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My first pregnancy and birth was highly medicalised but to my surprise using natal hypnotherapy and effective birth preparation techniques helped me to retain a sense of ownership of the experience, which otherwise might have felt extremely traumatic.

 

The first twelve weeks of my pregnancy were plagued with morning sickness. I felt very miserable. At around 30 weeks I began to feel itchy, particularly on my hands and feet.  A blood test showed that I had developed a pregnancy liver condition called ostetric choleostasis.  I was thrown into a state of anxiety, as there was  a 1 per cent increased chance of stillbirth.  Already quite an anxious pregnant person, after this news I because extremely jittery about baby movements and would endlessly pop into my local maternity unit 'just for a quick check.'   I then developed signs of pre-eclampsia and that was that - I wasn't allowed home until the baby was born. I was 37 weeks pregnant at that stage, and agreed to an induction.

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Throughout my pregnancy my mother-in-law, doula and natal hypnotherapist Heather Guerrini had encouraged me to listen to Natal Hypnotherapy CDs and we spent a lot of time discussing this approach.

 

Initially I felt some sceptisim but she's an experienced lady, and I had faith in her recommendations. My induction was a rollercoaster: there were many unexpected interruptions and procedures but the one thing that kept me going - and kept me calm - were the tools and techniques of natal hypnotherapy.  I listened to the CDs throughout my labour and believe what could have been a traumatic memory turned out to be one of my most treasured - the birth of our son. 

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In my second pregnancy I had complete faith in natal hypnotherapy and used it throughout.  I still experienced the grotty morning sickness and felt very low but was able to carve out some precious time for myself to use the Natal Hypnotherapy morning sickness CD.  

 

At 20 weeks I again became very itchy and my bloods indicated obstetric choleostasis (OC). This time I approached the situation differently.  I used natal hypnotherapy, took early maternity leave (at around 33 weeks), and when I reached 37 weeks I was able to get regular family help to look after my son while I rested and took time for hypnosis.  

 

Thankfully the OC and pre-eclampsia symptoms did not return. I carried my baby to full term, went into labour naturally at home, progressed quickly, transferred to my local maternity unit and a couple of hours later our beautiful daughter was born.

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On reflection I have realised that my birth experiences were not only about the hypnosis I used but about how we prepared for the births using the natal hypnotherapy tools and techniques.   It's meant that I am now passionate about providing couples with the opportunity to have a positive birth experience no matter how , in what circumstances or where they decide to have their baby.

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