Having had success with Reiki and The Journey during my first pregnancy I decided to use these again.

Whilst again the baby was breech and stuck in my bi-corneate uterus, I was still remarkably calm throughout the birth. Due to HypnoBirthing breathing and a last minute Journey, I was told by the mid-wife that I was having contractions that I couldn’t even feel. In fact the baby actually turned in the last hour (a supposed medical impossibility!).

Baby Kayla Shelley Queenan was born on 28th July 2005 to HypnoBirthing star parents Marie and Aaron Queenan. I was privileged to be invited to share this beautiful birth with them.

HypnoBirthing gave me the birth that I wanted, a natural birth with no pain in the absence of fear. HypnoBirthing and The Journey helped me to face and overcome all fears regarding labour and motherhood. Fear is

the cause of the unnecessary pain that women endure when birthing their baby. My "contractions" felt the same as the Braxton hicks that I had experienced during pregnancy. The best descriptions of my Braxton hicks were the tightening of stomach muscles. The same I used to hold my stomach in before my pregnancy. Had I not had a show, I never would have known that I was in labour, I would have thought that they were the Braxton hicks that I had experienced throughout my pregnancy.

On account of having Group B Strep, I needed to go to hospital to give birth because I needed regular doses of antibiotics at every four hours intervals. When we arrived at the labour ward, a midwife on duty very confidently informed us that we may have to go back home or wait in the waiting room because I did not appear to have any signs of "labour", meaning pain. Another told me that she had never seen a woman so relaxed during labour. I though "why wouldn't I be, I wasn't experiencing any pain and I knew that my body was designed to birth my baby." After an internal examination, the midwife discovered that I was 4 cm dilated and that I was telling the truth.

My care was given to another midwife who had just begun her shift. Her attitude changed the environment that I was in, I no longer felt safe or secure and whenever she entered my room, I would become very tense and nervous. The reason being is that the new midwife had to be told twice to please read our birth plan which she reluctantly did and after having read our plan, she ignored our requests, such as refraining from using words such as pain to describe how "intense" my contractions were. She appeared sceptical each time that I told her that I was not in pain. She informed me that she needed to do an internal examination to see how I was progressing.

I was so shocked by the brutality of her internal examination that I cried out in pain and started becoming very upset. I experienced fear because I no longer trusted or felt safe and secure within my environment. Hence I began to experience pain. She had the audacity to tell me that she had not yet begun her examination, which made me feel like I was a liar. I told her that I did not want her to conduct any further examinations and my care was given to another midwife who was much nicer and very gentle.

Although I experienced pain during the contractions when the brutal midwife was present, I am glad that I did, because I know that HypnoBirthing really does work because as a result I was able to regain my composure and my relaxation in the presence of those that I trusted. Hypnobirthing gave me the birth that I wanted and I recommend HypnoBirthing to all women.

I also recommend The Journey to anyone who wants to improve the quality of their lives physically and emotionally, especially women who are pregnant or thinking of motherhood. The Journey will ease your anxieties and enable you to relax and enjoy your life with your baby. Motherhood can be stressful at times because you want the best for your baby and have to rely on guessing what your baby needs. I am grateful that I did The Journey because it has improved my life in that I am no longer as anxious as I used to be. Now I can enjoy my time with my baby and make the most of it.

Thank You Patti, from the bottom of my heart, for the HypnoBirthing classes and your Journey work.

By Marie Queenan

"By following the HypnoBirthing programme my partner was able to support me in a very deep way. Preparing for the birth became a daily part of our life which we felt passionate and excited about. Daily relaxations and massages brought us together in a very special way.

During the journey of our daughter’s birth I found the breathing techniques AMAZING. We walked, danced and every time a surge came I just used my breathing.

"Even though I was a second-time mum, I was quite nervous about giving birth. HypnoBirthing enabled me to get my confidence back, I was actually really looking forward to the birth. On the big day, I was so much more in control than the previous time (For the first birth I had to wait for more than 2 hours for the epidural and found this experience excruciating). This time I was focused on my breathing and on the relaxation scenarios and the first 7 hours went like a dream. Even the midwives were impressed! As I was getting tired I asked for a low-dose epidural. I continued applying the HypnoBirthing techniques Patti had taught me. Third stage delivery lasted 10 minutes and no tearing! I would recommend HypnoBirthing to anyone.

By Marie-Hélène Blattmann

For the birth of our first baby, I wanted a natural birth but looking back, I realised that I did not really have a plan on how to go about it. I had been induced for being late and when after half a day of various induction techniques and tremendous pain, I was told that my contractions were not strong enough to do what they should be doing, I had given up in my mind and had an epidural. The birth turned out well in the scheme of things but I still needed stitches and was left unhappy with the whole experience.

