Birth story - Bongi and baby Arusha

I will forever be grateful to Siobhan for her amazing Hypnobirthing book! Without it, I would not have had the amazing birth experience I did, and my partner wouldn’t have been the amazing birth partner he was. Understanding what was actually going on with my body during pregnancy and labour made me feel so calm about everything.

My pregnancy wasn’t easy… I had awful “morning” sickness (all day) for the first 5/6 months and lost so much weight which made me worry about the baby. Throughout the pregnancy we had regular growth scan for our “small baby” which resulted in lots of conversations about a special delivery plan, induction, etc. Anyway in about month 7/8 I started reading the hypnobirthing book and wished I’d started it earlier after learning I could’ve declined all those extra scans!

My due date came and went (24 March) and a week later still no signs of labour. Once I was a week over, we now had an appointment to get induced. It’s not what I wanted and I knew I could decline it but it’s hard turning down medical advice with your first baby. Anyway I had an induction booked in for Tuesday 9am. We went to the hospital with all our bags, only to be told to go home because the hospital was full. So we went home (happily) and went on a long walk. In the evening we got called back for an induction. Went to the hospital to find I was 2cm dilated and having contractions… I just didn’t realise they were contractions. So we were sent home again. That night my contractions got more intense. I had a feeling baby would make an appearance soon!!

The next morning we went to the birth centre where I was booked as the contractions were strong and frequent (thank you Freya app)! We get to the birth centre and there’s no space for us… I feel my dream water birth slowly slipping away. We get sent all around the hospital as my contractions get stronger and closer together. Eventually we end up at the labour ward and my ideal natural water birth now seems impossible… as I’m 5cm dilated!

The midwife tells us there’s a pool available at another hospital 15 minutes away. At this point I can already feel the baby needs to come soon and my waters haven’t broken yet. I told my partner I didn’t wanna move again, I just wanted to have my baby, I didn’t care how. But from all our conversations my partner knew how much I wanted a water birth. He looked at me as and said “we’re going to the other hospital”. So we get in an Uber and head over.

Once we get there the bath has been run, mood lights are on, and my partner immediately connects to the speakers to play the hypnobirthing playlist he made. I feel so relaxed and happy now, and I get into the tub which makes me feel even better. I had already been up breathing all day… and within an hour I suddenly realised I had moved to down breathing. I was breathing through every contraction… and my partner and the midwives gave me so many positive affirmations.

After less than 2,5 hours in the tub, our little girl made an appearance. Still in the sack at first but once I pushed out her head it broke, and the rest of her body came.

We were finally able to hold our little girl. I’m so grateful to my partner, the midwives and Hypnobirthing… thanks to them I can honestly think back to my birth and just feel overwhelmed with positive emotions. My birth was absolutely amazing!