Birth Stories - Essex HypnoBirthing: Essex Antenatal Classes With Hypnotherapy

Some Comments From Past Clients

HypnoBirthing -Unique Antenatal Classes in Bishops Stortford, Braintree, Billericay, Basildon, Chelmsford, Colchester, Chingford, Danbury, Dunmow, Epping, Harlow, Halstead, Ilford, Ongar, Loughton, Maldon, North Weald, Raleigh, Southend, Saffron Walden, Stansted, Theydon Bois, Walthamstow, Woodford, Witham.

"Our baby boy arrived! It was amazing and exactly how I wanted it. I was very quiet and kind of in a trance for most of it, I didn't tear or need any stitches at all and he came out very calm and peaceful as I lifted him out of the water, he was a great colour and fed straight away, the midwives again left us to be together in the pool for ages after he was born. They were all really great.

All in all - it was my absolute perfect birth! I was so amazed and pleased that it all went so well, especially when we came so close to not having it! My husband was wonderful and is proclaiming the wonders of HypnoBirthing to everyone he meets - I don't think he can really believe I was that calm and quiet throughout the whole thing.. even the midwife said she couldn't tell when I was having a contraction so could I please signal to her to time the monitoring - so it was all perfect."

Mum from Stansted, Essex. First baby born January 2007. Waterbirth with no pain relief. 9 hour labour.

"I had a beautiful baby boy 4 days early and he weighed 7lb 2oz. The HypnoBirthing was excellent. We decided in the end I would have him at home so ordered a birth pool and managed to blow it up just in time. When the midwife arrived I was 5 cm dilated and he was born within 3 hours of her arriving. When we did the script on the course and you said to decide how long labour would be I said 3 hours so it all seems a bit spooky he arrived so quickly.

The midwives couldn't believe how well I did and how quickly he arrived. He shot out like a torpedo!! He could see a bulge and I turned round in the pool and next thing he was born within about 2 minutes. I didn't feel any pain when he was born it actually felt quite nice, and I remember picturing the rose opening up. I did have gas and air but for about the last hour but that was more because it felt more awkward wanting to push than painful. I really can't rave enough about the HypnoBirthing we are both convinced it worked and all the midwives are taking an interest in it!! Lucky I decided to have a homebirth as there were 25 births at Southend Hospital on the day he was born so they were a bit manic there!!

Also I didn't have any cuts or tears, nothing, and was up and about straight a way and on the phone to people within hours, they couldn't believe it. He is so good, we were out and about with him when he was 3 days old. Also being a waterbirth baby he loves having a bath and seems a very happy contented baby.

Thanks for the excellent course, I will definitely be using HypnoBirthing for the next baby!!”

Mum from Leigh on Sea, Essex. First baby, born at home after a 3hr labour, gas and air for the last hour, no tears and one happy mum!

"Before I commence the lengthy summary of the events I will just say that the HypnoBirthing was simply amazing and more effective than I could have ever imagined. The midwives were stunned and the consultant totally disbelieving! Probably not the first time you have heard this. By the time I reached recovery I was famous, ‘oh you’re the HypnoBirthing lady’.

He is such a calm baby and I am putting this down to the calm and thoroughly enjoyable labour. I am so delighted that I got to experience that stage at least.

Oh, I have to confess my coccyx was rather sore, probably from standing up for 5 days so at 7.5cm before the Oxyctocin drip I did ask for a couple of paracetamol. Apparently this was highly amusing to my husband, my mother and the midwife!

I am exceptionally grateful to you Sarah for teaching us this wonderfully successful technique and look forward to having the opportunity to use it again in the future. In the mean time I will simply practice with it at the dentist!"

Mum from Stansted, Essex. 1st baby – planned homebirth resulting in a hospital transfer for an emergency Caesarean section due to baby’s positioning.

"Hi! We are all very well, and like the birth, so far, the nights and tiredness are not as bad as expected!
The birth was great; I was pretty much fully dilated at home, with Dan
and Nicky doing the business brilliant.

When I got to the hospital they assumed I was only in the early stages,
as I was chilled, and not screaming, so they did not examine me for a couple of hours, when they realised I was fully dilated and they could see the babies head.

The midwife was great, and within an hour was using all the right terminology, and also broke all hospital protocols by letting the baby be stuck' for three hours instead of the one that protocols allow for – as mum and babies heart beats were fine, she let things all happen naturally.
I was so chilled out that my surges all but stopped, and had to push twice right at the end, but other than that, all went to plan!

The midwives said they had never seen such a relaxed birthing, and the
anaesthetist who had gone though all pain relief options when I was
admitted came back after the birth to ask about HypnoBirthing, as his wife was pregnant!
Edie is a very chilled out baby, doesn't scream, except for food and nappy change, and we're all very happy!"

