I am immensely grateful for the positive birth experience I had and feel that the Hypnobirthing course played a crucial role

Shweta’s Birth Story

Melbourne, Australia
Ashwin 2.65KG
37 weeks 3 days
Natural Hospital Birth

We began the hypnobirthing online course 3 months into my pregnancy. I chose Hypnobirthing because it embraced the idea that any form of birth could be positive and empowering. I really liked how the course focused on maintaining calm and going with the flow, rather than sticking to a rigid birth plan.

My husband watched all the online classes with me, which helped him feel well prepared to support me effectively during labor (also made me feel like we were a team and I wasn’t going through this process alone!). My mum also watched the birth partner section, so she knew exactly what she could do to help me on the day.

During my second trimester, I established a soothing bedtime routine that became a cherished ritual. Each evening, I would light a lavender candle, spray a calming lavender mist onto our pillows, and listen to the Affirmations track in bed. This consistent practice helped me create a relaxing association with the scents and sounds, fostering a sense of calm and preparing me for a peaceful night’s sleep.

On Tuesday morning, I experienced the start of the bloody show, but without any other symptoms, I carried on with my day as usual. I visited a friend and went shopping with my mum, enjoying the day’s activities. In the afternoon, I took a nap and woke up feeling mild period-style cramps. We attended a family dinner that evening, where I jokingly remarked that the baby could arrive at any moment. By the time we left around 9:30 p.m., I was having surges every 30 minutes to an hour, though I wasn’t sure if it was false labor or the real thing.

I tried to go to sleep around 10 p.m., but by 10:30 p.m., I got out of bed as the surges were becoming more frequent, signalling the start of early labour. I walked around and did some light stretches. We called the hospital at midnight, and the midwives suggested I stay at home as long as I felt comfortable, given the surge frequency was still less than 3 every 10 minutes. My husband transformed the living room into a serene birthing space with lavender candles, a speaker playing soothing music and the Affirmations track (which instantly made me relax), and a coffee table full of nourishing snacks like fruits and coconut water.

To manage the surges, I initially stayed upright and bounced gently on the birth ball, using a heat pack for additional comfort and the TENS machine on a low setting. For each surge, I utilised Hypnobirthing breathing techniques to remain relaxed. As labour progressed, I transitioned to using the yoga mat, leaning over the birth ball to find more relief, and gradually increased the TENS level as the intensity of the surges grew. I was so calm and relaxed that I laboured at home from midnight until 4 a.m., even convincing my husband to take a quick nap, as I felt so comfortable.

At 4:30 a.m., we decided it was time to head to the hospital. My husband called my mum and our student midwife to meet us there. We arrived at the hospital by 4:45 a.m., and by then, my surges had become quite intense and regular. The midwives guided us to the birth suite, which was beautifully arranged with dim lighting, fairy lights, a diffuser, and a birth ball. The serene setup immediately brought me a sense of calm. My birth partners—my husband, my mum, and the student midwife—supported me by bringing ice chips and water between surges, offering encouraging affirmations like “you are doing so well, you are almost there,” and placing cool washcloths on my neck. At 5:25 a.m., my waters broke, and I switched to being on the bed on all fours, as I preferred not to be on my back. I began using the Hypnobirthing “down breathing” technique, and at 6:03 a.m., our beautiful baby boy was born!

I am immensely grateful for the positive birth experience I had and feel that the Hypnobirthing course played a crucial role in making it so. The techniques I learned provided me with the tools to remain calm and focused, and I couldn’t have done it without them. The support of my birth partners—who knew exactly how to assist me thanks to the course—was invaluable. Thank you Melissa!