoyed listening to the relaxation cd and positive affirmations and would recommend it to mums who like me had a traumatic first birth.