Baby Otis (weight 7lbs 15oz) was born on Sunday, 16th July 2000, at 1.14am during a lunar eclipse. 

It was an amazing experience for me, a truly spiritual one.  My pre-labour was long, it started at 3am on Friday morning and then I went into full labour at 3pm on Saturday afternoon.  My contractions were painful early on so I couldn’t sleep so my obstacle was being tired too early on.  The birth unit was empty except for one mother and baby, so my partner and I were able to move around and change scene from time to time.  I used a tens machine all along and then was in water for a long time.  I actually gave birth squatting outside the pool.  It was a very magical night and whilst I was lying in the pool the windows were open and I could seen the moon. 

The reason that I got through my birth and it was such a positive magical experience is due I think to your self-hypnosis and visualisation techniques you taught me.  All along I recalled my safe place and used by breath constantly and was conscious of everything but nothing could touch me or harm me.  Your teaching helps every mother to reclaim a positive attitude towards birth, which is often fast disappearing in medical intervention.  My baby is very lucky to have had such a good start and journey into the world.

Philippa Egertan