Hayley, Jack and Baby Frankie - Beautiful Waterbirth
We were at a wedding in Surrey when I started to have some strange feelings - by 6pm we were at Frimley Park Hospital. My best friend, the bride said that I would make her wedding as a Bridesmaid and have my baby the next night and that is exactly what happened!
Hayley was a yoga client and joined the JoyFULL Mamas Hypnobirthing Group course in June 2022. Her husband Jack works in the military and was unable to join her. Hayley wanted to access calm, confidence in birth and her partner Jack tuned into my digital Empowered Birth Programme so he could be genned up in preparation for the birth.
Here they are at the wedding, the night before baby Frankie was born.. 💕
I arrived at the hospital in my Bridesmaid dress and the surges were coming every 2 minutes so I was definitely in established labour. The birthing suite was amazing - totally geared up for active birth. I got out of my dress, into my nightie & with Jack beside me, in the birthing suite I felt safe and ready to go for it. I used gas & air & paracetamol only which I am really proud of myself for.
At one point I was really sick which was horrible and had a bath to relax me. I was soon on all 4s again, keeping upright forward & open. By midnight I was 10cm dilated and got into the birthing pool which I found so lovely. 2 hours of pushing and he arrived! The Midwives & hospital were amazing. We had a double bed in a birthing suite with our own bathroom which I feel very lucky for. I remember I kept thinking “oh wow, I did it - I did it without an Epidural” - I really feel so proud of myself for that. The wonderful thing is that after our classes I did believe I could do it.
Frankie was born at 1:55 - after was really a quick labour & the midwife said it was especially so for a first labour. . It was a really positive birth, I feel so happy that he is here & everything is ok. Breastfeeding is going really well. So thank you for everything that you taught me - having that belief that I can do this & my body is perfectly designed for this - I am so happy that all of the work that went into this birth practice meant that I shifted my mindset and really believed that I could do it. Thank you for all of your teachings and everything that you gave me to ease my birth experience.
I did the Hypnobirthing course with you because I didn’t want to be filled with worry & anxiety about the unknown and instead to feel confident and empowered that I will be ok. All the techniques I learnt with you helped me so much. The Midwives said it was a very short labour for a first time Mama and that this was mostly due to my breathing & calmness helping everything along so productively. Thank you for everything Dulcie - I really enjoyed all of our learning at hypnobirthing and at the yoga classes. I am excited to see you at the postnatal classes!