So for the birth of our second baby, we chose to prepare with Patti. After the course and whereas the idea had not appealed to us at all before, we decided to have a home birth as we felt it would be the best way to avoid too much intervention from the hospital staff. We bought a pool for a water birth.

My due date came and went. After 7 days and 2 nights of mild contractions at night which would go away in the morning, it seemed that things were finally happening.

I called the midwife at 2.30am. After examining me, she said that the baby was still high, that I was only 2cm and hadn't started effacing. Seeing how calm I looked, she said that the contractions would have to get much stronger and that I should go back to bed and rest. So I put the Hypnobirthing CD on repeat mode and laid in bed next to my husband who was blissfully sleeping with earplugs. I laid on my side with a maternity pillow between the knees and did the breathing exercises which we had learnt in class trying to keep my body as limp as possible.

At 6.00am, our 19-month old daughter woke up and I asked my husband to give her her bottle and send her off to the nanny. I decided to have a shower. In the shower I had two very strong surges which seemed to take over my whole body so I decided to call the midwife. On the phone with her, I continued to have some very strong surges when suddenly my waters broke and the baby started coming out. I went quickly to the bathroom, sat on the floor and on the advice of the midwife asked my husband to call 999. My husband who had no idea what was happening came into the bathroom and saw the baby's head coming out. I remember being very calm in the final stages. I knew not to push. The baby's head came out effortlessly and without any pain. I then waited a few moments and the baby was born with another J breath. My husband put our baby on my stomach and we calmly waited for the ambulance which arrived a few minutes later.

The first midwife arrived about 15 minutes after the birth and cut the cord. Our baby never went to the hospital. My husband and I had the most incredible bonding experience with our new baby and 7 weeks later I still feel a very strong bond with our daughter and have had no feeling of 'baby blues'.

I thank Patti very much for these amazing moments.

By Caroline Gadsby

"Just wanted to let you know that last night, on our 5th wedding anniversary, I gave birth to a beautiful baby boy at the Bloomsbury birthing centre (UCH).

I remained at home for most of the first stage, and arrived at hospital at 20:30 – baby arrived at 23:30 weighing 3.56 kg. Naava was amazing and helped me through the birth with relaxation, massage and acupuncture. The staff at UCH were also excellent and allowed me to deliver naturally with no interference whatsoever, and of course my husband was very supportive as well.

With sufficient energy due to the relaxation techniques, no drugs administered during labour, no episiotomy or tearing, I felt really good after the birth and full of energy. The baby too is healthy and calm and has been nursing well. We were released this morning from hospital.

I want to thank you again for introducing us to Hypnobirthing, as it made a significant impact on my birthing experience.

By Sara Bernstein

"I am so thankful I attended your classes, as the hypnobirthing technique really did work as you said.

My pregnancy went very smoothly, apart from the fact that the baby was facing the wrong position just a few days before I was due to give birth. I did the polar bear position a few times, and that seemed to do the trick as the baby turned around.

On 25th July my waters broke at 1pm at home. I went to the hospital where I arrived at 3pm and they put me on a monitor to check the baby's heart rate and my surges. At 6pm my surges became very regular and I was put in a labour room. My husband put on the Rainbow relaxation CD and started performing the relaxation techniques you showed. As my surges became stronger I used the various breathing techniques you showed me, and it really did work, as the surges, were not that painful. After only 3 hours labour using only gas and air, I gave birth to a beautiful baby daughter. She weighed a whooping 10lbs 2oz. The midwife was amazed at my birth because 1) It was so quick 2) I did not make a fuss, shout or scream and I was very calm throughout 3) Given the size of the baby, I should have used drugs. The midwife said that in 26 years of midwifery she has not seen anything like it. She then proceeded to ask loads of questions about hypnobirthing. I was visited by about 7 midwives during the night asking about my birthing experiance, which really was amazing. My district midwife visited me at home the next day and said that I was the talk of the hospital the next day. She said for a first time baby I did really really well during labour.

Straight after the birth, and the days after the birth I had lots of energy and felt amazing. The baby is now 10 days old and is very calm and serene. She sleeps and feeds really well, and at night and only wakes to be fed, so I have not had to use that swaddle technique you showed me (well not yet anyway). She had been a really good baby from day one.

I am recommending hypnobirthing to everyone. I am so glad I did your course.

Jessica and Cornelius

"Just thought we'd let you know that we had a beautiful baby boy on Friday evening. We had an incredibly quick delivery. I felt my first surges around 2pm on Friday, we arrived at the hospital at just after 5pm, and he was born just before 7pm. We did our hypnobirthing throughout, and he came into the world to the sound of the hypnobirthing CD, which we let play on a loop for a couple of hours in the birthing room. The staff were great and very encouraging throughout and I didn't have any pain relief, just some gas and air during the last few surges. I didn't have to really push, I just really concentrated on my J breaths, and breathed him out in just a few surges.

