polly born at sunshine coast university hospital, kawana 21 june 2017

​Carrie’s hypnobirthing classes proved so helpful as we  welcomed our baby, Polly, into the world on June 21.
 
Deep breathing was my pain relief, and my fiancée Scott was my master support person while I laboured at home and at the hospital. 
 
During the last ten weeks of the pregnancy we talked often about what we wanted in childbirth. We explained our preferences in a letter to our midwives at the public hospital. We wanted a natural birth because we understood that drugs would affect Polly too. But we were not rigid in this or other preferences because I accepted that I couldn’t know ahead how the pain would be and how I would cope.
 
The surges were really intense. I definitely didn’t coo and moan my way through – there were yells and screams.
 
Yet it was the most joyful, powerful experience of my life. I knew I would meet my baby girl, and I had the attitude that this pain was good - it took me closer to her. Even when it was intense it made me happy because it meant labour was progressing.
 
I laboured at home for about 10 hours, Scott timing the contractions using the Full Term app. It was daytime, so he made a dark little nest of our bedroom for me and Polly. I rested between surges, breathing my way through them calmly and easily for at least half that time. The transition into the second stage of labour was more intense, but I was able to stay calm with Scott’s help and reassurance. My body knew what it was doing.
 
Then stage two became so intense that I was shaking between surges. I was unsure that I could make it down the stairs at home on our journey to the hospital. In that ten minute trip I had four intense contractions. We realized we had left it quite late. But how can you know ahead when it the first time - and we were so proud of what we had achieved at home.
 
Arriving at the hospital I put in place a private world for me and Polly by wearing my sunglasses and listening to crashing waves I had on my phone soundtrack, blocking out the talk and other hospital noises, breathing through the surges as they came, while Scott our protector handled hospital staff and paperwork and explained our preferences.
 
The hospital staff were good; they respected our requests and soon understood to direct their questions to Scott, leaving me and Polly in our bubble. The group midwife program was excellent. Everyone knew what we wanted and were supportive. 
 
The birthing bath at the hospital was wonderful. Water was fantastic pain relief and together with the deep breathing techniques I learned at Joymamma, and Scott’s ever presence, we were able to help our daughter have a natural birth.
 
Four and a half hours after we arrived, Polly was born in water  at the Sunshine Coast University Hospital. We were transfixed by her beautiful face, and had a sleepless night on the maternity ward as we couldn’t stop staring at her and whispering to each other each in awe and excitement. We took her home the next day, feeling like the wealthiest people on earth, and proud of the way we brought her into the world.
 
Thank you Carrie, your guidance was invaluable and I hope your courses continue to grow and help others as much as they helped us.
 
Nicky and Scott
The surges were really intense. I definitely didn’t coo and moan my way through – there were yells and screams. Yet it was the most joyful, powerful experience of my life. 
Deep breathing was my pain relief, and my fiancée Scott was my master support person while I laboured at home and at the hospital.