A Positive Induction Birth Story

We completed our Hypnobirthing course in March with Vicki Hobbs in preparation for an end of May / early June due date.

My pregnancy had been perfect, no complications, the dates had never changed with each scan, my baby and I were in perfect health.

Towards the end of May, in preparation for our birth, I listened to my birthing tracks (Surge of the Sea & Affirmations) each evening and my husband and I did the practice track / video together as well.

We were patiently waiting for our little baby to join us, convinced she was coming any day now.

Our little baby was very comfortable on the inside so at 41w1d, we were booked to be induced.

She was measuring very slightly on the larger side and we did consider pushing out the induction date however we were well and truly ready to meet her.

We opted to go in at 41w for the prostaglandin gel, hoping this would kick start the labour as naturally as possible.

Our midwives at our private hospital read through our birth preferences and were totally supportive of the birth we were aiming for, which was to birth as naturally as possible.

Given our baby was “overdue” I was convinced that the prostaglandins would kick start the labour and we’d be good to go!

After a 6pm application of the gel and another at midnight, my body wasn’t getting the message.

After discussing it with the midwives, I was able to have my waters broken at 8:30am without the syntocinon drip to see if that would get things progressing.

The contractions started and while they weren’t super strong, I still used the breathing techniques we’d learned during our Hypnobirthing classes to get through them.

After four hours of small contractions, my body still wasn’t contracting enough to move bub down.

In order to have a timely birth, we decided it was time for the syntocinon (synthetic oxytocin).

To try and keep things as natural as possible, they slowed the drip for me as well.

The vaginal exams to check dilation had been extremely uncomfortable for me and by the time we’d decided to start the syntocinon, it had been more than 12 hours of trying to get into active labour and I was tired.

I decided to get an epidural sited, just in case I needed it.

They had the “walking epidural” as an option so I could be upright / on the birthing ball for labour and on my knees for the birth, which is how I wanted.

Two hours into the syntocinon, the contractions were getting very strong, and I was very uncomfortable, so I used the epidural to relieve some of the pain, still able to be in upright positions to get gravity helping with getting our baby down.

After a few hours, I was checked again and at around 6pm I was finally at 6cm – active labour!

Now it was time to let the epidural wear off so I could push my baby out.

The next hour or so I was able to listen to my hypnobirthing tracks, relax and wait, getting myself ready to work with my body to meet my baby.

I used the aromatherapy spray that Vicki had given us during our hypnobirthing classes throughout the day to help with relaxation.

At 8:40pm after just under an hour of pushing, we got to meet our sweet girl.

We cuddled for what felt like ages before she was weighed and measured at 8lb 4oz (3.7kg).

She was in perfect health and shape.

The Hypnobirthing classes helped us know what our options were and to make informed decisions.

Our team of midwives and our Obstetrician were wonderfully supportive of us trying to achieve a birth that came on as naturally as possible.

While my body really needed a nudge to get things going, I loved our birth, and it was such a positive experience.

I am so confident in and proud of all of our decisions.

I wouldn’t change a thing.

Olivia & Chris
Perth, Western Australia
May 2017