Meshendri’s Life Changing Pregnancy and Birth Experience

My name is Meshendri Padayachy and I am a first time mom at age 36. I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy on the 8 March 2021 at 53cm and 3.46kg. I had a natural water birth and labored roughly 8hrs (and proudly South African).

I was diagnosed with several spine and chronic pain issues in 2013 therefore my perception of pain was deep rooted and a daily challenge. I fell pregnant in 2020 and on the day I found out the amazing news I stumbled onto Tracy’s book Mindful Pregnancy and I bought it as a gift for myself. The book led me to the app which I started using immediately. (prior to joining the study).

I used the gentle birth affirmations daily and the perfect positioning affirmations. My favorite were “my baby is the perfect size for my body” and “my baby’s movements relax me. “

I only used the Mindful Pregnancy book and app. For a person who had pain in her body daily from swollen wrists to a sore back - my pregnancy, the book and app were a new lease on life. I did a vision board, joined yoga (having never exercised a day in my life) and did my GentleBirth exercises daily if only ones I downloaded.

I ate dates from 36w, went on mindful walks and the occasional dip in the pool.

My son was born at 40w1d. At 2:30am I experienced light period pains which were ten minutes apart. At around 3:30am I woke my husband to tell him I think this is it. We ran a bath for me to relax with the surges following the same steady pattern.

About 6am I was lying in bed with my Yorkies and I felt a strong surge and water with no smell gushed out all over the bed like a big wee to be honest. The surges felt a little stronger after that.

At 8am we drove to the midwife and I was 2cm she asked me to go back home and relax on the drive home I started to listen to the Labor Companion which was on repeat/ loop. When we got home I sat on the couch and zoned out, only coming too to ask for my heat pack to be warmed and to sip my tea or water. My surges were in my back I was present but also in a calm focussed place listening to Tracy’s voice and breathing. My hubby said at some points I would be smiling softly.

(This photo was taken shortly before my baby boy arrived).

Around 11am the surges were intense and the urge to push was very strong we called the midwife; I told her I need to push. We got into the car to the birth retreat. In the car I kept my eyes closed just followed Tracy’s voice calmly. I changed my breath work to a breath a doula taught me in case I wanted to push and it wasn’t quite time. When we arrived I walked up the stairs to our chosen birth room still calm and in my own headspace. When the midwife checked me (around 11:30am) I was 9cm and she got me into the bath.

I think she was caught off guard at 8am she thought I had a slow start but my body and baby knew just what to do.

The water was calming and my body and mind knew it was time to breathe and push, my hubby held me in the bath as I needed his support and touch, with each sensation and surge we breathed together as one and I pushed feeling and trusting my baby. The midwife would check the baby’s heartbeat and all was well. Time flew and I was calm on the last push I heard his heart but also felt my baby kick which was picked up on the machine and I pushed with all I had. Before I could blink I saw a little boy being lifted and placed on my chest at 12:50pm. Roughly over an hour from getting into the water.

My birth was amazing I felt connected and empowered. No pain in fact while pushing it felt more like an orgasm than pain.

My birth was beautiful. I trusted my body and baby. I am now happily breastfeeding and working on the fourth trimester with the app.

My baby and I feel like we know Tracy and are blessed and incredibly grateful for all the amazing work she has done. Birth was magical for me after years of physical pain my perception was altered profoundly.

These tools were incredibly powerful. No words will ever describe where the mind goes and how the body takes over. Doing the vision board was incredible and I believe seeing it daily reinforced the message. Close to the end I made copies and had it all over the house. My mom was in labor with me for 24 hrs eveyone says your first child would be like how your mom laboured. I didn’t believe it I trusted my body and baby and that my body would go into labor at the right time. From week 36 I started the dates and positive induction. From the course we had the nod for the study -my hubby learnt all the acupressure points hence why in the bath he was holding my sacrum area.

I found out I was pregnant in June 2020 when I was in a bookstore I got the call from a blood test and the cover of the book just called to me.

I feel strongly now that birth and pregnancy can be an amazing pain free experience. More so I always said I would opt for a c section if I did get pregnant due to the fibromyalgia etc and arthritis but when it did happen all I wanted was a gentle birth. Happy to say my Drs are shocked that my body has changed -improvement in my spine and wrists etc no inflammation. The mind shift for me was huge

Meshendri