Birth story - Feeling Empowered and Trusting My Instincts:
BABY: WILFIE ROBERT
MUM: HANNAH
I was one of your yoga mamas throughout the latter part of 2014...I wanted to write and let you know we had a beautiful baby boy over the Christmas period (27/12)… Wilfie Robert. He's a beaut!!!
Wilfie did not arrive into the world quite how we had expected (do they ever?!)...Ian, my partner, insisted we go into hospital for a sweep when I was 41 weeks as he thought little bub was not moving as much, I thought he was being very over cautious (occupational hazard of a doctor working on labour ward!) but he insisted and I was so tired I caved in! When we arrived at hospital our babe was monitored for a few minutes and within 30 minutes Wilfie was delivered via emergency C-section. Luckily there was time for a spinal (rather than general) so I was awake throughout...I remembered your voice saying that labour could often take unexpected turns and that even during c-sections the breathing could be useful...it was! Wilf needed a couple of blood transfusions and had a week on special care before we could take him home...five days later he was back in hospital for another week with bacterial meningitis. Thank the universe, he's now 6 weeks old, we're all home together and he's growing like a little ox (no longer that gorgeous curled newborn that appeared in my arms but now growing into a wonderful bright eyed little baby boy-yummy!)
Throughout our time in hospital I really think I was able to draw on the classes you ran and the knowledge you shared with us; you always very skilful facilitated an environment which I found extremely empowering and calming. I really think this helped me enormously in looking after my boy in the early days at hospital and speaking openly about what I thought should happen (for example allowing me to voice our need for skin to skin contact; loudly requesting support with expressing my milk until Wilf was strong enough to take it directly; using the breathing techniques to calm myself and him whilst I held him during blood tests/injections etc) More than anything, the practice of mindfulness that was prevalent throughout your classes was especially helpful; during the birth it helped me stay focused in the present moment, rather than being upset that I had never actually 'gone into labour' or worrying about the speed at which everything was happening; later it helped me stay calm and strong as I learned to watch Wilfie and quickly realised that he was the true guru of mindfulness (like all little ones!)-he neither worried about all the procedures that had happened to him or stressed about his future..he just lived in the very moment! I did my best to do the same and in doing so I was able to really enjoy him and my very early weeks as his Mama...I'm still having a smashing time :-) So thank you, for all your support and fabulous classes, I would recommend them to anyone and everyone who is expecting a baby!