Great Birth Stories:

Giving birth is a very powerful and emotional experience. The memory of giving birth remains one of the most vivid and significant events in our lives.

By sharing our birth experiences there is a sense of having met the challenge, a feeling of accomplishment and of getting through it.

On this web page BABY & ME FITNESS members will share some of the details, observations, feelings, and positive as well as "difficult" birth experiences. If you would like to share your experience, please send your story to sheela@babyandmefitness.com.

I attended Suzanne's Yogabellies Subud Toronto Tuesday night class for the last 2 1/2 sessions.

I was scheduled for induction on Friday the 3rd if the baby didn't come by then since I was already overdue. I was induced with my first child & I really didn't want that experience again. My first labour & delivery was terrible and I promised myself that this time would be different, which is why I decided to start Yogabellies this time.

I went to class on the Tuesday night just like normal and Suzanne made us do a few extra downward facing dogs to help move my baby who was at that point in face up position. Well it worked!!!!!!!!! I woke up Wednesday morning feeling fine, then by mid morning I started to feel slight cramps. I decided to drive down from home in Pickering to Women's College just to get checked out because I honestly didn't think they were labour pains. They were bearable and Yoga has taught me how to breathe properly so I was managing just fine. I met my husband and we made it to the hospital together. When we got there the pains were getting just a wee bit stronger and after assessing me they told me I was definitely in labour & I was already 2-3 centimetres!!! I couldn't believe it! We checked into the hospital at 12:30pm and our son was born at 3:33pm!!

I couldn't have asked for a better labour & delivery. I used the breathing techniques I learned and I know the strength Yoga had provided me over all these sessions helped push my baby out within no time.

So I want to say thank you to Suzanne and thank you to Baby & Me for allowing me to have such a wonderful birthing experience. I thoroughly enjoyed each and every session. I really hope to partake in some of your postnatal classes.

Homebirth
Allison W., teacher & mother
Fiona Rose, 8 lbs 8 oz

I am thrilled to announce Fiona Rose entered the world this early morning at 1:33am, weighing 8 lbs. 8 oz!  The labour was amazing - surprisingly quick!  I started having contractions yesterday at around 11am, but they were mild and sporatic, and I was able to go about my day.  While going for a walk at around 6pm, however, they started to come more regularly.  My midwife came to the house at 8pm, and I was 3-4 cm dilated.  I thought I was in for the long haul because Olivia (my first baby) took so long from that point onward.  But by 10pm I think I was in the transition phase, because of the pain, but also because of the psychological aspect of this phase, which is the little voice that says, "I can't do this anymore".  But I kept going with my ujjayi yoga breathing, and my water broke by 12:45pm.  The midwife then came back to the house, and by 1:33am Fiona was born.  I only had to push for 3 contractions!  It was heaven (compared to what it could have been)!
 
My mom and Anne were here, and they were awesome.  Kevin was unbelievable support, as usual, and my midwives were angels.  I would like to thank Skylar (my yoga teacher), whose voice I could hear in my head, telling me to gather energy from the earth and surround my baby with relaxation, which helped me to stay calm.  Olivia was also unbelievable, waking up just after Fiona arrived, and being very affectionate towards her:  caressing her, holding her, putting blankets on her, laughing at her.  She is thrilled to be a big sister, and she was very curious about the whole thing, not once getting upset or jealous.
 
I have only slept an hour since she was born because I am so excited!  The birds are chirping outside, and it is a beautiful spring day.  I want to get out there and share my celebration with the world.  I am in awe of the miracle of life, and the power of the female body.

Shahmeen S>:

As I browse your website to determine which of your prenatal classes I will enrol in I am reminded of the birth of my first baby. I would like to share this story with your readers:

I had taken BABY & ME FITNESS prenatal yoga classes throughout my pregnancy and was excited to have found an organization that shared my beliefs in yoga, natural childbirth, cloth diapering, extended breastfeeding and compassionate parenting.

