My Positive Induction

Fiona Deans with her newborn after induction

I discovered hypnobirthing completely by chance when someone on Instagram shared the page of her hypnobirthing teacher. From that point on, I was hooked.

How had I had a baby and given birth before and yet know so little about how the whole thing worked? So many things from my first labour now made more sense and I wanted my second time around to be different and it definitely was!

Due to gestational diabetes, I was induced for both my labours but they could not have been more different. For now, I will just tell you about the positive birth experience of my second child.

I went into hospital on Saturday at 37+6 and was given a pessary. Over the next 24 hours not a lot happened and it wasn’t until I was given my second pessary on Monday that anything started.

The first thing I noticed was some discomfort in my bum and the tops of my thighs. I didn’t think much of it, but I was hopeful that it might be the start of something. I spent the afternoon lying on my bed, watching Friends with my noise cancelling headphones. I felt occasional cramps but established labour felt a long way off.

Read about how hypnobirthing helped Kayley when she had a surprise homebirth

By the time I was eating tea the cramps were feeling stronger, and after I finished I was on all fours, practising my breathing and willing my husband to arrive. He arrived around 6:30pm and I went to go and have a bath. Whilst in the bath, things really ramped up. My husband helped me back to the bed where I leant over my peanut ball, trying my best to keep doing my breathing. The midwife kept asking me to turn over so she could examine me but my contractions were coming thick and fast. I realised I had started mooing and when another midwife came in, I heard her say “This baby is coming now!” At this point, I was still on the ward and just moments later my waters broke.

From there it’s all a bit of a blur. I was moved to my own room and was offered gas and air which I’m sure I said yes to but it never materialised! And leaning over my peanut ball, with my husband repeating “He’s going to be here soon”, my little boy arrived a mere hour and a half after my husband arrived at the hospital.

It was an amazing experience and I know it wouldn’t have gone so smoothly if it hadn’t have been for hypnobirthing.

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