Lauren’s 2nd undisturbed home hypnobirth

Birth Story by Lauren, Hypnobirthing Mum

“The surges are big and back-to-back. All I can do is focus on reaching their peak. My mind was very much in athletic mode. The mantra was ingrained – these were natural sensations caused by my muscles working hard. I told myself at the end of each surge, I can do that again.”

I gave birth to my daughter, Annie, at home (a spontaneous unplanned homebirth) at 38 weeks so I was not anticipating that I would still be pregnant in my 41 st week this time. I had moved through the anxiety that comes with “going over” by listening to midwifery podcasts (in the bath of course), sharing my fears with my midwife, Nicole, and a conscious effort to surrender my anxiety around how things were “supposed” to go. The real relief came when I turned OFF my phone. Those were 4 peaceful days indeed. I knew my anxious scrolling of pregnancy Facebook groups and receiving messages from well-meaning friends and family asking If I was still pregnant was not helpful. Once I disconnected digitally all dread disappeared and I was able to be so present with Annie. I loved my final days of pregnancy.

At 3:00am I was laying in the spare bed trying to avoid disturbing my husband, Mike, with the shuffling of pillows and tossing that had characterised my attempts to sleep when the first surges arrive. This had occurred most nights of the past week. My thoughts: “these surges will subside in a couple of hours when the birds start, the sun rises and Annie wakes”.

Frank had been transverse down my side the last few weeks so being on my hands and knees on the bed made each surge more comfortable. I would use my breath to release any tension I was holding. Between the surges I would lay back down and try to sleep. The frequency increased between the surges so I came out to the lounge room, lit some candles and draped myself over my pregnancy ball. I’d been doing that most nights when I couldn’t sleep. At some point soon I needed the toilet.

Even as I write this, I have to laugh because I was not fully aware that I was in labour. I was probably having a contraction every 1-2 minutes. I wasn’t thinking about time or a plan, I was just submitting to the natural physiology that was taking place.

At 6:00am I realised this might be it. I woke Mike and told him to wake Annie and take her to my father’s house at the end of the street. Sometime around 6:30am, between surges, I gave her a big kiss and cuddle goodbye before they left. I then vomited and realised it was probably time to call Nicole and give her the heads up.

I use my phone record for this part because it happened rather fast.

I called Nicole at 6:43am to say I am in labour. She tells me she is 30mins away and to call her when I think she needs to come.

At 6:53am I call Mike and tell him to hurry home. He assures me he is pulling into the driveway.

Mike comes inside and I am where he left me, between the bottom of the bed and the en suite in our room, still on my hands and knees.

I tell him to get the pool ready. Before he could carry the pool bag to the lounge room I call him back. My waters had released with a big surge. Holding his legs as he stands in front of me and pats my head, I tell him I’m scared. He reminds me I am doing a brilliant job and that he is right there.

It’s 7:11am and I tell him to call Nicole and tell her to come now.

The surges are big and back-to-back. All I can do is focus on reaching their peak. My mind was very much in athletic mode. The mantra was ingrained – these were natural sensations caused by my muscles working hard. I told myself at the end of each surge, I can do that again.

With two huge surges the sensation to bare down was there. I was not going to get in the pool, I wasn’t even going to get into the shower that I asked Mike to run for me and which was 1m from where I was immobilised on my hands and knees in the doorway. I felt myself open with those two surges. I told surprised Mike to get ready to catch his son and sure enough Francis was born at 7.19am. Neither of us realised we were at the finishing line.

I always had a hard time holding the affirmation card that read: “I accept whatever unexpected turn my birth may take.” I’m glad I worked on that one because I did not anticipate giving birth in the doorway. I didn’t even anticipate giving birth in the daylight! And I certainly thought I’d have my midwife there with me. No regrets, it was perfect.

Nicole arrived sometime around 7.40am. I sat in my nursing chair with my beautiful baby boy at my breast for an hour and then moved us to the toilet to pass the placenta which we caught in a bowel.

I actively cultivated a positive pregnancy, birth and postpartum. It had been over 2 weeks and Francis and I hadn’t even left the house.