On becoming pregnant:
At the age of thirty-six I found myself pregnant with my third child. My previous pregnancies had been uncomplicated but the births, especially the first, were quite painful!
Learning about Creating Better Births:
I had been seeing Christine for treatment for a long-standing neck injury and was impressed with the results she achieved through Bowen therapy. When I mentioned my pregnancy she told me about the Creating Better Births programme and how it could help me have a healthy pregnancy and a more comfortable birth. Naturally I was very interested in the programme and spoke to Norma who usually starts off the programme.
Extra help:
As I found myself to be suffering from constipation and sleep problems prior to the programme starting, I had a couple of additional sessions with Chris at 16 and 21 weeks. These were a great help.
* Christine – Bowen technique can help with the adjustments the body is making both physically and organically. Constipation can be a problem for many pregnant mums, or indeed many people in general, due to taking Iron supplements or the effects of hormonal changes. The digestive system can become sluggish as the body adjusts to the new life growing inside. Bowen therapy helps the body to become more relaxed and induces a better sense of wellbeing which can promote deeper and more refreshing sleep patterns.
Starting the programme:
At around twenty-six weeks pregnant my husband D and I attended our first session in Norma’s comfortable consulting room. Even though this was my third pregnancy, I learned so much about pregnancy and birth at this session that I was amazed. It certainly helped me to look forward to the birth in a positive way. I learned how the uterine muscles work together to ease baby into the world when the time comes, and how fear causes much of the pain and discomfort many women experience. I knew that, at the second session, I would learn specific techniques to use during labour that would help me to stay calm and focussed leading to a gentler, more comfortable birth for me and the baby. D was surprised at the amount of ‘science’ that goes into getting babies out safely!
Norma gave us a booklet to read that confirmed what she had told us during the session and also had lots more useful information. It was written in such a way that made it easy to read and also to use as a reference tool to look back at individual topics. I also received two CDs. One, a lovely visualisation of a garden, I had to listen to daily. This would condition my mind and body to slip into a deep relaxation quickly and easily. The second CD had two tracks, one of positive affirmations for during the pregnancy and one for use during the birth. I found that I relaxed so deeply with the first CD that I almost always went to sleep very quickly (Norma told me that this was fine fortunately.) The affirmations helped me to feel positive and relaxed about my pregnancy.
Bowen sessions:
At my first programmed CBB session with Christine at 24 weeks, I had been suffering with a bad back and a pain at the top of my leg. Following treatment the pain had gone the next day.
* Christine – I had previously treated Karen for a spinal problem and due to the increased imbalance in the posture was not surprised when she presented with lower back pain. This can cause referred pain into the leg, thigh, or upper part of the body as the core of the body adjusts to the increasing weight which is settling there. Occasionally the baby will be lying in a position which will aggravate underlying problems in the back e.g. if pressure is on the sciatic nerve pathway, causing great difficulty in getting comfortable either sitting or standing. Bowen therapy can help to encourage the baby to move releasing the pressure and discomfort.
I had another additional session at 28 weeks as I had pain in my calf muscles and was experiencing a lot of cramp during the night. The treatment really helped ease the pain and cramps.
* Christine – Again as the baby grows and puts pressure on the lower half of the body, the body has to work hard to adjust. There can be a lot of pressure on the blood supply through the inguinal canal (groin) which can result in cramps in the lower extremities.
At my second CCB session with Chris at 32 weeks I was feeling well although the baby was lying in a posterior position. Christine worked on postural alignment to encourage the baby to move to an anterior position.
* Christine – Using Bowen moves specifically around the rectus abdominals and transverse abdominals (core stomach muscles) can encourage the baby to realign and present in the optimal position.
She also gave me a specially made up Australian Flower Essence to take. This was a great help as I was still working full time and was having an extension built.
*Christine – I use Australian Bush flower essences with most of my pregnant ladies as I find them extremely useful in aiding relaxation, inducing calm and reducing anxiety which has to benefit mum and baby. They are safe and easy to use and the emergency essence can be taken whilst in labour.
Still learning:
At thirty-five weeks into the pregnancy D and I paid our second and last visit to Norma (although she did offer to see me/us again if there was anything we wanted to go over). Here we learned more about the use of self-hypnosis and partner-aided deepening along with specific breathing techniques to use during labour. We also talked about suitable positions for giving birth (I planned to have a water birth at home) and we covered ways of getting labour started naturally – these were to prove very useful!
Almost there:
I had my final CBB session at 38 weeks when Christine finished preparing my body for the birth of our baby.
* Christine – It is important that a woman is physically and mentally prepared for birth. The body has been programmed to do this beautifully so education and balance are key here. Bowen therapy helps to align the body so the pelvis is prepared and any adjustments which are needed to ensure a smooth delivery are made at this stage.
Getting things started:
I was somewhat perturbed not to have started labour by my estimated due date as my two other babies had arrived a few days early. So, we put into practise the things we had learned from Norma and, two days later, labour started. Initially labour was slow and the contractions very erratic. Christine advised us on reflexology techniques to use to regulate my contractions and get things moving.
Result!
The next day I had a lovely home birth in a birthing pool with no pain relief wanted or needed. The midwives present were amazed at how baby Natasha Grace entered the world smoothly and calmly with no huffing and puffing from me. I was delighted to have no tearing at all in spite of birthing an 8lbs 9ozs baby.
I can honestly say that I was able to use everything I had learned from the Creating Better Births programme and I do believe that my body worked so well because of it.