Natural birth of my second child in a hospital

by Marie-Pierre

The birth of my daughter was an extraordinary and magic moment for all of us. I am convinced that the Pain to Power training made a huge difference to me, even though I attended it during the last two weeks of my pregnancy but very intensively…

Thanks to the training, my determination and confidence grew day after day and I felt I was mentally prepared to experience the birth of my daughter. 

I would have never thought myself capable of it at the beginning of the pregnancy but thanks to the testimony of so many women around the world, I realized it was possible… 

I was supported by a doula and a dear friend of mine, both wise and experienced women and I am sure this made a huge difference too. Their presence and loving care gave me strength along the way. 

When the “waves” became stronger, I thought of all the words of confidence and encouragement shared during the training: “my body knows how to birth my baby, “she believed she could do it so she did it.”

At some point, my doula, my friend and I were almost “singing” together and the atmosphere we had created made the whole experience look and sound like a sacred ritual… which it was… We were welcoming a new soul into this world and we could feel it… Thanks for emphasizing the fact that we should prepare birth like a very special event… 

As often showed during the training, I spent the last hours in a pool and I am sure this also speeded the process up and was indeed a natural pain killer. Ultimately, when I had to go out of the pool as the hospital’s procedure did not allow the baby to arrive in the water, the gynecologist recommended my to lie on the bed…. And thanks to the training, I found the energy to raise my voice as the suggested position felt so “wrong” and she respected my choice.

My daughter came into this world so gently and quietly. I feel this moment will both give us strength for the rest of our lives. I feel this birth empowered me as a woman and as a mum. I recovered physically at the speed of light, I felt so proud and strong and the medical staff was often very surprised. 

I would like to express my deep gratitude for the work you accomplish. The training changed me. Thanks for the gift of confidence, trust and empowerment…I am now a firm advocate for natural birth and I promote the “Pain to Power” programme to birth professionals and friends.