The Homebirth of Ezra: A Hypnobirthing Birth Story
Updated: Sep 28
As I waited for my son to arrive, I had days of false labor and eventually went overdue. I tried a few different things to encourage labor to start, but when true labor finally began, I remember feeling surprisingly calm and ready.
I really wanted my birth space to feel peaceful, so I prepared my home in a way that helped me relax. I used fairy lights, soothing music, and dim lighting to create a calm atmosphere. I wanted my body to feel safe enough to settle into labor rather than tense up against it.
That was a huge part of hypnobirthing for me.
One of the techniques I used throughout labor was up breathing. I would breathe in for a count of 4 and then slowly breathe out for a count of 8 during contractions. Focusing on that long exhale gave me something to concentrate on and helped the contractions feel more manageable.
Instead of thinking of each contraction as something I had to fight through, I tried to think of them as waves that would build, peak, and pass.
My midwife was also such a reassuring presence. She checked in when needed, kept an eye on how everything was progressing, and helped the room stay calm and relaxed. Having people around me who trusted birth helped me trust my own body too.
My husband was another huge part of that.
Between the breathing, visualization, encouragement, and having a peaceful space around me, I felt like I could take labor one contraction at a time.
Eventually, my body started pushing on its own.
That was probably the most intense part of labor, but it was also incredible to feel my body instinctively doing what it needed to do. I used the down breathing technique I had practiced through hypnobirthing and focused on breathing with my body rather than forcing anything.
And then my baby was here.
Giving birth at home, surrounded by people I trusted and in an environment where I felt safe, was such an empowering experience for me.
Hypnobirthing did not make labor painless or effortless. It gave me tools that helped me stay calm, focused, and connected to what my body was doing.
Looking back, I think that is what I appreciate most about it.
It helped me trust myself.
It also gave me practical things to focus on when labor became intense, instead of letting fear take over.
If you are preparing for birth and want to learn more about hypnobirthing, the book I recommend is Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better by Siobhan Miller.
I also love having simple words of encouragement visible during labor. For one of my births, even something as simple as a reminder that I was strong made a difference.
I now create printable birth affirmation cards that can be displayed around your birth space, brought to the hospital, or read to you by your partner during labor.
Shop my birth affirmation cards here:
Your Doula,
Tay
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