Yep. You read that correctly. I friggen love giving birth! I love watching births, talking about it, reading about it…
BUT I wasn’t always like this.
In fact, like most women, I was scared of it. I knew I wanted to be a mum but wished I could skip the whole birth part. Growing up I heard all the negative stories. I watched so many movies with women on their backs, legs up in the air. Then being told that labour was like really bad period pain. Well, I had PCOS so I knew what bad period pain was like! So how was I, a girl who couldn’t even take a band-aid off or get a wax, supposed to deal with this?
Fast forward to getting pregnant with my first and I was excited…..but then the negative self-chatter began.
“You are so weak you won’t be able to handle it”
“You may as well just get an epidural”
“But the epidural might have side effects!”
“I hope you don’t have to get induced how horrible”
Have you ever heard that worrying is like praying for what you don’t want? You can guess how my first birth went!
When I got pregnant the second time around, I decided to do the Hypnobirthing Australia course. What did I have to lose? Hubby was skeptical but he came along as he knew it was important to me (i.e. I said I wanted to go so we went. The pregnant one wins).
Once we did the course, I realised that my experiences the first time around were largely due to my mindset. If I expected the birth to be a certain way, that’s the way it was going to be. So, I worked hard to change this. I listened to and repeated affirmations daily. I felt like a phony saying things like “I am strong” but the more I said it, the more I believed it! We practiced using our strategies and each time we did, I imagined I was truly in labour. I pictured how relaxed and calm I would be.
I found myself getting more and more excited for the birth. I couldn’t wait to meet my baby. I let go of my fears of having to go through any unexpected interventions. Again, I shifted my mindset and started to feel grateful that I had access to medical interventions should bub or I need it. I was aiming for a natural birth but surrendered to the process and knew it would all unfold the way it was supposed to.
We went on to have an absolutely beautiful birth (read my birth story here). During my stay in hospital I felt like a bit of a celebrity. “Oh, you’re the one who had the big baby I heard you were awesome”. I was getting hugs and high fives from my doctor, the midwives, nurses and lactation consultants. They reaffirmed what I had just learnt. I was strong and, to be honest, bloody amazing.
But then I thought, ‘What makes me so special?’ Why could I do it and enjoy it while so many other women still feared it? I know it’s because I changed the way I looked at birth, and myself. I can’t thank or recommend the Hypnobirthing Australia course enough for allowing me to do this! Best. Decision. Ever.
* not actually a birth addict. More a birth enthusiast.
I am now teaching Hypnobirthing Australia group courses in Bossley Park. Private classes are also available. Book a course with me.
