My Second Birth Story: How it Redeemed My First Birth

My second pregnancy came sooner than I expected. After weaning my first baby around sixteen months, I had one menstrual cycle—and then I was pregnant again. I was amazed by how quickly the body can return to the pregnancy journey, even when the heart and mind are still catching up. This pregnancy felt different from the beginning. Having a toddler meant my energy was constantly being divided, and I had to learn—again and again—to give myself grace. Some days that meant more rest, more stillness, and yes, sometimes more screen time than I had planned. I reminded myself that this season required flexibility and compassion.

From the start, I knew I wanted this pregnancy and birth to feel different from my first. I wanted to move forward with more confidence, more joy, and a deeper trust in my body. I wanted to feel aligned—physically, mentally, and emotionally. I also wanted to support my baby in finding an optimal position for birth. With that intention, I chose to switch hospitals so I could continue care with the midwife I trusted and birth in a space that better aligned with my values surrounding physiological birth.

My partner and I enrolled in an evidence-based childbirth education course that helped clarify what I truly wanted for this birth. I also hired a new doula who fully honored my preferences and autonomy. Although there was no longer a Hypnobabies instructor in my area, I leaned fully into the program on my own. I immersed myself in the materials and hypnosis tracks I already had, intentionally saturating my mind with calm, confidence, and trust. This time, I felt equipped—I had the tools I needed to pursue the unmedicated birth I desired.

Physically, my pregnancy progressed well overall, though I faced familiar challenges. I worked diligently to maintain pelvic alignment, especially as tightness in my left pelvis returned earlier than it had during my first pregnancy. I again sought care from a pelvic floor specialist who helped me preserve mobility and comfort. Balancing pregnancy with a full-time job as a dental hygienist added strain; the repetitive positioning and ergonomics demanded extra awareness and care. I was also navigating hypertension, something that runs in my family and still brings up anxiety for me. Each blood pressure reading felt like a test I hadn’t studied for—something I couldn’t fully control, but had to learn to meet with steadiness.

My estimated due date came and went, landing at the end of February. As I passed forty weeks, my blood pressure stabilized, and a non-stress test showed my baby practicing gentle waves—my body was preparing. I felt a mix of nerves and excitement, but underneath it all was a quiet confidence. I had practiced, prepared, and trusted my Hypnobabies tools. I knew I could meet this birth with calm and presence.

At forty-one weeks, we scheduled an induction with my midwife. The night before, I tried the midwives brew, following the recipe as closely as possible—a castor oil drink intended to stimulate labor naturally. While it may have helped somewhat, spontaneous labor didn’t begin. The next morning, the hospital called to say all the beds were full. A drop in barometric pressure and cold weather had brought many babies earthside at once. I felt both relieved and disappointed—grateful for more time, yet eager to finally meet my baby.

When we were finally admitted, I was dilated to three centimeters—a small but meaningful start. We chose to sweep the membranes and continued encouraging labor through movement, positioning, and pelvic alignment exercises. I eventually chose to have my waters released, but after a few more hours, my dilation remained unchanged. With thoughtful discussion, we decided to introduce a low, incremental dose of Pitocin to help things progress.

As labor intensified, I turned inward. I used my Hypnobabies techniques to remain calm, relaxed, and present. I labored on the birth ball, leaned over the toilet in deep relaxation, and followed my body’s cues. Eventually, I entered the birthing tub, and the warm water brought profound relief. Time seemed to soften. My mind slipped into that familiar hypnotic state—alpha and theta waves guiding me as energy pulsed rhythmically through my body. Though my husband and doula were nearby, it felt like it was just me and my baby, working together.

When my midwife sensed that birth was nearing, she suggested a position change. I was so deeply relaxed that I hadn’t realized how intense things had become. I moved onto the bed on all fours, swaying my hips instinctively. As the surges grew stronger, I noticed myself tensing. My doula climbed onto the bed with me and applied strong hip squeezes that eased the intensity in my lower back. My midwife gently encouraged me to let go.