So, a big thank you for all your help.

Mark and Sam Brett

"I am delighted to tell you that I've had my baby and I had the birth that I wanted!

James Michael Burrows was born on Friday 2 February at 11.16pm, weighing 3.64kg (8lb exactly). He was born at home (as planned) and in the birthing pool, which was the icing on the cake. The whole birthing process, from the first surge to the emergence of baby James, took 8 and a quarter hours, with his journey down the birth path and out into the world taking only 6 minutes, so the midwives told me!

The birthing affirmations and the 20/20 breathing coupled with balloon visualisation, all of which I'd been practising, were my rocks during labour. The relaxation practice I'd been doing using the rainbow relaxation script also helped me recognise any tension in my body and to release it. I kept it going right to the end, and the only noise I made was when he was coming down the birth path and emerging into the world. (That was a new sensation - didn't have it when my first was born - and it was overwhelming, but my body did all the work.) At the same time, I was responding coherently to questions without it really interupting my flow.

I heard the midwives say it was lovely to see a lady in such control and so calm. My husband says they were in awe. The main midwife said she was convinced that I was having a girl because, every time she listened to the heartbeat, the baby seemed quite happy, and that boys often get distressed, but there was no sign of distress in my baby at all.

In class, when you showed us the birthing videos, you often pointed out how energised the mums seemed shortly after giving birth. I felt this too. The pictures attached here are the ones we sent to all our friends and family. Some people have commented on how "well" and "radiant" I look after the birth (the pictures were taken within 3 hours of the birth). I don't think I look my best(!), but I certainly look happy, and their comments are testament to the benefits of having a calm, relaxed, in-control labour, which Hypnobirthing has made possible for me.

Thank you for the course and your support.

Christine Burrows

All the practice paid off and we were thrilled with how things went.

On the Monday night I had fairly regular contractions and a show but by mid-morning on Tuesday the contractions had worn off. I wasn't convinced the surges were the real thing but I could tell they felt different from the Braxton Hicks which I had been experiencing in the latter stages of pregnancy.

I saw the midwife Tuesday afternoon (routine apt) and she said it sounded like "my engine was revving up" but we

agreed there was no point in me being examined as things had obviously stopped for the time being. (I was lucky to have found a superb midwife who was really supportive of the type of birth we were hoping for).

Midnight on Tuesday the contractions began again, every ten minutes. I noted the time of each contraction but otherwise tried my best to sleep. I listened to rainbow relaxation and the affirmations and drifted in and out of sleep (in between visits to the loo!) until the morning. The day continued much the same and Jon and I were able to pop into town for a spot of food shopping, watch some TV and have light meals. I had a bath to relax and essentially carried on as normal.

By late afternoon I figured that something must really be happening as the surges felt a bit more intense and seemed to be coming more regularly. I started using my TENS around 5pm and we left home shortly after 6pm. When I got to the hospital I was convinced they would send me home and tell me I'd come in too early. I really was still not sure whether I was genuinely in labour. The midwife commented that nothing much seemed to be happeneing becuase I was so calm and was not experiencing anything beyond discomfort.

However, I was thrilled when she examined me and I was already 7 - 8 cms dilated. This was such a huge boost. It had worked!! I had kept calm, carried on as normal, used my 20/20 breaths, recited the affirmations, visualised the magnificent balloon and got well into active labour without realising it or feeling any pain.

We got comfortable in the delivery room and played relaxing music. I kept very mobile and the midwife encouraged me to keep changing positions, walking around etc. which was very helpful.

Things continued in a positive vein. The surges became more regular and did get very intense but I just got more and more focussed and tried not to fight them. Jon kept reminding me that every surge brought baby closer and I visualised the blue satin ribbons etc. Jon continued to whisper various prompts throughtout the later stages of the birthing and Florence Zarrine was born around 5 hours after our arrival in hospital. Knowing how important it was to remain calm and relax made such a huge difference. With each surge Jon reminded me to relax my shoulders and face and I focussed on that rather than the intensity.

I relied solely on TENS (and hypnobirthing techniques!!) for pain relief. I didn't have any stiches and Florence was perfect when she arrived - no complications at all. All I can say was that attending your classes was certainly money well spent and I will be recommending it to everyone!

In closing I would say that Hypnobirthing taught me a lot more than how to have a wonderful, natural birth. It has also made me realise how powerful the brain is and how my body is capable of some extraordinary things. I would certainly consider using similar techniques to deal with other aspects of life in the future.

I hope you are well and that life is treating you well. As our Hypnobirthing teacher you will always have a special place in our hearts.

All the best,
Jon, Zarrine and Florence Dye