Hi Andy,
Ralph is doing very well despite a bit of a slow start and some problems with feeding. We're utterly besotted.
I ended up being induced at 42 weeks and my body really wasn't ready to dilate. Peter ended up giving me 3 applications of gel and the maximum dosage to get things moving. Long story short, it was 44 hours between the first application and Ralph's arrival.
I didn't sleep during that time and was having strong sensations from very early on. I used the hypnobirthing techniques to breath through them and conserve my energy. By the 2nd night my waters finally broke but my odds of a vaginal birth shortened from 50:50 to 30:70. Ralph simply wasn't dropping and I wasn't dilating. However, I laboured with difficulty all through that night,requiring a shot of pethadine and the gas.
By daybreak he'd made his way into the pelvic cavity, but I was so exhausted that I needed some help. I asked for an epidural, which then enabled Pete to give me some oxytocin and have a last ditch try to help me dilate and avoid a caeser. Thankfully it worked and we all beamed when he said that I was going to have the vaginal birth I wanted.
The delivery was great. I used the birthing breathing with great effect, but again, needed some help towards the end. I did most of the pushing with some assistance from Pete. He then told me to reach down and I picked Ralph up. That was the happiest moment of my life, along with our wedding day.
I believe that I would've been caesered if I didn't have the hypnobirthing training and that it complimented the medical assistance that I required for such a long and difficult labour.
Also, I had no stitches even though I had a forceps delivery.The Epi-No is the best invention ever and would encourage you to continue to recommend it to your clients.
Jane