A story of commitment & self-trust…
Read the full story of Robyn’s birth, and how navigating curveballs is easier when you can listen inwards.
Robyn and her Fiancé Andrew reached out for some 1:1 Hypnobirthing towards the end of their pregnancy. Robyn had spent months immersing herself in learning about birth - online birth prep classes, pregnancy yoga, books, podcasts, following birth accounts on Insta - you name it, she did it!
They wanted to spend a few hours consolidating everything they had already learned, bringing Andrew up to speed, and focusing on his role as birth partner.
Robyn is a vet so already had a brilliant understanding of how birth unfolds, and that this happens best when we leave it alone!
We spent a long time thinking about what a journey through labour can look and feel like (**with a MASSIVE caveat that no two labours are the same!), and what tools Andrew could use to help Robyn during the different phases of birth. I taught some practical massage and pain management techniques, explained how different parts of Robyn’s brain would dominate during the different stages, and how this might affect the way she was able to communicate. We practised advocacy techniques, discussed when these might be needed, and talked through any mindset barriers they both had.
Read on to see how these two wonderful humans were able to draw on all their preparation and put it into practise in the most powerful of ways!…
“I want to start by saying that I was initially nervous about birth and ended up having an amazingly positive and empowering birth experience, so I hope that this can help anyone who feels the same.
My pregnancy was relatively straight forward, hyperemesis at the beginning was very difficult but beyond that me and baby were doing well. I went into labour at 41+1 weeks at 10pm in the evening. The contractions started when I was in bed but were completely manageable, initially more like just cramps so I was able to lay there and breathe through them, letting my partner sleep and concentrating on myself and my body.
Around 2am they became stronger and with the support of my partner I used the birth ball, massage techniques and a warm bath to help me, breathing through each contraction. We roughly recorded each contraction and around 5am I called into the midwifery led unit, they triaged me and advised me to stay at home for a couple more hours which I was happy to do, and we then went in at 7am. I consented to an examination and I was 3cm dilated and my waters had broken!
The journey into the hospital had slowed my contractions however so we had a wander round the hospital car park to get things going again which worked brilliantly, and after this I was admitted at the magic 4cm. We were so lucky to get the birth suite with the pool as I had dreamed of using a pool. The midwives were brilliant, made me feel very comfortable and after settling us into the pool they left us to it. I used some gas and air as the contractions become longer and stronger, focusing on my breathing and had some amazing massage from my partner.
A few hours later they came to re-examine me and I was 9cm dilated! I felt so proud of myself getting to this point, I moved to the bed to allow the midwife to monitor baby’s heart rate and found a really lovely kneeling position here so remained here for the rest of my labour. As I became fully dilated and baby started to descend I definitely felt some elements of the ‘transition’ happening but my amazing partner coached me through, and even though at times I thought I wanted extra pain relief, he checked in with me as we’d planned and reassured me, allowing me to work out that I didn’t need anything extra and giving me the strength to keep going.
After nearly 2 hours of pushing the midwife noticed that baby’s heart rate was dropping a little, and discussed with an obstetrician that given she was a large baby and the length of the labour it may be beneficial to perform an episiotomy. Although not my ideal, I knew exactly what this meant and why they offered it, and could feel myself that baby was struggling to make that last distance through the birth canal and I knew in my heart it was the right thing. They had also brought in a crash cart which could have stressed me out, but I knew why and that it was a precaution in the best interest of my baby so was happy for them to do that.
They performed the episiotomy quickly and carefully and within a few more contractions my gorgeous perfect baby girl was here! She was placed straight onto me for skin to skin and we had delayed cord clamping which was something I really wanted. My partner and I both had skin to skin in that golden hour and he was also able to cut the cord.
Of course there was pain and moments where I questioned myself but I am unbelievably proud of myself, my body, my baby and my partner for our birth, it was magical and gave us the best gift we could have ever hoped for.
Robyn and Andrew welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world surrounded by love, strength and determination. Little Hazel, you are a lucky kiddo with these two as parents 💕
