#130. Sam's 4 daughters' births

Sam shares the stories of her 4 daughters’ births – with a focus on Riley’s birth where she found that some hypnobirthing tools and techniques made a huge difference.As busy mum to Olive, Augie, Darcy and now Riley, Sam is also a business owner and prioritised her fitness and strength to help her through life, pregnancy and birth.You’ll hear about her range of experiences of birth - with Olive in England, the stretch and sweep followed by a kidney infection. The sudden return to NZ in 2020 pregnant with Augie, meeting her midwife who she just clicked with. The house renovations, 2 subsequent homebirths and then her 4th pregnancy where there was a little more anxiety.I had to ask Sam: “When you’ve had 3 previous births (2 of them very straightforward at home) why on earth would you need to learn hypnobirthing breathwork and relaxation for your 4th birth?”Sam will tell you it made SUCH a difference.For her to have practised breathing, to have the affirmations, to go off to sleep listening to relaxation tracks with positive information for birth, it helped her to feel a new level of calm and assurance it Sam says she just wishes she had learnt the skills earlier, but she felt so good having the stuff to draw on for Riley’s birth that it was so worth it.I loved hearing about Riley’s birth, how the whole family was there at 430am once she arrived – and you too need to listen to the end; to smile about how the birth pool was eventually used…….If you’d like to learn tools and techniques for your birth – no matter if this is your first pregnancy or your 4th (or 5th or 6th) and no matter what stage of your pregnancy you’re at – head to www.positivebirths.co.nz for a range of course and support options.