Empowering Birth Stories
Thank you to all our new parents who have taken the time to share their wonderful stories and welcome beautiful babies to the HypnoBirthing Family.......Alison & Donna
Fiona & Robert on Fraser's Birth
"My midwife recommended that I try Hypnobirthing because I was terrified of giving birth. I am not sure where my fear came from but I was finding the thought of the impending birth difficult to cope with and couldn't even watch other births on television without feeling very anxious. So I went along to the classes with my husband who was very supportive. The classes were fantastic and taught me to think of birth differently, as a natural process and something I would be able to do. I listened to the Rainbow Relaxation CD every day prior to the birth and found that I could never recall hearing the end of the relaxation session but would always 'wake up' as soon as it finished - it seems I wasn't sleeping and my subconscious was listening to it all!
When my labour started I was not frightened, I was calm. I found the calm breathing technique helpful in-between surges and even managed to drift off to sleep at one point. The surge breathing really helped me to stay in control during each surge and I never felt any panic throughout my labour, I was able to remain calm. I did use some gas and air when the surges became very intense and concentrated on my breathing and I was lucky enough to have a Hypnobirthing midwife present for the birth. I listened to the Rainbow Relaxation music while in the birthing pool and gave birth to my beautiful baby boy in the water 9 hours after my surges began to come in a regular pattern. He never cried or screamed but was also very calm. My midwives allowed my husband to tell me we had a boy which was really special and he cut the cord after it had stopped pulsating. I felt so proud of myself that I had achieved the birth that I had hoped for in a calm and relaxed atmosphere and with very little intervention, and I believe that is all down to Alison and Donna's help and advice.
I would recommend Hypnobirthing to all mums-to-be and their birthing partners. Many thanks to Alison and Donna."
Sheila & Scott on Aaron's Birth
I was very afraid of child birth having been a very large baby. I attended hypnobirthing & initially thought it wouldn't work. Although I did end up having to have an elective section, hypnobirthing helped me so much. We were in recovery laughing & talking about what was ahead & couldn't wait to meet our baby. I was taken through to have my spinal while the nurses got my partner ready for theatre. I concentrated on my calm breathing for the spinal & didn't even feel a scratch. We were prepared for every step of the section & almost knew what was coming next. The minute we heard the suction noise we knew birth was only round the corner & it was just a magnificent , overwhelming moment when we heard our son cry. I had a few complications but I still didn't feel afraid and I just got on with my breathing . My partner got to weigh the little one & from day one we have the most contented baby. We couldn't ask for a better birth & I myself have recovered so quickly with affirmations on healing. We can't thank Alison & Donna enough for there guidance & knowledge, but mostly there dedication to helping people through what is undoubtedly the most precious day of your life. Thanks so much for making our day special....
Clare & Alistair on Isla's Birth (A VBAC story)
My first experience of labour was a lengthy and difficult one which ended in my first daughter being born by emergency cesarean section. Naturally I felt anxious about giving birth again until I started to learn about and practice hypnobirthing. Reading the book empowered me and listening to the rainbow relaxation CD every day helped me relax and look forward to going through labour again and meeting my baby.
I felt more confident in the decisions I made leading up to my baby's birthing day. During labour I felt relaxed and very focussed on my breathing techniques. I eventually needed a bit of help from gas and air which just helped me focus a lot more on breathing through the surges. Hypnobirthing blessed me an amazing birthing experience and gave my husband a key role during the labour!
We cannot thank Donna and Alison enough for helping to change how we approached and thought of labour and birth. In the end Alison actually helped bring my little girl into the world who is a very happy chilled out little person. I'm 100% certain it had an effect on her too!
Yvonne & Shahraz on Jaxon's Birth
I had a very pleasant birth experience and in my opinion, that is a result of HypnoBirthing. I only made it to one class because my baby decided to come early, but after the first class I started reading the HypnoBirthing book, it was very knowlegable and enjoyable, I had almost finished it when I went into labour and the Rainbow Relaxation CD is also very helpful. I could totally understand the theory behind the practice, and made it very easy for me to relate to it. If you are calm and relaxed, you will have a calm birth and if you have tension and fear you will cause yourself stress and pain.
