My Calm Birth: Lauren’s Story

In the lead-up to labour, I spent time each day reading my affirmations, listening to guided hypnosis tracks, and practising bringing up my calming space. I really appreciated the bespoke recording — I’d have found that much harder without it. Nino and I also practised the shoulder relaxation a few times together, and I used the quick “3,2,1 relax, relax, relax” whenever I could. All of these techniques came in handy during labour!

Preparing for Birth

Based on everything we’d talked about, I wrote a little plan of things to try at different stages of labour. On Tuesday evening, I noticed my Braxton Hicks were becoming more regular. While Nino was putting Skye to bed, I got tidied up just in case.

Around 3am, I woke with contractions I couldn’t sleep through. As it was the middle of the night, I couldn’t do everything from my plan, but I had a shower, which helped me through quite a few contractions before I got set up with my candles, Mean Girls, and my TENS machine.

The Journey to the Birth Centre

I’m so glad we’d talked through the change of plan from home birth to the birth centre. The time we spent focusing on the car journey was invaluable! The affirmations about Nino getting us there safely must have sunk in, because I felt surprisingly calm. I had my eye mask ready and music on. Between contractions, Nino and I were singing along, and during contractions, I focused on “3,2,1 relax, relax, relax” and visualising my calming space.

It actually became my favourite part of labour — which is amazing, because the journey was what I’d been most anxious about!

Advocating for Ourselves

When we arrived, Nino had already called ahead to request the birth centre and the pool. They told us the birth centre was closed and we’d need to discuss it with the head of midwifery. I was not best pleased, especially after the earlier home birth changes, and was ready to advocate for myself!

Once we got there, they explained a staff member had fainted — what are the chances? I asked if that meant it would reopen at 8am at changeover, and they said yes. I think it really helped that we’d talked about how to handle unexpected changes while staying calm but assertive.

Labour Progresses

We arrived at 6:10am, and when the midwife checked me at 6:29am, I was 3cm but contracting strongly every two minutes. She suggested I go for a walk to keep things moving, hoping the birth centre would reopen soon.

At this point, I was still just using my TENS machine, but I got my sunglasses and headphones out — both amazing suggestions! They really helped me stay in my zone. I kept using my calming space and “relax, relax, relax,” and Nino’s hand on my shoulder helped me release any tension.

I couldn’t go more than a few steps without a contraction, so Nino told them I needed somewhere to stay. Back in triage, they kindly dimmed the lights and found me a bed to sit on. With my music still playing, I stayed calm and focused — even when things started to ramp up. I used the comb technique through a few contractions, which really helped. When the midwife commented on how calm I seemed, I proudly told her I was practising hypnobirthing!

Transition and the Final Stage

The contractions quickly became stronger, and I was beginning to struggle to keep my breathing steady. After a lot of water, I decided to go to the toilet — around 7:15am. Nino took that chance to remind the midwife that my previous labour had been very quick (thank you for reminding us to advocate for ourselves!).

Thankfully, she listened. What we didn’t realise was that she went to fill both birth pools so one would be ready as soon as the birth centre reopened. When I came back, she brought me some gas and air. I had one or two contractions using it and then told her I needed to push. Clearly, I’d made it through transition without even realising! I just remember thinking, “Wow, this is more painful than last time,” and assuming I had so much longer to go.

The midwife jumped up and said, “We need to go!” With no wheelchair available, she and Nino practically supported me down the corridor — letting me stop for one contraction before urging me on. It was the first time I said, “I can’t do it,” and the midwife replied, “Yes you can — hypnobirthing!”

A Calm, Empowering Birth

The pool was ready, and I got straight in. It was 7:45am — technically before the birth centre had even reopened! The midwife had left her colleague manning triage so she could stay with me.

I asked Nino to put my music playlist back on, which helped me stay focused. I kept my eyes closed, listening to the midwife’s calm coaching and using “3,2,1 relax, relax, relax” and 4/6 breathing between contractions. The gas and air helped me pause and breathe when she asked, to avoid tearing.

The birth centre midwife arrived right on time for her shift, and our baby was born at 8:01am — in the pool, with no tears at all!

Reflections

I’m so grateful to that triage midwife, who could easily have sent me to the ward but instead helped make my water birth possible. I truly believe the preparation and techniques we practised — especially advocating for ourselves and staying calm when plans changed — made all the difference.

Even though I ended up labouring in triage without my candles or diffuser, I managed an almost completely unmedicated birth (just a few puffs of gas and air — about a hundred times less than last time!).

I feel so proud, calm, and grateful — and so glad to have had such an empowering experience.

If you’ve enjoyed reading Lauren’s story and would like to learn more about how hypnobirthing can help you prepare for a calm and confident birth, you can find out more about my courses here. Every birth is unique — but calm, confidence and trust are always possible.

You might also like to hear from Nino, Lauren’s birth partner — read his reflections on the next bog post, click the link below “Supporting a Calm Birth: Nino’s Story”