Love Letters & Stories
Kelly, Ash and Baby Maddy
Maddy’s birth
Hi Lainey.
I have been out and about and telling everyone and anyone that will listen to me all Lainey’s bub and bloom, and how fantastic it is! After discovering that it existed, and reading as much information as I could find about it, I mentioned it to my Midwife, and asked her if she knew any women that had used it. She told me that not only had she heard of it, one of the Birth Centre Midwives was a qualified teacher, and so we met Lainey.
We had wanted a fairly “normal” natural pregnancy, labour and birth, hence our decision to go with a Birthing Centre, not a delivery ward. Our idea’s of labour and birth were fairly open, and we both wanted a positive experience, with as little medical intervention as possible. Lainey met us and we immediately felt at ease with her, and extremely comfortable learning and relaxing. We felt that we could not have been better prepared for our impending labour and birth.
My waters broke at 2.30pm on Thurs 6th April , and we were immediately excited about the impending arrival of our little one. Unfortunately, I did not go into labour for some time, but with a few simple suggestions from Lainey, we were well on our way. The first sign I got that I was in labour was at 2.30am on Friday 7th April, and all I felt was tightening in my belly. We moved out to the lounge room couch, and I started my relaxation breathing. Ash then commenced with his positive affirmations, and was timing the waves. At 7.30am, we called the Birth Centre, and made our way to the hospital.
We arrived at 8.30am, and I was still in full control, and in no pain at all, just tightening with each wave. With no medical intervention, no drugs, and no internal examinations, our beautiful baby girl, Maddison was born in a calm environment, bright eyed and wide awake, and not crying, at 10.32am on Fri 7th April, after only an 8 hour labour and delivery.
Maddison is a calm child who rarely cries for long periods of time and I continue to use my relaxation breathing to quickly go to sleep in between night feeds.
I constantly rave about the benefits of bub and bloom to anyone that will listen to me, and am already looking forward to having another child, using these amazing techniques. A huge thank you to Lainey, who made our labour and birth such a positive and fantastic experience.
It was truly amazing, and we couldn’t have done it without her.
She is a star!!!
Nicole, Jesse and Baby's Huey & Violet
Huey & Violets Birth's
Huey
We had our baby! Hughston was born August 2nd at 10.36pm weighing 8lb 6.
I cannot thank you enough for your class and breathing techniques!
I was able to breathe my way through each contraction and fell asleep in between. It was truly incredible how my body knew how to get into such a meditative state when I needed to! We Made it through it all drug and gas free and little Huey just needed a little assistance right at the end with the ventouse but without and episiotomy. Yay!
It was a marathon but so proud of my body for what it did. Thank you again for all of your teachings/techniques and acupuncture. You were a massive part of this journey, and we can't thank you enough.
Violet ( 3 years later)
It's a Girl! Violet Jean has arrived October 12th at 2,29pm weighing 7lb
Named after Jess's grandmother, Violet and my Nani, Jean
She is perfection and I had the birth I envisioned Lainey!
I wasn't able to leave hospital after my check as baby's heart rate wasn't coping will very dull contractions. So, I had IV fluids which fixed that and let my body rest until I started to feel something. Thankfully I got some sleep and at 6am the next day I was wide eyed and ready to start the day. Jesse and I walked Main Street and that's when it all began. I had Huey come visit me at 11.30am and after a big cry with him it was back-to-back contractions and no stopping.
The bath wasn't comfortable as she was so low, but the TENS machine was a saving grace. I had no idea what was going on in the world. My eyes were closed the entire time, Just in my zone. I had a thought of doubt at one time and thought gosh I don't know how much longer I can cope. I opened my eyes and Amy (my obstetrician) was dressed in gumboots and scrubs and I know I was just going through transition and it's about to happen. I can do this.
I birthed on my knees, facing the back of the bed and after a few pushes my body took over and I just breathed her out. It was the craziest feeling. Feeling my body do it as I just focussed on my breath to keep everything loose and relaxed.