A few hours after my waters broke, I began to feel cramp like feelings in my stomach, like mild period pains, which progressed to slightly more intense cramps after a few hours. I took to the bath and listened to my Ipod for a good couple of hours, just practising the breathing techniques. When the surges were 3 minutes apart we went into hospital. When we arrived in labour ward and on reading my notes the midwives realised I wanted a HypnoBirth, by luck, Alison was working that night. When Alison came through and I had my examination, I was 1cm. This made me feel a bit apprehensive as I thought I would have opened more from the strength of the surges, however, Alison ran a bath for me and she dimmed the lights, put on the rainbow relaxation CD and generally just made me chill out again. For a while my partner and I were just alone in the bathroom, he poured water over my tummy and I really focused on my breathing. At the point the surges were back to back I was beginning to find it pretty intense, this was when I got gas and air. On taking the first inhalation of it, my breathing slowed even further and from there on birthing my baby just went like a dream. I remained in the bath, as I was quite comfortable there and (fifteen minutes later) I told Alison that I felt the urge to push, she quite simply told me just to do what my body was telling me to. It took 4 surges (approx) to breathe my baby down and it was a fantastic experience. I was 1cm when examined at 6.30 and my baby was born at 8.40. I recommend HypnoBirthing to everyone and am raving about it to anyone who'll listen. It's fab!!
Gillian & Craig on Hollie's Birth
"Hypnobirthing is the Future and the way forward. We had the best experience of our lives whilst using Hypnobirthing, not just during labour but throughout the whole pregnancy and even after the birth of our gorgeous baby daughter we still use the Rainbow Relaxation and techniques shown to us by Alison and Donna in our every day lives. The course had shown us that birth is a completely natural thing and that nature intended your body to birth your baby and that it is your decision on whichever way you wish to do so.
We delivered in the pool which accompanied with the relaxation techniques and Rainbow relaxation in the background delivered only 6 hours after going into labour which we were told that with a first baby is very quick. We had no pain relief during labour, our baby and my body along with the techniques shown by Alison and Donna were enough and worked a treat.It has been the best experience of our lives and hats off to both Donna and Alison - we would recommend to the world to try".
Alison & Mark on Cameron's Birth
I have to say that the birth of Cameron was the most amazing experience and I couldn’t have wished for it to go any better. It all happened really quickly and I still can’t believe how easy it seemed looking back. Labour was 3hrs and 20 minutes with Cameron delivered 40 minutes after we arrived at hospital. Had two puffs of gas and air at the very end and it all just seemed so natural. Practicing the breathing and relaxation techniques really paid off as it kicked in almost without thinking. I can’t thank Alison and Donna enough as hypnobirthing has given me the birthing experience I had always hoped for.
Amanda & Andrew on Sarah's Birth
"The best thing we have ever done! The philosophy and relaxation techniques taught to us by Donna and Alison were excellent. It opened our minds and took away all our fears about our birthing. I wish every women had access to this course. The teaching and relaxation was invaluable. It helped us to prepare for the birth of our baby and helped us enjoy the last few weeks of our pregnancy. As a result our birthing only lasted for 1 hour 47 minutes before our beautiful baby daughter Sarah was born. I found that I didn't have to do much my body and baby done most of the work. As a result it was amazing and i can't thank Donna and Alison enough".
Claire & Doug on Maggie's Birth
"We had a great Hypnobirth. Our practitioners Donna and Alison were excellent in teaching techniques and making us feel comfortable and at ease, finding what was right for us. The Rainbow Relaxation CD was a part of our daily routine in the days leading up to the birth, and the early days that followed our beautiful daughter Maggie's arrival. The course gave us the confidence to know what we wanted from out birthing experience. The midwife in the hospital was extremely co-operative and respected our wishes to be "left to it". It was an empowering and natural experience that we were in control of and my partner played an integral part in the process. It was everything we hoped it would be".
Lorna & Daniel on Lois's Birth
"Wonderful Birth!
We tried HypnoBirthing for our second child after not feeling particularly in control with our first baby.
After 4 weeks with Ali and Donna we were really excited and feeling very positive and prepared for the birth.
The girls taught us some great relaxation and visualisation techniques which we practised together and gave Daniel a really strong role. I listened to the rainbow relaxation and affirmations CD daily.
On our baby's birthing day I felt relaxed and excited and coped well with the surges by using the breathing techniques and bathing. By the time the surges got closer together I felt it was time to go to the hospital. When we arrived I still felt calm and in control. We dimmed the lights in the labour room and played the Rainbow CD. Our baby girl 'Lois' was born about half an hour after arriving at the hospital. The birth was wonderful as I was fully alert as a result of having a drug free labour. As a couple it was a very intimate and enlightening experience and cannot thank Ali and Donna enough!
We now using the relaxation techniques we learned in our day to day life".
