Birth Stories

These wide ranging birth stories have been sent to different YogaBirth teachers by email and selected here for you to read. There are many things you can learn from reading other women’s stories, but remember, all births are different: -

• No two women have the same birth experience

• No woman has the same two births!

Identities of women, babies and places are anonymous

 

I just wanted to say thanks for a great introduction to Yoga on Wednesday night. It’s the first time I've ever done yoga. Usually, when not pregnant, I've always opted for the high impact aerobics and running, so it was lovely to try something new and know that it was all completely safe as paranoia seems to have set in with whatever I do/eat/drink since I’ve been pregnant. I found the session very relaxing yet energising and will continue to use some of the back stretches and exercises at home.

 

My back has felt much better already tending only to hurt now at the end of a day at work. It was also really nice to meet and chat with other pregnant ladies and to realise that the feelings I have and the aches and pains are very normal and all part of it. Its also nice to be able to talk babies without worrying that people will get bored and think that’s all I ever talk about.

Thanks again and looking forward to the next session on Weds. E

 

4 months later…

We are really enjoying our lovely baby son and have had a very relaxed week settling him in. The labour and birth were quick and easy, in fact I was only in the birthing pool for 10 mins before he was born! I was able to labour at home until 6.30pm, using you yoga positions and breathing techniques, so a BIG thank-you yet again for the Wednesday classes and extra advice. I'm drinking fennel tea and the breastfeeding is going a treat! Would love to come and show him off next Wednesday evening if it is convenient, just let me know. E

 

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The birth, all in all was a very positive experience – A. was with me throughout labour and the birth, except for when he went for meals. We were also really happy with the midwives at the hospital and the way they did everything. I did have pain relief in the end, as I got distressed and did not feel able to cope and it was just wonderful to have a second stage with the epidural wearing off, where I was not in much pain but actively feeling and managing the birth. And how amazing when he came out - he was in such a hurry, the second midwife did not make it.

 

Thank you again for offering to be there. I'm sure it helped a lot knowing that there might have been that option. It was also really helpful chatting things through with you beforehand.

 

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Thank you hugely for your classes, the birth was fantastic & exactly to plan. The special ‘singing’ was the best! S. was born in the water - it was very serene.
Please send everyone in the class my love & I look forward to hearing news & catching up with them at the reunion. N.

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Just to let you know that S arrived (nearly 2 weeks late) weighing 7lb 12.5oz.About a 6 hour labour with no complications & we are both doing fine.

The yoga classes were excellent & can you wish everyone else left in the class all the best. L.

 

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I first felt some twinges on Christmas day - lower backache and mild period pains, but these had faded by the next day. This repeated on New Year’s Day, but this time strong enough to keep me awake. By the morning I was having definite contractions every 20 minutes. I went for a walk to speed things up, then a drive along a bumpy route. This worked – contractions every 12 minutes and every 5 minutes by the time we got home and getting stronger. I put on the TeNS machine; I’m not sure if it helped, but I liked having the dials to adjust to take my attention off the pain!

 

After about 6 hours I felt unable to cope with the pain and phoned the hospital and had to go on all 4s while B. packed the bags. On arrival I totally lost control and would have willingly had an epidural, but regained some control when, upon examination the midwife told me I was 8 centimeters dilated! This gave me the encouragement to go on without pain relief, but the midwife wanted me monitored for some time because the baby’s heart rate was fast. Not surprisingly this frightened me into submission.

 

This was the first time in my labour I had been on my back and not surprisingly the contractions slowed right down. After an hour I had not dilated any further and the midwife suggested we have a syntocinon drip to speed things up.

 

My partner asked her to take me off the monitor so that I could be upright. She agreed on the condition that I let her break my waters to make sure they were not discoloured with meconium [as a sign the baby was not in distress]. The waters were clear, but breaking the waters made my contractions so strong I could no longer cope with the pain so I asked for gas and air.

 

My partner persuaded me to kneel up (I would have quite happily stayed lying down). This made all the difference to the pain and an hour later the baby was born! The second stage lasted all of 10 minutes but I did have a nasty tear. I had decided beforehand to deliver the placenta naturally without syntometrine, and third stage did last another hour.

 

On the whole I feel really positive about the birth but I think it would have been a very different experience if my partner had not been well-informed through attending the YogaBirth Birth Preparation classes. I think I would not have been able to assert myself, and he got me off the drip and up on to my knees, changing the direction the labour was moving in completely. T.

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His birth was wonderful. Very long and hard work but such a great experience. I gave birth to him standing up with R holding me up. It was such a great moment when he came out and I held him for the first time.
Life with a new born is pretty full on and has been quite an adjustment! It feels like he feeds all day and all night, breaking only to have his nappy changed or to puke up on his clothes. B ut it’s all worth it because he’s so fantastic. L

 

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I gave birth to a baby girl (3 kilos!) at 1.41 am on Thursday The birth team (A wonderful midwife and acupuncturist) was amazing and with the help of the positions you taught us we managed to get through with a totally natural labour and delivery. Thankfully there were no complications, no need for drugs, and the full labour lasted for less than 4 hours.

We left the hospital on Thursday afternoon and have been at home
ever since adapting to our new family life and trying to get used to sleepless nights!

Just wanted to thank you for all your support, without which it might have been quite a different experience. I will make a booking for your postnatal yoga classes. J

 

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I came along to your baby massage class with my son in 2004. I now have another baby and was wondering if you are still running those classes - it was one of the highlights of the early days for me and I'd love to repeat it this time! N.

 

Further Birth Stories can be downloaded here

 

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