Chrissie shares her incredible birth journey, where she faced many challenges and difficult situations along the way. Chrissie's birth is a great example of how birth doesn't always go to plan, but it can still be a positive experience. Chrissie did a Hypnobirthing course with me and with the Hypnobirthing tools and techniques that she learnt, Chrissie was able to navigate her birth at every twist and turn that it took. Chrissie says "I certainly remember it as the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. However, I could not be more proud of myself for doing what I did and making the informed and calm choices that I did. I would have been nowhere without hypnobirthing and a positive attitude towards the birth".
Chrissie says "my birth story felt like anything but what I’d read on the hypnobirthing course and instead felt more like a hypnobirthing novel!"
Staying Calm And Positive Through Stop-Start Labour
For a fair while before my due date and after being due, I was having loads of cramps, Braxton Hicks and all sorts of indicators of labour that never progressed into anything. I felt very deflated and frustrated with the waiting and stop-start labour. I managed to use some positive affirmations to stay as calm as a I could and we did everything we could during those days to boost my oxytocin and build a relaxing environment.
Barnsley Hospital had initially booked me in for an induction at 41 weeks (their standard policy) which I was very hesitant about, considering 41 weeks is not really that over due and I’d already had plenty of signs of labour, including losing my mucus plug at 40+5.
At 41 weeks I bravely decided to decline the induction that day. I felt really empowered by my decision and the advice from my Hypnobirthing Teacher, Julia, who really helped to reaffirm my choice and give baby girl more time. I felt like I’d really taken control and power over a difficult situation.
Then bizarrely enough that same evening I began to have regular contractions. Fairly mild, but very regular and after timing them my app suggested going to the hospital/birth centre.
My parents collected our furry babies and after a bit longer at home, we headed to the Bronte Birth Centre at 11pm (Mon 23rd December).
Unfortunately the midwife concluded I was very unlikely to be anywhere near active labour despite the timings of the contractions. She gave me some pain killers and sent us home.
I struggled to sleep that night and the situation had put a lot of doubt into my mind and I really lost confidence. On Christmas Eve we tried to ignore things again, in the hope things would pick up and we had a relaxing day.
I was asked to attend Barnsley Hospital for a check and monitoring, since I’d declined the induction and I got the rather deflating news that I was only 1cm dilated and still not fully effaced. This was tough news to take in, especially when that was the situation nearly a week ago at my membrane sweep.
Early Contractions Became Overwhelming
In the evening contractions started again but this time causing me agony. I was unable to move at all during them and they felt paralysing. This was the scariest part for me, as I knew I was unlikely to be near active labour but the pain was unbearable already.
My husband Sam was very concerned and timed the contractions at 3 in 10 minutes, so we decided to go back to Barnsley Hospital, as we were able to mention the triage check earlier that day.
We arrived in triage just before midnight on Christmas Eve and said Merry Christmas, as I got hooked up to monitoring. The midwife did a vaginal examination (VE) and I was still only 1cm dilated, but she could see the pain that I was in. She offered me Diamorphine and a bed on labour ward to help reduce pain and keep me under monitoring, which I accepted. I felt that I could no longer manage alone at home.
The Diamorphine did make me throw up, but after that I managed to sleep for most of the night, with Sam being allowed to stay with me.
Christmas morning I was put on monitoring again to see how everything was and thankfully the pain had significantly reduced. The contractions were happening less regularly but were still there.
I felt that with the pain being much better, we could go home and enjoy our Christmas Day in the hope that things would progress more naturally. However, after more monitoring the maternity team noticed that my baby's heart rate kept dropping very low, with no explanation and my contractions were getting closer to being 3 in 10 again. A VE also suggested I was now 2cm and fully effaced, so things might be on the move. This was encouraging, so I tried to relax in the ward and enjoyed a pretty decent Christmas dinner for a hospital dinner.
An Informed Decision: Breaking My Waters To Start Active Labour
The contractions were getting harder to manage and feeling similar to the night before, with my back being the main cause of the pain and making me unable to move at all during them.
At 3pm the amazing community midwife from my area, Leanne arrived to take over my care. Alongside shift supervisors they agreed that they wanted to get active labour started, due to baby's erratic heart rate drops and suggested I have my waters broken. I was a little hesitant but asked questions and made sure I was well informed. I talked through the decision with Sam and was able to use my knowledge and gut instinct to go ahead with their plan confidently.
We went up to the birthing suite and got ready. A VE revealed I was still 2cm dilated and then immediately after, I had my waters broken. It was much easier than I had expected and not unpleasant at all. It just felt like having an accidental wee.
I was given 4 hours to allow labour to progress quicker, but was kept under constant monitoring. Leanne did wonders to make the environment as calm as possible and we even set things up so I could sit on a birthing ball whilst being monitored, which hugely helped with the pain management.
Breathing Techniques & Support Got Me Through Contractions
My breathing techniques were absolutely essential for getting me through the contractions, which had become stronger and very regular. That and my husband’s hand to squeeze got us into a routine for each surge and it felt like I knew exactly what to do, to get through each one. Later on I also had some gas and air which Leanne said I used perfectly, because my breathing techniques were so good.
