Trusting Her Instincts: Jo's Birth Story

The Journey Begins

Jo's birthing time began quietly one afternoon with what many might have dismissed as practice surges. "I started getting mild period cramp type feelings," she recalls. "I thought I was having practice contractions." As the sensations became more frequent, she drew a relaxing bath, maintaining her calm and using her breathing techniques.

When discussing hospital timing with the Oxford Spires Midwifery-led Unit at the John Radcliffe Hospital (JR), she was told to "go in as soon as the pain became unbearable." But Jo chose to trust her own judgment: "The pain didn't get unbearable, but we decided to leave for the JR anyway."

A Birth That Evolved

"On our arrival at the Spires, the midwife said as I'm walking and talking ok then she would probably be sending me home," Jo recalls. Upon examination, however, the midwife discovered Jo was already 7cm dilated, and her waters released naturally. "She was amazed at how relaxed I was," Jo shares.

As her labour progressed, circumstances led to some changes in Jo's birth preferences. When monitoring showed some challenges with picking up baby Holly's heartbeat, Jo and her partner moved from the Spires unit to the main delivery ward. Later, they discovered Holly was in a posterior (back to back) position, and after careful consideration of her options, Jo agreed to some assistance to help Holly make her final journey earthside.

Throughout these changes, Jo maintained her remarkable composure, staying connected to her breathing techniques and continuing to trust her instincts about what felt right for her and her baby. "The midwives and doctors were all amazed at how calm I was throughout labour," she reflects. "I could hear lots of other mums screaming and am so pleased that we had chosen the hypnobirthing technique."

Jo's story beautifully demonstrates how staying connected to our inner wisdom can help create a positive birth experience, whatever path that experience takes. Her calm confidence throughout her labour laid a strong foundation for beginning her journey into motherhood.

Are you pregnant and hoping to create your own positive birth experience? Learn more about the hypnobirthing courses I offer and discover how you can prepare for your own empowering birth journey.

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