CLIENT COMMENTS

I once again wanted to thank you for providing both Hans and I the foundation for a simply amazing birthing experience. We entered the day with such confidence and calmness which translated into the beautiful birth of Finley. I have always been a great believer in the "power of your mind", and as we both work in the heath care field we have seen it first hand, but to put your money where your mouth is a different story. I wanted so much to have a natural childbirth, but with the numerous stories I had heard I frequently questioned if my naiveté was getting the best of me. You really helped me to focus my thoughts and lead with my intention. Your course helped me to center myself and recognize the power of my body and the strength of my relationship.

We labored at home until my contractions were 2 1/2 minutes apart and then went to the hospital. I was 5 cm dilated and within 1 hour I was 10 cm and ready to go! My midwife was fantastic, honored all of our wishes, we had music playing, lights low and even a candle burning. Finley was born in 20 minutes with no interventions, no suction, no monitors, no IV's, no tearing, and no drugs. I felt absolutely FANTASTIC, I was so relaxed and Finley was very alert and calm. The whole experience was AMAZING, powerful, beautiful and everything we planned it to be.

Sharon you gave us such a gift of confidence, health and a beautiful experience. Thank you for all that you do for women, families and babies.
    Shandy, Hans and Finley

 

I had an acupuncture appointment at 5:30 July 2nd, to try to jump start labor. I was 41 weeks and 2 days, and an ultrasound I had the day before suggested my amniotic fluid was really low. The acupuncturist poked six little needles into my lower back, and left them in for about half an hour. When she took them out, she told me
it typically takes between one and five hours to start working, but could take longer. She told me to go home and take a nap, and if nothing is happening within twelve hours, it isn't going to work. So on my way home, I picked up my hubby, Jeremy, from work, and we went to bed.

At 9:30 I woke up feeling pretty crampy. I went to the bathroom, the cramps got worse, but they were constant. I woke up Jeremy, and we decided to go for a walk around the park. When we got up to the end of the street we noticed the lightening! It was so far off in the distance, and we could see the bolts striking through the clouds but there was no thunder. We climbed up the little hill at the entrance to the park and watched the storm for a while. It was beautiful. We walked around the park for a little bit, then decided to go back home. I tried to soak in the bath tub, but it was way too small. I got out, and crawled into bed. By this time the cramps were coming and going. They were about 30 seconds apart and lasting about 30 seconds. At about 1:45 I asked Jeremy to call the midwife, and ask him if we should come in. The cramps were still about 30 seconds apart, and were lasting 45 seconds to a minute. He told Jeremy that we should go to the birth center and he would meet us there. so we woke up my mom, and told my grandma, who was anxiously waiting upstairs, that it was time to go. We all piled in the car, and took off. My grandma was driving. She ran about 5 red lights, it was hilarious! We actualy beat Dr. Ed there!! I hopped in the bed while Ed filled up the tub. I was already 6cm by the time we got there. I got in the tub as soon as it was ready! It was so nice!! Ed opened the sliding door to the garden. The storm had picked up. Now there was loud thunder, and pouring rain. I leaned over the edge of the tub, and Jeremy put pressure on my lower back. Using hypnosis, I was able to nap between surges! After a while, I felt an overwhelming urge to push. I could no longer feel the surges. I just kept pushing because it felt so good! Before I knew it, her head was out! It was amazing! But after her head was out, no matter how hard I pushed, it felt as if nothing was happening. So my midwife suggested that I get out of the tub and sit on the birthinhg chair, so I did. I pushed as hard as I could, and he gently helped pull her out. Ed handed me my slippery blue baby. It was love at first sight.

Jeremy looked to see the sex, and much to our suprise, we saw that she was a little girl! It was such a shock! My whole pregnancy, I thought for sure she was a boy! After I deliverd the placenta, and the cord stoped pulsing, Jeremy cut it, and we went and climbed into bed. Ed brought my family in to meet the new addition. They snapped a bunch of pictures, and left us alone to rest. I took a quick shower while Jeremy snuggled our baby, then we took a short nap. We were home by 11:30am! My neighbor laughed, because she said it looked like I was getting some from shopping, by the way I hopped out of the car, but I had just had a baby! It was such a great experiance! Summer Lillie Curtright was born at 5:05am, Thursday, July 3rd. She was 7lbs 8.5oz and 20 inches long.
    Kimber

 

Sharon, I just wanted to let you know that Joaquin Mathias was born on June 6th at 7:01pm.  He was 6lbs 10oz and 21 inches long and sooo precious!!  I started labor at 7 in he morning, labored in the tub at home mostly and did my hypnobirthing tapes and breathing.  We got to the hospital at 6pm only to find out I was way farther along than I had thought and he was born at 7!  I am definitely going to do hypnobirthing for baby #2 whenever that may be.
    anonymous

 

HypnoBirthing provided me with an opportunity to find a place of inner strength that I didn’t know existed within.  I was able to completely focus on the birth p[rocess and hear what my body and baby were communicating.  It was the most physical and mentally challenging experience of my life and I thank Sharon and the Hypnobirthing techniques I learned for bringing my beautiful baby boy into the world without the use of painkillers. 

