Calm and focussed even with all the unexpected birth changes

By Elise

Even though things went out the window the tools I learnt in Calmbirth gave me a great birthing experience. I was able to stay calm and make informed decisions and be proud of how things turned out, and not disappointed about how it happened.

I would like to thank our Calmbirth Educator, Peter Jackson, for the weekend we spent doing the Calmbirth course. It gave me the tools and confidence to bring our beautiful daughter into the world.

I thought I would share my story with you. We attended your Calmbirth course early October in Mittagong. At our 38 week check up I was told that I had low fluid surrounding bub and after an ultrasound to confirm this the Dr’s told us they would induce me that afternoon to prevent any stress to the bub. At first I internally freaked out. (I was here for a check up not to have a baby). We weighed our options thinking if it was completely necessary to bring bub out early we wanted to make sure we were making informed decisions.

I was still feeling quite nervous and not prepared as I had gone through almost every other scenario just not this one. We practiced our calm breathing and visualisation which  helped me to relax. Just before they planned on starting the induction the Dr’s got very busy with a few other births that they decided that it did not need to happen that afternoon as bub was not in distress. So, they planned an induction for the following day. It was enough time to go back home and have one last day before everything was about to change. It was enough time to calm down and prepare myself for what was about to come.

The drive back to the hospital was an odd feeling excited, nervous but most importantly I felt prepared. The induction itself did not go to plan. I had problems with the synto giving me consistent contractions with no break, but I was only 4cm. The drugs went off to give me and bub a break and it started again and again. Bub was getting stressed and her heart rate kept dropping. By this stage I had tried everything for pain but bub had turned sideways and the pain in my lower back was becoming unbearable. I was still at 4cm after what was feeling like a very long day.  I opted for an epidural which I was hesitant about but so glad that I did. Within 3 hours I had dilated to 10cm. I was able to relax and let the drugs do their job.

Even though things went out the window the tools I learnt in Calmbirth gave me a great birthing experience. I was able to stay calm and make informed decisions and be proud of how things turned out, and not disappointed about how it happened. In the end even though bub got stressed she came out at the perfect time and in good health.