Braxton Cole was born on May 12th at 3:34pm weighing 2.925 and 48cm long. Our little man had to come early via induction. Wednesday morning I had reduced movement so went in to get assessed they discovered I had no fluids so I needed to go back the next morning to be included! Luckily our MGP midwife was on was on so she got to help bring him into the world. My morning started off a bit rough! When we got to the hospital I grieved the birth I had imagined! As a first time mum I really didn’t know what I was in for! I had a cry because we had to be in one of the labour ward rooms and not the MGP room which meant I wouldn’t have the big spa bath! My husband was so great and reminded me of all the things we had planned and that they were’nt dependant on a space! We set up the space to be calming and inviting! We hung lights and positive affirmations! I had my essential oils, music and eye mask! We had a passage and tens machine all ready to use as needed.

We broke my waters at about 8:45 as I was already 2/3 cm dilated. He was really low already so I felt that “need to go” right from the beginning almost! I laboured for 4 hours mostly upright the whole time using the ball, tens machine and using movement and music (country music the whole time 🤠 ). We had a very quiet birth space and our midwife came in occasionally. I progressed only 1cm in this time so we we made the call and started the hormone drip! Things then went really quick! I went from 4-10cm in 2 hours. Laboured almost that whole time in the shower with the Hypnobirthing tracks playing in the back ground!

My husband was in the shower with me using the pressure points we were taught! I’m so glad we did the Hypnobirthing 1:1 as this gave him the confidence to step in without me asking! Huantiao- counter pressure was the best thing during surges! The online platform was so relax and with a beer in hand he was so much more comfortable asking questions! And this was so clear during my labour. He was so confident in trying to help me! He was absolutely incredible I’m so grateful for the course. He really liked having the birth partner cheat sheet. We laminated everything so he had his sheets in the shower with us!! In the shower I used the cub cushion and was flopped over so relaxed and focusing on the water on my back and the Hypnobirthing tracks in the background! This is when I was glad I practiced surge breathing as it just came natural during contractions. My husband stayed in charge of the playlist during this time and made sure they were going the whole time! During surges I would breathe and moan to get through. About 20 min before pushing everything felt different and I really wasn’t getting a break so had some gas and they filled the tub. Ready for a water birth!

Once I got in the tub Braxton started to have heart decels and they had me change positions. This didn’t work so we had to get out of the tub! By this point I was so in the zone and I felt ready to push but he was so unhappy they got me out. I had one rager of a contraction hunched over the bed as they checked me and found out I was fully dilated.

I got flipped up onto the bed this part is all a bit of a blur! After about 15 min, a small episiotomy and 5 contractions and he was out! My husband even got to assist in delivering him! I felt like the prep we did gave me the skills to push effectively breathing and bearing down. I was able to trust my body and in everything that was happening!

Unfortunately Braxton’s breathing was a bit laboured so they did some tests and noted that his pre/post ductal numbers were not matching and low. He was taken to special care nursery where they monitored him. He was then brought back up to me at 2 am.

In the morning they checked him again and they weren’t happy with his numbers so they readmitted him to special care. He stayed there until Saturday at which point they became more concerned and transferred him to the NICU. They were concerned about his brain, heart bladder and kidneys as he was not producing urine.

They regulated his fluids and put in an arterial line to do this and to help with bloods as they really struggled to get bloods. He started releasing small amounts of wee but his creatinine was building up. And he wasn’t breaking down the gentamicin that was given due to concerns of sepsis.

So the WCH renal team wanted them under their care.

He was transferred to the WCH. We unfortunately were unable to visit as we became Covid positive. WCH set up video chats for us where we could read him stories and have chats! We got countless photos and regular update! Eventually his kidneys started to respond and with time he began urinating more regularly and his levels became normal! 2 weeks from his admission and he was home! Can’t imagine our lives without our little man or birthing again without the Hypnobirthing Australia techniques.

Hypnobirthing helped us to have a really positive induction experience! We were able to stick to our birth plan and when an intervention was needed we felt educated and able to make informed choices. We got an hour of skin to skin and time with Braxton, he latched right away and we got to bond and have some time as a family with our photographer present.

Despite the trauma of having a NICU baby and an emergency induction I still feel as though I had a beautiful and enjoyable birth! So thankful for Megan and her Hypnobirthing course!

To share this magical way of approaching birth - attend a Hypnobirthing class in Adelaide - Book here