√ Cesarean section
√ Government Hospital
Eet Shien’s Birth Story
I am a person who goes with the flow and believes that when things happen, they should be accepted calmly.
When I was five months pregnant with my second child, I was still busy with both work and personal matters, and I didn’t have much personal time. One day, while I was lying on the bed at a beauty salon, I began to feel short of breath, and overwhelming fear about childbirth flooded my mind. I realized I needed to find a way to change this negative impression.
When I got home, I shared my fear with my husband, and I was relieved to find that he completely understood. After all, he had been with me throughout my first pregnancy. Although I decided to deliver at a semi-government hospital this time (due to the pandemic, my husband couldn’t be present for the birth), I started doing my research. When I first consulted with Sansan, I asked whether Hypnobirthing could be beneficial if I was delivering at a semi-government hospital. Sansan assured me that it could indeed help. She suggested attending a few more of our sessions to learn more about Hypnobirthing before making a decision. So, I signed up.
In the first class, the first chapter discussed the impact of hormones on labor. I realized that the negative cycles described by the instructor were exactly the same as my experience with my first pregnancy. I knew then that I was in the right place; by adjusting my mindset, I could reduce my fear.
My birth story may not be considered a success, but I am very satisfied with the outcome. After all, we can’t always plan everything, and I am very grateful for the insights gained from the Hypnobirthing course.
During my last prenatal check-up, the doctor scheduled an induction for 40 weeks due to the baby potentially being large and to facilitate hospital arrangements during the pandemic. I agreed gladly because my intuition told me the baby would come before the scheduled induction.
On the evening of 39 weeks and 2 days, my husband told the baby that after today, it would be a Year of the Ox baby, and that they could come out anytime. The next morning, at 39 weeks and 3 days, I felt some discomfort in my abdomen, but it wasn’t quite contractions yet, so I went to work as usual. Around 11 a.m., I started feeling contractions, so I handed over my work, drove home, and by the time I reached the parking lot, I was too weak to walk to the elevator myself. I called my husband home, and we both felt that today was the day.
When we got home, I lay on the bed. I knew that walking would help labor, but I couldn’t move and could only lie in bed while timing my contractions. I wasn’t even interested in my phone. I would have a contraction, accidentally fall asleep for a few minutes, then wake up with another contraction, until around 1 p.m. When the contractions became unbearable, I took a hot shower and used hot water on my abdomen (which really helped), and then prepared to leave. In the meantime, my husband packed the delivery bag (boiling water, packing underwear, and other last-minute tasks) while I used a hot water bottle on my abdomen and went to pick up our older child. (Although it was out of the way, I wanted our older child to know I was going to the hospital and that we were eagerly awaiting the new baby’s arrival.)
We arrived at the hospital at 3 p.m. My husband dropped me off at the entrance, and while he went to park and register, the security guard helped me to the labor ward. After setting up the CTG, it showed strong contractions. The attending doctor asked if I would like an internal examination. I was pleased that the doctor observed the contractions and sought permission before proceeding with the examination. At that time, I was 6 cm dilated, and I was moved to the delivery room.
At 4 p.m., I entered the delivery room. The contractions remained strong. The doctor mentioned that the cervix was very soft, contractions were strong, and the conditions were good. He even bet a pizza with the resident doctors that I would deliver that night. I was secretly pleased to hear this. Due to hospital policies, I couldn’t bring anything into the delivery room, not even my phone. There was a large bathroom next to the bed, but no shower, and a clock opposite the bed, so I wouldn’t miss the time. Under the boredom and contraction pain, I practiced the breathing techniques taught in the course: counting breaths in a 4-8, 20-20 cycle, and humming songs during internal examinations. This breathing method was very effective in easing the pain.
By 7 p.m., I was 9 cm dilated, and the doctor said there was still some amniotic sac remaining. When it was time to deliver, three doctors were present and asked me to push with contractions. I tried J-breathing several times, but the baby did not come out. I eventually gave up on J-breathing and switched to regular pushing, but the baby still did not come out, and the baby’s heart rate began to drop. The doctor decided to proceed with a cesarean section.
The journey to the operating room was long, and I had to endure several contractions while trying not to push. By 7:30 p.m., I arrived in the operating room, received spinal anesthesia, and was so exhausted that I fell asleep. The surgery lasted until around 10 p.m. When I woke up, I asked the nurse, who said the doctor was still stitching, and it wasn’t until after 10 p.m. that the procedure was completed. I was then wheeled back to the delivery room and met my husband and older child, who had gone to see the baby before heading home.
The next morning, the doctor informed me that the baby’s head was not in the optimal position, which prevented a natural delivery, and there was an unexplained rupture in the uterus, which extended the surgery time significantly compared to a typical cesarean section.
So, I ended up with a full meal. Although it wasn’t my ideal birth plan, safety took precedence over ideals. I am grateful for my decision to take the Hypnobirthing course, which made my labor process up to 10 cm very smooth and kept me from becoming overly exhausted. This is the greatest comfort.
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【Mentor’s Note】
During the postpartum period, Eet Shien sent me her birth story.
“Thank you for remembering,” I said.
“Because I think it’s important to let everyone know that even though the conditions at a government hospital may not fully meet Hypnobirthing requirements, the course still provides significant help,” she said.
I then remembered her birth day.
Early in the morning, she sent me a message saying she had delivered and had a full meal. “Even though it was a full meal, the entire process wasn’t too difficult, and it met my initial goals from the course.”
Upon further discussion, I realized the process was quite dramatic. Her cervix dilated quickly, and everything was going smoothly, but in the final stage, due to the baby’s incorrect position, a cesarean section was required. “Before reaching 10 cm, everyone thought I would deliver quickly because the dilation was rapid and I was in good condition with a soft cervix,” she said.
What I was most concerned about was her state throughout the process. How did she feel? How did she react to the sudden change to a cesarean section?
In our conversation, she seemed to accept the change in delivery method calmly, which reassured me. “I’m glad that the 10 cm process was much easier than before; otherwise, a full meal might have been exhausting.”
Sometimes, plans don’t match reality, but being well-prepared allows for better adjustments. Eet Shien said her birth experience wasn’t a success in her eyes; but I believe there is no such thing as a successful or unsuccessful birth. Although it wasn’t the original plan, the baby was born safely, and the process was gentle and calm. Her positive experience was more than enough.
