Hi Tracy,
Sorry for the delay in getting in touch but we've been busy getting to know our new baby. Emma Kate was born on 18th Jan 2008 at 13:31 weighing in at a healthy 10lbs 4oz.

Here is our story;
Braxton Hicks started about a week before the guess date. On the guess date I experienced surges throughout the day. I felt that something was starting but surges were still far apart and irregular. I decided not to say too much and we went for dinner that evening in Chan's of Bettystown (Highly reccomended). Got to bed that night at about midnight and was awoken at about two by some strong surges and a show. I woke Graham at half two and we started timing the surges. We were not sure if we were timing right as they were very close together but after quite a few we were sure they were about three minutes apart. I found the birthng ball very helpful and the surges manageable at this stage. Decided to get in the bath as the frequency of the surges made me a little uneasy and was hoping it would relax me. I listened to the practice cd throughout as we tried some deepenings but the surges were coming so fast we couldn't get focused before the next one started.

At about 5:30 we decided to leave for the hospital before traffic started to get bad as we live quite a distance from the hospital. Left at 6:30, dopping off our daughter along the way and checked in at Holles St. about 8:30.

We were brought straight to the delivery ward and got examined. Slightly disapointed to find out I was two cm. We had discussed going to a hotel room if this was the case but again the frequency of surges was a little unnerving.

We gave copies of our Birth Plan to the midwives and were surprised and delighted at how well received it was.

Surges at this stage were only one minute apart and felt mostly in my lower back. I constantly changed positions over the next few hours and continued to listen to the cd as I still could not get through the deepenings. The cd helped me focus on each surge. Graham constantly massaged my lower back and some midwives were quite amused to see the rolling pin coming out but it was very effective! I didn't find the shower much help as I had to remove the headphones and lost focus. A hot water bottle was some use but staff were reluctant to refill it, probably due to insurance reasons.

At 11:30 I asked to be examined and was relieved to hear I was eight cm. I was experiencing a lot of pressure at this stage and had the urge to push. The midwife said this was because the waters had not released so being so far gone we decided to go ahead with having them released in the hope of easing the pressure. Another reason to go ahead with it was they wanted to monitor baby's heart rate for twenty mins and I couldn't stay still for that long. It was done at initial check in and I found it very irritating. They said that if the waters were clear they wouldn't need to do this. Waters were very clear and healthy. It did help but I felt that exhaustion was kicking in due to not getting any rest between surges. After an hour I was offered the gas to take the edge off the surges and I admit it did help relax me. They continued for nearly an hour more before I felt Baby was ready to come out. The head midwife examined me and confirmed I was ready to birth. The midwives helped me into a sitting up position and I was happy to do this as I had been kneeling for some time and my legs were very tired.

The actual birth lasted six minutes and at 13:31 Emma Kate was brought into the world. She was placed on my chest and because there was no excessive bleeding the chord was allowed to finish pulsating. Graham cut the chord. Emma Kate latched on to feed which helped deliver the placenta.

She was very calm and alert and was responding to our voices straight away. Fortunately I didn't need any stitches or have any tears. I feel this was due to listening to my body and knowing when it was right for me to push.

Afterwards I felt very proud of what I achieved without opting for pain relief and felt quite well with good energy. Comparing this with my first labour , this was by far the better experience(In brief, on my first labour waters were released at 1cm, meconium in the waters, epidural, oxitocin, continuous monitoring, directed pushing, stitches and feeling dreadful afterwards).

Looking back now:
The staff of Holles St. were extremely attentive and caring and I was very happy with them apart from one or two issues which are:

I was appointed a trainee midwife who was very caring but her lack of experience came to light on some occasions.

The head midwife was excellent as she was very reassuring and encouraged me to follow my body's lead.

I would advise anyone opting to breastfeed to be well informed in advance. Unfortunately there is no set standard among the midwives and conflicting opinions can be misleading and confusing.

Graham was very supportive with the hypnobirthing both during the pregnancy and the labour. He was well informed as we had put alot of time and dedication into the preparation. It was such a relief to know that he could talk for me so I could just focus on my surges. His encouragement and support guided me through some tricky moments. He truly was the perfect birthing partner.

I will definitely be going the hypnobirthing route next time!

