My Birth Story & How Hypnobirthing Helped Me

It’s been a year since having Lexi, and settling into the rhythm as a mum of two. Having worked with a few Hypnobirthing clients in the last couple months, I’ve had so much time to reflect on my last birth and realised I hadn’t actually shared much about it or how hypnobirthing helped me!

Feeling inspired after re-reading my post from 2 years ago How Hypnobirthing Helped Me In My Pregnancy, I now wanted to share How Hypnobirthing Helped Me In My 2nd Birth.

Unlike my first birth where I was induced, I went into labour naturally with Lexi - at around 1am.

The surges were so mild at first, I spent about an hour lying in bed wondering whether I should wake Alex or not, they just felt like cramping, and were coming so infrequently, I tried to get some sleep knowing that if it was the start of labour the best thing I could have done in that time was reserve my energy.

But as the time went on, curiosity got the better of me and I couldn’t get back to sleep - I woke Alex to let him know something maaaaay be happening. Still unsure though, we rested, I practiced my Up Breathing and thought about some nice relaxing things I could do if this was the real deal and how hypnobirthing could help me.

By 3am, it was pretty clear I was in Early Labour, so we made the call for Granny to come over, I ran a bath and sat in bed staying calm and breathing, but things progressed quite quickly and I never made it into the bath.

Movement Felt Good

As we waited for Granny to arrive, I came downstairs and did some very gentle yoga - cat/cows, gentle hip sways, focussing on poses to bring the baby into the optimal birth position - anything soothing from all fours, as well as swaying my hips in standing - I very much tried to keep myself in my bubble here as the surges were getting stronger. 

The hospital car park at St George’s isn’t particularly close to the Labour Ward, Alex offered to drop me off but I didn’t want to be alone and wanted him with me the whole time, so we parked and I walked to the hospital, very much in Active Labour at this point.

Knowing that movement would be hugely beneficial in keeping my pelvis mobile, and working with gravity to help bring the baby down. I kept that in the forefront of my mind as we walked, pausing every few minutes to breathe through the surges.

Up Breathing & Visualisation

These were my main points of focus once in the hospital - I knew Up Breathing got me through my labour with Lily, using numbers as a focus, I hadn’t practiced much in terms of visualisation but I was very familiar with it through working with clients and weirdly this is the thing that calmed me the most.

Focusing on the visualisation of a rose blooming as my surges increased, really helped me connect with my body, and the powerful release of the exhale out through the mouth in Up Breathing worked as a way to release that built up tension and sensations.

I was 6cm by the time I got to the hospital and the midwife I saw even commented on how surprised she was at how well I was coping considering how far gone I was.

I have a confession here though…

I had an Epidural. 

Which I even considered not having because I felt it would make me a bad Hypnobirthing teacher - isn’t that ridiculous? Hypnobirthing is for ALL types of birth. Which is why we talk about all different scenarios in a full Hypnobirthing course and how to use your Hypnobirthing techniques, because these toolkits and techniques can be used however you choose to birth your baby!

It did admittedly slow down by labour and probably added on an extra few hours - which was a little frustrating.

I’ll share more on this in another post, as there’s still so much I want to say.

But overall, my labour was a 10-hour, calm and positive experience — one where I felt guided by my breath, supported by an understanding of what was happening in my body, and able to regulate my nervous system from the very beginning.

Hypnobirthing once again supported me through a truly positive birth, allowing Lexi to arrive into a calm, safe and oxytocin-filled environment.