As planned I had a wonderful birth and now have a very happy and handsome little boy Henry.
At about 4 days overdue my Ob told me we would need to induce as Henry had started to run out of fluid. He booked me in for an inducement the next day at 8am.
I was keen to avoid being induced so I spent the next 12 hours listening to my CDs, eating curry, going for walks etc, until finally at 11pm I started contractions. I had been having lots of braxton hicks that week so I didn't think I was really in labour. My husband went back to bed at about 11:30 and I sat up listening to my CDs and doing breathing. By 3 I knew it was all on so we drove into Freemasons.
We had lovely nurses and all went well and was very relaxed. They called my Ob to let him know I was in but that I was nowhere near birthing. The doc dropped in on his way to a Caesar at 7:30. By then the sensations had amped up and they were surprised to note I was all ready to go. At one point one of the theatre nurses poked her head in to tell him they were ready for him at the Caesar and he told them he'd be done in 5 minutes. Later on he told me he knew it would be longer but it was all the encouragement I needed, at 8:05 Henry was born.
We used the CDs through the whole birth, I also found the visualising and counting in and out really helped. Reto was surprisingly magnificent, especially at the light touch massage. But I think the main thing I got from hypnobirthing was a positive attitude. I really looked forward to my birth and still think of it as a really enjoyable day, especially considering the wonderful result.
Oh yeah, and no drugs, intervention, stress or stitches!
Thank you Andy for all of your support and encouragement.
Love lizzie and Henry.