Hypnobirthing Case Study 2

Our beautiful boy Julian Blake was welcomed to the world on 14th July 2022, 8lb 6oz of joy and happiness ☺️
9 months later, I still use the breathing techniques and tools I learnt with Imogen, so hypnobirthing really does stay with you for a long time!

Our sessions with Imogen really helped my husband (Dan) and I feel prepared, empowered and ready for anything when it came to our birth plan, which turned out to be the opposite to the dream water birth! I am 100% certain the breathing techniques and visualisations I practiced in the weeks leading up to our birth kept me calm during a really challenging and scary moment, when things weren’t going well, and for that I’ll always be so grateful to Imogen for helping me stay strong and focused.

My waters broke at 41+4 like a scene from a film, a huge gush all over the kitchen floor! 🙈 No contractions started after 24 hours, so the induction process began once that clock starts ticking with the increasing rate of infection. I was seen in triage and asked to be prepared to go into hospital to start the induction process.

The labour ward was incredibly busy so we were placed in an induction suite as a holding space for those waiting for a birth room, we were there for one day and night which I found really stressful with the infection rate increasing and no control at all over when it would be our turn next. I remembered my breathing techniques, using my lavender and clary sage oil and tried to stay relaxed which definitely helped feel more in control. Finally it was our turn!

The induction process kicked off with breaking my fore waters as it turned out they were still intact, looking back I wish I’d have asked triage to check when we were first seen, as then I might not have worried so much about the risk of infection increasing. I then had the pessary, still nothing, so on the drip we go! I set up my ‘happy place’ photo of our favourite beach, stuck on my playlist and finally felt really ready to bring our little boy into the world. My contractions started, which really ramped up in intensity quite quickly, having gas and air. A couple of hours later I was about 5cm, I knew I’d struggle with the pain without an epidural so I made the decision to have it then. Baby’s heart rate then started to drop after every contraction, he really wasn’t liking the drip. I was vomiting heavily and my blood pressure dropped so our midwife became very worried very quickly. The emergency alarm was triggered, 10 people were suddenly in the room and that was the moment I clearly remember closing my eyes and using my breathing technique, counting the breaths in and out, I knew I had to focus and stay calm in the middle of the chaos, knowing everyone around me is trying to make sure my baby is safe and well.

I had to trust the professionals to make the right call and believe they did by suggesting an emergency c section straight away. I signed the paperwork, Dan was scrubbed up and off we went to theatre. My epidural was topped up which was great as otherwise I’d have had to have a general anaesthetic. While I was very high from the epidural (I was also shaking a lot because of the adrenaline and drugs) I was so grateful to be aware and present and that I could remember seeing and holding him for the first time. Dan had remembered to ask for the delayed cord clamp and immediate skin to skin which was agreed, even for an emergency c section.

Julian was born within 15 minutes of the emergency alarm, thanks to our amazing midwife and very efficient labour team. Finally, after 3 days since my waters breaking, at 42 weeks, beautiful Julian was delivered and suspended in the air like Simba for me to see him, lifted onto my chest, Dan cut his cord, he breastfed within an hour of being born and we were then discharged to go home 2 nights later after all of the checks and some breastfeeding support.

While it wasn’t the dream birth I’d wanted, I’m grateful for the restful newborn bubble we had together while I recovered. Thank you Imogen for being with us every step of the way and for all of your support and advice!