Hannah & Max

‘I just wanted to let you know that little Max arrived safely into the world on 4th January at 0128! One week past his due date and quite a chunk for a first born at 8lb 8oz! Induction was starting to be talked about so I'm glad I went into labour spontaneously in the end.

I actually read a book you'd read an excerpt from called In Your Own Time which hugely helped me feel comfortable with which forms of induction I would or wouldn't accept and I'd 100% recommend it to any women who might be faced with that decision. I also didn't realise the NICE guidelines had changed and a friend of mine was offered an induction at Pembury at 40 weeks for a low risk first birth, just because she was at 40 weeks and for no other reason. It makes me so mad!

I had a really positive birth. Contractions started at 4pm after I'd spent the morning on a long walk. They came on thick and fast at 3 mins apart from the very beginning which took me by surprise. I really didn't have much time to gather my thoughts between them. By the time I felt ready to make the move to hospital I was contracting 5 in 10 minutes. In total I was in labour for 9 1/2 hours which for a first birth is quite fast! I got through it with everything I'd learnt in yoga classes with you, hypnobirthing and gas and air. I spent the entire labour standing and rocking side to side listening to the Freya app. I think my partner found it a little dull at times because I was just in my zone and only needed him to rock and sway with me whilst I had my headphones on! I needed a ventose at the end as he was a little back to back and coming at an angle but no other interventions, sutures or episiotomy at all. To say I'm over the moon with how it went is an understatement!

Thank you so much for all your guidance over the last few months. I feel so proud of myself and how I birthed my little boy, it really was such an empowering experience. My midwife said it probably went so quickly because I stayed so calm and in control by using all the things I'd been tought in the run up to the birth. The power of the mind really is so important! Hopefully see you at some baby classes when we're all settled!’

-HANNAH & BABY MAX. 2022