Amazing Induction Hypnobirthing Story: Jessica, Daniel, and Giuliana

Hypnobirthing students come from all walks of birth and here is an inspiring induction story from one of our students last year.

If you know you need an induction or know you have special circumstances in your pregnancy and want help navigating these situations, Hypnobirthing can help. In these classes we teach you about your birth preferences, how to relax and overcome fears in birthing and parenting, and how to be an advocate for your choices. New series beginning in February and all registration can be done on our website.

“Jessica. 33 years old.

For my husband and I our pregnancy is such an important part of our birth story.

June 2017. Married five years. First conception. First miscarriage at seven weeks gestation – never heard a heartbeat.

One year and two months later August 2018, married six years. Second conception. Second miscarriage at thirteen weeks gestation. This miscarriage was anticipated as at nine weeks we were diagnosed with a blighted ovum – never heard a heartbeat.

Eight months later April 2019, married just shy of seven years. Third conception – and third time turned out to be a charm – we finally heard a heartbeat! Pregnancy for us was exciting yet terrifying given our history with miscarriages. We were lucky enough to not have had morning sickness but even more concerning – hypertension in pregnancy which of course later led to special circumstances associated with labor and delivery.

I’d had slightly elevated blood pressure prior to pregnancy along with severe ‘white coat syndrome’ which elevated my pressures even more, but I’d never been prescribed any antihypertensives. As I got further along in my pregnancy my pressures started to increase and I began monitoring them closely at home.

At 28 weeks 5 days gestation my OB sent me to the hospital where I was admitted as an Inpatient in the hospital for nine very long days. During these very long nine days I learned the importance of patient advocacy. Our baby remained unharmed by my wild blood pressure, but the major concern was my well-being. After all – Mom must be healthy for baby to be healthy!

Long story short after about two days of admission it was becoming very difficult to control my blood pressures and due to the dangers and risks my blood pressures posed on my health there was some serious consideration regarding delivery – and it was then that I knew I needed to cook our baby a little while longer and so I really needed to be my own advocate.

If I were startled or anxiety ridden when a nurse or patient care tech walked in to take my blood pressure – I would ask them to wait a while and come back. I would request the manual blood pressure cuff rather than the automatic cuff as the automatic cuff’s noises increase the anticipation of how high my pressures might be. I requested no visitors as not to get me excited or anxious.

Wouldn’t you know that after all of that I surprised the providers and my blood pressures were finally controlled. This is of course along with the help of eight pills a day that weren’t working alone without my advocacy. I was discharged at 30 weeks gestation knowing that I would have an induction at around 37 weeks gestation. I was also discharged with provider instructions not to return to work until after delivery and to see my OB twice a week until delivery.

I should probably mention that I am the girl that doesn’t even like to take an aspirin or Tylenol for a headache and I was really hoping for a natural delivery. Upon discharge rather than be disappointed about being induced I decided that I would get educated and advocate for the most natural birthing experience possible. I’d been introduced to the idea of hypnobirthing prior to my special circumstances and so I looked into the practice and signed up quickly since it was a five-week program and I would be delivering in seven weeks. The program enhanced my patient advocacy and birthing experience. As I share my birthing experience I will take the time to highlight what I believe to be valuable tips.

Scheduled for an induction at 37 weeks and 2 days I felt very prepared and confident having educated myself and husband beforehand, sharing a typed birthing preference document with my OB and bringing a typed birthing preference document upon admission at the hospital. VALUABLE TIPS: Talk to your OB/midwife/other healthcare provider about your birthing preferences and ask each other questions – doing more research and editing it as needed. Most importantly – determine what will be best for you and your family. It is also important to remind yourself that these are your birthing PREFERENCES and it’s not a birthing plan – big difference. We document what we prefer when it comes to our birthing experience, but our babies and bodies ultimately determine the outcome.

Upon admission I was effaced 50% and dilated to a one. A Foley bulb induction was performed, and we were to wait overnight to see how we progressed. Although I heard that this procedure was painful I found that maintaining relaxed and calm made it painless. Additionally, a low dose of Pitocin was to be administered along with the Foley bulb induction, however, that did not occur – nor did I think to question it. Unfortunately, the Foley bulb induction alone did not did not result in any progression and Pitocin was started the next morning with a gradual increase.

Although I was having contractions I was not in active labor when my OB checked me (I was effaced 75% and dilated to a two), even after the Foley bulb induction and four hours’ worth of Pitocin drip increases. At that time my OB assisted with the breaking of my waters and instantaneously I was dilated to a four and in active labor. My husband and I came prepared for this moment and set up our battery-operated candles, aromatherapy diffuser and affirmations/soothing sounds to listen to (VALUABLE TIP: Bring these items… and don’t forget your pillows from home too!). My husband fed me ice in between contractions throughout the entire labor process and I ate Gobstoppers (VALUABLE TIP: Bring Gobstoppers!). He was excellent at reading my body language and knew when to step in and when to step back and I will be forever grateful for that.

I am also grateful that the hospital where we delivered had wireless monitors, so I could be mobile during labor. I moved around trying to find the most comfortable spot to birth. It almost felt like The Three Bears (remember the story) – I had to find the spot that was ‘just right’. Believe it or not and call me gross but…. the toilet was THE SPOT! The bathroom was roomy yet small enough and it had a thermostat, so I could adjust the temperature quickly as needed. I could sit with the lights off in near darkness with only the light of my candles. The toilet relieved the pressure of labor – and BONUS… it caught the labor mess. Four and a half hours later I was ready to push and awaited my OB’s arrival for nearly an hour before pushing.

In less than ten minutes and with just 3 pushes Miss Giuliana Grace was born with no epidural and no episiotomy and only a small first-degree tear. I had the opportunity to watch my delivery with a mirror, I received our baby from my birth canal straight to my chest, I cut my own umbilical cord and I snuggled and breastfed my baby for a good hour and a half before she was taken from me to be measured and weighed. She was so calm and content at birth and I was up and walking around while she was evaluated. Born just after 37 weeks and at 5lbs. 13oz. and 19in. she didn’t require lights or warmers. My labor and delivery experience superseded anything I could have ever imagined – especially after our terrifying pregnancy experiences.

Ultimately, I do believe we owe such a positive experience to the hypnobirthing education we received. Having confidence, felling educated and feeling empowered upon entering the hospital on induction day while remaining calm yet open minded for where the adventure of labor might take us allowed us to have the delivery experience we yearned so long for. In our happy ending we have this beauty and we couldn’t be happier – At birth vs. 3 months. “