Bringing Will into the World (Julianne’s story)

Our daughter Ruby was born in 2008 by emergency caesarean following a transverse presentation, failure to progress and the use of gas and epidural. Ruby is perfect and her birth was, of course, life changing for us in the best possible way. However, this wasn’t the birth experience I had imagined so when I came across an article about calmbirth® in the Australian Breastfeeding Association’s magazine, Essence, I decided to find out more.

When I became pregnant with Will I searched for calmbirth® practitioners in our area and from the first friendly email exchange with Sue, I knew she was the one for us! The classes reflected the calm, warm atmosphere of Sue and Kerry’s home and Sue’s gentle instruction inspired confidence from the start. Calmbirth® reassured us that our belief in my body’s ability to birth without intervention was well founded. We were taught methods for allowing my body to birth without resistance from me and how to trust my body’s inherent knowledge or “inner wisdom” of how to birth.

I was 41 weeks pregnant when my waters broke at 1.30am on 4 March 2010 and we were quietly excited as we packed my things and headed into the hospital, leaving Ruby with my sister. By 3.30am, my surges were 5 minutes apart but not strong. We set up the music and oil burner and for the next 3 hours I breathed through each surge and dozed in between. The music and warm, peaceful atmosphere made me feel so content and I was genuinely enjoying the experience, knowing my cervix was opening and thinning with each surge. Steve had been dozing too and at 7am he woke and contacted Sue who was also acting as our support person at the birth.

By this time the surges were 2 minutes apart, much longer and much more intense. I was standing and moaning while I swayed my hips. After each surge, I reminded myself that I had the “ability and inner resources to birth our baby calmly and joyfully”. I felt confident, safe, strong and very focused.

Shortly after Sue arrived the surges became even more intense and I started feeling the urge to push. I squatted on the bed leaning my lower back against Sue’s hands for each surge as Steve excitedly encouraged me. I felt tested to my mental limit and even asked for an epidural at one point. Thankfully Steve simply said “no, we’re not doing that” and explained later that my request had been very halfhearted. I never felt panicky or scared, nor did I doubt my physical ability to birth Will the way I had dreamt.

Soon I started pushing in earnest but by this time I had an audience and my surges slowed to 10 minutes apart, as they had every time I was checked or monitored throughout the birth. It was decided, due to the length of time between surges, that ventouse would be used to assist Will in the last bit of his birth. Unfortunately this meant birthing on my back which was much harder than squatting. However, I was relaxing and getting lots of rest between surges and the music, together with Steve’s voice and Sue’s massage were an incredibly soothing and supportive combination. I kept my eyes tightly closed and allowed my mind to be led into a quiet place while my body did its work.

Finally, after more pushing, and panting Will’s head out, someone yelled “look down, here he comes” and I opened my eyes to see my beautiful, amazing little boy slide into the world. It was breathtaking. As he was placed onto my chest I was overcome with the strength of my love for this new little person and the attachment was powerful and immediate. I have never felt such joy or intensity of emotion. I was completely overwhelmed with the raw experience and beauty of birth. I was euphoric with a sense of achievement as well as being awed and humbled by my body’s ability to birth our baby calmly and naturally.

Will’s birth was quite simply the best experience of my life and I cannot thank my wonderful husband and Sue enough for their help, support and belief in me.