I love my two babies. They grow so quickly!
Thanks for everything
Jess, Corey and Baby Myles
Myles's birth
Matt, Shell and Baby Lily Mae
Lily Mae’s birth
Michele
A calming approach to preparing mind, body and spirit for the birth of our little miracle. Thanks to Lainey we felt at ease with the labour ahead and welcomed our beautiful Lily Mae into the world in 3 hours. Lainey’s approach to birth is holistic, her touch was both professional and loving throughout our time together antenatally and as a family.
Matt
At our bub & bloom class I went into it a bit sceptical. I never believed that it would work, let alone it could help with making the birth of a child easier. During one of our initial sessions I was totally amazed at the power of the subconscious mind. With Lainey’s guidance I experienced something that I never felt was possible, and gained self belief that the classes could definitely make a difference.
Thanks to your beautiful caring nature and love surrounding us throughout pregnancy and birth! Our birth wouldn’t have been the same without you.
Rhian, Deon and Baby Carter
Carters Birth
Hi Lainey
I can’t thank you enough for teaching me your birthing tools, and it may sound corny, but it has completely changed my life. The birth of Carter was so positive and special, and I’ve been recommending your classes to every woman I speak to!
I was ten days overdue and was booked for induction (which I really didn’t want), but started having some irregular contractions at about 6pm. At 10pm Deon ran a bath for me, lit some candles and I listened to some relaxation music whilst doing my breathing. By 11pm the contractions had increased to 5 minutes apart and I knew it we needed to make our way to the hospital.
After settling on the bed I didn’t want to move at all, as it would disrupt the ‘zone’ that I had put myself in from breathing. The doctor came to check on me, and see how dilated I was, and the midwife (who was lovely) guessed I was about 4cm. However, to their surprise, I was 9cm dilated and almost ready to start pushing! I still attribute this to visualising my cervix opening. I began pushing, with Deon encouraging me and helping me with my breathing the whole time. But after two hours of pushing our little Carter refused to turn so I needed the help from the doctor. With a big push and help from the ventouse, Carter’s head was out and two more pushes later, my beautiful boy was born! Fairly big too at 8 pound 14. Deon was absolutely fantastic. He remained calm and collected and was my rock through the tough moments.
It really was the most amazing moment of my life when he was placed on my chest, and opened his eyes to look at Deon and I. I still can’t believe that I went from being absolutely terrified of labour and wanting every sort of pain relief under the sun at the start of my pregnancy, to becoming confident enough in myself to birth my son naturally, calmly and quietly.
The midwife said to me that it was the calmest birth she had ever attended, and was privileged to be a part of the experience.
Lainey, thank you so much again- you’re amazing
Andrea, Craig and Baby Campbell
Campbell's Birth
The birth of Campell John Blake
The birth of our little boy is by far the best I have ever had, thanks to the techniques I learnt from your class. As hoped, it was completely natural and drug free and couldn’t have been more different from my two prior birth experiences.
I arrived at the hospital at 4.30am when my contractions were 6 minutes apart and CJ was born at 9.30am. I spent the first hour drinking tea with the midwives at their desk, breathing through contractions as they came and went. I spent the next hour or two sitting down with a hotpack on my back, focussing on breathing.
I couldn’t believe (and nor could Craig) that the breathing and visualisations were so effective and I can honestly say that the contractions I experienced did not feel like pain. Craig also proved far more useful and supportive third time round! The midwives and my obstetrician commented a few times on how calm I was and said they were wondering whether things were really progressing as I was so quiet.
I felt very calm and peaceful and started to cry with joy at the thought of my baby arriving soon. I told the midwife I didn’t know why I was crying and she said that I was going through transition…Unbelievable, given transition with my previous deliveries involved writhing in pain and talking in tongues. Sure enough, a few minutes later I was pushing and about 10 minutes later (including a posterior rotation and stuck shoulder) our beautiful little (3.9kg) boy was born.
