We had a bit of a false start with our third birth, getting mild but regular contractions for 6 hours and getting ready to go to hospital when they were coming every 7 minutes. We lay down on our bed thinking we would rest a bit until they picked up in intensity and the next thing we knew it was the morning and we were not in hospital.

I got up and took the children to school as normal since everything seemed to have gone quiet. I had a show at 11am and by lunchtime I had started to have contractions again. Whilst still very managable they seemed to be picking up in intensity this time, so by 3pm, once they were coming every 5 minutes, we went to hospital. I was still very comfortable however and was pleasantly surprised when the midwife said I was already 3 cm dilated.

However, because of the previous day, I was slightly concerned in the back of my mind that the contractions were going to either remain at the same intensity or wear off altogether. Once Gowri arrived at 4.30 she suggested I lie on my left hand side and both she and my husband did reflexology on my feet whilst Gowri talked me through a relaxing visualisation.

I was completely 'in the zone' and whilst I could feel the contractions really intensifying I was able to completely distance myself from them (my husband tells me that he still cannot quite believe how one could look so calm through this stage of labour and how from my meditative state it was not possible to identify the timing of a single contraction).

I was completely trusting that what Gowri was saying (that with every breath my cervix was dilating to 10cm) was really happening. I lay on my side like this for an hour or so, completely calm in a dark room and then I felt myself go into a different mode and knew I was completely dilated and ready for the next stage.

I had a surge of adrenaline to get me through the next really intense contractions and I started to feel really impatient to get the baby out. I hadn't been examined by this stage and was feeling a really strong urge to push even though it seemed too early. However, when the midwife examined me she could feel the baby's head and I felt so relieved that my impatience was justified and I could finally go for it.

After about three really strong pushes we had our beautiful baby girl and the whole birth was so calm, quiet and manageable we felt completely blessed.

Gowri has helped me so much throughout all my pregnancies and births and I have no doubt that her reflexology and visualisation during this birth had made it such a magical and gentle experience.

Thankyou so much again for all your love and support.
Ellie
3rd of March.08