Rachel describes her recent positive birth at home.

I just wanted to write you a note to thank you so much for your Gentlebirth app and all the work you do.

I just had my third baby 2 weeks ago and while I wouldn’t say I had bad birth experiences with my first 2 boys I was certainly entering my third pregnancy with a lot of fear about birth. I had very fast labours, some people seem to envy this but when it’s your first baby and they are born in 2 hrs from your waters breaking (in a yoga class I might add) while it was wonderful it also frightened me in its intensity as my body didn’t feel like it had a chance to catch up.

I decided for this baby to do what I could to prepare my mind. Thankfully I saw someone mention GentleBirth when I was 8-10 weeks pregnant and I started then and there. I listened to your voice and hypnobirthing almost every day and by the time I was approaching 40 weeks I couldn’t believe how much my mindset had shifted and how the work was paying off. I was still concerned my body might go into shock as the contractions started but decided if I did I wouldn’t fight it but just let it be, and put into place my practice to keep my mind as calm as possible.

My husband and I had decided on a homebirth. We thought it might not be possible as I was 11 days ‘over’. I cannot more highly commend and thank the community midwives from Holles Street. There was no pressure, they said I’d have til 14 days and they were so positive and encouraging at every meeting.

Finally on Monday morning I woke up around 3:30am for a trip to the toilet and felt a little crampy, my initial reaction was excitement. I was so ready to meet my baby! About 10mins later I decided to call the midwife to give her a heads up something might be starting, and as it was an icy morning.

My husband and I went downstairs and lit the fire and made a hot water bottle. My teeth were chattering which I felt was a sign it might be labour but I was feeling so calm and relaxed and ready that I didn’t panic in any way. Around 4am I put on your Birth Rehearsal and sat on my birth ball to kept myself in a nice quiet relaxed headspace.

What was amazing was that the timing on the hypnobirthing was matching my surges. As you spoke about another surge approaching- another contraction would begin. It was like it had been customized for me and it was so reassuring.

I’d listened to it hundreds of times before and now I was able to slowly breath and enjoy it for real.
I calmly breathed through each one feeling grateful that they were getting stronger as I knew it was bringing my son towards me.

I held my husbands hand and then at 4:21 he whispered that our midwife was here and got the door. She came in and said hi and I chatted fo her before I had a strong contraction so she said she’s get some things from the car. My husband went out to help as they were gone (for only a minute or 2) I had another strong contraction and I could feel my babies head coming out! They came back in to see the head and the midwife just confidently let out a little laugh and grabbed her gloves and with another push our baby was born at 4.25am (All 9lbs 6oz of him). I remember you sharing a video where the mum said afterwards “that wasn’t too bad” and I had visualised myself saying those same words after my birth.

The moment after not only was I thinking “that wasn’t too bad” I was thinking “oh my god that was fine, dare I say easy, I cannot believe it’s over” it was so quick I wish I could experience it again!

Not thoughts I thought I would be having. My husband was more shocked than me as he said he had no idea I was so far along as I was so calm and relaxed.

I know I am very lucky to experience such fast labours and that’s not every woman’s experience but I can honestly say my mindset and your training was what made the difference and gave me the gift of the most wonderful birth, something I will treasure forever. Had we not been so relaxed and confident we probably wouldn’t rushed into hospital and it would have been a much more stressful experience and no doubt baby would’ve been born in the car!

I was also so grateful to have the most incredible midwife who made it even more wonderful, who cared for me afterwards - helped me into the shower and dried me down with a towel and dressed me. It sounds like a small thing but that has stayed with me, being so cared for in those vulnerable moments afterwards makes such a big difference.

Our 2 other boys stayed fast asleep upstairs and couldn’t believe when they came down the next morning to find their brother waiting for them.

I just wanted to thank you for the work you do and for making such a difference to so many women’s birth including mine, I am hugely grateful. It’s so important for woman to know they don’t need to be afraid of birth, we are built for it and our mind is our most powerful ally. My only regret is not having a video of the experience to show how amazing it really was.

Rachel Nolan