“For our first 2 pregnancies we went to the standard hospital classes and assumed like many do, that we would be given all the necessary information to enable us to have a successful vaginal birth. Both of these births ended in unplanned caesareans. We wanted to get it right this time by learning as much as we could about childbirth and how to avoid another unnecessary caesarean.

After my 2 previous births, I felt I had failed and my body just couldn't do it. We would like 4 children and I really didn't want to give in to the doctors and have what they called "elective caesars" for my next 2 (which didn't feel very elective to me).

My husband and I decided to attended Birthtalk when we fell pregnant again. We accidently arrived on the ‘wrong’ week and ended up in the "Healing from Birth" session which we didn't think we needed. Wow, was I wrong. I hadn't realised I had felt so bad about my first birthing experience. It was good for me to realise these feelings, to hear others stories and to have my feelings validated. It was also good to know that there is a place and people you can turn to, who listen and understand as opposed to the hospital who really didn't get it.

I wish I had gone to Birthtalk for my first baby. Using all the knowledge I have learnt from Birthtalk, I really believe that my first two caesareans could have been avoided if I had been properly informed of my choices.

When I was labouring with my 3rd pregnancy we were a lot better equipped to ask questions from the information we learnt at Birthtalk. I felt a lot more confident and strong talking to the doctors this time around.

Having Deb as our Doula was great!!! We built a a really strong trust with her which really helped Steph and I feel strong and empowered in the hospital. We had a really long labour (which I loved every minute of). Our doula helped make our birthing suite more suitable for birthing (reducing the lights, putting the bed on the floor, rearranging the furniture, getting my oil burner ready etc) She also helped ask questions and talk things over with us. It was also really great because we had learnt so much from our classes that we knew what questions to ask and could explain clearly to the midwifes and nurses what we wanted and why.

Because my labour was so long and wasn't settling into a pattern and we tried to help my body progress naturally. We did lots of walking up and down stairs, hills, parks inside the hospital grounds and the halls of the birthing suites. We were at the hospital for about 20 hours. Steph and Deb only got one quick bite of food and 1 or 2 coffees. The rest of the time I needed both of them for every contraction. I wanted to stand for most of my contractions. I hung off Steph while Deb rubbed and applied pressure to my back. Our labour would have been a lot harder without a Doula, and we wouldn't have been as confident. Thanks Birthtalk for all of your help.”

Michelle
©Michelle and Birthtalk2007

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