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Kierra's Birth Story with Hypnobirthing
By Tammy
Introduction:
I've had two children. The first experience was anything but natural, and
the single worst experience of my life, with so much screaming, pain and
frustration, it is something I'd rather forget. However, with
hynobirthing, the birth of my second child was a wonderful and relaxing
experience, one of the best and rewarding experiences of my life. Any
woman that ever has a baby in the future, I recommend hypnobirthing over
any other child birthing method... (Especially La Maz).
Unbelievable News:
I heard about hypnobirthing on Dateline right before I got pregnant the
second time. I couldn't believe that women could really have pain free
childbirth because my first experience was completely terrible and
excruciatingly painful. But the story really sparked my interest because
so many people's testimonies reflected a pain free experience, so I
decided to look it up on the internet and find out more about it. I
enrolled in the class lead by Teresa Van Zeller, and soon learned it was
very easy for anyone to do this, even a wimp like me! After using the
techniques of hypnobirthing, let me tell you, it really works!!!
Labor Day:
I was having Braxton Hicks contractions all day on the 20th of June ...
about an hour apart. By the time I went to bed they were about 15 minutes
apart. Around midnight, I'd say is when they came about 10 minutes apart,
although I'm not really sure, as I slept in between every contraction and
did my hypnobirthing relaxation breathing during the contractions. At
around 3am, they became much stronger, about 6 minutes apart, but I still
wasn't feeling any pain… only pressure... it was wonderful. Hubby slept
through everything... I told him I was in labor and he said "yeah, yeah"
and rolled over.
At 4am, I got out of bed and told hubby I was going to shower, the
contractions are 4 minutes apart and we needed to get ready to go to the
hospital. (which is a 5 minute ride down the road from our house.) I
finished showering about 1/2 hour later. During the shower, the
contractions were getting stronger and as each one came, I'd lean against
the shower wall, arch my back and practice the hypnobirthing techniques.
I did this in complete silence, as my hubby remain snoring away in bed.
Upon coming out of the shower, I woke him up and told him to tell me the
time at the beginning of each contraction. They were now 3 minutes apart.
Hubby groggily rolled over and wanted to go to sleep. I asked him what he
was doing, saying come on, we've got to go. All this while, I hadn't made
one peep, and I had felt no pain whatsoever. During the last labor
experience I was screaming, swearing and shouting obscenities about and at
him. {smile}
He finally managed to pull himself out of bed... and he took a shower!!!
I asked him what he was doing in shock... he said we had plenty of time,
and we had to wait for his mom to come anyway. (Still in disbelief that I
was really in labor, he didn't even call his mom). I promptly called his
mom and said this is it, and to come over to watch our 15 month old. (She
had a 1/2 hour drive. This was at about 4:45. By the time he got out of
the shower I was 2 minutes apart... still practicing my hypnobirthing (and
mind, I did this completely alone, with no help from hubby or anyone else…
100% drug free!). Prior to labor, I was very worried that things might
not work out because my husband did not even practice any of the exercises
with me. Although I really wish I had his help at this next point, it is
possible to do the hypnobirthing alone.
When I proceeded downstairs I had a contraction midways down the stairs...
and I lost my concentration on relaxing... so I begged hubby for some help
to get me back into the relaxed mode. (Because he did not practice the
techniques with me, he didn't know what to do.) He put the hynobirthing
relaxation tape on for me, but I did feel the surges during this brief
time where I had come out of relaxatioin. His mom and brother came and
they were bickering about how to watch our son and what to do (even though
this had already been pre- arranged), which didn't help my concentration
any. It was now about 5:25am.
Anyhow, I ended up feeling about 20 minutes of uncontroled contractions.
In the car ride to the hospital I managed to revamp some of my
concentration, and finally, with the help of my sister-in-law running her
fingers up my arm, just before stepping out of the car at the hospital, I
returned to a completely relaxed mode.
However, I almost had her in the car! We pulled into the driveway of the
hospital and hubby ran to get a wheel chair. The second I stood up, my
water broke, and I was ready to push. By the time I was in the hospital
room, the baby was crowned... ready to come out, and I hadn't even pushed
(a hypnobirthing technique is to 'breathe' the baby down... one doesn't
get exhausted with pushing that way, and it is much better than pushing,
let me tell you.)! We checked into the hospital at 5:35 and they made me
wait until the doctor arrived for me to push. I didn't feel any pain, but
I really wanted to push.
The doctor finally walked in at 5:50... The sterile towels were draped
over my legs and the doctor prepared for the birth, and I said to
him, "I'm pushing!" One push, I felt myself tear, but no pain. Out came a
little baby girl immediately after that push at 5:55am. We named her
Kierra Cianna and she was born on the first day of summer (June 21,
2000). Very healthy at 8lbs, 7.2 oz. and 20 1/2 inches long.
It was the most wonderful experience. They wanted to put an IV in me and
give me pitocin immediately upon entry to the hospital. (WHY would they
want to give me pitocin when I'm alreay in labor ?!?!?!?!?) I refused...
and they realized it was too late to do all that soon enough, anyhow.
So, there ya go... childbirth can be enjoyable all natural... and it was
truly a magnificent, positively memorable, experience!
Recovery:
My first child was the most awful experience in the world. I was induced,
so had the displeasure of being injected with pitocin, and the severe
contractions from the start of labor. I had drugs and then an epidural.
Unfortunately, for that first pregnancy, I had toxemia for 8 1/2 weeks, so
after I gave birth they were pumping in the magnesium via the IV.
Everything began to puff up like a balloon, and my husband (and the
nurses) told me it looked like I had Fred Flinstone feet! I looked and
felt ridiculous and was assured this was normal. I weighed more after
giving birth than before, and I felt absolutely terrible after spending
over 48 hours in the hospital. The epidural and drugs made me groggy and
sluggish for quite some time.
For this second one, however, I can tell you I felt absolutely marvelous!
I was not tired one bit, because I literally slept between each
contraction and didn't tense up, hence I was not worn out after labor.
The only thing that bothered me were the stitches, because my baby was
large and I tore naturally, so they were not very neat, and rubbed me in
funny ways. Otherwise, not having any drugs during labor is so much
better, not only for the labor itself, but afterwards as well. I felt
revived after this experience!
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