Raffy was conceived by IVF after four difficult years at three different clinics, which started with the far less intrusive but lower success rate of IUI. When I finally fell pregnant in what we had decided would be our last attempt it felt too good to be true. We had sadly previously had a miscarriage so those first 12 weeks in particular were very long.

As the pregnancy progressed it felt possible to start enjoying it and we were both very mindful of not wanting to spend it anxiously for both our and our unborn baby’s benefit.

If felt as though induction was brought up extremely early on at a hospital appointment by the consultant we were meeting with. I had previously been told it was not a ‘high risk birth,’ which we had read it might be viewed as due to my having turned 40 whilst pregnant and it being an IVF pregnancy. But this consultant was saying due to those factors, induction was advised if I didn’t go into spontaneous labour before 40 weeks.

I didn’t know much about induction but had been told quite a traumatic story by a friend and having felt very powerless during the ivf process, I really hoped I would feel more in control of my baby’s birth - induction didn’t feel as though it would give me that experience.

I had heard positive stories from friends about Hypnobirthing and my wife and I did Zoe’s wonderful course around 2 months before our baby was due.

We found the course very helpful and practiced Hypnobirthing most nights before bed.

In the lead up to birth I put the positive affirmations that most resonated around our home (I still have ‘my partner and I are the world’s best team’ stuck to my bedside chest of drawers).

As I got closer to 40 weeks and with more talk brought up by the hospital of induction I couldn’t shake the feeling that I didn’t want it, that it didn’t feel right, and that if it happened it would end up with lots of other medical interventions and finally a caesarean.

I had a really helpful call with Zoe about induction and tried to work on changing my mindset as there are many positive stories about induction and ultimately it would be about what was right for my baby to arrive safely.

** In the end, Emma ended up going into labour before her induction date. **

On the day I went into labour the surges seem to increase fairly quickly and I tried to keep focusing on the breath in the way Zoe had taught us. I started using the TENS machine and had that working on the journey into hospital.

When we went into the midwife-led birthing suite the room was already dimly lit with fairy lights and candles. I managed to use the TENS followed later by gas and air before going into the birth pool.

I had my eyes closed for the majority of the labour just focusing on the breath and visualising getting to meet our baby soon.

When it came to pushing the midwife advised I stopped the gas and air and just breathed through the surges.

Rafferty was born early that next morning in the water. He came out alert and had his eyes open.

I felt incredibly fortunate to have the birth I had hoped for and it meant that my recovery has been very quick and that both my wife and I were able to live off the high of the experience of the birth for the first couple of weeks and beyond.

I am very grateful to Zoe for what she taught us and for her support after the course to help equip me for the other scenarios that might have happened. We can’t believe we finally have our baby boy!

Kate's positive birth experience following IVF