Our Birth Story

             I've always wanted to do a natural birth, I knew it was safer and healthier for the baby and me, that the labor time is reduced and that recovery would be easier as well.  The only obstacle was that I have been told my entire life how horrible and painful childbirth is and I have always been afraid of pain.  But I was determined that despite everyone’s doubts I would give birth naturally and as comfortably as possible. 

            As soon as I was pregnant, maybe even before that, I started looking at doing hypnosis for childbirth and decided to take a six-class course from Hypnobabies.  All the reviews looked wonderful and many women reported experiencing little pain at all while naturally giving birth- exactly what I was looking for!  I told Lane all about the program and he was extremely supportive and excited.  Our first class was in November and we went to one a week for the next six weeks.  It proved to be even better than I expected! We learned so much about pregnancy, childbirth and recovery and what our options were.  The more I learned the more I realized that women are strong, we were made to give birth and be mothers and we need to trust our instincts and be in control of our bodies and our experiences.  I think every woman needs to take this course, if only to realize what options are available. 

            Besides learning about our options and the process of creating and delivering a child, we also learned how hypnosis can help during birth.  Most people have the wrong idea about what hypnosis for childbirth really is all about.  All of us are in states of hypnosis every day, it is simply the state we are in when our subconscious mind takes over, for instance: how many times have you driven home only to realize you don’t remember the entire drive? Your subconscious took over and led you home without your conscious mind even realizing it.  Hypnobabies taught me how to relax deeply and quickly, and let my subconscious take over.  I listened to cd tracks every week that told my subconscious how my body would react and feel when in labor and I practiced creating hypno- anesthesia with my mind that would numb any part of my body when I directed it to. 

By the end of the six-week course I was feeling excited and ready to deliver naturally.  I continued to practice regularly and I hired my Hypnobabies instructor to by my doula at the birth.  Everything seemed to be going perfectly. 

Around 35 weeks my doctor confirmed that our baby was breech and that if he didn’t turn we would need to do a c-section.  This was devastating to me since it would mean all my preparation was in vain.  I started doing everything I could to naturally turn the baby.  I laid with my hips in the air for hours, went to the chiropractor, did acupuncture, and did hand stands in the pool, just to name a few of the things we tried.  Nothing seemed to be working to get our stubborn little boy to turn.  Finally we went in for an external version and within a few minutes they were able to get him turned.  I used the relaxation I had been practicing with Hypnobabies to keep my muscles relaxed and the doctor and nurses were amazed.  They had never had someone stay so relaxed during what is supposedly a very painful experience (another benefit of the hypnosis- it didn’t hurt at all). 

Grateful to be done laying on my head and even more grateful to avoid a c-section, I settled in for what I thought might be a few more weeks of pregnancy.  I assumed I would go over my due date since my mom did with 3 of her 4 pregnancies.  However the night of Tuesday, February 7^th I started feeling very crampy and I woke up several times in the night, not feeling very well.  Those feelings continued over the next day and Wednesday night they changed into contractions.  I was awake on and off most of the night trying to manage them, although at that point I wasn’t sure they were real contractions at all since they were manageable.  I had my doctor appointment the next day and I was excited to see if I had dilated at all and to find out if what I was feeling could be the beginning of labor.  At the appointment she confirmed that I was at a 3 and 90% effaced.  I was excited to know what I was feeling were contractions and that the baby would be here soon! 

Thursday night the contractions got stronger and kept me up most of the night.  During one of the strong ones my bag of water tore a little, letting out a small amount of amniotic fluid, but it didn’t break all the way so I decided not to contact the doctor, knowing they would want me to come in to the hospital immediately and I wanted to labor at home as long as possible. 

Friday the contractions continued but were not consistent.  They were coming anywhere from 10 minutes to 40 minutes apart and lasting from 30 seconds up to 3 or 4 minutes.  I was still managing them with the hypnosis but by this time I was getting very tired and worn out, not having slept much for 3 nights.  I was dreading another sleepless night and was starting to feel a little hopeless.  Despite my dread, Friday night was indeed, sleepless.  Around 7am Saturday morning I started timing contractions again.  By 9:00 they were averaging around 10 minutes apart.  I contacted my doula and told her what was going on and that I was feeling tired and wanting the hypnosis to work a little better.  She said it sounded like today was the day and she would come over to the house to help me get comfortable. 

Marinda, my doula, arrived around 10:30am.  We put on one of the hypnosis tracks and got out my birth ball to lean over.  She applied counter-pressure on my lower back during each contraction and helped me to get more relaxed.  For the next couple hours I sat on my ball and we visited between contractions.  When one would come I would close my eyes, put my head down and relax.  Marinda would stand behind me and press down on my shoulders.  With this combination the pain would ease up and was completely manageable. 

Around 2:00 we made some cookies to give to the nurses at the hospital and Marinda left to get some lunch.  Lane and I started a movie and I continued to sit on my ball and relax through the contractions.  At 4:00 my family came up to visit and were getting nervous that I was waiting too long to go to the hospital.  We sat and talked for a while and after they left we decided to finish packing up for the hospital.  As I moved around the house getting ready, the contractions started coming every couple minutes.  I would lean against a wall and relax through them and then continue packing up. 

Right before we left for the hospital

By 5:00 we were on our way to the hospital.  I knew the 25 minute car ride would be the most uncomfortable part so I leaned my chair back, closed my eyes and listened to my hypnosis.   We pulled up to the hospital and walked in together, stopping a couple times for contractions.  Marinda met us inside and we got checked in.  Before they took me back to get changed and to check me Marinda asked how far I wanted to be dilated.  I told her a 7 would be great and I told the nurse not to tell me what I was at until I reached that point.  She checked me and said, “Well I won’t tell you that you are a 7, but I will tell you that you’re a 9!”  I was so excited.  I had not expected to be that far because the contractions had not been the horribly excruciating pain I was told they would be. 

Unfortunately I had to finish dilating while lying on the hospital bed, not comfortable! It was even less comfortable because they were trying to get the I.V. start into my arm and tried about ten different places before getting it to work.  I just remained with my eyes closed and stayed as relaxed as possible.  When that was all over they checked me again and I was complete and ready to start pushing. 

            Pushing was, of course, the hardest part.  It’s harder to stay relaxed while pushing a baby out but I did my best and just breathed deeply through the whole thing.  The baby had his arm up by his head making it harder to push him through but we finally got it moved and after 2 hours of pushing Jace Lane Ellis was born!   I had never seen anything so beautiful as the little boy I held and I was so grateful that he was here, healthy and safe!

Jace Lane Ellis

 Born 8:25pm on February 11, 2012

7 lbs 5 oz, 19 inches long

Meeting Grandma Terry for the first time

 Grandpa Terry

 Jace and Aunt Natalie

 Uncles Josh and Nate and the rest of the family.

We enjoyed lots of visitors in the hospital.  Grandma and Grandpa Ellis, as well as Aunt Crystal and Uncle Allen came to visit too but those pictures are on Lane's phone so I will have to add them later.

 First family picture.

 Lots of cuddle time with my sweet boy.

Daddy and Jace

I could look at that face all day long!

The whole experience was absolutely amazing.  After all the horror stories I had heard I didn’t think it was possible to have a beautiful, pain free birth.  Although it might not have been completely pain free it was as close as I think you can come and there wasn’t a single moment that I felt I needed drugs of any kind.  I just trusted my body to do what it was made to do. 

           I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to be a mother, especially to such a perfect, beautiful boy.  I didn’t know I could love anyone so much, Jace really is the sweetest, most adorable baby and he has changed our lives in so many ways.

  We love you little boy, you are definitely MORE than worth it!