Wendy and Graham

This is my account of the birth of our second baby using Gentlebirth

Our lovely little boy came into the world at 9.30pm News Years night, weighing 7lbs and 10 ozs.
I woke up at 6.30 that morning with mild period cramps. I’d had one or two in the days shortly after Christmas but this usually happened after I’d been walking for a while. We got up, DH, DS and I, and started our day as normal. The cramps were still happening and in the midst of them I managed to do a bit of housework. My first “nesting” sensations!!
I was very calm and relaxed, and took DS for a little ramble around our estate that afternoon to give DH a chance to catch up on some work at home.
The cramps had stopped mid morning and did not start up again until about 4pm. There was a noticeable difference this time, they were stronger and sharper – still perfectly manageable but I needed to use my breathing this time. There were a lot of visits to the bathroom and at times it felt like I was leaking rather than peeing and at about 5pm there was a lot of water released - this made me suspect that my waters had gone. DH was anxious at this stage for me to ring the hospital and let them know what was happening as it was likely that I would be going in that evening. So we did. And from then on things began to really speed up. I had to stop and breathe really deeply each time.

I contacted my sister who was on red alert to babysit for us. I told her at about 6 o’clock that there was still time but she had better hurry up just in case!! By 7 I was under a lot of pressure. The contractions were coming hard and fast and I was finding them quite painful but I wasn’t going anywhere until DS was in bed!!!!!
We were in the car at 7.25 and the drive down was hard and I found it hard to breathe through the contractions - walking and keeping upright is the way to go!!!! However, I did find that blowing very loud and long, high pitched raspberries helped a lot!!!

We arrived at the hospital at 8 and I had to wait for a strong contraction to pass before I was able to get out of the car. We went straight up to the labour ward and they were surprised at how close together the contractions were coming.
I changed into my nightie and they examined me and after all that I was told I was only 2cm dilated! To say I was disappointed is an understatement!! I was on the bed being monitored and I found this very, very difficult. What I really wanted was to get up off that bed when the contractions were happening. I just could not lie down, I needed to be standing up. At the next examination I was 5cm and I climbed off the bed and put my arms around DH and kind of lowed into his neck. It helped a lot as the baby moved down this way.

And within the next ten mins or so, I felt this incredible urge to push. The contractions had stopped and there was a big build up of pressure and a funny sense of relief with the next contraction. It really is amazing the way your body takes over and just does its job – this baby was coming whether or not I wanted it to!
Within an hour and a half of arriving at the hospital, our little boy was born! He was handed to me straight away and we had a really good cuddle and he had a nice cry for himself.

It was a fantastic experience!!!!
Throughout the latter part of my pregnancy I upped my listening to relaxation cd’s, read and reread Tracy’s book, plus the excellent Ina May Gaskin’s Guide to Childbirth. I logged on to this site several times a day and read all the positive birth stories I could get my hands on. I took reflexology sessions for the last month and just let my body do its job. It was a drug free birth although I have to be totally honest, I did want the epidural on hearing that I was only 2cm!! In the end, things progressed so quickly I didn’t have time and I was glad afterwards. Our little boy was still awake an hour and a half after being born.

I put him to my breast but he wasn’t really interested and he only really took it when we got back to the ward after midnight.

He is now almost four weeks old and a little treasure. I am really enjoying breastfeeding again and it is true what they say, the second is easier! His older brother is fantastic anyway, and all my fears concerning jealousy and not being able to spend one on one quality time with him anymore are unfounded! I am already thinking about our third baby!!!

12:30am on 3/12/07, I was in the bath when I felt a pop and got my first contraction. When I stood up to get out of the bath a few minutes later I had a show and my waters went. At this stage the contractions were 15 minutes apart, and we decided to make sure everything was ready in the hospital bag, and then go to bed and see if we could get a bit of sleep before things really got going. I started using the tens machine and rang the hospital to see which midwife was on duty. The contractions got closer together very quickly and we hadn't even got as far as bed yet, and they were 5 mins apart. I decided instead of going to bed, that I would have a shower and then we would head to the hospital. By the time I was getting out of the shower they were 4 mins apart so we left.

