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My Story
The births of my two daughters were life-changing for me.
From childhood I have had a deep-rooted fear of pain, needles/injections and hospitals so when I first learned that I was pregnant my immediate reaction was terror at the thought of the birth and the trauma that I believed would 'inevitably' come with it. Therefore when I came across hypnobirthing and the idea that you can prepare for birth using evidence based, statistically proven techniques that help to reduce pain and the need for medical interventions, I was immediately hooked and eagerly took a course and emerged myself in all things positive from there on. As my estimated due date approached I felt prepared for the different turns my labour may take, I knew the options I may be presented with and what my preferences were likely to be, and was genuinely excited and looking forward to the big day!
My labour started in the early hours of the morning and the tools & techniques I had practiced through pregnancy helped me to stay calm and to feel in control while at home and after transferring to our local birth centre. I gave birth to our beautiful daughter Orla in a birthing pool using only a TENs machine and gas & air for pain relief.
The birth of our second daugher was an incredible experience and a memory I will cherish forever. I struggled to dedicate as much time to my birth prep while juggling a full time job and looking after a pre-schooler, but I loved listening to the wonderfully relaxing hypnobirthing tracks in bed as I drifted off to sleep each night in the run up to my due month so felt confident and prepared as the big day approached. My surges again started in the early hours of the morning and I felt confident to nagivate through them using gentle movements and breathing techniques. After only a couple of hours I realised they were coming close together and building in strength so I called the birth centre to let them know to expect us, called my mum over to look after Orla then woke my husband to let him know we needed to get to hospital asap! I was fully dialted on arrival so the midwife quickly filled the birthing pool while I continued my breathing exercises and listened to positive affirmations.
As soon as it was ready I climbed into the pool and in less than 20 minutes my darling Ivy was born to the soundtrack of the huge thunderstorm taking place outside - I felt like a birthing goddess. I caught her in the water and had three hours of uninterrupted, blissful skin to skin cuddles, during which she successfully and easily latched and had her first breastfeed.
Both of my births were incredible experiences and as far apart from the horror stories I had imagined birth would be like, and this prompted my desire and passion to help other women to achieve the same. Birth is an intense and powerful journey, there's no getting around that, but to know that you have the ability to take control of your body and shape your birth - reducing the chance of pain or need for intervention, is beyond empowering and I want to help you believe that.
After struggling to breastfeed my first child, I was able to breastfeed my second baby successfully and without any pain for 24 months after learning about the Thompson Method. Through the classes I offer to women during pregnancy, I aim to help others to learn this gentle method that leans into a mother's natural instincts to enjoy a wonderful breastfeeding journey with their little one.
