It was an amazing birth and I wouldn't change it in the slightest.

Baby Mara made her grand appearance on the 13th of January. I was 41+5 and the birth didn't go as I had hoped however with all the tools and techniques we learnt in your class it was the most beautiful, positive and empowering experience.

Coming up to the birth, I started to feel a lot of pressure from the doctors regarding intervention as little Mara was measuring big (she ended up being 4.75kgs!) Apart from that everything else was extremely normal, she was head down, plenty of fluid around her. All in all a very healthy baby and a very healthy normal pregnancy.

From 38 weeks I started getting acupuncture, listening to my hypnobirthing tracks, using soft touch and pressure point massage. After the 40 weeks mark I started trying all the old wives tales, spicy food, walking up and downstairs, labour inducing exercises, sex, you name it I tried it.

The day Mara was born I went in to get another ultrasound to check everything was good and for the doctor to speak with me. Everything was normal, however, they did want to offer me a c section due to her size. I declined and asked to be able to wait until 42 weeks to start any induction method to which my midwife was very supportive.

The doctor then gave me a call later that afternoon and asked me to come back in. She explained to me due to how big the baby is, she thinks I was at high risk of haemorrhaging so if I was to wait they would only try breaking my water and if I did not progress naturally then they would take me for a c section.

That night I was at home, myself and my partner had both resigned to the fact that I would be going in on Friday to have my waters broken. At 11 pm just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard the pop and an explosion of water came out! Just like the movies hahaha. We were both so happy to get things going and for it to start on its own. I started getting surges straight away, with them coming pretty regularly so we called the hospital and they asked us to come straight in.

I was in labour for 8 hours and unfortunately no progression, at that point myself and my partner agreed that it looks increasingly like if we continued naturally they would intervene in ways we were not comfortable and ultimately end in an emergency c section. So we opted to take the elective c section so we had control over the situation and I could be awake.

As it was selective we had to wait another 4 hours, I used all my hypnobirthing techniques to get through each wave beautifully with no painkillers. They checked my dilation one more time before I was taken in to get the surgery and again I was still not progressing. The c section itself was easy and seeing my baby for the first time was the most amazing feeling. I had no complications and Mara latched as soon as they put her on my chest.

I felt after the labour I still had plenty of energy so I could really enjoy those first few hours with my newborn.

I have been so thankful, Mara has made the transition to motherhood so easy. She is eating well, so very healthy and happy.

Thank you so much for everything you taught us. Because of your course through all the conversations with the doctors, I felt informed and was able to ask questions and communicate my wishes effectively. It was an amazing birth and I wouldn't change it in the slightest.

Emma.

To book a face-to-face group Hypnobirthing Childbirth Education course with Shari Lyon on the Gold Coast Australia CLICK HERE

To purchase the Journey to Birth Hypnobirthing Online Course CLICK HERE