Testimonial By KrsnaRupa

I have to write to express how I throughly benefited from following the Gentle Birth Method by Dr Gowri Motha.

 

My birth was a great success, it was simple & enjoyable and it was in the comfort of my own home. It was not lengthy but comfortable. I firmly believe that it was my stauch adherance to the practices which are recommended in Gentle Birth method which gave me and my daughter a wonderful start on her birth day. I was greatly assisted by Elizabeth throughout my pregnancy and I want to share my experience with others so that they can also benefit.

 

For many people, birth seems to be associated with something painful, difficult, or cause for anxiety. As I knew little about birth before my pregnancy, it was these stereotyped images which came to mind as I contemplated what to expect on my baby’s birth day. I was afraid – this fear was mainly due to the unknown – Like so many first time mums I was uneducated about the birth process, and thus I felt out of control– I was “in the dark” as it were. About 3 months into my pregnancy – about the time that pregnancy really sinks in for a new mother - a friend spoke to me about her wonderful birth experience, and gave me The Gentle Birth Method book. I was about to travel overseas with my husband at the time, so the book somehow slipped into my suitcase, where it resurfaced a few weeks later in Philadelphia as some light reading material. However, I stayed glued in our hotel room reading it cover to cover. I knew straight away this was exactly what I needed to hear. Gowrie spoke about how most people today live an unnatural lifestyle, and hence we are having trouble giving birth naturally - and the caesarean rate is increasing dramatically. But the woman’s body is designed to give birth – so is pain, fear, and caesareans really necessary? In traditional cultures, women with a simpler diet & more physically active lifestyles are able to give birth without so much trauma. So Gowri prescribed a program of diet, exercise, relaxing & detoxifying therapy, and most importantly – meditation on the process of birth to prepare the mind – to reprogram the mind – to have a wonderful birth experience.

 

Well this was really inspiring for me. I totally appreciated what she wrote. I have practical experience that when we work everyday towards something – whether its learning to drive a car, play an instrument or get a university degree, that daily practice culminates in a confidence and skill that lead one to success with ease. I felt assured that if I began to follow, day by day, Gowrie’s program, I would come to a stage where I had a chance at a positive and wonderful birth experience.

 

I immediately went shopping for raspberry leaf tea, cut out eating bananas, and went walking daily. Gradually I introduced all the aspects of diet & exercise. It sounded austere at first, but I really felt that the discipline would be good for my mind- to help my mind create a good birth experience I needed to go through a lot of changes. As Gowri says – see yourself like an athlete in training.

 

I began the massage therapy with the help of my husband. It was relaxing, but I wanted to be sure I was really getting all the benefits, so I “googled” for a professional in “creative healing massage”, which is when I came across Elizabeth, in Sydney. To my surprise she is not only trained in creative healing & the wonderful reflexology, but she is specifically helping women prepare for birth through Gowrie’s method. We saw each other every week, and it was a great joy. Her treatment is wonderful, beginning with bathing my feet when I arrived, giving me all the time I needed to ask questions about pregnancy, babies, birth, and how to follow the method. Then she performed relaxing massage to cleanse the organs & muscles, with a focus on abdominal toning and clearing & finally a reflexology session. I felt so supported by this weekly treatment. We were able to check babies position, prepare physically for the birth day, & relax. Elizabeth also came to my labour , helping me as a doula, a trained support person. Her support was great. I felt so confident that I would have her with me during this experience. Together with my midwives & husband we made a great team!

 

Actually confidence & trust are important in birth, because in such an environment, one can really relax & thus ones body does not panic but functions efficiently. Having knowledge about birth also contributes in the same way. I gained all this by daily listening to Gowries self hypnosis tapes. Full of positive affirmations about birth, they retrained my mind. I knew exactly when to go into labour, what to do, and how to remain relaxed, at a sub conscious level. On the day it was completely effortless. Everything went smoothly.

 

Throughout Gowries method she encourages us to communicate and bond with our unborn baby. After all, her life begins at the start of pregnancy, in the womb, not just at birth. I was so excited to meet my little one, and this was a great motivating factor for us, a bond between myself, baby & my husband. Following Gowries advise, I told bub to engage into my pelvis, and she did! I was 4/5 engaged 2 weeks before due date! This was also helped along by Bowen therapy, cranial sacral therapy, yoga, and ayuvedic perenium stretch exercises.

 

My daughter appeared on her due date. Our labour rumbled from about 8.30am to 2pm, when it got into full swing until the glorious birth in water at 5.10pm. I was happy and confident the whole day. It was a joyous affair, my body and mind were so ready for birth there was no time to worry, and there were no tears or interventions. We were even praying & singing for her at the moment when she came! Her name is Isha (full name Vrndavaneshvari), and she is now 4 months old and a calm gentle baby.

 

I want to thank Gowri & Elizabeth for giving me a great birth. We cannot expect that our children will be unaffected if they experience a traumatic introduction to the world. Our love can be measured by how much we nuture our babies right from the start. Thankyou for this positive beginning to my daughters life – we are both happy healthy and peaceful from this gentle birth method ! thankyou! I hope all mothers and babies can do the same!

