West Mersea, 7 August 2005
Dear Alison
Thank you so much for your help in the safe arrival of our baby, Lucy Rose on Tuesday 5 July 2005. She was nearly two weeks beyond her due date and I was booked to go in the next day to be induced. However, my waters broke in bed (!), labour began on its own a couple of hours later and Lucy arrived three hours later.
The relaxation and visualisation techniques worked really well. I did not need any pain relief and we were surprised at how quickly things progressed. The medical staff were totally supportive of us and our birth plan (based on the one you gave us). There was a minimum of interference and we were left together in the delivery room for a good hour or so before Lucy was weighed and dressed, so we could get to know each other.
Although Lucy was 2lb heavier than my daughter Zoe, I had no tearing. Both Lucy and I (and Laurie, actually) recovered much more quickly from the birth than we did after Zoe’s birth. Many people have commented at how relaxed and happy both I and Lucy seem and, I have to say, I felt fantastic straight after the birth and onwards, with no “baby blues”, etc.
During labour we played your Cascade CD and now we find it calms us all down, including Lucy, on those nights when she finds it difficult to get to sleep.
I considered I had a good delivery with my daughter Zoe – 4 hours labour, only gas and air, a small tear needing just one stitch. However, the techniques we learned from your classes made a huge difference to our experience second time round. The confidence we gained from your classes – to discuss options with medical staff and take an active role in the proceedings – were both welcomed by the medical staff and key in our feelings about this totally successful and happy delivery.
We have told many midwives etc about your classes and will definitely recommend HypnoBirthing to our friends. Everyone who has heard about it has been very interested and supportive. Therefore, please feel free to quote us as a “success story”!
Once again, many, many thanks for all your help and encouragement.
With our very best wishes,
Julie, Laurie, Zoe and Lucy Pearson
******************************************************************
| HypnoBirth in Harwich
Hi Alison
Look what we got for christmas! Born Sunday 23rd December weighing 7 lb 2. He is perfect.
Thank you so much for your classes - we've consequently been a great advert for hypnobirthing and Harwich are very impressed (made the women on the videos look complete wimps).
Just want to tell you how it all happened and thank you for your help.
So..I woke up at 6 o clock on Saturday morning feeling great, I had decided that this would be the day so when I noticed mild tummy ache waves I was far too excited to go back to sleep and willed them to be contractions. I went downstairs to make some tea and toast and watched the sun rise. I sat for an hour feeling so peaceful and thrilled with the day beginning and had 'I woke up this morning feeling fine' playing constantly in my head.
I got back into bed and we cuddled and eagerly timed the waves from ten to five minute intervals. We had lunch and practiced the relaxation techniques. At half four we drove to Harwich and the midwife was surprised to see that I was one and a half cm dilated and so relaxed. She swept my cervix and said to go back home and told the staff to expect us back in at about 2 in the morning, in more established labour.
We went back and had a big pasta and I laid in the bath with a glass of wine and the hypno birthing CD. I took 2 paracetamol and very excitedly went through all the visualisation techniques. By 7 o'clock they were stronger and I had to concentrate on slow breathing. The surges were every 3 minutes and [husband] was anxious to get back to the birth centre. We packed the car up and went back. I was putting body moisturiser and mascara on in between surges.
We sat around and chatted for a bit but when the midwife checked me I was nearly 8 cm dilated! We dimmed the lights, turned the clocks away and ran the birth pool. [Husband] sorted the music and we continued to chat and joke in between surges.
The pool was wonderfully relaxing and as soon as I stepped in - at about 11 o' clock, I started wanting to push. I felt an amazing connection with [husband] and very much in love - he supported me in his arms and went through the affirmations, talking me through it. It was all very gentle and calm. My mum and dad arrived at midnight and came in - I was breathing him down and birthed him at quarter past. It was magical.
[Husband] announced the sex, and I stayed in the pool for a while with our little contented baby, so peaceful, on my chest. Then [Husband] cut the cord, we announced his name and I moved to the bed, to deliver the placenta. [Husband and son] cuddled skin to skin and we all had champagne. It was such a lovely celebration and gentle welcome for him.
[Husband] stayed with us until half 4 but I didn't sleep I was on such a high, I just watched him all night. He took to breast feeding straight away and so [husband] picked us up in the morning and we went home - and just watched him! Everything has gone so well and [son] is a real pleasure. It’s a lot easier than we imagined, he's a dream. He sleeps for 3-4 hours before waking for a feed and the midwives are really pleased with his progress. We've already discussed plans for the next one - birth pool at home with Mary on the CD.
We'd love to show him off to you maybe we could drop by and see you soon - or you're always welcome to pop in for a coffee. The birth truly was everything that we wanted and more, and there’s a lot of love in this house! Thank you and we all wish you a very happy new year, lots love x
December 2007
I have replaced names with [Husband] and [son] but all testimonials are available to view in hard copy.
|
