I wanted to write to you in any case to let you know what an enormous difference you made to my birth experience.  I started out in your Hypnobirthing course with the sentiment that it was nonsense to think that birth could be 'rewarding' or 'fulfilling' and that my goal was simply to be able to manage myself through the event.   The combination of your course and then your help leading up to the birth in my being able to assess when best to go into hospital meant that I was extremely well equipped throughout and achieved a birth experience which was far better than I could ever have imagined.  It really was rewarding - and I feel even more connected to both Patrick (my husband who was an amazing birth companion) and Gabriel (our baby), having taken ownership of, and shared, the experience together.

In terms of the actual birth, we had 12 wonderful hours at home and two (less wonderful but still absolutely the place I wanted to be! I was 6-7cm dilated on arrival) hours at the Queen Mary before Gabriel was born - a healthy 3.335kg and 48cm long; very calm and alert and happily breastfed within half an hour of being born.  We didn't want an epidural or pethadine but I had some gas towards the end which I did find helpful.

Thank you again.