2:30am Arrived at hospital, was put on the monitor and then examined. Midwife advised I was 1/2cm to 1cm dilated. The options were to get into a bed in the hospital and send Tom home, or for us both to go home

3:30am Left hospital and went back home. Once I got home I got back into the shower as it was really helping with the lower back ache. After that I ran a bath and stayed in there for a while. I had tea and toast in the bath! I was still determined to get some sleep, so I got out of the bath, connected the tens machine again and tried to get into bed. At this point I didn't feel the tens was doing anything, and I was feeling the urge to push with the contractions.

6:15am We arrived at the hospital for the 2nd time. I was examined again and I was fully dilated.

6:30am We were taken into a room in the labour ward. We put the mattress from the bed on the floor under my knees and I leaned in over a birthing ball, rotating my hips. At this stage I used Gas and air for a little while. I'm not sure exactly what time I started to push.

7:25am I moved from the floor to the birthing stool

7:43am Baby Eliza was born at 9lb 2oz. No stitches needed. I didn't have the injection to bring on the placenta delivery, I just waited for it to happen naturally.

Overall I was extremely happy with everything and believe that the main reason it went so well was down to the fact that I was completely relaxed for the majority of my labour. Hypnobirthing helped me to focus on what I was doing and reinforced my belief that I could manage birthing without an epidural or any other kind of intervention. I found it extremely empowering to have a completely natural labour. The only stage where I had any doubts was when I arrived at the hospital feeling very tired and wondering if I had the energy to deal with giving birth. Once the midwife told me I was fully dilated this raised my spirits and I believe that it was just the fear that the contractions were going to get worse that was scaring me.

For anyone who wants to have a natural birth, I believe the secret to this is believing in yourself and that this is what your body is designed to do. Research how your body works in labour and as hard as it sounds given most of the stuff you have probably heard or seen about giving birth, relax. Its not like it is on tv shows!

Dec 2007
Just to let you know we had our baby boy on Tuesday at home as planned except he arrived a bit earlier then we were expecting, his dates were different to ours and also he was making sure that he didn't miss out on his Christmas present this year.

We had a wonderful homebirth using Gentlebirth and we couldn't have planned it any better.  Began established labour at 1am and he was born at 8.31am.  It wasn't a difficult labour at all and the delivery was my favourite part by far, everything was so bearable and like nothing I could have imagined. 

If you ever want any more details or if anyone is interested in homebirths don't hesitate to contact me as we are more than willing to talk about it.  We are having the best Christmas every and loving every second of it.

Thanks,
Galway Mum

The information and tips that Tracy provided were excellent and her ability to speak of her own and others personal experiences really helped to cement the beliefs I already held regarding the ability of everyone to have a calm, drug free birthing experience. Although I know I benefited greatly from attending the workshop I amazed by how much more confident my husband is about being able to cope with ‘the delivery’ of our baby (something that I know was playing on his mind a lot). He feels that he is now so much better equipped after the workshop.

The class was fantastic and has made an enormous difference to my expectation of a positive natural birth experience. I would highly recommend it. I feel it was definitely worth doing, even though I had already bought the home pack and had been practicing myself. It makes all the difference to do a workshop. It has given me a lot of personal confidence and confidence in the role of my birth partner during the birth process.

Gentlebirth is an excellent way of increasing my confidence for a natural birth.

I have just finished your book and for someone who had put off pregnancy because I had a huge fear of labour, I am totally cured and am now excited about the big day. I owe you so much already.

Yesterday I went to a bookshop and I bought your book. I nearly read it in one go!!!!! It's very positive and my way of thinking is very much in line with yours. I am petrified, but determined to enjoy this pregnancy without fear.I want to enjoy my pregnancy and I want to send very good vibes to the baby (i don't want the baby to feel I am worried about the progress of the pregnancy and the outcome of this miracle!!)

I just wanted to say a big THANK YOU for your Better Birth book. I bought it a couple of weeks ago and haven't looked back. As far as I'm concerned, it should be a mandatory part of antenatal care to be given a copy to read. As a first time mum to be I found it brilliant from start to finish in terms of how well-written it is, how informative and relevant to Ireland (something lacking in other pregnancy books). I'm now as calm as anything about the birth !