Caroline, Dan and Edie, born April 2007 Southend Hospital

"My little girl arrived at 4:45am on Thursday weighing 7lb13 after a 6hr 23min labour
(2nd stage was a mere 13mins, 28mins physiological 3rd stage), in a birthing pool in my dining room.
As usual my baby and I were awkward, she turned in the last couple of hours and decided to go the difficult route of face up, (back labour). The first faces she saw (through the water, before mine) were my mum and sister (who had arrived just 30mins before), my birth partner and my amazing midwife.
A big thank you to all those involved in making the birth so wonderful. I
can honestly say that the combination of HypnoBirthing, Reflexology,
Homeopathy, the pool and my FANTASTIC midwife made it a pleasant experience
and pretty painless.”

Caroline, Brentwood,Essex - May 2007

"We are happy to let you know that our daughter was born 4 days before her EDD. She weighed in at 8lb5 and everything went according to plan. She was born at home, in the pool, and I didn\'t use any pain relief. The HypnoBirthing course really paid off - I relaxed and pretty much slept through all the contractions during the first stage of labour, and although I felt the urge to push all throughout the second stage, I still tried to use my breathing to help out and relaxed in between surges.
I will write a more detailed account in a few days\' time and will send a couple if piccies as well. Thanks so much for your help in getting us there!"

Anita, Saffron Walden, December 2007

""My second birth experience – much better than my first!

Following a rather traumatic first birth I finally thought all would be okay and got pregnant again after 8 years!. At about 32 weeks a visit to my consultant had me in tears and all the old fears came back so I looked for some support and a doula.

Initially I wanted a hospital birth - so the medical staff would listen to me. However due to the confidence that HypnoBirthing gave us we later decided on a home - water birth!! My friends wondered if I was the same person when I told them! - it was such a change for me as I am a major worrier!!. It was the understanding Sarah gave us of the actual physical birth experience and applying that to my sons birth that gave us the confidence that I could do it this time without intervention if all went well - but knowing when to ask for help if needed.

I asked the birthing unit for their help in a home birth and they were very supportive as long as I listened to the midwives and if any concerns went to hospital which I agreed to. In the end I went 16 days overdue and waited for it to start naturally………..finally it did!

I had our gorgeous baby girl Cally, at home in the birth pool on the 10th May 2008!! She is so wonderful and we all, including her older brother Ethan, dote on her. She is a calm, content child who loves cuddles and we do believe that the natural birth experience has given her a great start and made her the baby she is.

My labour proper was approx 7 hours - it started and I was so calm for ages my husband could not tell when my contractions were. Unfortunately I slowed down in the middle and agreed to having my waters broken as I did not want to go to hospital. That part was uncomfortable so I then had some gas and air and delivered her a few hours later.

Being at home during and post the birth was a wonderful experience for me as I was so much more relaxed being in my own surroundings – it definitely helped.

We would highly recommend the doula HypnoBirthing experience as it changed our lives (so much so we are considering no 3!!). For anyone reading this if I can do it I you can most definitely!"

Tracy – Maldon, Essex - May 2008

"I can't even begin to tell you how grateful I am for the HypnoBirthing techniques you taught us. I had the most amazing birth. I didn't need any pain relief at all (this from the woman who screamed for an epidural last time!) and I didn't tear or need stitches.

It was simply amazing, Amy was born with Apgars of 10 & 10 and is such a calm and happy baby, I really do think this had something to do with her amazingly calm birth.

The midwives in the hospital were amazed and asked for your details."

Katy, Harlow, Essex June 2008

"Our baby was born - mother and baby well!

Best described as almost-a-homebirth; everything was going swimmingly but the midwives couldn't get to us in time so we went to the MLBU. Baby born in water and in his own waters!

Thanks for everything. We found being able to relax - or at least stay focused - in the midst of chaos very reassuring and, ultimately, rewarding. "

Proud new dad, Saffron Walden, Essex - November 2008 (note - the baby in this story weighed over 10lbs!)

"Well - after a few false starts she finally decided to arrive yesterday. My waters had broken on Monday night and with the threat of induction hanging over us she waited till the last minute and then rushed out!

Started surges about 11am and she was born at 2pm! In the water in the midwife led unit, I got here about 12 and think I was probably fully dilated by 1 and she came very quickly after I got in the water. She weighed 9 lbs 12 (!) But no tearing and no real pain, pushing was much better this time - I almost enjoyed it!

The midwife was amazing, I didn't have a single internal check and only the most minimal of monitoring, she just let me get on with it. She kept saying she'd never seen a birth like it and how amazing it was, and quite a few other midwives came to ask me more about hypnobirthing and how they could find out more - I told them you were already in contact with Rosie but thought I'd let you know about their interest!

Thanks again for the refresher sessions and for helping us to have two perfect births! We'll come to a coffee morning soon."

Hana from Stansted, Essex - October 2008

"We had a baby boy!
Birth went really well and pretty much to plan. My waters broke at 8am on the Monday morning. We sat in the garden and had some lunch- both of us very chilled out. After lunch I decided to laydown and put on the hypnobirthing cd. By about 3pm I was experiencing more tightening and decided to sit on the birthing ball and practice my breathing. At this point I said that the tightening sensation (I still wasn't sure if I was experiencing surges at this point) was getting more regular and that maybe we should time them to give us some indication. At first they were about 3/4 minutes apart and lasting about a minute but for a while they went to 6 minutes apart. After about 30 minutes they started to become more regular- 4 minutes apart and thats when we called the midwife.

