“So what do you think of being pregnant?” many people would ask.  The answer I always gave is “It’s weird, it doesn’t seem real”.  Now that the little babe that was moving so vivaciously for months inside me is here, it is still weird and unbelievable!  There was a real baby in there and now he’s here, just like that, in a matter of hours, normal life, just waiting to meet the little guy that seems like he’ll never be real, to the new normal of a real baby to look at and love on all day long.  The way life begins- mind blowing.

Throughout pregnancy Justin and I practiced Hypnobabies.  He would read scripts to me while I was training my body to go completely limp, loose and relaxed at the drop of a finger.   I was actually supposed to practice on my own as well, about 5 times a day and for some reason that was so hard for me to remember.  As I got close to my due date I did start to worry I wouldn’t know how to relax, that I would just forget everything I learned.

My due date came and went.  I now know why in Hypnobabies they say guess month rather than due date.  We just got so anxious, not to mention the family as well.  Every night I went to bed hoping that it would not be a normal night, but every morning I would wake up and know today is not the day.  I knew he would come when he was supposed to so I was never once worried, just excited.  What is he going to look like?  Is he going to have hair?  Wouldn’t that be a shocker if he wasn’t a little boy?  He did know what he was doing though so we just needed to be patient.  Justin and I got so much done in the week that passed after his due date.  Garden fully planted, new (old) car picked up and ready, co-sleeper built and many last walks in the woods with our dog for a while.

Six days after our due date I went to bed on Sunday night trying not to wish for a different night and only wishing Justin didn’t have to go to work the next day.  Around 3:30AM I woke up to go to the bathroom- again, and when I got back in bed I knew this was it.  I was having pressure waves (Hypnobabies term for contractions- a much better way to think about it).  I lied there for about an hour before waking up Justin.  The pressure waves  seemed to be coming about every 10 minutes or so but I wasn’t sure, I just knew I should wake him up.  He tried to get me to go back to sleep, according to our midwives directions but that was not happening.  I sat on the couch and put in my Hypnobabies deepening track which always made me fall asleep so I knew it would help me relax.  At first I wanted to punch the lady talking in the face, but once I calmed down and took a couple breaths, it did help, tremendously!  I was so calm and relaxed just breathing through each pressure wave as they got closer together and stronger.  Justin called the midwife around six to tell her I was in labor.  She said call back when pressure waves are closer and stronger and they’ll be on their way.  It didn’t take much longer for that to happen.  I knew this wasn’t going to be a long labor, I could just tell he was ready and I had been prepared for that.  Justin ran around the house and got things ready and I continued to listen to Hypnobabies tracks and tried to relax.  I couldn’t believe how much the hypnosis really helped.  It did take a lot of concentration though.  If I didn’t concentrate the pressure wave would feel so much different and painful; if I did concentrate, really concentrate on relaxing my body and “turning off my light switch” then it felt only like pressure. 

My midwives and doula showed up around 7:00 AM which I have no recollection of.  I just know I was so happy to see them.  When they checked me I was 6.5 cm dilated.  My doula taught our Hypnobabies classes which I think was a huge benefit because the sound of her voice was exactly what I needed.  She was wonderful and always ready with a drink of water after a pressure wave.  This also freed up Justin to finish getting things ready and fill up the birthing tub.  That was such a relief.  It’s pretty amazing how relaxing and good the water felt.  The tub wasn’t even warm enough yet but it felt so good.  When I got out of the tub or had to do anything for that matter, it was so difficult.  It felt like it just made the pressure waves come quicker and stronger.  I couldn’t even pee without having a pressure wave.  It was all very manageable though, especially with my doula and my husband.

When I felt ready to push, the midwives wanted me on the bed or on the birthing stool.  For first time moms there is too much risk of tearing in the birthing tub because it speeds things up so I could only labor in the tub.  It’s funny because all throughout pregnancy I thought I would want to be hanging over my birthing ball (exercise ball) or kneeling and the very last thing I would want was to lie down.  Once I was on the bed and pushing, it was so hard for me to even think about moving to the birthing stool.  The birthing stool turned out to be pretty awesome.  I agreed to move once they said it would help move the baby down and through the pelvis.  When I was pushing they asked if that felt right, making sure I was ready to put the energy into pushing.  I knew I could have waited longer and just dealt with each pressure wave and pushed for a shorter amount of time, but they got so strong and quite unbearable that it just felt better to push.  Once I started pushing, I threw Hypnobabies to the wind.  It was so hard to concentrate and focus when I had the most intense, foreign feelings going through my body.  I believe it would have helped, but I didn’t even think about it. 