Interestingly, he did not come out screaming and he has been a very contented, settled and calm baby so far- due in no small part, I’m sure, to the fact the labour and his birth were so peaceful for him. I probably should have practiced more, but thankfully my subconscious must have been paying more attention than I thought as it all seemed to work perfectly.
I had a number of midwives come to visit me in the days after his birth, having read my birth notes, and asked me how I had done it. I provided your name to a midwife who wanted to recommend your class to a friend of hers.
We are all settling in at home now. Thankyou again for making Campbell’s entry into this world such a lovely, positive and calm birth experience for us all.
Catherine, Stu and Baby Alice
Alice's Birth
Dear Lainey,
Thank you so much for all your help during the Bub And Bloom workshop back in June. As you might remember, I was a bit ambivalent about doing the workshop after finding out that my baby was breech and I’d need a caesarean. I had really wanted a natural birth and felt like the workshop might just leave me feeling more disappointed about not being able to have the birth I wanted. You, however made us both feel really comfortable and I was surprised about how much we both got out of the workshop. I realised that the techniques would still be helpful in managing my anxieties about the caesarean and it felt good to be prepared for anything, just in case.
As it turns out, I needed the techniques more than I realised. I was booked for a caesarean at 38.5 weeks but went into labour spontaneously at 37 weeks when my waters broke whilst having a pregnancy massage/facial!
I initially felt a bit panicked as I knew my baby was still breech and that I needed to get to hospital asap. Stu came to pick me up and within 15 minutes of my waters breaking, contractions had started. Another 15 minutes later the contractions were less than 2 minutes apart and we were both thinking we’d be having a breech baby in the car! I have to admit I hadn’t practiced the calmbirth techniques much, as I thought I wouldn’t really need them. But I did remember one of the breathing techniques, so I just kept breathing in for 10 seconds and out for 10 seconds, focussing on the counting.
Poor Stu was trying to help by counting me through, but I found it more helpful to turn my focus inwards and by blocking out the outside world. It seemed to help me block out what was happening to my body. I also kept saying to myself, “you can do this, you’re going to meet your baby soon.” The pressure was incredible and all I wanted to do is push but I knew I couldn’t.
We eventually got to the hospital and rushed up to the labour ward. Stu told me later that one of the midwives asked if this was my 2nd baby as I was coping so well with the contractions. I still ended up having a caesarean because of bubs being breech, but I ended up getting to experience labour just like I had wanted, which I am so grateful for. Without your Bub & Bloom program, I think I would have been a complete mess, but instead I look back on my birth experience as a wonderful one, albeit a bit exciting!
Our beautiful little girl, Alice Elizabeth, is now thriving and has more than caught up after being a tiny 5lb13 when she was born. She’s such a happy and relaxed little baby and I can’t help but feel that being calm during our exciting labour might have helped.
Thank you again for all your help and support.
Kind regards
Sophie & Dean
Hi Lainey,
I just wanted to write to you to say a huge thank you for having both Dean and I at your bubs class over the weekend.
I wish every expecting lady and their support person had access to the information you provided and your clear and concise teaching method. I’ll definitely be recommending you to anyone I come across that is looking for a birthing class.
I’ve booked in some acupuncture with you in about three weeks. I would of loved to come sooner but covid unfortunately got in the way. I think Dean would really like to meet you as we get closer to my due date – mostly to express his gratitude in providing such a logical and refreshing perspective on how to approach birth as a support person. Thanks to you his thoughts around labour and birth has changed dramatically, and I know his new awareness is only going to help me when the time comes.
Take care and looking forward to meeting you in person in a few weeks.
Sophie
Caterina, Brett and Baby Crystelle
Crystelle's Birth
What a fabulous way of thought and teaching that promotes confidence and rightly restores the responsibility and control for a woman to contribute to what can be one of the greatest experiences and joys in a woman’s life. The Bub and Bloom programme … The word really needs to get out there!
