I thought I’d take a minute and write down our hypnobirthing story because it was so amazing. Next time I think we may try and hire Discovery channel or something to do a documentary on us so we have it all on tape… as much for Celeste to see it as anything. It truly was like a sci-fi movie!
For those of you who don’t know, hypnobirthing is a birthing technique that uses hypnosis as a calming method for the mother and baby. Babies who are born using hypnobirthing are considerably more even tempered and relaxed simply because the birth process is a pleasant one and not the “traumatic” experience so often seen on television and movies. The hypnobirth philosophy believes that pregnancy is not an illness, and that your body was made to give birth, and the baby was made to be born. It is not something to “fight against” but instead something to embrace. These thoughts were already shared by both Celeste and me before even knowing about hypnobirthing.
We began taking personal classes at home a several weeks ago. Debbie Wollom, our hypnobirthing instructor, would come to the house once a week. These sessions consisted of going over hand outs, getting materials to read, watching videos of births and hypnobirths, and practicing / participating in a small hypnosis session led by Debbie. Then, during the week, we would practice on our own as well. At first Celeste simply listened to the pre-recoded “Rainbow Relaxation” hypnobirth CD that came with the book. Then, we began listening only the relaxation music (provided by Debbie) and I began leading Celeste through hypnosis. At first I wrote a script. Then, I began using more of the examples from the hypnobirthing book — such as the silver glove of relaxation and the dial that goes from 12 to 8 and 4 — and “ad libbing” most of the hypno sessions… just as I knew I would during the birthing process.
I can’t stress enough that you do not have to “believe” in hypnosis for this method to work! Celeste has always been, and probably still is, the biggest doubter of the “power of hypnosis.” She “can not be” hypnotized. She doesn’t think hypnosis “acts” are anything but that… an act… and she is very strong willed. However… all you must do is DO this method and it will work. Belief is optional and totally not needed. Practice, repetition and simply DOING what you’re instructed to do in the course will produce results. I saw it first hand and now am a big believer!!
Another thing we liked right off the bat with hypnobirthing is that it teaches you the power of your words. We were given, and learned, a list of word replacements to use during the weeks leading up to birth. Instead of “deliver” we said, and still say, “birth”… instead of “labor,” we say “birthing”… instead of “contractions,” we say “surges.” You can see that what this does is keeps your mind from hearing, and then relating, birth and the birthing process to all those things you’ve seen on TV and movies… to all those “horrible” experiences people seem so driven to share with you while you’re pregnant. Those things are able to remain separate from the wonderful, peaceful and beautiful experience you’re planning for… and from the one you know you’ll have on your birthing day.
So, moving on with the story, Monday afternoon — the day before the baby’s due day — Celeste went in for her weekly check up. Then we left and went for a late lunch at Chick-fil-A.
Celeste had been having surges since Wednesday night the 22nd of July. In fact, we had gone into the hospital Friday morning July 24th at 4:00 a.m. thinking, because of the frequency of the surges, that she was ready to give birth only to find out she was in fact not. It was during the drive to Chick-fil-A that Celeste’s surges began to go from about 1 minute in length and 5 to 7 minutes apart, as they had been, to 30 seconds apart and lasting well over a minute. We decided to go ahead and drive back to our house (about 35 minutes away), put her in a warm tub and see if the surges decreased any… which had been the the pattern previously.
By the time I got the bath filled up and her in it I was on the phone with Lesa, the midwife on call, telling her the situation. She told us that we could wait an hour or two, if we wanted, to come in… or we could come in right away… but she was certain she would see us that night. Celeste opted for the 2nd option of leaving right away… so we got in the car, Celeste’s mother driving, and headed to the hospital.
It was during the drive that Celeste started listening to her music and I started the light touch, which is part of the process, and began talking to her giving her the vocal relaxation queues we had practiced. By the time we got to triage Celeste was “under.”
When we got to triage the nurse came in and asked Celeste if she was having “contractions.” Celeste very calmly said, “Yes.” The nurse asked how far apart they were and Celeste, in a very relaxed voice, said, “About 30 seconds at the most.” The nurse asked what the discomfort level was (yay they didn’t say “pain!”) and Celeste very smoothly said, “A 10.” She hooked Celeste up to the monitor and left the room for a minute. I continued talking to Celeste, giving her light touch, and simply reassure her with my voice that this birth was going to be wonderful, relaxed and easy.