As a doula, Sharon was amazingly supportive.  Her calm and knowledgeable demeanor put my husband and I at ease immediately.  I recommend a doula to all women who will be giving birth in a hospital setting.  Sharon made my birth experience feel more like a home birth and less medically oriented.  She played a role as a patient advocate and mother figure.  I am extremely grateful for her skills.
       Teasha Schmidt

After the long and painful labor with my first child, I decided to try hypnobirthing for my second baby. Thanks to the relaxation and breathing techniques I learned in your class I was able to remain calm and relaxed throughout labor. I was so relaxed that we weren't completely convinced that it was actual labor. When I got to the hospital I was pleasantly surprised that I was already dilated to 6 centimeters. The whole thing lasted only 5 and a half hours and I was so much more comfortable than during my first labor. I was working with my body during this birth, rather than feeling tense and fighting the pain as I had done the first time around. I will tell all mommies who want a natural birth to take your classes!    
    Heather

Wonderful!!! It was a quick and smooth birth!
   Janice

HypnoBirthing classes with Sharon taught me how to relax and truly embrace the natural birth process. Using the relaxation and visualization techniques, I allowed my body to work effectively; I didn't block the process as I believe I had done during my first birth experience. Sharon was there to support me, and her calm and confident reassurance really helped me focus. She is a wonderful doula. Not only was the active labor and birth quick (I went from being 4cms dilated to holding my baby in less than two hours), but it was the most fulfilling and empowering experience I have ever had. Thank you Sharon!
    Amy

"It was wonderful. It kept me calm, confident, and focused!"
    Shelley

Sharon- I just wanted to let you know how much I appreciated everything you did to help me prepare for my labor and birthing. You went above and beyond my expectations in taking this class and it really made a difference. I was able to have an intervention free birth that ended with a perfect, healthy baby. I couldn't have asked for anything more. You are great at what you do and I am so glad that I got the chance to meet you and take this class!
    Shannon

Sharon - Thank you for your sage advice, support, and the hypnobirthing classes. You have the "magic touch" and are well suited for your work. I so appreciate all you've done for me and baby. God bless,
    Caroline.

Although I had a long labor, 40 hours, on a scale of 1-10, my discomfort at it's worst was a 3.
    Nannette

I stayed relaxed and calm, even when things were getting stressful. Chris said that often, I was the most calm person in the room.
    Traci

The hypnobirthing breathing techniques are the KEY. It's an effort to stay conscious and focused, but just remembering to breathe into the surges kept my discomfort at the level of bad cramps.
    Maya

Sharon, Thank you so much for all of your help. Using the hypnosis techniques that you taught us, and yoga, I was able to have the Natural Childbirth that I hoped for. I cannot imagine how I would have been able to stay relaxed without using self-hypnosis techniques. The labor nurse told me that I was the Birth of the Month. The doctor told me that she wished that we had video-taped the birth so that others could see how birth could be managed. I have a healthy, happy, baby boy thanks to your help.
    Angela

Hi Sharon, Sandy here. I did a story for the magazine I work for that talked about my hypnobirthing experience and referenced your name. I still tell people about it at least once a week. As long as Nate is still a baby, I get questions from folks about how the birth was. I think the unasked question for a lot of people is "How was the birth....for someone your age?" As more women over 40 are having babies, I always tell them that I believe the hypnobirthing techniques allowed me to rebound quicker. I truly was walking the halls of the hospital, ready to go, within about 36 hours after the birth. I had only slight bleeding for about a week afterward, versus the month of discomfort and bleeding the first time. Nate latched on right away and breastfeeding went great from the start, as opposed to having a drowsy baby suffering the effects of the pain killers used on me. When I tell people, they say: "Oh, the second one is always easier." Well, maybe, who knows. But I am sure glad I hedged my bets. I just want to say thank you again.
    Sandy

I had 2 hours of active labor at home, half an hour of labor in the car on the way to the hospital (I was 6cms. when I arrived) and had another hour of labor until birthing. The breathing and bearing down to birth only took 12 minutes. I honestly felt because things progressed so fast that the tapes and hypnobirthing techniques were what helped me hold it together. After my previous baby being born by caesarean, I was elated to have a vaginal birth this time.
    Heather

Hypnotic Help
Saturday, November 1, 2008
PDX Magazine

Visualize calm childbirth
Thursday, October 26, 2006
The Oregonian