Jo sent us her beautiful story of a natural birth for her second child, using just a Sweet Beats TENS machine for pain relief during labour, and finishing up with a calm water birth. We were so thrilled for her we wanted to share it, with her permission:
I fell pregnant at 34 years of age with my second child. During my first pregnancy I was working full time, eating healthily and exercising daily in an attempt to keep myself fit and ready for a healthy birth. It was my intention to experience a natural and drug free birth in a calm environment. My birth plan however did not go to plan I was diagnosed with pre-eclampsia and eventually eclampsia.
I was induced at 37 weeks and 6 days and had a whole host of medical interventions with my delivery. Although I did not require a caesarean I still experienced some emotional baggage after the delivery due to the fact that I required an epidural and remained in hospital for 7 days with ongoing health issues.
Needless to say when I fell pregnant with my second child, I was determined to be just as fit and healthy and hoping that all going well I would not develop eclampsia and be able to try for a natural delivery. After reading a book on hypno-birthing and talking to a close friend about her natural birth with the assistance of a TENS machine I was intrigued to give it a try.
I hired my TENS machine from Sweet Beats one afternoon in the weeks leading up to my due date, and to my surprise and joy it arrived the very next day. It was extremely easy to use and my husband and I had fun giving it a trial run that evening. I was nervous and excited at the prospect of using the machine to help with labor pain.
On the evening before my daughter was born, I began experiencing contractions. As they got more intense I popped the TENS on and was pleasantly surprised at how it was helping me not only with the distraction during contractions but also with pain management. I arrived at the Townsville Public Hospital in the early hours of the morning and they were only too happy to witness the use of this machine in helping me to have a natural and drug free birth.
I was able to use the TENS right up until close to the pushing stage of my labor, which is when I stopped using it so that I could deliver my baby in a water bath. I was ecstatic to be the first person to lay hands on my beautiful baby as I delivered her in the water. I cannot thank the team of Drs and midwives who were supportive of my choice of birth and credit the TENS with allowing me to experience a pleasurable and natural birth.
Jo
Townsville