Hypnobirthing: If someone tells you that you can have a med free, pain free birth why wouldn’t you at least try?

I got to the hospital for my scheduled induction due to high blood pressure. My make up was done, my hair was curled, and I was ready. I had been preparing for this day for weeks. I was fearless. After being on pitocin all day with no progression, dilated to 3, we made a group decision to break my water.

That’s when I felt my first ‘real’ contraction. My doula had set the mood of the room with dim lights, aromatherapy, and my favorite calming music.

With every contraction my doula would say, “face is soft, shoulders relaxed, breaths long slow and deep” just like we had practiced at her house weeks leading up to the big day. My body responded to her words and I relaxed which took the pain away, completely. I was so relaxed, and so in control of my body. With each contraction and breath I imagined my daughter sliding into position, preparing for the moments when my body told me to push.

After about an hour I asked how much longer. Everyone laughed and said, “honey you just got started” I got into bed and told the nurse that I felt like I needed to push now, and she should really check me. I’ll never forget the look on her face as she pushed the emergency button to get the on call doctor who has already went home back to my room! She pulled the mirror over, and that was the first time I was able to see my daughter. Her dark head full of hair was crowning. She was there, and ready to meet the world.

The next 20 minutes were the longest. I know I could have pushed her out then. My body told me too. But as a first time mom I didn’t want to deliver without the doctor so I resisted the urge to push. That was the only pain I felt as I went against what my body told me too.

The doctor got there and it was go time. I remember calmly looking up at my mom with a smile and said, “so is this what they call the ring of fire” Everyone laughed as the next contraction came and I pushed my daughter out, painlessly.

Birth doesn’t have to be scary. It doesn’t have to hurt. Listen to your body, and practice the techniques that have provided hundreds of thousand of woman with pain free, natural births.