The Birthlight Ante Natal classes helped us by providing factual information and advice in a structured but informal environment.
We were supported to reach properly informed decisions about our preferences for birth.
This undoubtedly helped us feel ready for the birth, and as a result of being relaxed and at ease, we are convinced that this helped us in the delivery as well.
S and R Standley
Birthlight was an amazing opportunity for me to be in a room with first-time mums as nervous as me. Not only was the ante-natal yoga a chance to relax, but a discussion forum on everything imaginable, from current worries about pregnancy to questions and concerns about the actual birth. This, supplemented with aqua-natal, pure luxury time for mum and bump in the water, made my pregnancies comfortable and relaxing. I made many very close friends through Birthlight. Even after our babies were born, we carried on with baby and post-natal yoga and swimming. Now a mother of two, I am absolutely convinced the classes helped my children be calmer, happier babies. Thank you to Sally and all her colleagues for offering these invaluable classes.
Gesa
My partner could quickly see how the breathing techniques and my ability to focus on myself and my well being would help me in labour…’
My frame of mind is much calmer than usual when placed in a strange environment and dealing with pain
The yoga relaxation gives you time to make a real connection to the baby which is lovely. Jackie, Surrey.
My stamina and muscle power have all improved greatly during the last 5 months, and I find it easier to relax having worked on all the breathing/visualisation exercises. This has been really empowering. Gillian, Surrey.
I feel I benefited from the classes in so many ways ... I have learnt many new things that I will now carry around with me always. But most importantly, I have the memory of a beautiful birth and a stronger understanding and deeper respect of myself.
I just wanted to say a big thank you for giving me a lot more confidence over the past few weeks. Bumpy and I have really enjoyed your classes and it's nice to know you don't feel silly asking any questions. Joining your antenatal class has made my whole pregnancy experience much more enjoyable. Bumpy and I look forward to joining your Baby Yoga class in Oct!
During my pregnancy i practised them regularly and had often moments of deep happiness and joy. To deliver a baby was as heaven and earth would meet- an unforgettable and wonderful experience. Now I am practising Postnatal Yoga and I have recovered well.
Lucia
Due to a few 'issues' we knew we couldn't have the home birth we'd hoped for but despite these we still had a great birthing experience. He was born within 4 hours of my first contraction and we managed a drug free natural birth! As for the birthing breath and the breathing exercises they didn't really get a look in! I wasn't allowed to get on all fours as instinct guided but never mind.... and the breathing, well, I did all I could to keep going but the moans and roars kind of took over! How I did feel the yoga did help me was my mental attitude, my ability to re-centre and remain lucid between contractions and to keep my attitude light and remember- this will pass! Francoise's advice to 'dive into the wave' each time a contraction came certainly helped focus me.
Liz.
I gave into the pain and opted for an epidural, unfortunately Grace went into distress and had to be born before I reached the transition stage. They brought the suction equipment as she wasn't far enough down for me to push but they didn't realise I had my secret weapon up there - my coffee plunger! I plunged like mad and to both the consultants and midwives surprise Grace was born about 5 mins later with no suction or forceps! So thanks a million.... it worked a dream. Also rocking on the ball at home really helped to bring on the labour and get the whole process going.
It's amazing how you can attend a class for weeks and just one element can make such a difference to your baby.
Paula
I am writing to tell you how much you and the Birthlight course helped me to experience an enjoyable third birth.
You may recall, my first born was posterior and the painful labour lasted over 12 hours. I was administered several epidurals and finally Charlie was dragged out of me using vountouse. I felt totally demoralised, distraught, in pain and useless, during and after this experience. My physical recovery was slow. Charlie, my baby was ill content for some time after his arrival.
My second birth was super fast, lasting less than 3 hours. It was so fast that I had no time to get a grip on controlling pain. I felt totally out of control. Baby Eve went into distress, I was given 2 attempts to push her out but I failed, she was vontoused out. My birthing experience was again awful and I had so wanted to feel that I had played a part in this birth.
News of the Birthlight course during my third pregnancy drove me to attend despite it being held some way from where I lived. I wanted to experience a birth that i felt in control; of and one in which I felt I had contributed to. Your words on how giving birth could be were reassuring and yet I could hardly believe them. You said that birth is ‘entirely logical’, ‘just let your baby come out and don’t hold him in.’ The movements we practiced sometimes seemed a little odd, but I believed that your own experiences and research with other cultures had shown you how nature had intended birth to be.
