I didn’t think the course had helped… until my birth partner pointed out I’d been doing it the whole time

I booked a course with Nancy to help my birth partners to support me but mainly to help me switch my midwife brain off. The three of us enjoyed the weekend course, we found it relaxed and engaging.

After giving birth (exactly as hoped for at home in the pool), I said to my birth partner that I didn’t think the course had helped as I wasn’t consciously doing the breathing techniques I’d worked so hard to practice. Their reply was that it definitely helped as I was doing them without even thinking about it! I stayed calm and focused the entire time, I can only describe it as being in the zone.

My midwife brain was very much switched on still as I was updating the midwives with my progress but I found it empowering as opposed to panic inducing. I felt very connected to my body and could feel every little change and movement. After my waters had been broken an unknown amount of time, I requested a membrane sweep and my cervix was already 3cm dilated (Which my midwife didn’t share with me at the time on my request).

Over the next 7 hours I used the tens machine, then the pool and gas and air in the pool.

Our daughter arrived safely and I felt like I wanted to do it again soon after!