Hi Megan, I hope you’ve had a lovely Mother’s day. The knowledge we gained from your course definitely empowered us both! We are growing and learning together every day, its a beautiful journey even the tougher days are only a day! Maeve is just a delight, she loves her sleep just like we do thankfully 😂

At 25 weeks my husband and I completed the Hypnobirthing Australia Positive Birth course with Megan, this gave us both extensive knowledge of the natural birthing process and enabled us both to feel equipped with knowledge and excitement for this life changing upcoming event! We spent the next few months talking about the birth, felt able to discuss birth preferences with our SMGP midwife and feel relaxed and excited. We were able to talk openly about any fears and practice all things Hypnobirthing, often falling to sleep to the hypnosis tracks and listening to affirmations on long walks. We were as ready as could be for whatever turn birthing would take.

After having 37 weeks in my mind as a milestone of being ‘full term’, we were most surprised to wake up on the morning of being 37 weeks to roll over in bed and my waters break- thankfully the mattress protector was waterproof! Our baby girl was obviously eager to meet us, I was feeling relaxed and mentally in a good place and ready to meet our baby. So off I set cleaning the house wearing an adult nappy, zipping up the hospital bags, collecting the tens machine and of course doing some last minute pregnancy photographs at the beach. We had planned to go to the beach that evening to do some bump photographs but I knew we might be busy by the evening! My midwife told me ‘don’t call us to tell us your waters have broken’ but unsure what I should do, and given it was the afternoon and not the middle of the night I called up the hospital from Woolies car park and we agreed to go in to check it was my waters that had broken.

All confirmed it was my waters we headed home to get all zen and calm, blinds closed, clary sage oil in the diffuser, birthing ball, affirmations and playlists ready- maybe I’ll have a shower to feel all refreshed and relaxed. Whilst in the shower, what I now know is that I lost my mucus plug as well as blood but losing blood in running water looked rather scary so the relaxed, calm mindset turned to a panicked call to the midwife. Off back to the hospital to be checked- I was informed of the ‘bloody show’ but had not anticipated it being THAT bloody! Relief when we heard her heartbeat on the monitor.

We then accepted the synthetic oxytocin drip to accelerate things after careful consideration, we were given time to think about it and my midwife assured us it would only be the lowest dose and I trusted her.

Drip goes up, tens machine goes on and I’m soon in ‘the zone’, gentle acoustic music playing and oil diffusing in the dimly lit room breathing through each surge. My husband John, and my midwife just knew exactly where to be and what to do they were truly amazing, hip squeezes, gentle massage and assuring words. I then remember a doctor entering the room asking what was going on as the monitor had slipped off- at this point I became conscious of what was going on and felt like I had to get out, protesting that I couldn’t do this anymore- but I knew I could! Affirmations playing I knew I could do this and it wouldn’t be long until I birthed my beautiful baby. After not being able to get comfy, I ended up on my back on the bed which was not how I envisaged giving birth! But here we are, pushing with nothing other than a tens machine and breathing during the whole labour, we’re about the have a baby! Then enters the doctor again stating she would give me some help (and quickly explained an episiotomy and ventouse) this is where we (mainly my husband!) felt empowered to ask the risks if we didn’t as we would prefer to deliver with no intervention.

We declined intervention and soon after I got my breathing right and there my baby was, crowning, soon to be delivered by my husband John. Simply amazing, a moment I will never forget. I felt so empowered, proud and felt amazing- experiencing all the hormones, nothing but love for this bundle of perfection. Hypnobirthing empowered me and us to advocate for ourselves and have a positive birth experience I so desired.

Maeve is just perfect to us, we are learning and growing together everyday.

To share this empowered way of approaching birth - attend a Hypnobirthing class in Adelaide with Megan- Book here