Our first daughter was born before we could finish attending all the Hypnobirthing classes in early 2019. Thank goodness we had discussed breathing and access to the music!

Arriving by a vaginal birth at 34.4 weeks with the reason being unknown for my spontaneous membrane rupture. The birth was long, pushing was difficult as her head kept retracting and she was put on my chest for literally 5 seconds, before being taken to special care. She went with her dad while I birthed the placenta alone and had stitches. She remained in the Special Care Nursery for a little over 2 weeks. We were also unable to hold her for 2 days after birth.

In preparation for the birth of Elsie. We wanted to undertake Hypnobirthing classes again to refresh our skills and be prepared completely, prior to 32 weeks in case we went into early labour again with our second daughter. Two of the mothers from my mum’s group had recently completed the Empowered to Birth courses with Deb and come highly recommended. So we were quick to book in to the next round of classes. After attending all classes, I set up what I learnt, I displayed affirmations on our ensuite wall to view each time I went in. I made a visualisation poster with the key elements I wanted within the labouring environment (eg dim lighting) and things I wanted to experience this time around (eg being in the bath, not delivering on my back, delayed cord clamping and having my baby on my chest). I listened to my tracks provided and practiced breathing techniques.

As a couple we discussed birth preferences and ways my husband could support during labour / birth.

On Thursday the 16th of September, I was 40.1 weeks pregnant. We had been waiting and waiting for signs of labour starting as I was scheduled for monitoring at 40.3 with a stretch and sweep and discussion of induction.

All I wanted was to go into labour before this appointment.

As a couple we discussed birth preferences

and we had worked out ways my husband could support during labour / birth.

At around 5pm, I was in the backyard playing with our daughter and had to go for a wee. I noticed a tiny streak of blood on my liner. I thought “hmm, maybe this is a sign the mucus plug is coming out”, I wasn’t sure, so I continued playing, making dinner - the usual routine. Whilst eating tea at 6:30 I felt period like cramps randomly and as I was reading my daughter books before bed, I felt adhoc contractions occurring and lasting for 30 seconds. I knew this was it. After putting my daughter to bed, I tried to get comfortable in the bath and breath but all I actually wanted to do was lay in bed, so that’s where I went.

By 8/8:30pm my husband had called the hospital and we were advised to call again at 3 contractions every 10 minutes. He also called my mum to come over to stay with our daughter ready for when we needed to go. My contractions were still adhoc in their timing but were lasting for 1 minute now. Then by 9:30pm they increased to be REALLY intense and lasting 2 minutes every 4 minutes - still not in the advised timeframe. My husband knew things were getting quite intense for me as I was squeezing his hand a lot harder than an hour or so prior.

It’s simple, but we had discussed one of our strategies being me holding his hand each time I had a contraction and it was what I really wanted and needed each time I experienced one.

By 10pm we decided to call the hospital again to check if I could come up, they said to bring me in.

I wanted to wee before leaving so off I went, as I stood up to get off the toilet I heard a huge plonk!

My waters had broken and that was it, I was on the ensuite floor and not really able to move. I started to get the urge to bear down. My mum and husband realised I was not going to be going in the car and called 000 for an ambulance. As they were waiting for it to arrive, the lady on the phone from the ambulance was talking them through checking to see if they could see the head when bearing down and coaching them through supporting me - they were superstars!

The ambo’s who responded were so lovely.

They assessed me to determine if we were giving birth at my home or rushing to the hospital..

All I could do was focus on my breathing, I felt like I blocked everything else out.

The ambo’s who responded were so lovely and assessed me to determine if we were giving birth at my home or rushing to the hospital. As they could not see the head, it was decided to go go go!

I was given the green stick to suck on and rushed off to hospital, with my hubby driving the car to meet us there.

At around 11pm we arrived and I was taken up to the birthing ward, with my hubby arriving 10mins later. I was placed in a room with 3 wonderful staff, and would you believe it, one of them was Deb!

I felt instantly calmer knowing this familiar face and that fact that they were all so responsive and caring. I was placed on the bed and I remember the bright lights coming on so they could see what was occurring down stairs. I remember asking for the foot supports to be placed up to use as resistance when bearing down. Upon reflection, being in that position was not what I wanted in ‘preparing’ but it was what I wanted in that moment.

By 11:26pm, we welcomed Elsie Joy March to the world.

As per my visualisation board and some of my affirmations, I got to have my baby chest to chest and not removed from me, delayed cord clamping, safe birth, healthy baby and pain relief free (besides that good old green stick ha-ha).

My experience was so different to my previous birth.

I am so grateful for the tools I learnt during the Hypnobirthing Australia class.
To the 3 wonderful women who helped me deliver Elsie.
To my husband for supporting me to bring our baby into the world.
My mum for doing this as well and to myself / my body for achieving what it did.
I have learnt that we women are so powerful in what our bodies can achieve through creating life and birthing (whether it be vaginally or via caesarean).
I have also learnt through my birthing experiences is that it is out of your control and you need to let go of the things that ‘were meant to’ go a certain way - you cannot control this, so go with the flow, ask questions, seek advice and remember your birth plan is a preference list, rather than how your birth will occur - I’m telling you now, it won’t! Haha. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

My experience was so different to my previous birth, it would be comparing an apple with a banana.

I am so grateful for the tools I learnt during the Hypnobirthing Australia classes, to the wonderful 3 women delivering Elsie, to my husband for supporting me to bring our baby into the world, my mum for doing this as well and to myself / my body for achieving what it did.

I have learnt that we women are so powerful in what our bodies can achieve through creating life and birthing (whether it be vaginally or via caesarean).

I have also learnt through my birthing experiences is that it is out of your control and you need to let go of the things that ‘were meant to’ go a certain way - you cannot control this, so go with the flow, ask questions, seek advice and remember your birth plan is a preference list, rather than how your birth will occur - I’m telling you now, it won’t! Haha.

I hope this story helps or provides reassurance to someone somewhere.

Natalia Xx

Brendan’s side

Birthing story as a husband and father. With our eldest daughter, our first born, we did some of the course and knowing my wife had done an incredible job with the previous birth, I knew she could do it all again using the techniques we did the previous time and doing the full course this time to refresh us both.
Although this time was much more rushed, we used the breathing we learnt and listening to music before arriving at the hospital. My role was not only to support (holding her hand with each contraction - which was one of our support / knowing it here for her tools we learnt) but also writing down the contraction times. When her water broke, I had to call 000. I felt the panic set in but I also had to try remain calm.
The operator was great in making sure the welfare of my wife and our baby was paramount until the paramedics arrived. Providing instructions and support and even making me do something that I did not want to or thought I would have to do. Natalia was taken in the ambulance alone and I was off to the hospital as I had to take the car and bags! Upon her getting there, Elsie was born within 26minutes and once again my wife did an incredible job with the help of Deb, the other midwife and doctor.

Even though you are doing the course together, as a man you kind of feel like a passenger because your wife / partner goes through the delivery process but all you can do is be there, be supportive and encouraging, supply her with the things she needs or wants like her water bottle, massage or light touch, just be there all the way to the end. It’s a team effort and it’s also your child, don’t be a passenger and leave it all up to them to do it all - stay involved.

Quick arrival of Elsie