The Intention

Baby Cadence: bundle of joyI knew I wanted to go for HypnoBirthing right from the start, even though I don’t quite know how to hypnobirth or why hypnobirth. I do it because my close encounter of amazing hypnosis that could bring about to almost everything in life.

Horror stories of difficult labor surrounded me when I got pregnant, especially when I have some blood show during my first trimester. I’ve seen some videos about expectant mother overseas doing water birth, hypnobirth, home birth and I am very surprise to find that they could birth in such a calm manner.

Sure enough I think that’s what I want to give to Cadence, my husband and me myself – a relaxed, calm and peaceful moment of birth. Thanks to Wai Han, we have HypnoBirthing in Malaysia. We went for the classes without knowing what to expect. It was when during these few weeks of class, we realized that birthing could be so peaceful, gentle and calm. It was then I knew how important it is to give Cadence the best way to come to this world without any unnecessary intervention, suction, forceps, epidural, etc. And I respect Cadence’s choice when she wants to come to the world – whenever she’s ready.

We are also very thankful that we’ve found a very supportive doctor who is pro- HypnoBirthing. In HypnoBirthing, we don’t believe in expected due date. So, this date was never in my mind. I just told Cadence that Mummy is ready to welcome her. And we let Cadence choose if she wants to be birth in the hospital or at home.

Baby is Ready

One day before EDD, I had a birth show. I called up my doctor asking if it is ok to stay at home. He playfully replied, “Yes! She may come today, tomorrow or a week later.” With that in mind, I told Cadence, she can come anytime. I went to do my eyebrow trimming in Mid Valley, and I cheerfully told the makeup artist that baby may be coming tomorrow. We had a nice dinner, and Nick bought me KFC. We had it while watching movie till 3 am. I dozed off to sleep due to tiredness.

At about 6:30 am, I felt some discomfort. I tried to go back to sleep because we were told to only be prepared if our surges (contractions) were close and regular enough. The surges came stronger, so I sat on the toilet bowl to do breathing, while timing my surges. I didn’t know if it was a surge because it was just slight discomfort. According to my timing, my surges were 6 minutes apart. So, I was thinking it was still fine, we’ll only move when we were 4 minutes apart. Nick was still sleeping. I quietly sat on the birth ball, going through the surges with relaxation breathing with the CD playing. And I realized that the surges were getting closer. What I was thinking was, it may be a false alarm, because “EVERYONE” literally told me that you’ll have 12 hours of labor, it’s going to be long and painful, etc…etc... However, something inside me told me that I should be prepared. So, I woke up Nick and told him to get ready, while I sat on my birth ball doing my breathing.

Nick got ready and packed my CD player, birthball, etc into the car, and off we went. It was 7:30am and when I timed myself, it was 3 minutes apart! I remained calm as I have told Cadence that if she decided to do it in the car, we’ll follow her choice. When we arrived at about 8:00am, I insisted that I walk up the labor room myself while Nick parked the car. I calmly told the nurse that my baby is coming soon. She asked me how many minutes apart, I said 3 minutes. She responded in a quite disbelief manner asking me to go to the room, get changed and she’ll have me checked.

Throughout my pregnancy, I told Cadence that I don’t want the water to break that soon or messy, because I don’t want to have difficult choices or panic situations where other people may change my decision of HypnoBirthing. The surges remained 3 minutes apart. In my mind, I still don’t have any idea when she was coming. I still harbored the thought of having another few more hours to go before she’s here. So, I was thinking, maybe I should sit on the toilet bowl again for my breathing. As I sat, I felt a sudden strong urge to push. I thought she was coming. Immediately, I stood up and knelt down on the floor. A gush of water came out from my body. It was dark green. My water bag has burst, and it has meconium in it. But I knew it was ok. Not panic at all because I knew she’s coming pretty soon. I didn’t know that there was a bell in the toilet, I walked out to call the nurse.

Preparing a Warm Welcome

The nurse instructed me to lie down, and she said well done, I was fully dilated. She strapped me on with the monitoring and she’s going to call the doctor. Then, Nick came in with the birth ball, the CD player, etc. He, as my birth companion, quickly instructed the nurse that I don’t need any further vagina examination, and to remove the monitoring as we were doing HypnoBirthing. He requested the nurse to dim down the lights, and be quiet while he set up the CD player to play our HypnoBirthing CD.