Then I felt it—the stretching, the powerful opening I had heard described as the “ring of fire.” In that moment, clarity washed over me. I said out loud, “I’m ready to get this baby out.” My midwife smiled and told me she could see my baby’s head. That affirmation gave me exactly what I needed. I surrendered fully, allowed my body to take over, and with the next wave, I birthed my daughter into the world.

The joy that followed was indescribable. I felt calm, powerful, and deeply fulfilled. I held my baby during our golden hour without interruption, soaking in the moment. My husband cut the cord once it had finished pulsating, and we bonded as a new family. I felt an overwhelming sense of autonomy and healing. This birth redeemed parts of my first experience that had left me questioning myself. I proved—to myself—that I was capable, strong, and worthy of trust.

This is the gift of birth: knowing you did the best you could to bring your baby into the world with intention and love. I met my goals. My baby was healthy. Everything else faded into the background. Holding her, I felt nothing but gratitude.

Birth is a journey filled with emotion—every feeling has its place. The preparation, the practice, and the willingness to go inward are essential. Hypnobabies gave me the tools to trust my body, quiet my mind, and meet birth with confidence. This experience will stay with me forever, a reminder of the power we carry within us.

Why I’m Passionate

Why did I become a Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis Instructor?

I think mothers, being the vessels of human life, deserve more! I come across many pregnant women who don’t have enough rescources, nor the confidence, to believe it’s possible to have a birth they can be proud of. We want baby and momma’s health prioritized first and foremost, but what about feeling empowered, prepared, and confident in the process? If these processes are met, it will ultimately lead to a more successful and healthier birth, and a beautiful start into motherhood.

I’m in the season of life where motherhood is so special and important to me. Now being a mother of two, I didn’t know what I didn’t know until I came into motherhood. Just like all new moms, I was scared, intimidated, overwhelmed, and unsure if I could make it through birth, let alone motherhood.

I’m so thankful I was introduced to Hypnobabies while being pregnant with our first daughter. It gave me invaluable tools and recourses to use that helped me cope and sustain during my birthing time. I learned how to advocate for myself and how I had the power to respond to what was happening inside and around me.

I’m so passionate to help women just like me, give themselves and their baby the best start at life. I truly believe when a baby is born a mother is too and that’s why there needs to be more education and support for them. I get fired up when hearing stories of birth that took a turn for less than ideal because the provider and or mom were in a hurry to take birth into their own hands and a cascade of medical interventions followed.

Being a birth educator, I thrive at instructing and teaching new information to better serve each individual I meet. I desire to see women take on the role of motherhood with joy by having a positive birth experience they can look back on with empowerment and love.

Still Waiting: What to Remember When You’ve Gone Past Your “Due Date”

You’ve made it—your due date has arrived. Or as we like to say around here, your guess date. You’ve walked a beautiful, brave path to get here. The nursery’s ready. Your bag’s packed. Loved ones are calling and texting with excitement, your coworkers are giving you all the good luck wishes, and it feels like you’re standing at the gate to some magical adventure… only no one knows exactly when your flight leaves.

This could be the day, you think. And then—it isn’t.

The sun rises again, and your baby is still safely tucked inside. No contractions. No signs. Just stillness. And suddenly, what once felt like joyful anticipation starts to feel a little more like waiting in limbo.

Maybe it feels like Christmas morning came and went without the gift you were expecting. You scroll your feed and see friends announcing their births, glowing with joy. Wasn’t she due after me? Why does it feel like everyone else is crossing the finish line but me?

It’s in these days that time can start to drag. Your mind might race. Doubts creep in. You’ve done everything “right,” so why the wait? Even those around you—who love and support you—might start asking with curiosity-turned-concern: “Still no baby?”

But let me tell you this: Nothing is wrong.

You are not broken. Your baby is not late. Your body knows exactly what it’s doing. This in-between time, as strange and stretching as it is, is still part of the journey.

The truth is, this sacred waiting space can hold its own kind of wisdom and magic—if we allow ourselves to trust it.

