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The birth of my daughter and lifting her up onto my chest was the most magical and empowering experience.

Birth Stories

I had two transformative and empowering labour and birthing experiences, both supported with only the use of the Bliss Birth TENS machine and an amazing holding circle of support including my husband, friend and Obstetrician.

After the birth of my baby’s head, my Obstetrician encouraged me to bring both my hands down (I’ll be honest, I was a little confused) however trusting the words and relationship of a supportive caregiver, I leant forward and my hands naturally cupped underneath my baby’s underarms where I lifted her onto my chest myself. This was the most magical and empowering experience. I am truly grateful for this moment in my life.

 

Babe # 2

I was 41+2 weeks pregnant attending my last pregnancy appointment after being in early labour for most of the night before. After the appointment, my husband and I decided to go for a big walk and to get some lunch. During my walk back to the car, I experienced a warm gush of vaginal discharge, it felt like I had broken my waters. I re-attended to the hospital for confirmation of my waters breaking and consented to fetal heart monitoring on our baby before being discharged home.

With discussions of induction of labour booked for early the next day, I was keen to get home, rest and hopefully get myself into labour with oxytocin promoting activities. We arrived home at 6.30pm, I went straight into the shower, lights dimmed with my labour music playlist on. I expressed colostrum which I had been doing since 36 weeks pregnant and stayed in the shower until the hot water ran cold. Within an hour of returning home, my irregular contractions were becoming regular, long and strong. I had my husband apply my Bliss Birth TENS machine and contacted my same midwife friend (who we unfortunately could not have at the birth due to COVID-19 hospital restrictions) but we had discussed that I would call her in labour for support.

We spoke on the phone, mostly chatting about our day, her keeping me distracted in between contractions. During this call, my contraction pattern became more established and soon after the time felt right to head into hospital. Again, I loved using the Bliss Birth TENS machine, giving me a huge sense of control starting and stopping the pulsations with each contraction and using the additional function for the duration of the contraction. My dear friend remained on the phone for our 45-minute car ride to the hospital, providing calm and support to my husband whilst he drove. Soon after arriving at the birthing centre, I was experiencing the sensation of pushing at the peak of a contraction, and after a few contractions I was offered a vaginal examination by my Obstetrician which I consented too – I was 9cm dilated with bulging forewaters.

I was offered to have my waters broken at this time, I declined as I wanted as little intervention as possible. Instead, I opted for a position change from standing beside the bed to getting on all fours position, draping my upper body over the top of the bed. Two contractions later, my forewaters broke and the urge to bear down grew stronger until it became overwhelming. I went with what I knew worked with my first labour and birth,  changing positions and getting onto my left side again for birthing.

After the birth of my baby’s head, my Obstetrician encouraged me to bring both my hands down (I’ll be honest, I was a little confused) however trusting the words and relationship of a supportive caregiver, I leant forward and my hands naturally cupped underneath my baby’s underarms where I lifted her onto my chest myself. This was the most magical and empowering experience. I am truly grateful for this moment in my life. My second beautiful daughter was born at 11.59pm, a healthy 4.1kg, a full kilogram heavier than her older sister!

I had two transformative and empowering labour and birthing experiences, both supported with only the use of the Bliss Birth TENS machine and an amazing holding circle of support including my husband, friend and Obstetrician.

 

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