July 2007
My first birth was in the Rotunda 4 years ago. The birth was awful, I had a failed epidural and ended up in stirrups and with an episiotomy (which later became infected). My baby boy was pulled out using forceps and a vacuum. It was scary, humiliating (when I said I wanted to push they told me I wasn't ready - but I actually was!) and I felt awful (emotionally and physically) afterwards. Breastfeeding was very difficult and the baby took a long while to settle into a sleeping routine.

My daughter was born 2 years ago in Lourdes in Drogheda. There was only my husband, a midwife and me. She encouraged me to do "whatever felt right" during my labour so I went into whatever position felt natural and I had a good birth. No intervention, no drugs or stitches and baby was very content. I felt good afterwards and breastfeeding came easily but I did not like being in a noisy, busy (and unfortunately dirty) hospital.

This time I wanted a home birth. I wanted to go drug free and be relaxed and calm throughout so I practised Gentlebirthing during my pregnancy and read Dick Grantley Read, "Childbirth without fear" where he writes how childbirth is not meant to be painful. I also read Tracy Donegan's "Better Birth Book" several times. I felt very prepared and was really excited about the whole experience.

I had my first surge at 2.30am. It was very bearable. They came 20 mins apart for the first hour or so. I went downstairs and sat on the birthing ball. Everyone else was asleep and I just concentrated on staying calm and timing the surges to see if this was the real thing. At 4.50am the surges were 10 mins apart so I called my midwife (Susan Cooney, who is absolutely brilliant, I would definitely recommend her 046-9433414). My husband was with me at this stage, holding my hand and telling me funny stories during surges. Whenever I had a surge I would close my eyes and focus on staying calm and breathing through it, while he tried his best to distract me with his crazy stories.

At 6am my midwife arrived. My mam and mam-in-law arrived too, to look after our children when they woke up. We had tea and toast and everyone was in good form. I was actually a bit worried that this was not real labour because I was coping so well!!

At 6.45 my midwife examined me and said I was 2cm dialated but that my cervix was very stretchy so things were progressing nicely. I decided to get into the bath. The water was lovely so I stayed in there for about 1.5 hours, topping up the water every so often. My surges were coming fast by this stage and they were getting quite strong. I still remained quiet and focused through each one - they seemed less painful than when I went through my first and second labours. At 8.30am I knew then it was time to get out as baby was on way.

I went into the bedroom we had set up for the birth and sat on the birthing ball again. I only stayed on for a minute as I felt baby was coming, so I climbed up on the bed and started to push. After a few pushes I felt I wasn't getting anywhere and I got a little bit stressed but Susan and my hubby urged me to relax and once I did, baby slipped out just fine. It had been hard to push her out because her hand was beside her head but once I relaxed, it was ok.

She was born at 8.53am. She let a little squeak and then I popped her up to my breast and she started smelling and tasting it straight away. We let the cord pulsate for a few mins and then Susan clamped it, my hubby cut it and I delivered the placenta naturally with one gentle push.

It was an amazing, empowering experience. I was completely silent during my surges, using the techniques I had learned with gentlebirth. Because I had prepared myself, I managed the labour so much better than my first 2 births and it was definitely less painful - probably because I felt in control. My mam and mam-in-law could not believe a baby had been born so peacefully. They were in shock about the whole experience.

My children had slept through everything and when they woke at around 9am, they had a new little sister. It was so incredible seeing their faces when they came into the bedroom and saw April there.

Then Susan helped me take a bath and she put clean covers on the bed and even threw a load into the washing machine! She weighed April, 6lbs 14.5ozs and left us to have a rest.

The two nannies took the kids out and my hubby and I went to bed with our new gorgeous baby beside us.

April is 8 days old now and she's feeding great and sleeping great. She is very placid and I reckon the birth is one of the main reasons for that. Her brother and sister took really well to her, it was great that she was just here when they woke up last Tuesday morning. There was minimum disruption for them because she was born at home and I did not have to "go away" for a few days.

I would wholeheartedly recommend home birth. If I could go back in time I would have had all my children at home. It was truly wonderful.

Siobhan.