As the days tick past your due date, the external pressure can start to build—not just emotionally, but medically too. You may begin to feel the subtle (or not-so-subtle) nudges from your care providers: “Let’s talk induction.” “We don’t want to wait too long.” “Your baby might be getting too big.” Even when everything is normal and healthy, these suggestions can sound urgent, leading many women to question themselves, their baby, and their beautifully designed birthing process.

This is where reclaiming your power becomes essential.

At Hypnobabies, we remind our students that your body and your baby work together in perfect harmony. If both are healthy, there is no medical need to rush what nature has already begun to orchestrate with intention. You have every right to ask questions, to pause, to seek evidence-based information, and to take time to make decisions that feel aligned with your intuition and values. This is your birth. You get to decide how it unfolds.

In the meantime, we have powerful tools to help you stay grounded, centered, and connected to your truth.

Mindfulness and Hypnobabies tools are your anchor:

• Use your “Bubble of Peace” daily to create a calm, protected space around you—mentally and emotionally. This technique allows you to shield yourself from negativity, fear-based comments, or outside pressure so you can focus fully on your well-being and your baby’s.

• Listen to your Hypnobabies affirmations and hypnosis tracks. These aren’t just audio files—they’re lifelines back to your confidence, reminding you that you are capable, strong, and designed for this moment.

• Incorporate gentle movement like walking, birth ball exercises, or prenatal yoga to keep your body feeling open, relaxed, and engaged in the natural process.

• Practice daily mindfulness meditation—even just a few minutes at a time. Breathe deeply. Tune into your baby. Let your mind settle. This is a sacred connection that strengthens your inner calm and reminds you that this journey is happening with your baby, not to you.

• Speak your truth and advocate for yourself. Whether it’s asking for more time before discussing induction or requesting that certain topics not be brought up during appointments, your voice matters. You deserve a care team that listens and supports you without pressure.

These final days—yes, even the slow, uncertain, in-between ones—are still a vital part of your birthing story. They are not wasted time. They are a threshold of preparation. A place of deepening trust.

So protect your peace. Surround yourself with voices and resources that uplift you. And most of all, remember: your body knows how to birth your baby, and you were made for this.

You are not alone in this.

So many mothers have walked this same winding path past their “due date” and found strength, clarity, and peace in trusting their bodies. You can too. Whether you’re still waiting or already navigating conversations about induction, know this: you have options, you have tools, and you have support.

If you’re looking for more guidance, encouragement, and practical ways to stay calm and confident in these final days of pregnancy, I invite you to explore my Hypnobabies childbirth classes. Together, we’ll learn how to deeply relax, reframe birth with empowering language, and build a birth experience rooted in joy and self-trust.

You deserve to feel safe. You deserve to feel strong. And you absolutely deserve a birth that honors the sacred journey you’re on.

Reach out anytime if you have questions, or visit www.mindfulmommapractices.com to learn more and sign up for the next class.

Your baby is coming—in perfect time. And you are more than ready.

My First Birth: How Following My Intuition Made the Difference

When I found out I was pregnant in 2021, the world was still in the shadow of COVID-19. Mask mandates were in place, and while partners were finally allowed back into appointments, so much about pregnancy and birth still felt uncertain.

Like many first-time moms, I was excited but also scared. Having a child felt like the most “grown-up” thing I could ever do, and yet I had no idea where to start. All I had ever heard about birth was pain, fear, and screaming women in movies. My own mom’s birth stories weren’t exactly reassuring either—she mostly told me how terrified she had been.

I knew I didn’t want to go in blindly. My natural way of handling stress is to study and prepare. I figured if I learned as much as possible, maybe I could face birth with some confidence—or at least fake it until I made it.

Searching for the Right Provider

I wanted an OB who was caring, compassionate, and willing to guide me as a first-time mom. I chose someone from my hospital’s list who seemed approachable and modern. She was kind and, coincidentally, pregnant with her first baby too.

But as my prenatal visits went on, I started to feel underprepared. The appointments were short and routine, and I left with more questions than answers. I realized I needed something more educational and empowering.

