Hypnobirthing for an Emergency Caesarean at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

The birth of my daughter, Poppy, was a stark contrast to the birth of my son, Arlo. With Arlo, I used Hypnobirthing for a positive induction, even when things didn’t go exactly ‘to plan’. However, it wasn’t until Poppy’s birth that I truly understood the depth and importance of Hypnobirthing, especially when things really didn’t go to plan. I now believe her birth was what Hypnobirthing had been preparing me for all along. The tools I had learned were so versatile and invaluable, helping me through my pregnancy, birth, and postpartum journey.

Trigger warning of bleeding during pregnancy, emergency caesarean birth and neonatal care.

Using Hypnobirthing During Pregnancy

When I saw the positive pregnancy test, I was filled with a mix of excitement and dread. Knowing what could go wrong, I leaned into my Hypnobirthing techniques to stay calm and trust my body. Much like with my pregnancy with Arlo, I started to bleed early on. I contacted the Early Pregnancy Unit immediately, and after a couple of blood tests, I was relieved to learn that my HCG levels were rising. Still, I requested an early scan at 6 weeks to see if a subchorionic hematoma might be the cause, and sure enough, I had two of them. Knowing the reason for my bleeding helped me find peace through the uncertainty.

Then, on Christmas Eve 2023, Poppy stopped moving. This was the first of many episodes of reduced movements. I trusted my instincts, even when the medical staff assured me everything was fine. At 27 weeks, a scan revealed complications with my placenta and umbilical cord. From that point, I had scans weekly, and eventually twice a week. Each scan brought uncertainty—would we go home for dinner or would I give birth? But through it all, Hypnobirthing helped us remain calm and ask informed questions, knowing we had options and could make empowered decisions.

Given the high-risk nature of my pregnancy, my consultant and I agreed that the safest option was to deliver no later than 37 weeks, unless an emergency required an earlier delivery. When I asked about how I would give birth, my consultant explained the induction process. Although I had a previous positive experience with induction, my instincts told me that being induced at 37 weeks might be too early for this pregnancy. I took my time to gather advice and considered whether an elective caesarean might be a better choice for me. It was difficult to accept that my birth experience would differ so much from Arlo's, but once I felt fully informed and confident, I decided to opt for an elective caesarean.

I also asked about the likelihood of an emergency situation given my circumstances. He explained that while he saw many mothers with similar risks, emergencies with my unique circumstances happened approximately once a month. It might sound odd, but I had a strong sense that I would be that emergency. I knew if that happened, my Hypnobirthing tools would be more crucial than ever.

At 36 weeks, the consultant said something that will stay with me forever: “Your baby has to be born in the next 30-60 minutes via caesarean. 70% of your placenta has failed.” In that moment, we were ready. We went from snacking on biscuits in the waiting room to preparing for surgery in a matter of minutes. But despite the rush, it wasn’t frantic. My husband and I used our Hypnobirthing techniques to stay calm, making the choices we could to ensure the experience remained empowering.

My last bump photo, which I uploaded to an Instagram story, captioned 'not long now'. Little did I know she'd be born just a few hours later.

Using Hypnobirthing During Birth

Despite the whirlwind that followed, I never doubted my ability to birth via caesarean. Before Hypnobirthing, I feared the idea of a caesarean. I’d heard stories about epidurals and was scared of not being able to move. But when the time came, I breathed calmly through the epidural process, even finding the sensation of my legs going numb amusing. The midwives joked that my heart rate was so calm, it was like I was on a beach. In reality, I was in a bright operating room, but mentally, I was beside a peaceful lake, eagerly waiting to meet my daughter.

Whilst getting my compression socks fitted, I realised I was in the same room where I gave birth to my son. Hypnobirthing taught me to trust in a positive birth experience and my mind had learned to find signs that reinforced this belief. This felt like a beautiful one. 

With my playlist softly playing in the background, the midwives smiled and sang along to my favorite songs. I had hoped for Poppy to arrive to ‘Dreams’ by The Cranberries, and a kind midwife timed her birth with the chorus. Poppy was born quickly but needed help breathing. As the pediatricians worked on her, I caught glimpses of her tiny, wiggling feet. As I requested, my husband stayed by her side while a compassionate midwife comforted me, saying, “She’s absolutely perfect. You’ll see her soon, I promise.”

Just minutes before Poppy arrived we couldn't help but smile at it all. Both my husband and I felt completely calm, ready to meet her.

When Poppy was finally placed beside my head, cheek-to-cheek, my heart overflowed with love. Though she needed more care, I knew she was in safe hands. Throughout the process, the staff and my Hypnobirthing techniques kept me grounded and connected to the experience, no matter the challenges.

The moment I met my daughter.

Using Hypnobirthing on the Ward

After the birth, Poppy’s struggles continued. She was taken to the neonatal unit for support while I remained on the ward, faced with an empty cot beside me. My Hypnobirthing techniques became invaluable during this time. I blocked out the sounds of other mothers with their babies and leaned on my support system. My husband moved between Poppy and I, confidently advocating for both of us and saying all the right things to make me feel safe and reassured.

When the nurses in neonatal encouraged me to visit Poppy, I was desperate to be with her, but my midwife told me I had to wait until the following afternoon when I had rested. Despite my exhaustion and the midwife’s advice to ‘get some rest,’ I knew I wouldn’t feel at peace until I saw her. A student midwife thoughtfully showed me a video of Poppy on a tablet, but it wasn’t enough. I yearned for skin-to-skin contact, and although I was told that missing these early moments wouldn’t matter, I knew otherwise. Hypnobirthing had taught me to trust my instincts, and I advocated fiercely to see my daughter. 

Poppy was born at 5.26 p.m. and finally, at 3 a.m. the following day, my midwife wheeled me to the neonatal unit. Holding Poppy in my arms gave me the strength to keep going. She was so tiny and I felt an overwhelming need to protect her. Even when I began to faint from exhaustion, I was reassured knowing she was safe. Though we faced many challenges, I was able to smile, knowing my Hypnobirthing techniques had carried me through every moment.

I returned to the ward with peace of mind, knowing Poppy was in the safest hands. The neonatal team at Blackpool Victoria Hospital showed us such incredible compassion and kindness. I will forever be grateful. 

Finding Strength in Hypnobirthing Postpartum

After getting some much-needed sleep, I returned to see Poppy the next morning. I was told I needed to be back on the ward in two hours for my medication. However, when I arrived, the ward was so busy that I had to wait an additional two hours for my pain relief. The midwife, following hospital policy, recommended I stay another night due to my circumstances. While I respected her expertise, I also understood that policies don’t always suit every situation. After discussing it with a consultant, I decided to discharge myself, confident that my husband and I could manage my recovery and pain relief on our own.

The neonatal ward welcomed us, and we were given a family room just steps away from Poppy’s incubator. For the next two nights, we stayed together on the neonatal ward, while Poppy received the care she needed, and I grew stronger simply by being near her. Those moments, surrounded by love and determination, helped us through the most difficult days.

Finally, we were able to bring our beautiful little girl home, eager to introduce her to her big brother. In the weeks that followed, my Hypnobirthing techniques played a crucial role in my recovery. They helped me relax, tune into my body, and focus on healing. Despite the challenges, I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience. Hypnobirthing gave me the strength, calmness, and resilience I needed during pregnancy, birth, and postpartum.