Deb Davis became my Doula in June 2006.  Already 3 months pregnant and struggling to find my way through the system to have a homebirth, Deb was like a breath of fresh air.  Deb’s relaxed and reassuring mannerism combined with her inner strength gave me a sense of security in my abilities to have the birth I wanted.  She kept in touch throughout the pregnancy, providing information as to people, places and books that would help me along the way.
Close to my due date Deb was in constant contact, letting me know her whereabouts if I needed her. In doing this I felt support was always close at hand, something I was extremely grateful for as I had no family in Ireland and a husband who still had to travel around the country. 
Once labour began, Deb was only a phone call away.  As soon as she walked into the house Deb created a calm and balanced atmosphere, something that was near to disappearing before she arrived.  My husband was my only support person so having Deb, a woman who had also had a homebirth, instinctively knowing what I needed or what may be of benefit was a huge relief to both my husband and me.  Deb was perceptive and respectful to our needs at all times, she managed to provide a high level of support without intruding on the special experience that my husband and I were sharing.
After the birth of my daughter Deb has kept in contact on a regular basis, providing friendship as well as much needed post-partum support.  I consider myself and my family blessed that Deb Davis chose to become a Doula and as a consequence a very special member of our extended family.

I took gentlebirthing classes earlier this year. I definitely recommend the program! Our little son was born in May and it was a wonderful experience. I won't say it was easy, but with the techniques I learned in the classes, it was definitely manageable, I was very relaxed (the midwives didn't even believe I was in labour) and got to have the natural birth I'd wished for. Worth every penny! Good luck   (Rollercoaster)

The Hypnobirthing course has succeeded in changing my vision of childbirth in just a weekend - Jan 2007
We were impressed with the whole course and we very much liked the fact that Tracy had worked with different hospitals and was able to give information on their response to Gentlebirthing. The videos were very good as a replacement of the visual images that are usually associated with birthing. Keep doing what you do! Brilliant work - Jan 2007
The course was over two days and being 34 weeks pregnant, I was quite tired etc. yet I remained completely focused and never felt the time passing because the course was so interesting and Tracy is a great instructor and the course was very relevant and interactive. Keep running the course as is, its bound to become even more popular - Jan 2007

 
Gentlebirthing in Waterford


On the morning of the 4th of December I attended the labour ward for a check up appointment with the Domino midwives at 10am. I was 1 week overdue. I was offered a sweep but refused. I felt fine, was in no hurry and was not willing to do anything that could constitute “helping matters along”. I was asked if there were any signs to which I replied “a few very dull aches that were barely noticeable on and off during the last couple of days” certainly nothing more than I had experienced during the last 3 to 4 weeks and so did not take much notice.


I collected my son from school, went home and carried on. While I was eating my dinner at about six thirty I noticed my tummy was tightening and rising, I remember having to sit back further away from the table. This happened every so often throughout the evening. I started to slow breath with each surge. Even though I was not in the least uncomfortable or ‘dare I say those words, “in pain”, I knew that it would help to speed up my baby’s journey. I went to bed at about nine, my husband joined me and we watched TV until about 11. It was a comedy show and I laughed all the way through whilst doing my breathing. ( I had planned on watching Gone With The Wind which was lying in wait in the DVD player as my last experience had been of comparative epic duration (2 DAYS)) but never got round to it.


I rested for about an hour and a half and then asked my husband to run a bath for me. I had practiced my relaxation and breathing techniques very often while in the bath so it felt so easy to actually do it for real. At this stages my surges were about 4 minutes apart, they had gone from 15 mins apart to 4mins apart in about 15 minutes. We called my midwife ( who was on call). I was so comfortable and relaxed that I worried that it was all just a false alarm and felt guilty about dragging her out of bed to meet me at the hospital. Needless to say I didn’t enjoy my bath for much longer when she heard how far apart my surges were. We arrived at the hospital at 2:15am. I remember a security guard and a nurse outside the side entrance said something like “Oh God love her” or such the like when I was going in and in the back of my head I was giggling. I felt like saying “you think I’m in agony but I’m not! I’m actually enjoying this! But they wouldn’t have believed me.