What happened next I wish I had a video of because the nurse had obviously did NOT believed us. She must’ve thought something like, “These new parents… always thinking they’re in labor when they’re obviously NOT…” Well, when she came back into the room and looked at the print out of Celeste’s surges she looked over at Celeste, as if Celeste were some sort of mutant or alien, and said in a shocked voice, “You ARE having contractions!” Lesa, the midwife, came in and examined her and they admitted her quite quickly.
The next 25 hours of birthing were full of lots of fun things… but during the whole of it Celeste sat calmly on the bed. Sometimes her surges were reading 120 on the monitor — much higher than the paper print out would even show — yet not once did she wince or complain or do anything but simply sit in a relaxed position on the bed… eyes closed, jaw relaxed, listening to my voice, a constant tether leading her through the birthing process.
Celeste was hooked up to the monitors, which for some can be a distraction I’ve heard, but for her not only was it not a distraction it was also a help for me as her partner. The monitor would show the numbers rising, and falling, just before Celeste felt the effects of the surges. So I was able to preemptively lead her… both into, and out of, the surges. I would tell her things like: “… and as you feel this next surge building you can… allow your body to relax even more… remaining very present… but also separate… allowing your mind to think about… the surge almost as if… you’re remembering it… thinking back to the day you gave birth and… remembering what that was like… but you’re also allowing yourself… to be very present… understanding that you’re birthing our baby… and letting yourself enjoy that… and remember that… and be at complete peace… totally relaxed…”
About 21 hours into the birthing process Celeste began feeling the “pushing” urges. We learned, in our hypnobirthing classes, that “pushing” wasn’t really the best way to birth the baby but, instead, “breathing the baby down” was the preferred method. I could see easily though that Celeste’s body was wanting to “push” more than anything… and that she was not leaving her hypnotic state by doing so… so I let her go with that, reminding her to “continue to listen to your body and submit to it… letting it take over… and knowing that… you can experience the birth of our baby… while remaining separate… and observing yourself… and the birthing process…”
She pushed for around 4 hours. Each time she would push she would make “noise”. Letting herself release energy — something some people do, and others don’t. Then, in between pushes, she would simply lie back on the bed and relax… almost looking like she was in a deep, wonderfully peaceful sleep. She’d sit back up again at the next surge, say, “Okay…” and then push more.
Scottlyn Eyre Green was born at 7:33 p.m. on July 28th, 2009… 25 hours after the birthing process started. Celeste gave birth vaginally with no medication of any kind and remained completely calm and peaceful during the entire birth.
Hypnobirthing also has the effect of time compression and distortion. When I asked Celeste how long she thought we had been there she said it seemed like about 10 hours. When I asked her how long the pushing stage lasted — which had been over 4 hours — she said, “I know it was a long time… maybe an hour.”
When I asked Celeste if she remembered having any pain during any of the birthing process she said, “No.” She said that she remembers all of it… and remembers the surges, but that it seemed like she was “thinking about the surges like they were memories… not like they were happening right then.” This, of course, made me smile because it was exactly how I had been leading her.
The nursing staff, other midwives (including our beloved Maren Hubbard) and staff were all completely amazed at this women in room 010 who was giving birth all naturally… having “contractions” that went off the charts… and looked as if she was the most rested person in the whole hospital.
One thing people ask about is her alertness. While she was “under” the whole time she was able to communicate during her hypnosis. She would ask for water, tell us when she needed to go to the bathroom, say, “Yes” or “No” when we asked her questions, and was very “present” during the whole process.
We could not be happier with the entire experience. The birth was exactly the birth we hoped for. And the fact that the “labor” was so long and hard (or would’ve been without the hypnobirthing methods) is only a testimony to how amazing of a method it is. It is also a testimony to the power of our mind… AND to the graciousness of God, which we could not have even concieved without.
That is the most beautiful birthing story I’ve ever heard. When reading what you would say to her during the surges it IS amazing how strong our mind is. I too have always believed that giving birth should not be painful as it’s what our bodies are made to do. Wow! Thanks for sharing this wonderful story. Hopefully yours will encourage other parents-to-be to look into this method when they are planning a family. Thanks for sharing. Love you guys!
That was lovely, thanks for sharing it with everyone.
“We have a secret in our culture, and it’s not that birth is painful; it’s that women are strong.” – Laura Stavoe Harm
I’m excited that Scottlyn is here and doing so much better. The story of her birth is quite remarkable. It is the first time I’ve heard of this approach and hope it spreads so that all new moms have a chance for this experience. Remember, you are loved!
Wow. It also seems like it connected the three of you in a way most families never experience.
Awesome and well told story. I was blessed by your commentary about God’s providence, too.