Dear Maureen,
We just wanted to say thank you for all your help and support throughout our pregnancy and birth. Hypnobirthing is the most wonderful thing we could have done to ensure that we had the birth that we wanted.
I had never been a maternal person and never really wanted children until it hit me like a truck at the age of 30, I was frightened to death of pregnancy and childbirth until I came to see you. At the beginning of the pregnancy I felt totally out of my comfort zone and disconnected from my growing baby. after the first hypnobirthing session I already felt a closer bond with my baby and more in control. Hypnobirthing helped me to understand what the body is capable of and the fact that this is a totally natural experience and one to be cherished for every second.
The breathing and relaxation techniques that we learned helped us through the labour, and the main thing that I used during labour was the visualisation and affirmations - they were fantastic and helped us so much. Active labour lasted about 8 and a half hours and I managed to get to the hospital when I was 9cm so within 2 hours of being at hospital our beautiful baby had arrived (it's true that your body knows what to do if you listen to it!).
The midwives totally respected our wishes, the lights were dim and they allowed me to be in my birthing body - I just focused and actually really enjoyed the birth breathing knowing that every breath was bringing our baby closer to us. Edward James Hall was born on the 17th January at 8.22pm - the midwives said I was the quietest first time Mum they had ever encountered and that birthing with us was a pleasure, so much so that the one of them came to visit us at home the following day and left with a hypnobirthing leaflet! Hypnobirthing helped me cope with pregnancy and birth and I shout about it to everyone I know - I think everyone should do it. We wouldn't change a thing about our birth and will definitely be revisiting hypnobirthing for our second child,
Thanks once again, Gill, Michael and Edward