My Hypnobabies Birth Story
“My story is not just about fear turning into confidence, but about discovering the power of preparation, connection, and trust.”
Trusting the Process
By learning to trust my body, my baby, and the natural process of birth, I transformed my experience into one of calm and empowerment.
As a first-time mom, when I first found out I was pregnant, my very first thought was: How am I going to get this baby out?
What should have been joyful suddenly felt overwhelming, and I slipped into a brief depression filled with self-doubt — something we don’t talk about enough, especially for new parents. According to the Connecticut State Department of Public Health, 10–15% of women experience perinatal depression during pregnancy and postpartum.
Returning to yoga and finding Hypnobabies gave me the tools to quiet fear, trust my body, and feel truly connected to my baby — setting the stage for a calmer, more confident birth.
Early Birthing Time (At Home)
On Saturday, December 1st, after dinner with friends, I couldn’t shake the feeling my baby would be arriving soon. Sure enough, at 2:00 AM on December 2nd, at 38 weeks and 6 days, my birthing waves began.
Thanks to Hypnobabies, I understood what was happening and felt deeply connected to my baby—we were working in harmony, guiding the birth together. Throughout pregnancy, I would often talk to her, sharing my hopes for her arrival. I even told her that I didn’t want her to come after 39 weeks, because I hoped to avoid going past 42 weeks and facing the possibility of induction. That sense of communication and trust carried into my birthing time.
My goal was to stay home as long as possible, and I did: 16 hours, feeling comfortable and confident with the tracks and techniques I had practiced for weeks to stay present and connected to my baby and my body.
I moved through positions we had learned in class:
Side-lying for deep rest
Squatting and lunging for progress
Kneeling over my birthing ball
Walking freely around my space
Even my dog stayed close, keeping me calm and boosting oxytocin, the “love hormone” that strengthens birthing waves while deepening feelings of safety and connection.
Research shows: being with pets can increase oxytocin levels, which may help reduce stress and encourage birthing waves to progress more smoothly.
My Hypnobabies tracks became my anchor. Your Birthing Time Begins and Deepening Your Hypnosis helped set the tone. I also tapped into the Light Switch and Finger-Drop techniques, which gave me the ability to instantly enter hypnosis whenever I needed it. With the Light Switch tool, I could “switch off” into deep hypnosis for rest or move into “Center” — a state where I could still talk, walk, and move around while remaining fully relaxed and in hypnosis.
The Finger-Drop technique acted like a mental shortcut, training my mind and body to automatically create hypno-anesthesia — a sense of comfort and calm I could direct anywhere in my body. Hypnobabies teaches students to visualize this comfort as the color orange, which becomes a physical cue for deep relaxation and reduced sensation of birthing waves.
Together, these techniques allowed me to move freely, stay engaged with my environment, and still remain deeply calm and comfortable during my birthing time at home.
Active Birthing Time (Hospital)
By 6:00 PM, my waves were strong and close together. We called the doctor, it was time to go. At the hospital, I declined the wheelchair and walked myself into Labor & Delivery. From the very beginning, my wishes were respected, which set the tone for the rest of my journey at the hospital.
We turned our hospital room into a sanctuary:
I requested intermittent auscultation instead of continuous electronic fetal monitoring. This meant the nurses periodically checked Luciana’s heart rate with a handheld Doppler rather than keeping me strapped to a machine, which allowed me to move freely.
Dimmed lights and hung our Hypnobabies sign on the door
Placed a salt lamp, yoga mat, and birthing ball in the room
Brought my own gown, so I could feel comfortable and more at home
Taped a peace sign over the clock to keep us present
After three hours, my water broke. Just a small “pop,” not the dramatic gush you see in movies. (In fact, about 15% of women experience their water breaking before birthing begins—most often, it happens during birthing itself.)
Birth Tip: Advocate for Monitoring That Fits Your Needs
Many hospitals default to continuous monitoring, but low-risk parents can request intermittent auscultation instead. This preserves mobility, reduces intervention risk, and supports a calmer birth environment.
Transformation Stage
As my birthing time progressed, Hypnobabies kept me grounded.
With the Finger-Drop and “RELAX” cues alongside my Hypnobabies relaxation music, I found instant comfort and deep calm.
