Tara's Birth Story David and I knew from the moment we became pregnant we wanted this baby the natural way. So I took great care of myself, watching what I ate, exercising, getting plenty of rest and preparing for the a wonderful natural birth. We took Hypnobabies classes and were disciplined in our practice. For 4 months we practiced each and every day. We were sure this baby was going to come early and be a quick, easy, childbirth.
About 5 weeks from the due date the baby was head down and beginning to drop. The doctor was able to feel his/her head. At 4 weeks from the due date the baby had moved back up. The doctor even did an ultrasound to make sure s/he was still head down - s/he was. No worry, we still had plenty of time to go. We continued to go about life refusing to even think about alternative child births, practicing our Hypnobabies. After After all it had been a smooth and healthy pregnancy - no worries.
At 2 weeks from the due date I was diagnosed with PIH - Pregnancy Induced Hypertension - and put on bed rest. The baby was extremely high and there was no sign of dilation or effacement. We were informed that we would need to start looking at the need to be induced and/or C-section, possibly, as soon as the next day. I couldn't believe my ears - this couldn't be - we were going to have an all natural child birth. We hadn't planned for anything but. I was so afraid, I was numb. I didn't know what I felt. All I wanted was for this baby to be born healthy and safe. I didn't care how. I was able to stabilize my blood pressure with bed rest so the doctor allowed us to wait until closer to the due the date.
David and I continued to practice our hypnosis, hoping and praying for me to go into labor naturally. We hadn't lost hope yet. We also worked through our feelings or disappointment and fear and realized that the "perfect" child birth experience we worked so hard for, was in fact one that delivers a happy, healthy baby safely, regardless of how.
At 3 days prior to the due date the baby was still very high and there were no signs of dilation or effacement. We were now scheduled for a C-section to take place on the due date - June 5, 2007. We were both so happy to have an answer as to when and how this baby was coming. Our days of worrying each day for the safety of the baby inside of me were soon coming to an end and we were going to be able to hold our precious little angel in our arms.
We now switched our practice to one of relaxation and visualization of an easy surgery and speedy recovery. And it was just that! I used my hypnosis to stay calm and relaxed before and during surgery. The C-section was performed with no complications and in what seemed like record time. When we heard the strong beautiful sound of our baby's cry and the doctor tell us it was a beautiful, healthy baby boy (we didn't know the sex ahead of time), we both knew right then and there this was the perfect birth experience for us. Our son was here, healthy and safe. How he got here didn't matter. David was able to be at Andrew's side seconds after birth and Andrew soothed at the sound of his dad's voice. David then brought him over to me, still on the operating table, within a minute of birth so we could meet. Dad held him so that we were cheek to cheek and he instantly turned his head towards me. He knew his mother. 
We spent about 10 minutes like this while they were suturing me up. David went with Andrew to be cleaned up, weighed, etc and to wait for me to come to the recovery room. We asked to have as many things delayed until after we had time to bond. Andrew was brought over to me immediately for us to have skin to skin bonding time. Within 5 minutes he was latched onto my breast nursing. My milk supply came in on the 2nd day and Andrew was already gaining weight again by the time we left the hospital. Aside from a little soreness I healed remarkably well and quick. We would not go back and change a single thing about our pregnancy experience, Hypnobabies preparation or birth. It was indeed the perfect experience for us.
Andrew a few months later....