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I met Sue for the first time when my
husband, Steve, and I arrived at
Abbotsford for our calmbirth®
class, I was pregnant with my third
child, Charlie.
Just before we walked through the front
gate my ever patient and supportive
husband asked 'what are we doing here
again?' At this point I wasn't exactly
sure myself, so I just said it was a
calmbirthing class which would help me
stay relaxed during my labour and if
nothing else it would be a nice time for
the two of us to spend together as well
as doing a little bonding with bub.
Sue was so friendly and relaxed, we
immediately felt comfortable with her.
The classes exceeded every expectation -
it was indeed a beautiful opportunity to
bond with my husband and baby but so
much more! During the classes we learnt
many relaxation and visualisation
techniques; we learnt the benefits of
staying relaxed; we learnt everything we
needed to know about the body throughout
the birthing process. We watched videos
of women giving birth in a relaxed state
and without fear. I kept thinking what a
beautiful experience for these woman and
an amazing introduction to the world for
these lucky babies.
After each calm birth class I gained
more and more confidence; confidence
that giving birth was a natural process
that the body was more than well
equipped for! This confidence grew so
much so, that by the end of the course I
decided to have a home birth and asked
Sue to be my midwife.
Charlie's birth was one of the most
amazing things I have ever experienced,
it was..... dare I say.... magical!
At approximately 3 o'clock on a sunny
winter's afternoon my waves
(contractions) became regular. Over the
next few hours my husband and I enjoyed
a peaceful ambience with quiet music and
candles burning. We had some laughs
(mainly about getting the birthing pool
ready in time) and enjoyed a nutritious
dinner. Unlike my first two labours I
simply paused and breathed through the
waves with no noise and with little or
no pain! When the waves intensified I
took myself to my bedroom and went into
a bit of a 'zone'. I am still astounded
how the relaxation techniques I had
learnt during the calmbirth®
classes simply kicked in when the waves
started.
As soon as sue walked through the door
at 8.15 pm my waters broke and I
literally flew into the birthing pool!
45 minutes later Charlie was born.
I look at the gorgeous photo of Charlie
and I in the birthing pool at home, and
I am instantly filled with the same
elation that I felt when Sue took the
photo minutes after he was born.
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