Discovering Hypnobabies

At first, I looked into hospital birth classes, but they weren’t offering anything in person—just a simple breastfeeding slideshow. Then my husband suggested we check out a local maternal wellness nonprofit that offered free classes and support for families of color. Because my husband is BIPOC, I was able to participate too, and I was blown away by their resources.

They offered two types of birth classes: one evidence-based and one called Hypnobabies. I had no idea what that meant, but the word intrigued me. I’ve always been curious about the power of the mind, so I signed up.

Hypnobabies turned out to be a comprehensive childbirth education course that uses hypnosis techniques to create a positive mindset and help women experience an easier, more comfortable birthing time. I practiced deep relaxation with hypnosis tracks, so by the time labor came, entering that calm state became second nature.

I grew close with my Hypnobabies instructor—so close that she later became my doula.

The Due Date Dilemma

Then came my due date… and went. And went some more.

Now I know it’s completely normal for many women to gestate past 40 weeks, but at the time I felt so much pressure. My OB started focusing on induction because my blood pressure was creeping up. I knew the “standard route”: Pitocin, breaking my water, and then a countdown clock.

That wasn’t what I wanted. Thankfully, my doula suggested something I didn’t even realize was possible—switching providers. At 40 weeks, I transferred care to a midwife who was open to more natural options.

She suggested starting with a Foley bulb (a small balloon catheter that helps ripen the cervix) instead of jumping straight to medication. It gave my body time to ease into labor more naturally, and by the next day, I was already at 6 cm without any medication. That was huge for me—it set the tone for a birth that felt more aligned with my values.

Riding the Waves of Labor

Birth, I quickly learned, is a marathon. My waves (contractions) came and went, and at times it felt like my body had stalled. Eventually, my waters were broken, and later Pitocin was started at a low dose to keep things moving.

Through it all, I leaned on my Hypnobabies tools. The hypnosis tracks and relaxation techniques helped me stay calm, focused, and inwardly strong, even as labor intensified. Instead of spiraling into fear, I was able to breathe, relax, and trust my body.

When Birth Took a Different Turn

As the waves grew stronger, I started to lose focus. My husband noticed before I did—my sounds, my breathing, and my face all changed. Pitocin waves can be incredibly intense, and after 30+ hours of labor, I was exhausted. I felt the stress of wanting my baby here before Friday morning, but my body still needed more time.

At that point, I reluctantly—but gratefully—accepted an epidural. It allowed me to rest, recover, and give my body the break it needed. With a peanut ball between my legs, I finally slept.

Hours later, around 5 a.m., a nurse woke me up with the words I had been waiting to hear: “We can see the head—it’s time to push.” Shocked and amazed, I pushed with all I had left, and at last, my baby girl entered the world.

Recovery and Reflection

My labor had lasted from Wednesday to Friday morning. I lost a significant amount of blood and needed medication to prevent postpartum hemorrhage. I also experienced a second-degree tear, likely from pushing harder than I realized with the epidural and being on my back.

Later, my midwife explained that my daughter had been sunny-side up (occiput posterior), which often makes labor longer and more challenging. That explained so much. Now, I’m a big advocate for tools like belly mapping and Spinning Babies techniques, which can help optimize a baby’s position before and during birth.

What My First Birth Taught Me

My first birth was a journey—unpredictable, difficult, and beautiful all at once. Here’s what I learned:

• Birth is unpredictable, but preparation builds confidence.

• Support matters—my doula, husband, and care team helped me keep going.

• Intuition is powerful—if something doesn’t feel right, you have the freedom to change providers or plans.

• Tools like Hypnobabies make a real difference—even when plans shift, the mindset and relaxation practices carry you through.

That birth gave me so much compassion for other mothers. It taught me that while we can’t control every detail, we can prepare, advocate for ourselves, and surround ourselves with the right support.

Final Thoughts

Every birth story is different, but they all share one truth: they shape us. Hypnobabies gave me the education, mindset, and tools I needed to walk through mine with courage instead of fear.

If you’re preparing for your birthing time, I encourage you to explore Hypnobabies. It’s not just about reducing pain—it’s about creating a calmer, more empowered birth experience.