Imagine if every birth story started with – it was amazing!
Those are precisely the words new mum Kelli used to describe her birth.
Kelli’s amazing birth
Hi Kate!!Well by now you’re fully aware that out little girl, Willow Audrey, has joined this world!!It. Was. Amazing!It was 6pm on a Wednesday night and I was 40+6 weeks. Fair to say I was getting a bit over it and impatient to meet our little girl. Dave had just pressed on every acupressure point for inducing labour from the hypnobirthing course and we headed to bed (early, I know ?). Something just felt different that night and for some reason I decided to take the fitball into the bedroom with me and instead of getting into bed I just sat and bounced on it while we watched TV. Sure enough by 7pm I was timing contractions.I chilled on the fitball for a bit longer then jumped in the shower. At about 1am we headed into the hospital with contractions about a minute long and 2-2:30 minutes apart. about 10 minutes after arriving at the hospital my waters broke, perfect timing. I ended up having a vaginal exam just to see where I was at which I was okay with. Only 2-3cms!! Damn…. But, didn’t dwell on it. Headed on back to my happy place in the shower.Dave was amazing, super calm and felt super prepared. When we got there he asked all the questions, told the midwives my wishes, popped on our hypnobirthing tracks and fed and watered me. I sat in the shower for probably a good 5 hours. I do think I probably should have got up and moved around a bit more than I did as I feel gravity definitely would have helped move me along a bit more but ultimately, at the end of the day I had found comfort in sitting on the floor with the hot water running over me. I was practically asleep between contractions, I was that relaxed.I got up at one point and starting feeling the urge to push and was involuntary pushing. I agreed to another vaginal exam at this point, which again, I was okay with. There was a lip of fluid still sitting in the way which they removed. After that, it was game on. I spent probably an hour and a half pushing. I was up over the back of the bed for a good while and doing ‘poo breathing’. However I don’t think I’m very good at it!! I definitely didn’t get anywhere with it anyway haha… I ended up on my back which was actually alright and I could feel the sensation of pushing a lot more effectively. Plus Dave was happy because he had ‘a front row seat’ according to him ?The OB was very aware that I wanted my perineum protected and did very well. Just had a small tear which needed 1 stitch, no complaints here, definitely could have been worse! The midwives and doc were otherwise all very hands off which was great.All in all, 13 hour labour, a smidge of gas in the last hour or two and a minor tear. Don’t get me wrong, it bloody hurt! It stings like nothing I’ve ever felt in this world and I feel like I didn’t practice the hypnobirthing techniques nearly as much as I could and should have but, I loved every minute and would 100% do it again. I’m already excited for my next pregnancy and birth so I can build on what I learnt from you and this amazing course and have an even more incredible and in control experience next time!So thank you!, and the hypnobirthing course, endlessly for your expertise, support and positive attitude! I truly believe it made all the difference and I cannot stop recommending it to people!Hope to come to a catch up soon!Kelli, Dave and Willow xxx
Kate Vivian is a self-professed pregnancy and birth geek who is finally learning to embrace the chaos of having 3 kids. It was the birth and ‘bringing baby home’ experience of her first baby, and the overwhelming guilt that went with it, that led her to start Bright Mums – and create a world where Mums matter.
A Certified Hypnobirthing Australia Practitioner, childbirth educator and birth and postpartum doula, Kate works with Mums-to-be not only supporting them through pregnancy, and birth but also teaching them to honour themselves at a time when the world is telling them their baby is the most important thing.
With almost 2 decades in adult education, Kate has the ability to create a safe space, a non-judgey space. A place where Mums can relax and feel supported regardless of what their journey looks like.
A keen traveller in a former (pre-kids) life, Kate dreams of the day her kids are big enough to take skiing and they can completely show her up while she is busy falling down mountains.
Find out more about Kate and Hypnobirthing Australia classes