Imogen, born at caboolture hospital 31 march 2015
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I’m so thankful to have come across Carrie.
I started early, doing yoga at her studio twice a week when I was 7 weeks pregnant. I then found out that Carrie also taught Hypobirthing which was of interest to me as I was absolutely petrified of giving birth. I convinced my partner Paul that we should go as it could give us help for the journey in which we were about to embark on. After attending the Hypnobirthing classes and Yoga, Paul and I were better aware of what was to come. Each class Paul would come home and ask more questions and want to know more which for me was great as I think it prepared him to be a wonderful support partner. Yoga also played its part. Doing it often helped my body become more prepared for what was to come. The breathing techniques Carrie taught me to use also were a blessing. On the 30th of March Paul and I headed down the beach to go for a surf. I was more entertained by sitting & watching but soon after we got there I started having my surges. At this stage it was 3 pm in the afternoon. I called my mum (who is a midwife) and asked her what was going on and she said to me…… it was starting. We left the beach soon after and called into the shops so I could get some lollies (don’t ask why, I felt like them and thought I should stock up for the night ahead.) When we got home Paul ran me a bath and lit candles all around the bathroom, as we were taught in Hypnobirthing. I also had a birthing oil burning and a playlist Paul had made for this very occasion. My Mum eventually came over and did an internal on me to find out I wasn’t very dilated (not to worry, I was totally calm and breathing through this news). I got out of the bath and hopped onto the fit ball. Leaning over the table I had my mum rubbing my back and Paul taking me through some relaxation techniques. By this stage of the night it was around 10 pm. The surges were getting stronger and more frequent now so I asked my mum to do another internal and she told me I was now 3 cm dilated. (Great news! I am getting closer to meeting my little cherub) We left for the hospital, as it was a 45 min drive away and when we got there I took my clothes off immediately and got in the bath in the birthing suite. I was then in the bath until 6 the next morning. It was calming and relaxing on my body. My darling Imogen was posterior throughout most of my labour so I was quite uncomfortable. My body knew what it was doing though and I was well prepared for the night ahead. We continued the oil burning and bought with us some fake candles so set the mood. There were no lights on in the room so it was quite ambient. In the room were Paul, my mum and a midwife I had never met. Unfortunately the midwife I had throughout my pregnancy was off for the night. The midwife I had was great. She respected my wishes which Paul and my mum communicated to her and every time I asked for “the drugs” (I had moments throughout the night) she would ask me if that was what I really wanted as I wanted a natural birth. Paul and My mum were great support partners. I had one person with a face-washer on my head and another just sitting in the room. I did cave in and asked for something to help with my surges so I was given a shot of Morphine. If you had told me before birth I was going to have it I would of looked down at myself or been extremely disappointed. However now after giving birth myself I have to think everyone is different and everyone’s surge threshold is different. I still think it could have been a lot different if I didn’t know what I learnt in Hypnobirthing and Yoga with Carrie. At 6 in the morning after a night of breathing through my surges, the midwife asked me to try and walk around the room and move positions as I was nearing the end of my labour. I went over to the bed and instead of lying down I used it and Paul as support as I started to birth down my baby. Lots of Uijai breathing and whilst standing up I gave birth to my daughter Imogen Rose in the caul. Paul was planning to deliver her however he felt it necessary to continue helping me focus on breathing her down. The midwife asked mum if she would like to help her deliver and so mum did. Mum and the other midwife were both very excited, as they had never delivered a baby in its caul before. The midwife said to me after that I should be proud of the way in which I birthed as I had control over the delivery with the breathing techniques I was using. I would like to credit Carrie for the work in which she does and the support in which she gives. Paul and I are so grateful to have met her and would highly recommend anyone who is pregnant or planning on having a baby to see her. Sarah xx |
