#vrikshambirthstory, Hi dear Anupama! I had my baby boy today morning – your mantra, techniques, and encouragement helped me and I kept thanking you throughout my delivery. We are from Bay Area CA and attended Pre-pregnancy, early pregnancy, breastfeeding, and labor management courses.

I was 40 weeks 4 days and wasn’t in labor till then. Had a scheduled induction at 40 weeks, but was called only on 40 weeks 4 days for induction due to room availability. The doctor instructed the nurses to give me Misoprostol tablets to soften the cervix instead of Cervidae at noon. Had 2 doses and when they checked it looked like I was contracting very fast 15-20 seconds every 2 minutes, so didn’t give me the 3rd dose.

I was doing “patterned breathing” throughout walking with wireless monitoring and an IV machine, jumping on the ball, etc. to ease my pain through the contractions. At midnight, I wanted to sleep, so lied down – deciding that I will have a 2-hour nap – but my baby and body decided otherwise.

I started having active labor contractions at 12:15. it got severe around 1:30 AM. when I went from 1-6cm, 10% effaced to 90% effaced and 2 stations. I continued patterned breathing, vowel sounds, and mourning with my husband rubbing my back. It didn’t want to go for medicated birth. It was so excruciating that I started biting the stress ball I took with me during contractions and also was doing patterned breathing whenever possible.

Then at 3 AM, felt like going poop, when I was fully dilated and pushed for 18 minutes and he was out at 3:18 AM. I was almost giving up during my contractions to go for an epidural. But in between contractions, I was like, “Trust your body, it is designed to make babies and push naturally”! I really wish I knew about your classes during my first pregnancy. But my 2nd pregnancy and delivery were absolute bliss and miraculous because of you! I love you, Anupama!!