I had been told that my 3rd birth may be very quick; it was. As soon as I had the first twinge I went straight to hospital. The midwife was sceptical that I was in labour since it was such a short time in which to become established. She said that I did not have the look of distress that she was so often greeted with. She was therefore surprised to find that I was already dilated 8/9cm. This is what had happened with my second labour, but the final few cm’s of dilation had been dreadful. I was admitted to a labour room.
My husband wanted to be present at the birth but he is very squeamish. I told him that I was going to do some odd things, but I was attempting to have a good birth this time and if I feel inhibited it would be detrimental to this. He accepted this which was a tremendous help. I breathed, i ‘elephant walked’, I reminded my buttocks to stop clenching, I flung my arms down with great exhalations of release and generally looked like a mad woman. Fortunately I did not care how ridiculous I appeared to onlookers. I was almost in a trance like state, the breathing was now so powerful. As the contraction increased in intensity I repeated to myself the words ‘ let go’. I knew the contractions were very intense but somehow they didn’t feel really painful. The best way I can describe the feeling was that it was like surfing on a great wave. It was a process that i repeated time and time again. I was totally ‘centred’. Several midwives came into the room saying that they had heard that I was dealing with my established labour very calmly. For all the 1st stage of this labour I was on my feet (except for sitting down on a bucket with a cushion from time to time.
The third stage kicked in very powerfully. The contractions were extremely intense now but I could feel the babies head ready to crown. I had to call the midwife to come. She helped me through this stage by reassuring me that the baby was almost there. I really didn't need her to tell me when to push, the instinct was telling me clearly. As the baby's head crowned, i was aware of this strange unearthly noise coming from deep within me. It was not the pure cry of pain I had made on my last births; it was something quite different. At the time I had no chance to think about it but later i remembered you talking about the primal scream and wondered if it was that that I had produced, a cry of total release.
Keir was born, he suckled immediately like he had been well practiced. He fell asleep very contentedly and has remained a very calm baby to this day. My experience during my third birth was more than I could have hoped for: not only had I been able to control the pain, but in addition, I have now experienced one of the most wonderful experiences nature could provide.
Thank you Francoise for your help.
It would be a hard task to find anyone more nervous about childbirth than me!
I chose to join yoga lasses in the hope that I would be able to benefit by being more calm leading up to and during labour. Like most pregnant women I was expecting to have a normal birth. I did not prepare myself in any way whatsoever for a caesarean birth that was to be my fate due to the fact that Luca was breech (this was identified during the ninth month of pregnancy).
I was admitted to hospital the night before the birth and never in my life have I been so scared. However, the opportunity to put into practice breathing exercises and relaxation techniques learned in yoga was truly welcome and beneficial. Moreover when the time came to walk to the operating theatre and prepare myself for the procedure I was so thankful that I was able to use the techniques to relax myself (and probably my husband too)!
Although the surgical and nursing team essentially take over, there are times throughout the procedure where patient participation is essential. For example sitting still whilst the epidural is administered. I most definitely recollect putting my breathing exercises to use at this point. I have to admit that after that I let the medical team take-over!!
Having given birth to a beautiful 8lb baby boy, Luca, I am now attending weekly the yoga and massage classes with my son. As each week progresses I see more and more the benefits these classes bring to both Luca and myself. I practice the baby massage during the week in between classes. For myself I find that I am more aware of my breathing and my posture (it is strange what carrying a lump for 9 months can do to posture). Just as important for me was the social aspect of being with mums in the same boat as me. I look forward to Friday afternoons – for me it is a relaxing end to what can be a frantic week!
I strongly recommend anyone pregnant attending yoga in preparation for childbirth. Furthermore a class that is geared specifically towards childbirth. Knowing that you are actively preparing for the birth certainly gives you peace of mind and confidence to do your very best on probably what is the most important task you will ever have to accomplish.
Maeve
I owe Francoise a big thank you! Her guidance on exercises to re-unite my separated (indeed almost divorced) rectus abdominus muscles was spot on! Although demonstrating just how saggy my tummy was to a classful of perinatal yoga diploma students last October was slightly mortifying, it was worth it. I still have some way to go, as I only rememebr to do the exercises every now and then, but my tummy is now much much stronger and it has transformed my lower back. Thank you Francoise, I can still carry Theo, even though he just keeps getting bigger!
Jo