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Birth Stories > Belinda's Birth Story

Andrew and I had a baby girl, Camryn Jane born at 10.28am on Wednesday 12th March, 2008. She was 40 weeks and 2 days gestation.

Doing your calmbirth® course I knew it was going to help me out but I had no idea just how much!

I was already 35 or 36 weeks when we started so my anxious feelings leading in to the labour were fairly strong at that stage.  I found the course really great, however Andrew (being the sceptic that he is) thought it was a bit airy fairy for him at the time.  He was supportive for me though, in that he said if it helped me out, then it was worth it.  He had a lot of difficulty relaxing.  I found the visualisation was a little challenging at the start, but when I practiced regularly with the CD's at home my confidence increased as I could tell I was getting better at it and I even fell asleep sometimes!  I practiced the breathing wherever and whenever I could, even if it was just a few slow rhythmic breaths here and there.  I bought some great meditation music and had an aromatherapist prepare me some oil blends for burning and sniffing throughout the labour.  I also read a fantastic book by Chiropractor, Jennifer Barnham-Floriani called "Well Adjusted Babies".
 
I had some tightenings that just felt like a period that would come and go for the 2 days leading in to my labour.  I was really happy about this because I knew it was all great preparation for my cervix.  (My first labour came 6 days over and without warning my waters broke leading to strong contractions within the hour that were already 10 minutes apart... so I was really hoping for a nice long pre labour phase this time).   As I got in to bed about 10.30pm I felt the tightening become stronger, like a surge, and this time it took my concentration enough that I started my calm breathing.  I told Andrew our baby would probably be here tomorrow and I managed quite easily to drift off to sleep with my calmbirth CD playing. 

About 2am I woke with a surge strong enough that it was no longer comfortable to lay down and I knew it was time to get up and get moving to let gravity do some of the work.  I didn't feel the need to wake Andrew so I started preparing my oils, music and heat packs and drinking lots of fluids.  (My first born and I had become dehydrated with my first labour and ended up with an IV in my arm so I was determined to make sure this didn't happen again).  I used standing positions for a while and leaned over slightly to support my weight so that I could do pelvic rocks through each surge.  Then when it got stronger again, I piled up some pillows on the edge of the bed so that I could just slump over them while still standing. 

I breathed deeply through every single one, concentrating on exhaling as slowly as possible.  I put peppermint essential oil in the toilet to stimulate the bladder every time I sat down.  I woke Andrew about 5.30am and told him I had been going through the surges for a few hours.  I had my support people on standby and Andrew ended up looking after our 2year old son until my mum arrived around 7.30am. 

In hindsight Andrew said he didn't realise how far I had gone through the labour on my own because I seemed so calm.  I told him to call the hospital and my support when I knew it was getting much closer and stronger.  I just kept visualising baby coming to me and found so much comfort and peace with the breathing.  Pelvic rocking seemed natural to me and it was all I wanted to do with every surge.  I was determined to stay at home as long as possible to avoid any medical intervention and dilate as far as possible before leaving home.   I had been able to slip in to a very relaxed calm place, so calm that Andrew and Mum didn't realise just how far I had gone on my own until I started saying, "its very close now, I think I'm very close to wanting to push".... well, by that stage I realised I had better get to hospital and had Andrew call them while we were on our way.  I had to pile pillows up on the carseat, have the seat wound back and face the back of the car to get comfortable.  I slumped over the pillows and kept breathing and pelvic rocking. 

I ended up being 7-8cm by the time I arrived at hospital.  I actually had to stop myself from pushing while we were driving.  We had a team of about 5 or 6 midwives greet us with a wheel chair to usher me up to the delivery suite.  I got straight in the shower and kept doing my pelvic rocks and breathing.  I had begun to involuntarily push now.  I was asked to get out of the shower at this stage and I got on to all fours on the bed with a bean bag.

I kept my eyes closed and continued with my breathing.  I was still in that place and didn't want to see anything in the hospital to distract me.  I surprised myself with being so incredibly quiet.  I hardly made a sound I was so deeply in a trance. 

She ended up being posterior, which was lucky in hindsight because I may have had her in the car otherwise! 
I am a big believer in letting nature do its work and I stepped aside to let the ancient womens birthing wisdom guide me.  I knew Camryn would come exactly as she needed to and trusted that everything was going just as it should.
My waters had not broken and my obstetrician wanted to do it for me.  I declined and told him I wanted it to happen naturally.  It was just as well because the delay in waters breaking helped her to turn around and be born.
As soon as my waters broke I felt the need to change positions and turned around and squatted upright on the edge of the bed.  She was out in 2 or 3 more contractions. 

I was so happy the moment I saw her and overcome by tears of joy.  She was immediately placed on my chest and within moments she self attached to my breast.  It was the most amazing experience.  I had the beautiful release of natural hormones and fell deeply in love with her from the onset.  She breast fed for about half an hour just like an expert. 

Three months later, Camryn is the calmest and happiest baby I have ever seen.  She has only cried a handful of times.  I have never had to assist her attach to my breast, she does it so effortlessly.  I am the calmest person I have ever been in my life.  I am a completely different mother than I was the first time around and my 2 year old son Kai is also reaping the benefits of his new calm mummy.  I won't deny there are plenty of moments where I lose my patience, I think that is only human.  The difference for me is that they are just moments this time around.  I am a completely calm and patient mum and I strongly believe its the effect of the calm birth I had with Camryn.  I was blessed to have the most beautiful birth experience any woman could hope for and I am so greatful to have embraced your concepts.  The breathing and the pelvic rocks still help me when I am feeding and settling throughout the night with Camryn.  She is so calm and I believe its 100% because I am. 

I looked at the videos of other couples during the course and I will be honest, I thought most of them were pretty corny.  Now I realise that I am one of them and I probably sound quite similar to others who have not experienced it yet.  I really do feel blessed, it really changed not only my birthing experience but me as a person.  As a result, my whole family is benefiting.  My relationship with Andrew feels stronger.  He thought the birth experience this time was absolutely amazing as well.  He couldn't believe how much it really helped.  It blew him away that these techniques he just couldn't get in to, actually worked!

 

Thinking about what you teach, its so simple, its so natural... its just that most of us have lost touch with ourselves and innate wisdom. 

Your tools helped me to guide myself to the exact place I needed to be! 

Thankyou,
Belinda and Andrew 

 

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Editor's Note: Belinda and her partner came along to Julie's calmbirth course during the weekend during the early third trimester to allow plenty of time for practice of the breathing and relaxation skills.   Belinda recommends don't leave it to the last minute to do the course if you can help it... the earlier the better so you have plenty of practice time.

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