When my baby was going through my pelvis it was the strangest and strongest pressure in the world.  Yeah, it was painful, but not unbearable.  It was just crazy feeling.  I pushed less than an hour, but it didn’t feel like it was that long.  I had no idea he was close until Justin held my hand crying, and told me he could see his head.  When they saw his head they told me he was still in his bag of waters.  My midwife had me make eye contact with her and promise her I would listen to her while pushing him out to prevent tearing.  Of course I would try to oblige.  This, by far, was the hardest part of the whole labor.  He was right there and  I knew he would come out with just one good push, but she had me do little, half pushes- so hard to do!  Those little pushes were stretching my perineum though, w/ his head coming out a little bit each time. 

I’m not sure if it was him or me, but he decided he was ready to come on out.  In one push he was out, head to toes in his water bag.  Justin caught him, the midwives had to break the water bag away from his face so he could breathe and he was placed on my chest.  He was completely purple with a full head of hair.  From the moment I pushed him out to the point that he was lying on my chest was just this crazy moment in time that was the most amazing feeling.  It felt like this crazy amount of energy was leaving my body and coming to life. 

I was never once worried during the birth or after.  I was drinking water the whole time and some coconut water, and immediately after he was born I had more coconut water and a larabar shoved in my face.  After they were sure that I had eaten, the midwives left us, our new family, alone on our bed to be together and fall in love with each other.  It was perfectly peaceful and just how we thought it should be. It turns out I did have a second degree tear, probably because those shoulders just came barreling out, but I had no idea until they told me (next time I will think of my perineum as elastic, which it is during labor, and I will remind Justin to remind me it is and I guarantee you it will work and I won’t tear).  However, he was born in his bag of waters which is supposed to be good luck so I’ll take it. J

We hope you'll join us for an open house.


Date: Thursday, February 20,  2014
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Four Seasons Wellness

This is a wonderful opportunity to learn about Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis. If you're an expectant couple interested natural childbirth and you want to hear how others have had easier, more comfortable births using self-hypnosis - this event is for you.

Are you a care provider or doula that's heard of - or even witnessed! - a Hypnobabies birth, but you want to know more? You're welcome to attend.

You can pose your questions about Hypnobabies to actual graduates of the Hypnobabies program, and admire their stinkin' cute Hypno-BABIES. You'll be treated to their wonderfully POSITIVE birth stories! No scary stuff here.

The Hypnobabies Instructors and Hypno-Doulas will be there for you to meet, they can answer your questions, and even assist you in registering for an upcoming class. 

Light snacks will be provided.

Our Open House only happens twice a year - the next opportunity to attend will be in August.

Please join our Facebook event if you plan to attend.

We hope to see you there!

You're invited!

Date: Friday, August 2,  2013
Time: 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Location: Four Seasons Wellness
(6237 Vance Road Chattanooga, TN 37421 - behind Nutrition World)



Come learn everything you ever wanted to know about Hypnobabies Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis...and more!
Meet other "hypno-curious" couples, and mingle with couples that are already attending Hypnobabies classes.

You can pose your questions about Hypnobabies to actual graduates of the Hypnobabies program, and admire their stinkin' cute Hypno-BABIES. You'll be treated to their wonderfully POSITIVE birth stories! No scary stuff here.

The Hypnobabies Instructors and Hypno-Doulas will be there for you to meet, and you can even enroll for a class
on the spot. We hope to see you there!

Join our Facebook event to RSVP!