 

 
 
Testimonial by Marieke

The Gentle Birth Method is a holistic approach to preparing your mind, body and spirit for the birth of your baby and I highly recommend it. Elizabeth is a wonderful Gentle Birth practitioner and I benefited greatly from her knowledge, experience, enthusiasm and encouragement during our sessions.

 

What I learned from Elizabeth and the Gentle Birth Method affirmed and reinforced my own beliefs about childbirth and the knowledge I gained and techniques I learnt not only helped me during my pregnancy and labour but also postnatally.

 

 

 

   

I felt very confident and empowered as I approached the birth and we had a wonderful birth experience, just as we had visualised! Our little boy came into the world naturally, calmly and comfortably without medical intervention and we have no doubt that his positive birth experience contributed to his happy and calm nature. Thank you Elizabeth for all of your guidence!

 


 
 
Testimonial by Angel

 

As this was my first child which comes with a lot of apprehension and the unknown. I was very interested in a wholistic approach to  my pregnancy and delivering my baby naturally.

 

After reading the book I was so happy to find Elizabeth, a Gentle Birth Method practitioner here in Sydney!

 

She was a great support  emotionally and physically , both during my pregnancy and the delivery..

 

I followed the program to a tee, the diet, the exercise (I am a yoga teacher  so a lot of it was second nature to me) the self visualistaion and meditation.  I enjoyed my weekly treatments with Elizabeth who every week would give me information about the pending birth and post natal.  Her knowledge both in Ayurveda, GBM and all things birth related reassured me every week.

 

On the day of delivery, Elizabeth came home to support me and stayed with me through the whole process. After all our hard work and 28 hours, I ended up having an emergency cesearean.

 

I attribute the gentle way with my speedy recovery! I was up and out of hospital within 48 hours and had NO complications following the C section.

 

I am very positive that my recovery was all attributed to the GBM and my weekly treatments.

 

Angel

 
 
Testimonial by Casey

 

When I first got a copy of Gentle Birth Method, I was thrilled to have an 'alternative' week by week program to take me through the pregnancy.

The book is fantastic and really was what I was after for my second pregnancy. The book talks about what the treatments the therapist should do each week, yet seeing two or three therapists such as a bowen therapist and a podiatrist weekly, was really not viable.

Each week Elizabeth came to my home, treated me with Massage, Reflexology and warm reassurance about my pending birth.  The one thing I feared was tearing as this is what had happened in my first pregnancy.  Elizabeth reassured me that if I followed the program and did all that was part of the method, I should reduce the risk of tearing.

I loved the Wednesday morning 'time out' when Elizabeth visited. It forced me to stop working or running around, and to really care for myself, my baby and be excited about the birth.

The birth rehearsal cd was brilliant too, I listened to it most nights and  found often I had drifted to sleep with it on in my walkman. I think this really helped tremendously in the birth as I truly felt relaxed and prepared for a quick, calm and gentle birth.

My waters broke whilst at home on a Saturday afternoon, and after a hour or two of quick gentle contractions I went to the hospital at 3.30pm to discover I was already 7.5cm dilated.

I was booked into the Randwick birth centre and was fortunate to have one of my favorite midwifes on that day. She said to get straight in the bath and that my baby would probably be in my arms within the hour. She was close.. by 5.13pm Gypsy was born. Gypsy is the calmest, sweet happy baby I have met, she is my 'little ray of sunshine' and I absolutely adore her. My birth was calm, beautiful, quick and the one thing I feared the most,(perineal tear) did not happene just as Elizabeth had said.  Not one stitch!! I loved it!

I am so thankful to have been given the book this pregnancy, and to have been able to see Elizabeth each week. It was like having my own private birth coach who cared and pampered me.
 
Thank you so much Elizabeth!

Casey

 
 
Testimonial by Shaun & Nora

We commenced the gentle birth program after 6 months of the pregnancy so although the full benefit may not have been achieved, we still feel confident that it assisted in allowing our baby daughter to be born healthy, at an appropriate weight and with a temperament that we hoped for.

 

Everyone accepts the saying “you are what you eat” and this can really be extended to saying your baby will be a product of what you eat.  By following the eating program Nora became so healthy and the baby so content in the womb that she simply did not want to come out.  Disappointingly the obstetrician wanted to induce Nora once she became 12 days overdue and one intervention led to another so the birth process itself was not the one we had hoped and planned for, however the result is the important thing and we could not be happier.

 

Nora saw Elizabeth weekly for a treatment that ensured toxins were cleared and Nora stayed as relaxed and stress free as possible for those final 3 months.  Apart from the treatment itself, the weekly sessions also involved much discussion about things that were happening with the growth of the baby, discussion of parenting choices that would have to be made post birth as well as the general discussion relating to the Gentle Birth program itself.  This was really valuable and allowed us to feel confident throughout the whole process.

 

Being pregnant for the first time is exciting and obviously a completely new process which can result in some fears and concerns.  It was great to be able to talk these through with Elizabeth and she was a great support at all times.

 

I now recommend this program to anyone I know that is pregnant.

 

Shaun & Nora

 

 

 

 
 
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