As my due date passed, I started to feel huge, cumbersome, exhausted and anxious for the birthing process to begin. About 11 days after my due date my midwife found that I was about 5cm dilated. She suggested that she break my water to get things going. My husband and I considered that option overnight as we had envisioned a completely natural birth with no interventions, but the next morning decided to go ahead with this minor intervention.

Within one hour of having my water broken at home, I was in what felt like full-blown labour. Contractions were coming one after another, and it was challenging to stay with my breath and focus because the pain was so great. My husband filled our kiddie pool with warm water and I felt a good deal of the pain slipping off my body as the warmth of the water enveloped me. Once some of the pain was relieved I was able to use some of the meditation techniques I had learned through my yoga and childbirth preparation classes.

I laboured for less than 3 hours in the water in my home, accompanied by my husband, my stepmother, a very good friend, 2 midwives and one midwifery student...and of course my very cooperative baby! Finally my midwife coached me in pushing. Half an hour later my son slipped out and was brought out of the water into my arms. Within an hour we were cuddled up in my bed and he was sleepily nursing. I recall not sleeping at all that night as I gazed with amazement at this little miracle.

Jordan is now 2-1/2 years old. I'm proud to say that he has not, to date, ever been to a hospital! We diapered him lovingly with cloth diapers until he was almost 2 years old, we had a beautiful nursing relationship that ended by his choice when he was 28 months old and he is an absolute delight to us and our families and friends. He is excitedly waiting to meet his little brother or sister, who will be born sometime in July of 2004. For me the cutest thing right now is watching him touch my belly lovingly and sing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star to his baby sibling.

Thank you both for not only the fabulous yoga classes, but also the loving advice, timely and relevant discussion topics and suggestions on just about everything a new mother needs - books, products, services! I look forward to being a client of yours in the new year.

Connie A.:

Hi, Skylar:
I thought I would give the aqua bellies class an update on a new Baby & Me Birth. Well after swim class last Tuesday (Dec 17) I had my Raspberry Leaf tea and then went to bed around midnight. Wouldn't you know it that my mucus plug broke and the contractions started. Not knowing what to expect from the contractions, I seemed to still be in early labour so we settled in and thought we would call our doctor in the morning. The contractions were getting pretty strong and close, but still didn't think the event was close at hand. Finally at 4:00 am my water broke and that was the sign to get myself to the hospital. Upon arrival at the hospital I found out I was fully dilated and ready to start pushing. The staff was scrambling to get the delivery room ready as the need to push was close at hand. Finally after about 40 minutes of pushing our beautiful baby girl Heidi Karmella was born, at 5:41 am at 7 lbs. 5 oz.

I am sure the very speedy labour and delivery was due to the Aquafit classes over the last few months and want to thank both you and Anne for the fun I had in those classes. I am sharing this story with the other moms since it wasn't too bad, and hopefully everyone else in class will also have a great delivery of their babies. With the next baby I'm getting myself to the hospital sooner! Thanks and I will see you at the Strollerfit classes.

Naomi K. :

Hi Skylar
Well, it is wonderful to have pregnancy behind me, and a beautiful baby boy named Noah Harvey. I'm sure that the swimming and yoga helped beyond feeling good throughout pregnancy, because my labour was as good as it could be and my recovery has been very quick. The day after my last swim class I arrived at the hospital at 6pm, 9cm dialated, pushed 5 or 6 times and delivered the baby just before 8pm. No time for an epidural. I had a couple of internal stitches. Please tell Anne that I used her "squeezing the baby out like a tube of toothpaste" technique which was great. All this might sound quite heroic, but in fact, we had no idea that I was so far along, and even though I was in dreadful pain, I thought that it would simply go on for hours, so we stayed at home a little too long. My contractions were quite horrible - no breaks, no down time. I was surprised that the 2nd stage was so much easier and less painful than the first. I thought that it would be the other way around.

Having the baby plopped on my breast was the most awesome adrenalin rush I have ever received and well worth the effort. I'm ready to do it again! Thank you to you and Anne for many wonderful swims and plenty of Abba.
All the best, Naomi.