Around 4:15 a.m. on January 10, 2011, I was lying in bed when I felt a gush of fluid. I immediately knew my water broke – unfortunately I had gotten to bed around 3:00 a.m. Not the best way to start labor off – with a little over an
hour’s worth of sleep. I was exactly 10 days past my “guess” date. I calmly reached for my husband and rubbed his shoulder to wake him. I said, “Honey, I need a towel, my water has broken.” Brandon proceeds to get up and start trying to find an outfit. I kept saying, “Honey, I need a towel.” I couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t getting me one…later he told me that in his sleepiness he kept thinking he had to start shoveling snow…I could get my own towel! At least he woke up, un-like when I went into labor with our daughter. He did eventually get me a towel. But our son did choose to start coming when we were in the worst snowstorm our city has seen in many years. In the south, we are not well-equipped to handle even a few inches of snow and ice…we already had 4-5 inches at our house.

The good thing was our midwife’s house is very close to ours. Normally it only takes 5-6 minutes to get there. I gave Carolyn (midwife) a call around 4:30 to tell her what was going on. She asked if birthing waves had started yet; they
had not. So she tells me to try to get some sleep and call her when the waves start. Well, when we look outside at the weather conditions, I call her back to tell her we’re going to go ahead and come. My mother and sister had
been camped out at our house all weekend because of the threat of inclement weather. They were a huge part of our support team and lived 40 minutes from us. My friend, Leigh Anne, was another part of our support team - my informal doula. She lived about the same distance away, but has all-wheel drive. I give her a call and she starts making her way toward Carolyn’s house.

It seems to take forever to get the car out of our driveway. Our road has been snow-plowed already, but the driveway is covered in 5-6” of snow and it’s slightly uphill to the road. My mom had gotten salt and kitty litter from the store just in case. It came in handy! I think 30 minutes later we finally got to leave – but wouldn’t have made it if it wasn’t for the kitty litter! It gave us just enough traction to get out. And boy was it a slow drive to Carolyn’s!

So all of us are finally there: me (Kristen); my husband, Brandon; our 3-year-old daughter, Vivian; my sister, Rachel; my mother, Kelly; my friend, Leigh Anne; my midwife, Carolyn; and her husband, Keith. The first several hours are a bit of a blur to me because I was so exhausted. I know we had some delicious breakfast at some point – brown rice farina with brown sugar. I was kind of waiting around for things to get started, I think, hanging out. When a pressure wave would come, I would close my eyes, and focus to stay in hypnosis. Everyone around me would quiet down when I did this, but it didn’t really matter. I was present, just making sure I kept using my Hypnobabies techniques.

Then I started to get really tired and nauseated when I was laying down. I threw up after drinking a little V8. Then I peacefully napped between birthing waves with Brandon for a long while. I felt human again after that. I
must say Hypnobabies did a wonderful job of keeping me relaxed in the beginning…I listened to Easy First Stage while napping. The pressure waves really did just feel like waves. But they were not getting too regular yet.

When I woke up and Carolyn monitored me and the baby again – she made me get some food. Brandon was doing a good job of reminding me to stay hydrated – but I needed sustenance as well. Carolyn gave me a whole wheat piece of bread with peanut butter and honey. It was difficult to make myself eat it. Then I had to eat a sweet potato. I am sure she felt like a mother making her toddler eat a meal! But I did feel energized after my nap and meal. And up until this point, everyone had been laid-back. It was so nice and calm in the house. Carolyn’s house also has a very good energy. I guess it’s from all of the wonderful births that have happened there – so much life being brought forth in one place in such a peaceful way. Leigh Anne was teaching my sister to knit…and Vivian was “learning” too. There was fellowship, laughter, bonding, playing, talking, and contemplating while I was in the early stages of labor. It was wonderful.

After I was re-energized Carolyn offered a tincture of black and blue cohosh to hopefully get the pressure waves into a more regular pattern. My previous birth was 33 hours long (with pitocin) so she was afraid of me tiring out if it
took too long. So I started taking the tincture every 15 minutes for the first hour and every 30 minutes for the second hour, I believe. I was walking around, walking up the stairs, swaying my hips, and rocking on a birth ball. Things definitely started picking up.

