I was happy with my first birth, I thought it was quick and almost painless until I read about HypnoBirthing. Only then I realised my first birth was so ‘artificial’. It was almost painless because I opted for epidural and it was quick because I was induced and my baby was delivered with vacuum assistance. My baby was literally being forced and pulled out from my womb; so to speak! I was only thinking about myself when I made my birthing choices with my first girl. I wanted a quick and painless birth for myself; never did I realise and consider the baby’s feeling.

I discovered HypnoBirthing by chance and was so amazed with the birth stories on Wai Han’s website. I told my husband about HypnoBirthing but he was not convinced although he agreed to attend the course with me. I read the book by Marie Mongan and listened to the CD in my 2nd trimester but I was not confident that I could do it so I decided to join Wai Han’s class. Even after the class, I was still doubtful I could do it because I find it difficult to get into total relaxation. Nonetheless, I continued to do my daily relaxation practise and imagined my ideal birthing scenario.

On the night of 24th Mar, my surges began at around 10.30pm at 30 mins apart. I sat down on the lazy chair in my room with my iPod playing the Rainbow Relaxation track. By 1am, the surges were already at 6 minutes apart. I then told my husband to get ready and send me to hospital. I continued to listen to the Birth Affirmation track and chatted with hubby on our way to the hospital. We arrived at the hospital at almost 3am; by then my surges were about 4 mins apart. I was strapped down on the bed to monitor baby’s heartbeat and my surges and had an internal check. I was only 2cm dialated! I was like.. what? Only 2cm? Hubby and I exchanged looks and we thought its going to be a long night and I will probably birth at 9 or 10 in the morning. I stayed relaxed with the Rainbow CD throughout the 30 minutes monitoring period and I quietly told my baby that we were already in the hospital and she can now come out whenever she is ready.

I was getting really restless on the bed and I got up to go to the bathroom as soon as the 30 mins was up. Surges were getting closer but I wasn’t sure how close apart as I was not timing. I went to sit at the sofa after going to the loo, but it didn’t feel comfortable and I went back to sit at the loo again. Just when I sat down, another surge came, strong and hard and I felt the urge to push! Hubby quickly alerted the nurses and they came to help me back to the bed. I sat down on the bed and another surge came. I stayed focus on my breathing and tried to relax as much as possible between surges; which was very very short by this time. Come the next surge and I just felt the need to squat, so I changed into squatting position on the bed and this was a real strong surge! I thought I was not able to make it. All the birth stories I read said when you feel that you can’t take it anymore it is the time that the baby will emerge. But I thought this surely can’t be the case for me, I was only 2 cm dialated about 45 minutes ago!? Then the nurse was asking if I want to squat on the bed or on the floor during delivery. I was thinking in my heart, I don’t think I have time to squat on the floor, the baby is coming out already! I felt a big ‘lump of thing down there’ but I was not sure if that was the baby’s head... I managed to answer between my breaths and said I wanted to stay on the bed. I was doing the slow breathing and the birth breathing whenever I felt it was right. Then I saw the nurses were getting into position to receive my baby and I knew she was coming out. Actually her head was already out, at the time when my doctor was stepping into the labour room! With another birth breathing, I felt a ‘warm and wet lump’ slipped out and my tummy just felt so ‘loose’ and ‘light’ immediately! My doctor only managed to receive my baby’s body; at less than 1.5 hours after I arrived at the hospital!

My baby was calm and quiet and latched on to my breast like a pro! My placenta took a little longer to be expelled. After almost 2 hours; I started to have surges again and my doctor gave a gentle tug to my cord and the placenta was birthed.

My hubby and I were both so amazed with my hypnobirth. It turned out almost exactly how I have imagined my birth scenario; except it happened faster, earlier and that I missed receiving my baby by myself as I was not aware she was already out! I am so proud of myself that I did it; I had a total natural birth!! I have been telling every pregnant and non-pregnant girl friend about HypnoBirthing and hope more women will get to enjoy this wonderful process of child birthing without fear and pain. Thanks Wai Han for your guidance, encouragement and most of all your inspiration for my successful natural birth.

— Caryn & Kamen (March 2010)

Baby Lee Sher