Transform Your Birth

Jemima chooses to have a homebirth and it is her second birth. Her first child was born 22 years previously. She had to overcome her own fear of the pain from her first experience when she was very young. She felt that she had failed, and judged herself very harshly. This birth gave her the opportunity to understand and reframe her previous experience, by seeing birth as a rite of passage, not a place where we need to perform and live up to some perceived expectations.

She had a posterior labour, and a long early labour. She tethered herself to the breath, as her primary tool, and her partner was her rock. She talks about using the meditations to prevent her mind going into dark places, and ultimately lets go of the worry of her baby's position. She and her husband create a beautiful environment to labour in and she experienced wonderful support from her midwife, partner, mother and sister - a truly family affair.

Towards the end Jemima also shares her decision making process when it came to having a homebirth.

Some great insights into the mystery of birth are revealed in this story - enjoy!

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Elley had heard a lot of stories about birth from her mother who was a midwife, and then a sister who had a difficult birth and so she came into pregnancy quite fearful. She did lots of reading and the 'Transform Your Birth' course which shifted her perspective.

She went into spontaneous labour and spent most of it at home. She discusses the timelessness of birth. Her second stage needed a little help but with good care and support she was able to push her baby out, and experienced a big high afterwards. We discuss letting go of the monkey mind, and the altered state of birth. She identifies the fear tension pain syndrome as a great understanding to her being more confident in birth. Her advice to pregnant women is prepare - prepare - prepare! Thank you Elley and little Edward.

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Leah shares how she shifted her perception of the pain and overcoming her fear of birth after doing the 'Transform Your Birth' course. Her partner felt much more comfortable in knowing his role also. At 36 weeks Leah discovers her baby is in the breech position. She had to come to terms with the change of plan and she shares how she was able to shift her mindset, to open herself to the understanding that birth may not proceed in the way she wanted. She then had an ECV, which is a procedure to try to turn the baby – which is successful.

Leah goes into spontaneous labour. She shares her journey through the different stages and it ends up being long. She experienced wonderful skilled care from her midwife and other health professionals. She needs help with her placenta and is amazed at how calm and ok she was dealing with this unexpected situation. She then shares how this experience prepared her for parenting.

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Emily will share with us today, two birth stories. The first resulted in a caesarean, the second was a vaginal birth after caesarean. She uses her experiences from the first birth to get very clear on what is important to her having baby number two.

Emily shares her decision making around the models of care and then her subsequent relationships with both care providers.

She also gives us an insight into her internal evolution through her second pregnancy, because of going through the first birth. Emily cuts down the noise, makes informed decisions that feel right for her – but more importantly starts to really tune into to the inner intelligence of the body and her mother spirit. She describes feeling calm and content in the knowledge that she will know what is right for this baby and this birth. She also feels completely confident, having processed her fears, and is ready to let go of what she cannot control. This conversation touches spaces that we have inside of us that are rarely spoken about in the context of birth. If you want to understand the evolution and wisdom of birth to transition women into motherhood – then this conversation is for you.

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Kate was quite fearful of birth in her early pregnancy and then goes on to study birth deeply which helps shift her mindset.

In her later pregnancy she is diagnosed with preeclampsia and needs to face an induction. During the process she is feeling rushed by her medical professionals and locks herself in the bathroom for a couple of hours. By reclaiming her space and doing it when she was ready, allowed her to endure a very long labour without any need for pain relief. She puts on noise cancelling headphones to zone out from the activity in her room. She listens to her own breath which helps her get into the zone. She also asks for the syntocinon to be turned down, so it mimics a normal labour. She talks about not feeling the time, even though it was a long labour, and asked her caregivers to not refer to time.

She loved the pushing phase and felt zero pain and avoids an episiotomy. She discusses healing from tearing. She also had a big bleed after the birth – but through all of those things she was just so pleased and proud of herself. She feels it set her up beautifully for parenting. Kate's story reminds us that we are enough to birth our babies, even when we need help.

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Sarah had a straightforward pregnancy and then was facing induction. She exercises her capacity to negotiate the stages of induction by giving herself time to see if each stage is enough to kick off her labour. This works really well for her as she only ends up needing the gel on her cervix. Her waters break spontaneously, and she manages to avoid the syntocinon. Her labour ends up progressing quite quickly. She talks about the tens machine and the gas, and how they were useful for her. She had the urge to push, but the midwives suggested it was too early not feeling she could have progressed so quickly. She did progress quickly, and we discuss rate of progress. She finds being on her back was a good position for her. She marvels at how she was able to overcome an episiotomy that gets infected. Sarah's story reminds us that we can get through things that previously we might have resisted. She finishes with – you've got this mamma. We are far more resilient than we realise. Enjoy her story, it has much to teach us.

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Hope had an intense fear of birth and a history of anxiety. She discusses her preparation, and what are the things that changed the way she felt about giving birth. She committed fully to the practices, and really shifted her inner beliefs and responses to the idea of giving birth, so much so she experienced painless labour. Hope also identifies how her birth supported her transition into motherhood.

I love this story, as it can open our minds to the possibilities of how we can experience the sensations of labour.

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Sheena shares her story of two babies under two different models of care.

Her first birth began with an induction due to size. She reflects later that she didn't ask a lot of questions and just followed medical advice. Second time round she chooses continuity of midwifery care, and then does the 'Transform Your Birth' course. This choice engaged her partner more which put them on the same page. It also helped them to adapt to a dramatic change when the baby was breech.

Sheena is very pragmatic and has taken two very different births in her stride and gives us a powerful message of trusting in yourself as a birthing woman. She believes we are born for this, and we can get over whatever speed bumps come our way. Enjoy!

Links:

Transform Parenting website

Erika shares her two birth stories. She had to overcome the negative culture and advice she was being given.

Erika used calmbirth to lock in a new mindset.

She discusses her process of change. Affirmations were a huge tool she used.

With baby number 2, she gives birth in Bangkok, and this time hires a doula.

Fortunately, through the confidence she experienced with her first birth,

She was able to powerfully advocate for herself and her baby.

I think you will enjoy Erika's and her passion for birth.

Tiahna finds herself with a breech baby and low fluid and needing to have a caesarean.

She adjusts to a new plan, which isn't easy, and she eventually overcomes her feelings of failure.

She also speaks of the emotional rollercoaster that comes with birth, which is an important part of our growth as a new mother..

She has a gentle caesarean and makes some special requests which helps her to take back some control.

She shares how her partner adjusted and supported her.

Microbial seeding and what she learnt about herself as well as some great advice for pregnant women.

This story is gold!

Links:

Transform Parenting website