My husband and I took a shower together around 2:00 pm to try to keep the momentum. This I distinctly remember. I brought two things up with me when we took our shower. First, my birthing affirmations I printed out. Second, my picture of my special safe place I envisioned in my head. This was the turning point of the birth for me. This is when I totally surrendered to birth. I completely let go of any remaining fears and let my body do what it was made for. My mind was no longer an obstacle for this birth. Here are the affirmations that most
resonated with me and helped me to let go: 

            - My body is made to give birth, nice and easy.
            - All I need to do is relax and breathe - nothing else.
            - My body knows how to have this baby, just as my body knew how to grow this baby.
            - Keep my mind on acceptance and surrender.
            - I surrender my birthing over to my baby and my body.
            - I have the energy and stamina to birth my baby.
            - My job is to simply relax and allow the birth to happen.
            - My baby will be born healthy, and at the perfect time.
            - The power and intensity of my birthing waves cannot be stronger than me, because it is me.

 That last one really was profound to me. It alone took away any remaining fears I may have had about the “pain” of birthing. I gained the courage to believe that I really could do this. I didn’t need the drugs I thought I was so thankful for with my first birth. I can handle the pressure waves because it is just my body – it is just me.

I learned that your mind is a very powerful tool in birth. I believe I was mentally blocking myself from really progressing. And I also think the black and blue cohosh gave me just enough push to get things moving. My surrender was ultimately what really got things started, right before the shower. It’s a good thing Brandon was with me because I think I had nine pressure waves during the shower, and I needed to hold onto him for each one. That was pleasant as well. Holding onto my husband and swaying, slow dancing if you will, in the shower through my pressure waves. They were becoming more intense, but it was great to share that experience together – that he and I were on this journey together.

And I have to say, my husband was so amazing. He never left my side (except to scarf down some nachos when things were getting more intense toward the end). He was completely devoted to me the whole time – he was my rock. The whole experience really bonded us – and Hypnobabies gave him tools and knowledge to help me this time around. We were a team – doing the best we could to bring our child peacefully into this world, surrounded by love.

A little while after the shower, Carolyn was checking me and the baby as she had been at least every hour. She asked me if I wanted to a vaginal exam. I agreed, because I wanted to know how things were going…but I also kept in my mind that whatever that “number” was would not tell me when my baby was coming. It was about 4:00 pm – and I was 2-3 cm. I told myself, “Listen to your body. Things are progressing fine – don't worry about the number!” And that’s what I did. Things continued to progress in intensity. My husband was giving me “Peace” and “Relax” cues to help me relax and stay in hypnosis.

The next four hours really seemed to fly by. I think there is a point in one of the Hypnobabies tracks that says something about time going by faster – and it sure did! I really had to focus during each birthing wave to stay in hypnosis and stay calm. Internally things were getting intense. The waves seemed to be coming one on top of the other. Brandon, Leigh Anne, and Rachel were all there with me. Brandon would give me a cue, then Leigh Anne. Rachel was putting her hand on my shoulder. I was on the birthing ball, and then I would change positions. I needed to find a new way to stay comfortable. Then I got on the bed and leaned on the birthing ball. I remember I couldn’t let my pelvis touch anything during a pressure wave – I wouldn't say it “hurt” but I just couldn’t stand it. (Little did I know I was experiencing transformation...)

Before I knew it, Carolyn asked if I wanted another vaginal exam. I had just felt a little pushy, so I said yes. It’s now 8:00 pm. She checks me – and by the way, I don’t recall the exams being uncomfortable. I am now 5-6 cm. WHAT??? Only 5-6???? Great! If things are intense for me at 5-6 what’s 9-10 or transformation going to feel like? Leigh Anne tells me to not worry about it – she knows I’m getting toward the end from the sounds I’m making. I’m doing a lot of low aaaaahhhhh’s to release some of the tension out during pressure waves. She also tells me it’s not unheard of to feel pushy at 6. And I remember that I was SO HAPPY between waves – it felt so good to have a break. So I would enjoy my short heaven – then have another wave.

