Becki’s positive birth story
A Calm, Empowered Home Birth
Our daughter Ophelia arrived at home on 31st March, two weeks early, in the calm, empowered way we'd hoped for.
I'd been going to Lianna's pregnancy yoga classes since I was about 14 week's pregnant. I really looked forward to Monday evenings becuase it gave me a chance to focus on myself and my baby for an hour with a couple of other lovely mums in a really calming and caring space.
I got chatting to Lianna one day after class and hypnobirthing, having been familiar with it from my pregnancy with my first daughter. I wanted to do another session as a refresher and Lianna told me about her class suitable for couples. She suggested I bring my other half along one weekend - so I did.
My partner wasn't sure about hypnobirthing, what it was or how it could help. He also wasn't sure about the idea of having our baby at home. But by the end of the three-hour session, he was convinced a home birth was for us. What made the difference was understanding the physiology of birth - how a woman's body is designed to do this, how staying calm and relaxed promotes the release of oxytocin, and how fear and tension can trigger adrenaline, which works against the process.
Lianna has 20 years of experience as a midwife, supporting women through birth, provided that professional backing that made everything feel grounded and reassuring. She explained the science behind why breathing techniques work, how movement helps baby navigate the pelvis, and how creating a safe, calm environment supports the natural flow of labour. That knowledge gave us confidence, not fear. After we left the course, we practised the breathing techniques regularly in readiness for labour.
Labour Begins
Fast forward 24 weeks to 31st March, where I woke up around 2:30am needing my normal middle-of-the-night wee. I went to the loo and my waters broke. Contractions started around 40 minutes later and were 5-7 minutes apart. I felt things were already moving fast but I always remembered what Lianna had taught us which meant I could focus on my breathing, staying calm, trusting my body.
Our four-year-old woke up around 3am and asked why mummy and daddy were both awake. She only wanted me to take her back to bed, so I went with her, lying beside her while focusing on my breathing. Each surge came, and I breathed through it. Within a few minutes, she was asleep again.
My partner had run a bath while I was in her room, so I got straight in after leaving her. The warm water felt incredible. I leant forward, rocking gently, breathing deeply. The surges were building, but I wasn't fighting them. I was welcoming them. Each one was bringing our baby closer.
Building Momentum
We called my sister, as she was on standby to take our daughter to nursery if needed, and she arrived around 4am. By this point, contractions were becoming more frequent and lasting longer. I could feel the shift and I knew labour was progressing.
The midwives arrived at 5:15am. By then, we had everything set up in our bedroom exactly how we wanted it. Yoga ball to the right, ottoman with towels to the left, chilled calming music playing from my phone on Spotify. The lights were low. The room felt safe, calm, private.
The midwives carried out checks and observations every 20 minutes or so, but they stayed quiet, unobtrusive. I felt supported, not observed. I kept thinking about the funny video Lianna showed us of a couple who kept being interupted! She said that when you feel watched or anxious, your body can stall labour as adrenaline kicks in. But when you feel safe and undisturbed, your body works in harmony with your baby.
Riding the Surges
As we got to 6am, things really started to ramp up. I was on all fours on the floor at the end of the bed, swaying, rocking, and most importantly concentrating on my breathing. I let positive thoughts run through my mind: My body knows what to do. Each surge brings my baby closer. I am strong. I am calm.
My partner read out a few cards with positive affirmations on them. I'd also told him he had to make me laugh during labour, so he started reading them like Yoda from Star Wars. That was funny for about 30 seconds, then it got irritating, so we stopped. But it broke the tension for a moment, and I smiled.
I had two of my favourite aromatherapy blends at the ready which I applied onto my wrist and inhaled through my nose which washed a wave of calm over me with every surge.
Being in my own safe surroundings, in our calm, tranquil bedroom with people I love by my side, made the next 50 minutes fly by. I started riding the surges, breathing around the square, staying grounded, staying focused. I had a few puffs on the gas and air, but the main thing that kept me centred was what I'd learnt in my hypnobirthing and yoga sessions with Lianna.
Movement and breathing. Trust and calm. Those were my anchors.
Meeting Ophelia
At 6:48am, our precious little girl arrived.
We'd purposely not found out what we were having because we wanted a surprise - and what a surprise she was. My partner and I were both convinced we were having a boy. But here she was: a healthy, two-week-early, 8lb 1oz baby girl.
We named her Ophelia.
Looking back, I know that the hypnobirthing course helped both me and my partner massively. We felt informed, empowered and in control, no matter how things unfolded.
Lianna taught us that birth doesn't have to be something that happens to you. It can be something you actively participate in, with confidence and calm. She gave my partner the tools to support me meaningfully, and she gave me the techniques to trust my body and stay grounded.
If you're considering hypnobirthing, I can't recommend Lianna highly enough. She's knowledgeable, calm, caring and passionate about what she does. She genuinely cares about the people she works with, and it shows.
She gave us the confidence to have the home birth we wanted. She gave us the tools to stay calm and in control. And she helped us welcome Ophelia into the world in the most beautiful, empowering way.
