On the 5th of January, it was first day of school term and it was Monday. I was wondering whether to go back to school to work or stay at home because of the long distance to school (about 1.5 hour drive). However, even though my EDD was still 9 days more and nothing happens, I had a feeling to stay at home.

Approximately 8am I went to toilet and beginning to see birth show. I felt so lucky that my instinct to stay at home was right. I was so excited but didn’t know what to do. My sister was worried and reminded me to quickly go to the hospital but I refused to and asked my husband to go to work. I called up Wai Han (HypnoBirthing practitioner and a dear friend) to ask for advice. She asked me to assume the HypnoBirthing relaxation. So I sat on the gym ball peacefully and listen to the Rainbow CD. I went for a hot shower too. Nothing special happened until 9am.

I could feel some mild surges coming in every 20 mins. With HB breathing method, I could still talked through the phone with Wai Han. Amazingly when the body is so relaxed the feeling is just like tightness of the womb. When the surges became 15 mins apart, one of my colleagues called me to solve some school’s exercise book issues. I could still talk with her though the phone calmly like normal.

About 12 noon, I started to feel more and more intense surges. By the time my husband came back for lunch, he took me to Pearl Maternity Hospital, which is the hospital we chose because the gynae agreed to our birthplan. When I reached there, I was already 5cm dilated. The gynae admitted me into the hospital.

During the check up of the heartbeat (EFM), I was still listening to the Rainbow CD. Each time surges happen, about 7 mins once, I took a deep breath and breathed out slowly and it helped a lot to ease the tightness feeling.

Suddenly, the surges became more frequent and I had a feeling of passing motion. I had to tell the nurse a few times only they started to believe me and checked that it was already 7cm dilated. They quickly pushed me into the labour room. At first, they didn’t believe was because usually for first time mother 1cm dilation will take about 1 hour. So, actually the doctor was expecting me to birth the baby in the evening around 5pm.

However, here I was, in the labour room at 2.10pm, fully dilated. Approximately 2.30pm, my little princess Annabelle Aw was born gently into this world with no painkiller/drugs/vacuum/forceps/etc. My husband cut her umbilical cord and the moment she heard his voice, she stopped crying as if she recognised his voice when she was in the womb. The moment the nurse put her on my breast, she gazed up to me and smiled so sweetly - that moment I was so touched and felt like time has stopped. My husband and I held her tightly and tears of happiness just flowed. All the hard work was worthwhile.

I have such a wonderful, speedy and gentle birth, I want to give all glory and praise to Almighty God who is in control. Thanks to HypnoBirthing and Wai Han for supporting me. The relaxation method, knowledge and practices during pregnancy all helped to make this birthing an unforgettable and joyous experience.

-- Cindy (Jan 09), Penang

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