Knowledge is power when it comes to having your baby
The prospect of his wife being in labour terrified Lisa Harris’s husband, Stevan.
Feigning indifference, he’d remind her continually during early pregnancy that he wouldn’t mind if she chose another birthing partner.
He’d be happy to wait outside.
But the way she looked at it, if she was doing it, so was he.
“I’ve always had a positive outlook on pregnancy and birthing,”said former nursery manager, Lisa.
“A lot of people look at it with fear, I guess. When you watch someone on TV or hear stories, there’s always a lot of screaming and shouting. What a traumatic start in life for a baby.”
Before she knew hypnobirthing existed, Lisa knew it was what she wanted.
But with all social media posts and podcasts originating from women in London, Lisa admits she’d become resigned to the likelihood that hypnobirthing would not be a viable option for her in the West of Scotland.
Then, through the mum of a little boy in her nursery, she happened upon Lynsey McGillivray, a midwife based in her home town of East Kilbride.
“When I found out about Lynsey, I thought Stevan would think it was all a bit hippy-dippy,”admits Lisa, 30.
“He was open to it, but wondered if it would mean someone coming into our living room, and would it be hypnosis.
Once I explained my early understanding was that it was just about knowledge — and the more you know, knowledge is power.
“After session one, he was a complete convert and absolutely loved it.”
The couple messaged Lynsey during labour, and the midwife counted the contractions with Lisa, advising when the time was right to make their way to hospital.
Lisa was 7cm dilated and, with no pain relief, was experiencing a level of discomfort that would match the average woman at 3cm.
“When we got to hospital, the first thing they asked was if I wanted an epidural. If you’ve not had coaching and knowledge, you’re scared and vulnerable— and you’ll take what’s on offer,”said Lisa.
“Like Lynsey explained, would you run a marathon, never having trained for it?”
Empowered by knowledge, Lisa turned down the offer — and resisted when consultants suggested her seemingly small baby be induced early.
Rory, now aged two, was born weighing a healthy 7lb 3oz — and the couple went on to have Harper, who is seven months old, during lockdown using virtual hypnobirthing coaching from Lynsey.
“Having your own knowledge is the strongest thing you take from
Stevan had every bit of knowledge and became a strong advocate for me during labour Lisa Harris
hypnobirthing,”said Lisa, of Stewartfield, who now works as an early years inspector for the Care Inspectorate.
“Stevan had every bit of knowledge, and became a strong advocate for me during labour. The midwives commented afterwards about what an amazing birthing partner he was.
“How did he go from that person who was so terrified, to fighting all my battles in my moment of need?
“One of the things that amazes people is that Rory was born asleep. “During labour, he didn’t wake up. “He was transferred on to me so naturally. So, when he did wake up, he was already on my skin.”