SoundBirth Helps Mum Meditate During Labour

"Wow, I am so happy that I did the step of searching for crystal bowls during labour, and even happier that I had found you, even though you live on the other side of the world!

On October 1st 2013 I came from work and my children brought me a small box and at first I didn’t know what it was until I looked at the return address and it said Australia!  Your CD had arrived!  I did my routine duties (as my youngest calls it lol). Got the children to bed, ate, and did one of my Statistics assignments.  While actually still working on the assignment, my water broke. That was at 10pm. I let my Midwife (Liz) know and she said to get rest, but instead I started cleaning and listened to the CD. Went to bed at 1am, slept till 5:50pm and woke up with some mild contractions. Liz came by to check on me and the baby. Contractions had stopped; I did some errands, made a cake and some food for Midwife, Doula and the others for the long labour ahead.

I contacted Shar (my friend who plays the crystal singing bowls) to let her know today is the day and that I will let her know to come over once it is closer. I was afraid that it might not work out, since we were supposed to meet on the 4th for some SoundBirth practice.

At 1pm my contractions were anywhere between 10 and 15 minutes apart, lasting about 45 seconds. Midwife came at 3pm and decided to stay. I was able to do things around the house and stop while having a contraction. My back started to hurt and the birth ball was so uncomfortable that I decided to get into the birth pool at 5:55pm (great number), contractions were stronger as well. By this time, my doula and Shar had arrived as well. Shar set her bowls up near the birthing pool.

I sat down inside the pool, feeling a little scared, having people surround the pool, and look at me. But I felt at ease since they were all women. But what I decided to do was that I sat on that raised part and the pool, had my legs spread apart and relaxed my whole body and closed my eyes. Shar started as well with her crystal bowls and I know from past experiences that crystal bowl meditation is one of my favourite mediations. I sat in the pool, meditating for 15 minutes, breathing through my contractions, and listening to the bowls.

It was so helpful, having the bowls there, I truly believe they helped me in opening up and relaxing like I’ve never relaxed before.Sitting there for 15 minutes, I felt a shift, I knew something changed.  I went on all fours, then held on to the side of the pool and I knew this was it… the peak of labour.  At one point I wanted to yell out “I can’t do it!”, but I remembered the toning so just let out a deep moan and then again during the next contraction. Then I felt the baby's head come out!  I waited for one more contraction and she was born at 6:20pm.

I truly believe that playing the crystal bowls had made a change, (especially her playing the sacral one).  Since I had a traumatising childhood I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to let go of the past and I didn’t want to tense up during my first home birth. It was truly amazing! We also did not know the gender, so it made it even more precious after we found out she was a GIRL.

Now, as for my husband and children (all boys). He was the runner and he wanted us women to be in peace, so he was watching the boys and helped the Midwife get some things she needed, while I was in the pool. I felt like I was in a tribe, with all women and the bowls.”

Sandra Golaszewski, Texas

Mother of 4