Sam, my husband, used the cue words from the Hypnotic Childbirth Scripts we had practiced together. His voice and words became my lifeline, reminding me of the Hypno-Guardian role he had prepared for.
When exhaustion set in and my progress slowed after my water had broken, Sam stepped in as my advocate and made the call for an epidural. Even then, I remained deeply in hypnosis, anchored by my Hypnobabies tools. Within just 30 minutes of receiving the epidural, I had dilated to 9.5 cm and was soon ready to begin pushing.
Birth Insight: not uncommon for progress to slow after the water breaks. For many families, this can feel discouraging, but with the right support and flexibility, you can stay calm, adjust your plan, and continue moving forward confidently. Hypnobabies equips both birthing people and their partners with the tools to navigate these moments while protecting the calm, positive space they’ve worked so hard to create.
Advocacy in Action: Sam’s role as my Hypno-Guardian became especially powerful here. He was prepared to speak up for me, handle questions from staff, and protect my hypnosis space so I could stay deeply focused and comfortable. Because we had practiced the Hypnotic Childbirth Scripts at home, his “RELAX” and “PEACE” cues became powerful anchors during this stage.
This is exactly what Hypnobabies teaches: understanding your options, practicing informed consent, and learning how to make decisions with clarity and confidence. Whether it’s choosing mobility, declining interventions, or asking for quiet, Hypnobabies gives families the tools to stay in charge of their birth experience.
Pushing Phase (Bringing Baby Earthside)
Back in the side-lying position with a peanut ball—the same position I had started with at home, everything came full circle.
With the Pushing Baby Out track guiding me and Sam whispering our practiced cues, I felt both deeply supported and fully in control. The nurses complemented this by offering gentle breath coaching and perineal support — something you have to request in your birth plan. I felt truly honored in my preferences.
After 1.5 hours of pushing, at 6:00 AM on December 3rd, Luciana was born.
“All births should be this way.” — My doctor.
The Fourth Stage (Immediate Postpartum)
That first hour with Luciana nestled in my arms was pure magic. My birth had been calm, connected, and empowering — everything I had hoped for.
As soon as she arrived, she was placed directly on me. Our baby care plan included delayed cord clamping, refusing a newborn bath to protect her vernix, and choosing to birth the placenta naturally, without Pitocin. Luciana’s presence, and the oxytocin her body helped stimulate in mine, was enough for my placenta to detach and be born smoothly.
Why these choices mattered:
Delayed Cord Clamping: Waiting at least 30–60 seconds (and in our case, longer) before clamping allowed Luciana to receive more blood volume from the placenta. This increases hemoglobin and improves iron stores in the first months of life, supporting her health without increasing the risk of maternal bleeding.
Protecting Vernix: We declined an immediate bath so Luciana could keep her vernix intact.
No Pitocin for Placenta Delivery: Instead of synthetic oxytocin, my body relied on its own natural oxytocin flow stimulated by skin-to-skin, breastfeeding initiation, and the calm environment we created. Research shows that for low-risk births, a physiological third stage (without routine Pitocin) can be safe, while allowing the body’s hormones to guide the process.
This moment felt like a continuation of the trust I had built during pregnancy with Hypnobabies: trust in my body, my baby, and the natural processes unfolding. Luciana and I shared that golden first hour, uninterrupted, skin-to-skin, exactly the way we had envisioned.
Birth Tip: Protect Your Baby’s Vernix
Babies are born with a creamy, protective coating called vernix caseosa. Instead of bathing it away immediately, letting vernix absorb into your baby’s skin provides natural antibacterial protection, helps regulate body temperature, and keeps newborn skin soft and moisturized. Delaying the first bath allows your baby to benefit from this natural safeguard.
Why I Teach Hypnobabies Now
That day wasn’t just my daughter’s beginning, it was mine too. Hypnobabies gave me a calmer pregnancy, the confidence to trust my body, and a birth I remember with joy.
Now, as a Certified Hypnobabies Instructor, it’s my privilege to walk alongside families as they prepare for their own empowered births. If you’re curious about how Hypnobabies can support you, let’s connect — I’d love to hear your vision for birth.