It was around 8:30am. I was pretty prepared for another few hours of labour. So, I rested with my breathing technique again to overcome each surge. I was interrupted a few times with nurses asking what to eat for my breakfast, lunch, dinner. I got pretty annoyed. (I was like: what the…?? Do you want to ask me my breakfast and lunch and dinner during my surges?? ) The doctor came about 8:45am (frankly speaking, I lost track of the time because people bustling in and out and I was focusing on my breathing).

The Perfect Gentle Birth

Doctor asked if I would want to adjust my position. I was fine with a semi reclining position because I could sensed Cadence’s head just below. Some nurses passed by and said they could see her hair already. I was pretty much distracted because of the hustling and bustling around. Doctor helped to coordinate the setting according to my birth plan. I overheard the nurse asking Doctor if I need episiotomy, the doctor said no need. The nurse has question marks on her face, then the doctor reassured, “She’s doing HypnoBirthing, no episiotomy.” That brought a grin to my face, because I don’t want to be cut at these moment of time.

All my energy and mind were focused on Cadence and my body. During surges, I used birth breathing and when I rested, I used sleep breathing. During the rest, I couldn’t help but be amazed by the surges… how my body could do such mechanism. The surges came closer apart, and I sensed Cadence’s head at the opening, and with an additional breath, her head passed through. I sensed a relief, and I knew there’s another surge for the body. Nick was encouraging throughout the process. He was a lucky companion because I think the entire process was less than 30 surges (if I counted correctly). One more surge came, and without much effort, I felt that she slipped passed my body and immediately she was placed right on my chest for bonding. I can say, it was the best feeling I ever felt. She came to the world a little past 9am, a hefty 3.7kg.

1st meetWe turned off the air-condition in advance so that she could be more comfortable. She’s a pretty and healthy child, and her eyes were wide open, calm. She did not let out a single cry. She was curious and active, trying to look around for the familiar sound.

It was a perfect gentle birth. No forcing, pushing, medical intervention, epidural, forceps, vacumm. Cadence decided when and where she wants to be born. During our bonding, the nurse tried to force Cadence to suckle on my breast by bringing her to my nipple. Cadence cracked a cry. The doctor stopped her. This proves that baby doesn’t have to cry at birth. Nick and I realized that babies only cry because of fear, discomfort and insecurity. We also told the nurse not to spank her for the Apgar score.

My placenta came out naturally after 45 minutes. I have a 2nd degree tear, so some stitches are made and Cadence remained on my chest throughout the entire process. Daddy later accompanied her to be swaddled. I remained active, alert, and not a bit of exhaustion.

Doctor congratulated me on my success of hypnobirth, and some nurses came around and ask what’s HypnoBirthing. I think this was the first HypnoBirthing for some of them to witness, a process with great ease, calm and happiness to the mother and child. There’s so much discussion around the hospital during my stay there about my birth – how active I was after birth, how calm and healthy Cadence was. I was out of bed 2 hours later, making myself a cup of hot chocolate.

A Dream Came True

Till today, I am still amaze how my body give birth with every single mechanism carefully designed for birthing naturally – from conception, pregnancy, labour, birth, recovery. I am so thankful that I could witness the event, feel and embrace what God has design for every woman to have consciously (without drug). I could even say that I enjoyed the entire birthing process because I was very present at every moment.

ready for the worldIf you asked me if it’s painful, I would say it’s a feeling of intense pressure with great anticipation and excitement that Cadence will be in my arms soon. Cadence is now 11 month, she is a very playful, happy, optimistic baby. She learns and picks up fast. She’s strong and healthy. In fact, we’ve just came back from a vacation in London when she was 4-month old and she has gone through her chicken pox at month 7 without suffering (I almost couldn’t tell she was having chicken pox except for the spots all over her.) She’s already walking and yapping by 10th month and she’s very active and all ready for the world. I strongly believe that her gentle birth builds up to her cheerful, active and independent character today.

I remembered my visualization during one of the sessions with Wai Han, Cadence’s birth was the exact play out of my visualization; it was how I wanted my birth to be. Wai Han asked how long I wanted my labor to be, the first number popped up was 3 hours. Sure enough, it was a 3 hour labor. I asked Cadence for a non-messy water bag break, the water broke right in the toilet of the hospital. Not messy at all! We knew that she’s always listening, designing her own way to come to the world, so long as we gave her the assurance that mummy and daddy are ready to welcome her gently, in a way that is always safe, secure, happy and with warmth. Thanks to Wai Han and HypnoBirthing, it realizes my dream of a perfect birth.

— Samantha Chee (Jan 2011)