√ Natural childbirth
√ Resting Labor
√ Patience & Trust
√ No medication
√ Immediate postpartum mobility
I have always been extremely afraid of pain. Ever since I was a child, I’ve dreaded injections and tooth extractions. The thought of childbirth was unimaginable to me. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was really anxious, fearing that I wouldn’t be able to endure the pain. I even considered a C-section with anesthesia to avoid prolonged pain.
Fortunately, I came across some information about HypnoBirthing on Facebook. I attended a HypnoBirthing sharing session and consulted Sansan about the concept. I am so grateful that my husband supported me in taking the course and attended every class with me.
At 39 weeks and 3 days, during my prenatal check-up, there were no signs of labor, and my cervix hadn’t begun to dilate. Perhaps the baby was too comfortable and wanted to stay in the womb a little longer. I wasn’t concerned; I thought it would be nice to wait a few more days and deliver a National Day baby. I didn’t consider the doctor’s suggestion to induce labor, as I wasn’t in a hurry to meet the baby 😆.
However, at 39 weeks and 5 days, early in the morning, I woke up with a slight cramping sensation, similar to menstrual cramps. I knew the baby was coming. My mother kept urging me to go to the hospital, but I knew it wasn’t time yet. So I leisurely prepared some food, indulged in some sweets, watched TV, and took a hot shower. Throughout the day, I enjoyed the mild contractions and even looked forward to stronger ones.
By 2:30 a.m., I could no longer sleep as the anticipated 5-1-1 contractions had finally arrived. I woke my husband, and we calmly packed up and headed to the hospital. I kept telling him not to worry and to take it slow. We parked the car, and I slowly walked to the emergency exit, where I was then taken to the delivery room.
The midwife performed a cervical check, and I was only 2 cm dilated. I remember being quite nervous about the check, but I used the breathing technique Sansan had taught me, and to my surprise, the check was comfortable. I even asked the midwife to give me a minute to adjust my breathing before proceeding. Since I was only 2 cm dilated, I stayed in the delivery room to wait. I was grateful that I was allowed to move around freely and wasn’t confined to the bed. I snacked, walked around, swayed, and even watched a movie to relax while my husband slept on the sofa.
At 8:30 a.m., the doctor came in for another cervical check, and I was only 3 cm dilated. The doctor wanted to break my water to help the baby come out sooner, but I insisted on waiting, not wanting to induce labor and make the process uncomfortable. So I was moved to a waiting room. I’m thankful that the doctor respected my decision.
The real “waiting” began then. My contractions became irregular, shifting from the original 5-1-1 to 6-1-1, 8-1-1, and 10-1-1. This phase lasted about 30 hours. Nurses repeatedly asked if I wanted pain relief or an epidural, but I declined each time. With the breathing techniques, I could manage the discomfort. I also continuously listened to Rainbow Relaxation and Birth Affirmations through noise-canceling Bluetooth headphones.
Eventually, the doctor performed another cervical check and found that I was 5 cm dilated. He mentioned that my uterus was becoming fatigued, which was causing the irregular contractions, so I was moved back to the delivery room.
By then, I was feeling exhausted, having endured 30 hours of contractions with little sleep. I’m so grateful that my husband was by my side, encouraging me and performing light touch to help me relax and steady my breathing through each intense contraction. Despite my efforts to keep moving and swaying on the birthing ball, my cervix was still dilating very slowly.
Finally, the doctor had to break my water manually. Although I didn’t feel the procedure itself, I could feel a warm gush of fluid afterward.
At that point, my belly was strapped to a monitor, and I was forced to stay in bed, not even allowed to use the bathroom. However, I insisted on getting up and moving around the bed because the contractions had become too uncomfortable to bear while lying down. I even ate a Snickers bar to regain some energy, and fortunately, the medical staff allowed me to eat in the delivery room.
I’m also grateful to Sansan for her constant check-ins, encouragement, and reminders, which helped me persevere without opting for full pain relief 😆. I also thank her for the last-minute hypnosis, which prompted the baby to come out, speeding up my labor.
One regret is that I wasn’t able to avoid the episiotomy. Although I didn’t fully achieve my dream birth, with the breathing techniques, my husband’s light touch, and his guidance to keep my breathing steady, I managed to get through almost 40 hours of labor without any pain relief, and I delivered my baby gently.
After giving birth, it was already around 7-8 p.m. I rested for an hour while my husband went out to find something to eat, buying some of my favorite foods as a reward 😆.
Later, I was moved to the ward, and I was able to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom immediately, although the nurse accompanied me. The nurses were amazed that I didn’t show any signs of dizziness and were surprised that I endured such a long labor without any medication, all while being able to chat happily until midnight. I was still full of energy, sharing the good news with family and friends, while my husband was so exhausted that he fell asleep right away.
Although I couldn’t avoid the artificial rupture of membranes and the episiotomy, I’m amazed that I managed to have a completely drug-free, natural, and gentle birth. As a result, my baby was alert at birth, able to latch and nurse, and even smile. This course helped me, someone who has always been afraid of pain, achieve something I never thought possible. It’s truly miraculous!
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【Mentor’s Note】
When Hui Yee first felt the contractions, she messaged me on WhatsApp, saying she was excited and full of energy, which her family found incredible. I recall that some mothers feel very energized before labor, even doing thorough house cleaning; she said she was like that—she finished cleaning, and then the contractions began.
Everything went smoothly, but later, she experienced a long period of resting labor. It was inevitable that she encountered some negative suggestions and information from the environment, but fortunately, she remained steadfast, and her husband was by her side the entire time. After nearly 40 hours, she successfully and gently welcomed her little one.
Patience, perseverance, and trust are what I once again learned from Hui Yee.
It’s truly wonderful!