Carolyn asks me if I want her to get the tub ready – she has this really amazing large jetted birthing tub. I say “YES!” So she goes to get the tub filled up with water. After my last vaginal exam, I simply cannot move. I stay in that position. From what I remember, Brandon had his hand on my left shoulder and Rachel had her hand on my right. Leigh Anne had my head in her lap with her hand on my forehead (for those that don’t know – the shoulders and forehead are all cues from Hypnobabies to relax). I think Leigh Anne was talking to me to encourage me, and Brandon was giving me Relax and Peace cues – but at this point I’m way in "laborland" so I don’t remember exactly. I was making pretty low sounds – mostly aaaahhhhh’s still. I don’t think I ever got loud. I just made whatever sound I felt like I needed to. I just kept it low and kept my mouth relaxed. I relaxed my whole body. I remember how good it felt for Leigh Anne to have her hand on my forehead…it really helped for some reason.

At last the tub is ready! I get in and the water feels wonderful. There is a peaceful green light shining in the water. I try to find what position I’m most comfortable in while someone gets me a sports bra to wear. I decide to lean back
in one of the corners of the tub when all of a sudden I feel like I have to poop (sorry for the TMI – but this is a birth story after all!). I remember you can get this feeling when the baby is coming so I just relax. Here comes a little
poop…and I can feel the baby’s head coming down the birth canal! I say, “I think I’m crowning!” Leigh Anne looks and says, “Yes, you are. Carolyn?” Carolyn doesn’t hear her so we end up sending my sister, Rachel, to get her. She can’t believe I’m crowning because I was just 5-6 cm less than a half hour ago! Everyone looks to see - his head is right there! I have one, maybe two involuntary pushes, and out he comes! I wasn’t doing anything – my body
just took over! Carolyn got her gloves on just in time to catch the baby. He had a nuchal hand – and his umbilical cord was very short. It was barely long enough for him to lay on my chest out of the water. His color was perfect when he came out – but he didn’t cry. Carolyn gives him a tiny puff of oxygen because he’s not alert enough. Then he immediately cries and everything is fine. Carolyn waits until the cord stops pulsing to clamp and cut it. I keep thinking – he’s so small! I know he’s not as big as his sister was, so I can’t wait to see how much he weighs.

But now I’m just in shock. Leigh Anne got a great picture of me during this time! I kept thinking – I really just did that! I had an all-natural home birth! I did it! I felt great, wonderful, fantastic, powerful, elated, peaceful, loved,
and thankful all at once. I just sat there and held my new son in my arms with my husband beside me. Then I immediately wanted my daughter – she needed to meet her new baby brother! My mom had taken her upstairs a few minutes beforehand because she didn’t know how loud I would get at the end. They pretty much came
right back downstairs! Ha! It’s so wonderful to have this time – it’s such a quiet, peaceful time where we all just absorb that a new life came into this world. Surrounded by my closest family, a dear friend, and my wonderful midwife. We give Vivian her big sister gifts – a “big sister” outfit and her own photo album she can put pictures in.

Then I deliver the placenta and get into the bed. At one point I’m stitched up as well – I barely tore – just needed 3-4 stitches. And we all examine the placenta – which was really neat. I didn’t get to see it after Vivian’s birth. Carolyn weighs Evan – he’s 6 lbs 14 oz. That’s 1 lb 3 oz smaller than big sister! He’s a quiet baby. Just content to be held, as long as he’s nice and warm.

After Evan gets his newborn exam and I’ve eaten a nutritious meal, it’s time to get ready to go. It’s so nice by the fire, but we need to get back home…time to battle the snowstorm again! I think it took about 30 minutes and lots of
teamwork to get out of Carolyn and Keith’s driveway – but we finally did it. It is nice to get home, and around 3 am the little guy decides he is hungry enough to give breastfeeding a try. He didn’t want to up until then. It takes a few
tries, but – success! He gets a good latch and he’s been a nursing champ ever since.

This home birth was everything I hoped it would be – and more. This pregnancy lasted 41 weeks and 3 days – Vivian’s was 40 weeks 4 days. So your subsequent pregnancies won’t always be shorter! And if I’d been under an OB’s care like last time, they wouldn’t have wanted to let me go beyond 41 weeks before inducing me. Evan
came at his perfect time – as I knew he would. I would have another all-natural Hypnobabies birth in a heart beat. That is what birth should be.