I had one internal check when I arrived. I was 4 centimeters. I then vomited but was otherwise fine. I was then put on the monitor for the mandatory 20 minutes. I was so comfortable there that I asked to stay. My husband was massaging the back of my neck quite deeply which really added to my relaxation. I could see the report printing from the machine with strength and length of surges. There were some that I didn’t even feel. After a while I went down to the labour room. I was just about to sit back on the ball when my waters broke. With this the surges came faster yet with less intensity, I could feel that my baby was coming so I sat on the birthing stool with my husband behind me and instantly started to breath my baby down. My midwife looked up from her paperwork and could see the head crowning from across the room. I remember greeting another midwife as she entered the room. I controlled my breathing and eased my baby’s head out past the perineum without tearing it. There was no stinging sensation, I did not push and I was completely aware of everything that was going on. Susannah was born at 4am on the dot. (Scarlet O Hara would have only been on her way back to Tara after the fall of Atlanta at this stage)

I’m probably one of the most skeptical people you’d meet but after my first experience in giving birth (every horror story you’ve ever read) I resolved to try anything that didn’t include taking drugs and having heard of hypnobirthing through a very good friend of mine I decided to try it. I read the book over and over again. I practically knew what was on every page. I avoided reading or watching anything that was negative about birth. I practiced breathing and relaxation almost everyday for 25 weeks and having started at a relaxation level way to high for words, eventually with a lot of work and determination I managed to come down to what I would call zero. By the end I could get to that ultimate relaxation ‘place’ within 10 to 15 seconds. I practiced my breathing in the bath, lying in bed and as advised on the toilet which is why I was so comfortable with the birthing stool. After having this most positive and joyful experience I can honestly say that when they say let your body do its work, they are right. I just needed to train my mind to know what to expect. It isn’t often that you hear someone saying that they had a wonderful experience and that they enjoyed every minute, if you do they’ve probably used gentlebirth.

Hypnobirthing Helps Even when things Don't Go to Plan
 I attended Tracy’s hypnobirthing classes with my partner during the third trimester of my second pregnancy. I was very anxious to have a vaginal birth after an induction and emergency caesarean section three years before.  I felt very anxious about labour and birth after a difficult experience the first time.  I was determined to find a way to have more control over my labour and to try to resolve some of the fear that I felt.
Hypnobirthing was suggested to me and it sounded like something that might help my partner and I to address these issues.  I found the classes interesting and enjoyable.  I took the time to listen to the cd's and practice the breathing techniques. I found the relaxation techniques and affirmations excellent during the last few weeks of pregnancy.  I approached my 'guess date' feeling strong and prepared for my impending labour.
 I went into labour naturally and found the Hypnobirthing techniques really helped me to relax, focus on my breathing and have the confidence to stay at home for as long as felt safe and comfortable. I was never panicked about getting to the hospital and felt the same on arrival at the delivery ward. The hospital staff remarked on how good and focused my breathing was during surges.
 After many hours of 'back labour' the hospital staff informed us that our son would have to be born by caesarean section due to a brow presentation. Naturally we were disappointed but we knew that the safe delivery of our child was the priority. My partner and I asked for some time to adjust to the reality of another section and then proceeded calmly to enjoy our son's arrival. He latched on easily from the start.  Apart from sore nipples the first few days, breastfeeding was effortless. 
Even though my labour did not go as I had hoped, I found the techniques still helped me to stay relaxed and confident during my labour and unplanned c-section.  I would recommend Tracy’s classes to anyone who wishes to feel calm and confident during labour and especially to those trying for a VBAC.

Ethel and Tim

Dear Tracy

Michael and I want to thank you with all our hearts for everything you did to support Jakob's birth. We firmly believe that you were the reason we had the wonderful birth experience that we did. Your guidance, wisdom, calm demeanor and sense of humour sustained us both throughout the long day. We are so grateful to you!

Carolyn, Michael and Jakob

Tracy,

Thank you for all your wonderful help and support during Kashmira's birth and after. You inspired me to help other mothers have better birth experiences and have since taken doula training myself.

Hazel

Tracy,

I want to thank you for the time you spent with myself and Dan as we waited for the birth of Ryan - and all that you did to take me through the hypnobirthing techniques.

As you move back home to set up your business in Ireland, we wish you all the best - I'm sure with more and more women wanting to reclaim control over their own bodies and their birth experiences.

Daphne