Leanne also said I was really great to have stuck to my guns, with wanting to allow labour to progress after the Artificial Rupture of Membranes (ARM) and not go straight to the drip. This made me feel really proud.
After 4 hours we had another VE which sadly revealed no change. This was the hardest news all night, as I’d put so much effort and work into those 4 hours for nothing to have happened.
We then discussed the drip again and Leanne was great at letting me know the procedure, the risks and helping me deal with the decision emotionally too.
We decided to try the drip but I was mostly nervous about the cannula, given my serious fear of needles and particularly those that stay in my skin. The first cannula failed which then really scared me and got my adrenaline going and made me panic.
Unfortunately at this same time some new shift staff came into the room and I was immediately overwhelmed. Thankfully I knew to stand my ground and asked them to leave my space, leaving just me, Sam and the two midwives that I actually knew and trusted. I felt rude, but I knew I needed my space to think and process the situation carefully and allow myself to calm down.
Embracing a C-Section To Find Relief
We dimmed the lights and Sam and I spoke privately. He saw my exhaustion and suggested we go for a Caesarean Section to avoid the drip and an even more prolonged labour, which I think we both knew I wouldn’t cope well with.
We discussed this option with my midwives, Leanne and Becky and they were incredibly supportive and encouraging. Leanne mentioned that based on my birth plan, she actually agreed that a c-section was the right decision. This way we could take the caesarean section slowly and calmly and not have it turn into an emergency, where things would be more rushed.
She reminded me of how well I’d done to labour this long and that I’d done everything in my power. "Sometimes babies have other plans" she said. This was so incredibly powerful in how it made me feel and I had to tell her off for being so nice, that it made me cry again.
I really felt that she had taken the time to understand my preferences and made me feel so empowered and loved.
We proceeded with the c section and thankfully an amazing anaesthetist Emma made the second attempt at the cannula. It was much quicker and Emma was so funny and straight to the point, which actually made me feel much more relaxed and at ease.
It was lucky I chose the c-section, as just before that, the horrendous contractions from Christmas Eve had returned and I was unable to move again. All the pain was in my back and it was crippling.
Staying Calm & The Joy Of Hearing My Baby's First Cry
During theatre I kept my eyes mostly closed and focused on breathing again to stay calm. Once I heard my baby cry from behind the screen, I was completely overcome. I cried with joy that everything was over and I’d successfully delivered my baby.
She was born at 22.53 on 25.12.24.
The midwife Becky was fantastic at fulfilling all my wishes for my baby after the birth. I was able to watch her being weighed and cleaned, which distracted me from the rest of the procedure going on around me.
Trusting Myself & Putting Hypnobirthing Into Action
I finally got to see and hold my baby, after a mammoth time of labouring and trying my best to make the experience as positive as possible. I was truly faced with some extremely difficult circumstances and choices to make, but I do feel that I made every single one with myself, my baby, my body and my mental health in mind. I was informed throughout and my hypnobirthing techniques were the most valuable skills I’ve ever taken into anything.
Cord Around Baby's Neck & How The C-Section Kept My Baby Safe
After surgery I was told that my baby had the cord around her neck, which could have been easily worsened by the drip and that she was mostly back-to-back, which explained the excruciating back contractions and again would have made natural labour almost impossible. This made me feel relieved that we had made the right decision, but whilst still exploring every avenue to make the birth an experience I would remember positively.
I certainly remember it as the most challenging thing I have ever done in my life. But I could not be more proud of myself for doing what I did and making the informed and calm choices I did. I would have been nowhere without hypnobirthing and a positive attitude towards the birth.
Hypnobirthing For All Births
Hypnobirthing tools and techniques really are so powerful to learn. The amazing thing about hypnobirthing is that it is for all births and can adapt, as birth adapts. Chrissie didn't have the birth that she had visualised during pregnancy, but she still had a positive experience and that is all thanks to hypnobirthing. Her skills helped her to make informed decisions, advocate for herself, remain calm and in control. The breathing techniques that she learnt on my hypnobirthing course helped her to feel more comfortable during labour and to relax during her caesarean section.
Nuchal Cords Around Babies Necks
Nuchal cords around babies neck are pretty common. Dr Rache1 Reed (2015) says that "around 30% of babies are born with their umbilical cords around their necks. If a nuchal cord does not occur in pregnancy, it can occur during labour. As the baby rotates through the pelvis, they can wind the cord around their neck. Very occasionally, a nuchal cord causes complications, but in the vast majority of cases, it is a normal variation."
Continuity Of Care During Birth
As Chrissie discusses in her birth story, having continuity of care from someone you know and trust can make such a big difference during labour. Chrissie was so lucky that her community midwife, Leanne was able to be at her birth. This will have definitely added to Chrissie remaining calm, feeling supported and having a positive experience. BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth (2018) say "continuous support during labour from the same maternity caregiver has been associated with a positive childbirth experience. Some studies suggest that personal continuity of care is related to fewer interventions such as the need for pain relief and to feeling safer during labour." This is why having a Doula's support during birth can have so many benefits and increase the chances of having a positive experience.
If you'd like to explore the idea of having Doula support during your birth or thinking about doing a hypnobirthing course, get in touch with me to see how I can help. Visit my website, where you can read more about Hypnobirthing and the role of Doulas and discover what packages I can offer you.
Julia x