Visualising being "open"

I had my baby Eva on her due date! and the labour went great! I had a natural birth and used the vocalisation and breathing from your Pregnancy Active Birth workshop. I had no stitches and she was 3.5kgs (and she’s perfect!).

My water broke and my contractions started soon after, my partner came and picked me up and we went to the hospital (I expected to be sent back home). When we got there and I was checked out the midwife told me I was in active labour! As the contractions got stronger my partner would breathe with me through the pain and when the pain grew stronger I started to make low pitched sounds (like from class) which really helped me with the pain! I used gas as the contractions worsened as well as breathing, my low noises (like a moan or a bellow?) and lots of standing poses and movements (which I didn’t expect I would use or like).

After a certain point I stopped using the gas (I was too focussed and I forgot it was even there) and I got completely ‘in the zone’ of labour. I was crouching and making lots of low pitch noise for the pushing but then delivered Eva while lying on my back. The midwives coached me instead of screaming for each push asking me to use my energy for pushing and it worked!

I visualised being open and I feel like that ‘open’ feeling contributed to my injury free (no tears or epi or stitches) birth. I was so surprised when my little daughter popped out and the midwives helped me catch her! It really is absolutely unbelievable what the human body is capable of!

Violet attended the Pregnancy Active Birth workshop with Suzanne Swan