Hypnobirthing for a positive induction at Blackpool Victoria Hospital

In the months leading up to my son’s birth, I transformed from someone fearful of labour and birth, merely nodding along to medical advice, to feeling empowered and wanting to do it all over again. The birth of my son, Arlo, at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, was far more empowering than I could have imagined. Although many things didn’t go according to plan, with the support of my hypnobirthing techniques and my husband, I had everything I needed for a positive experience. It was nothing like I had ‘planned’ but everything I had hoped for.

Trigger warning of miscarriage and bleeding. 

My Pregnancy Journey

When I first found out I was pregnant, my initial excitement quickly turned into dread. After two previous miscarriages, the innocence of pregnancy had been taken from me, and I anxiously awaited the worst. Sure enough, just a few days later, I started bleeding. I immediately contacted the Early Pregnancy Unit at Blackpool Victoria Hospital and was told to get blood tests. After an agonizing 48-hour wait, I was relieved to learn that my HCG levels were increasing, and I could breathe again. 

At six weeks, I had a scan to investigate the bleeding. While the source was unclear, I saw a tiny heartbeat, which brought some reassurance, but I was still left with more questions than answers. I continued to bleed on and off for several weeks, making numerous trips to the Early Pregnancy Unit, until I was finally diagnosed with a subchorionic hematoma (a collection of blood between the placenta and the uterine wall). A sonographer mentioned that this had been visible at my six-week scan and should have been explained to me sooner. Instead, I was dismissed with, "some women just bleed," leaving me confused and anxious, uncertain if I was going through another miscarriage.

The bleeding stopped at 16 weeks, but my experience had left me feeling like I needed to regain control of my mental health and prepare for navigating the maternity system. Given my pregnancy complications, I feared my birth experience would also be traumatic. That’s when I discovered hypnobirthing. 

A Shift in Mindset

At 23 weeks, we began our hypnobirthing classes, and from that very first session, my outlook shifted from fear to excitement. My pregnancy became calmer as I embraced the changes in my body, knowing it was doing exactly what it needed to. Hollie de Cruz’s, Your Baby, Your Birth gave me even more guidance and her Hypnobirthing Audios became the soundtrack to my pregnancy.

Facing the Unknown

At 28 weeks, a growth scan revealed that our baby was measuring on the 99th percentile, labelled as “massive.” By 31 weeks, he was thought to be the size of a full-term baby. How was I supposed to birth a baby that big? Though I was advised to have an early induction or an elective caesarean, I reminded myself that I had control. After talking through my options with my consultant, I felt informed and confident in my choice to be induced at 39 weeks on Valentine’s Day.

Harnessing Oxytocin

Determined to encourage natural labour and prepare for induction, I focused on stimulating oxytocin—the hormone that aids in labour. I started maternity leave early, walked daily, drank raspberry leaf tea, and danced around the living room, even getting a rainbow painted on my nails as a symbol of our journey. When I lost my mucus plug at 38 weeks, I excitedly announced it to my husband… and his work colleagues, who were on a call. You can read more about what to expect when labour starts here.

Advocating for Myself

In the following days, I experienced a ‘bloody show’ and called the maternity unit. The midwife I spoke to was unphased but asked me to come in for monitoring. After waiting over an hour at the busy hospital, I was checked and told I could go home, but I wasn’t satisfied. My bleeding still worried me, so I insisted they check further. I showed the midwife a photo of a sanitary pad, which prompted her to test for amniotic fluid. Sure enough, my waters had been leaking for over 24 hours without my knowledge.

Knowing My Options

Soon after, I was taken to a delivery room and told I needed to be induced immediately due to the risk of infection. Using the B.R.A.I.N. decision-making tool (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Instincts, and Nothing), I calmly assessed the situation and agreed to the induction. Despite the clinical setting, I remained in control, visualizing my ideal birth environment. In all honesty, my biggest concern was that my fairy lights and candles were still at home. Thinking we had plenty of time, my husband left to go and get them.

Navigating Labour

The surges (contractions) started soon after the hormone gel was administered, and within minutes, I was leaning over a birthing ball in my own world of movement and breath. When my husband returned from fetching our birth supplies, we shared a laugh at how quickly things had progressed. 

Later, a midwife suggested I start on a hormone drip. Though I hadn’t eaten properly in hours, I refused to labour on an empty stomach. I powered up with some snacks (Colin the Caterpillar cakes were a highlight, but definitely not a nutritious choice), and after reviewing my birth preferences, my midwife enthusiastically supported me, ensuring that I felt heard and respected every step of the way.

Listening to My Body

Despite being only 1cm dilated initially, I trusted my body’s process and refused to get caught up in expectations of dilation timelines. Each surge brought me closer to meeting my baby, and I breathed in peace and exhaled tension with every wave. When writing my birth preferences I had made it clear that I wanted as natural a labour as possible, but was happy to have pain relief if I felt I needed it. In the end my gas and air, my tens machine and my hypnobirthing toolkit were all that I needed. When I reached 10cm, my midwife excitedly predicted that she’d meet my baby before her shift ended, and I had no doubt that Arlo was on his way.

The Final Push

The final moments of labour were a blur. With my eyes closed, I focused inward, using all the hypnobirthing techniques I’d practiced. My husband, ever my advocate, spoke up when something felt wrong—like when a midwife tried to place my leg in a stirrup without my consent. He knew exactly how to support me without words.

After 40 minutes of pushing, Arlo’s head crowned, and in one final push, he was born. As he was placed on my chest for skin-to-skin, I was overwhelmed with love and disbelief. In that moment, I became a mother, and our journey together began. 

A Powerful Experience

Arlo was born at 5:24AM, weighing 7lbs 5oz—not quite the “massive” baby predicted. In the weeks that followed, I watched the video of my birth on repeat, marveling at how calm, powerful, and instinctual I had been. Hypnobirthing gave me the tools to remain in control, confident in my choices, and fully immersed in the experience. As I held my son, I couldn’t help but think, “I hope I get to do that again one day.” 

The birth of Arlo was not just the birth of my son—it was the birth of me as a mother, and I’ve never felt more empowered. You deserve to feel the same.

Arlo was born at 5:24AM at Blackpool Victoria Hospital weighing 7lb 5oz (definitely not on the 99th percentile).