Birth Stories

The Birth of Isaiah
June 25, 2006

I was 41 weeks and the baby had low amniotic fluid, so they decided that he couldn't be born at the birth center. This was okay with me because I just wanted the baby to be okay, and the midwives worked at the hospital too. (Cambridge Birth Center/Hospital).

I had non-stress tests every day starting on Thursday the 22nd. They said if I didn't go into labor on my own they would induce me on Monday the 26th. On Saturday one of the midwives told me about nipple stimulation--roll the nipple until you feel a contraction, and then wait 5 minutes and do it again. I tried it on Saturday night and was amazed that it worked. Light contractions started and my membranes released.

I went in to the hospital. Upon checking in they determined that I was dilated to about 3 centimeters. The whole night I had only light contractions. I was supposed to be given Pitocin in the morning, but they were really busy because a lot of people had come in that night and were in more active labor than I. So I had a few more hours to try to get myself revved up. In the afternoon I did more nipple stimulation and started walking laps in the hallway. We calculated the length of the hallway and walked up and down until we had walked half a mile. At this point the contractions were much closer together.

They called us back in to the room because the fetal monitor was falling off during the walking. I sat on a birthing ball and just tried to relax during the surges. I could feel pain but it wasn't anything that made me frightened or freaked out. I listened to music and Joseph applied counterpressure during many of the surges. The midwife on call had been in a couple of times to look at the fetal monitor but that was it. Finally around 4:00 she came in, apologized for not having been more attentive (there was so much going on in the L & D unit that day) and said "now it's time for us to get your labor started with Pitocin." Apparently I didn't look like I was in active labor. Joseph privately thought that my labor had already started and asked that she check me. She said, "I'll check you, but don't be disappointed if nothing has happened, or if you're still around 3 centimeters." She checked me and all of the sudden had an incredulous look on her face. "I can't believe this!" she said. "You're 8 centimeters. I thought that you were going in for a long night of Pitocin but it looks like before long you'll be able to push your baby out."

So then there was transition, which was tough because the pressure was so intense, and then an hour and a half of pushing, and finally the baby was born. I had a mild tear, but they stitched it up. I didn't even feel the shots or the stitches because I was so happy to have the baby on my chest. He was all scrunched up like a little frozen chicken. He was seven pounds eleven ounces. We named him Isaiah.

We're glad that we took the hypnobirthing classes. We think they helped a lot and we were very happy with the birth experience that we had.

Melissa & Joseph, first time parents

I'd love to post your HypnoBirthing story here!
Email me: shaileen@gmail.com

HypnoBirthing^® - Taking the World by Calm