From what I can remember they arrived about 5/5.30 by which point I was on the birthing ball. I was having to concentrate on my breathing at this point. When the first midwife arrived I was quite into my relaxation and the intensity of the surges was increasing. They examined me at about 6pm and I was 5cm dilated!! I am pleased to say that was the only time they needed to check. I then got in the pool. By 7pm (I think!) I was using the gas and air as I was finding it hard to breath through the surges and this seemed to help a bit. I am not 100% sure how long it actually took to breath him down but it was very intense and I was very shocked at the noises that came from me- not as shocked as my husband though (and the neighbours!).

The baby was born at 8.17pm. One of the Midwives named me 'Rocket Woman' as she couldn't believe how quickly I had him. He was handed straight to me and we sat in the pool while the cord pulsated- an unbelievable feeling- like nothing on this earth. I have never been so overwhelmed.

I left the pool for the final stage which took quite a while- about an hour i think (I didn't really pay attention to the clock). The midwives were pretty good- they left us to it throughout labour and waited in the other room and just came in to check his heart beat every now and then.

I can't thank you enough for what you taught us. HypnoBirthing made my pregnancy a very enjoyable and relaxed experience- especially in the last few months and I know it would have been a different story without it. Also the day of the birth was so nice a relaxed for both of us. I have to be honest I struggled to use the breathing techniques during the last part of the birth and I did find it very painful, that said I did remember my affirmations of breathing the baby down and a few others did enter my head during this time so again I have no doubt it helped.

One of the other midwives came round after he was born and she said to me that she couldn't believe how quickly I had him and that she believed it was totally down to my attitude! I have to agree and i wouldn't have had that attitude had it not been for you and HypnoBirthing so Thank You very much!! It was also a huge help for my husband too, as he was also very relaxed about everything which meant that he was so supportive and able to be there for me 100% throughout the pregnancy and the birth.

I would happily recommend this to anyone- for me its the only way to do it. I have already suggested it to a few friends that are pregnant."

Julie from Loughton, Essex - July 2008 (home waterbirth of first baby)

"Thank you so much for the HypnoBirthing tuition, it really went so well. I just watched some of Richard's video footage and cant believe that it was actually really like the ones we watched in class. I never thought we'd achieve that. Here is a run down of how it went
After two early morning contractions at 6am and 7am I thought that maybe it was just a practice run, but I called into work and asked for a days annual leave anyway as I really didn't fancy sitting in front of my PC. But by 9:30 I thought my membranes had released but again I was not too sure, so I called the midwife anyway. I told her not to rush and that I was fine to wait until she had done her rounds and she would come visit at 2pm. Then I had a bath and started listening to rainbow relaxation. It was then I realised that this was really it.

Richard started to get the pool ready. I found it quite hard to find a place in the house where I felt comfortable, the gym ball was fine to start with but it soon got on my nerves as I didn't feel like I could flop and relax as much as I wanted to. I tried the toilet pan but ended up sitting wedged in a corner at the top of the stairs. Rich joined me and his stroking my back felt wonderful. He soon fell asleep though as the rainbow relaxation was still playing.. we both lay at the top of the stairs for what seemed like ages . In between the surges I felt like I was on another planet or asleep, it was very surreal. I really had to focus when it came to the balloon breaths during the surges. On the few I did get distracted they felt a whole lot worse so I was really glad for the practicing I had done. For some reason I was sick too, not sure why this was. When the midwife arrived I went to the bedroom and got examined. I was still relaxed so it didn't bother me much. I could tell the midwife thought she was going to have a long wait after looking at me at first as I looked so relaxed but I asked not to know the results of the examination. However I could tell, as she got up pretty quickly and said that Rich needs to fill the pool right away and that she'd get the 2nd midwife. This was pretty reassuring.

The pool seemed to take ages to fill but it was such a relief when I finally got in. I had been feeling the urge to push for a while before I got into the pool but I now know I was mistaking this for feeling like I was loosing control a bit and just tried to go deeper into relaxation. After an hour in the pool the baby was delivered and it was lovely that me and Rich managed to pull her out the water ourselves. The whole thing went so well and the midwives were amazed. There was a student midwife there and one of the others said to her that she was very lucky to experience a birth like that as it was one in a million. When I heard this I felt really pleased.

I cant say it was pain free but at no point did I feel the need for pain relief and didn't even think about it. I do remember thinking how glad I was that we were doing this at home and that I didn't need to go to hospital. The baby was so alert and wide eyed when she came out which was lovely to see, and so far has been sleeping most of the night and is pretty calm and relaxed. After the birth I felt wonderful, but poor Richard was exhausted. He was brilliant throughout the whole day and a really great support.

The time for active labour was 8 hours which is exactly what I chose when we did our hypnosis in class which I thought was amazing. The 3rd stage was 45 minutes and all natural. I did have one tiny tear but no stitches.

If we have another baby one day I will be sure to use hypnobirthing again.
So Thank you Sarah for helping us have such a wonderful birth. Bye for now
Sophie & Rich "

Sophie from Halsted, Essex – June 2008. (home waterbirth of first baby)