Lainey, I can’t thank you enough for facilitating the way to tap into inner strength and resources that gave a profound inner healing and a confidence to face “birthing” with total confidence. Even when things didn’t go exactly as planned, the skills I was able to employ kept me calm with all fears allayed. Our beautiful daughter Crystelle, a calm, healthy and happy baby is testimonial to the calm pregnancy and birth I was able to have. Your course was a major contributing factor for my attitude.
I was greatly blessed and fortunate enough to have had the exceptional midwifery experience and firsthand experience of this excellent birthing teacher Lainey, to help my husband deliver our beautiful cherub into this world.
A truly remarkable, professional teacher and an inspirational model for all midwives to follow suit.
Thanks Lainey, I hope all women are as lucky as we were to have you in our lives at a very important time on our journey.
Jaime, Daniel and Baby Tahlia
Thalia's Birth
When faced with the thought of our first child’s arrival, Daniel’s main concern was how he would stop himself from passing out due to his weakness of all things medical. My main concern was who would look after me if he did!! I have bad reactions to most medications and knew I needed strategies to cope.
After a weekend of Lainey’s teachings we walked away empowered with the knowledge that we needed to ensure that our
baby’s arrival into this world would be our experience. No longer was Daniel concerned as he knew his role to and how to help me. The ‘medical things’ that used to be so daunting became much less scary as we began to understand them.
Tahlia arrived 12 days overdue. Our labour experience was nothing like we planned, but with the last minute help of Lainey on the phone and by doing all that I had learnt I managed to re-focus and deal with everything as it arose. I remained calm and focussed throughtout. I was very fortunate to have a midwife and obstetrician who were very supportive of calmbirth and knew Lainey.
Despite my baby girl being posterior and quite stuck they supported me and I achieved a natural birth. It was only afterward that they told me that it was quite a difficult labour and most women would have had an epidural! I didn’t use any medication, and really didn’t need it.
Daniel was amazing and supported me throughout the labour and didn’t feel faint once!
Most importantly our beautiful little girl arrived into this world bright, alert and very calm despite her tricky arrival and for the first three months we have barely heard her cry. Tahlia is just delightful and we are so glad that we used Bub & Bloom to make what could have been a very traumatic experience into a calm and beautiful one.
From the bottom of our hearts, thankyou.
Sarah, Tarquin and Baby Lennox
Lennox's Birth
Hi Lainey
I was excited to discover I was pregnant but apprehensive about the unknowns of labour. I found out about Lainey through a midwife as we were inspecting prospective hospitals. I selected Bub and Bloom as Lainey was a trained and practicing midwife, which appealed to me.
We learned so much from the course, but also from Lainey’s stories about other births from her experience as a midwife. I was so happy that I didn’t have an epidural and only a little bit of pain relief when labour really kicked in. I kept repeating the mantra “your body was designed to birth your baby” which really helped me trust my own body, and get through it.
After an 11 hour labour our beautiful son Lennox was born. I cannot recommend Bub and Bloom enough. Lainey reminded us that sometimes things don’t go to plan Lennox was born by Vacuum extraction due to a number of complications, but we were armed with the knowledge and tools to get us through. I would not change any part of my labour or birth and although uncomfortable and at times painful, I look back on the experience as a joyous and relaxed one.
Even the midwives made comments about how relaxed and focussed I was!
Thanks for everything Lainey
Jo, Craig and Baby Darby
Darby's Birth
At 32 weeks pregnant, and being a midwife, thus knowing way too much, it dawned on me what I may be heading for with the birth of my baby. Suddenly I was full of fear! Thanks to you, our guardian angel who guided us from here on with the concept of a calm birth, that fear, was transformed to that of excitement, a feeling of being able to let go, and most importantly allowed me to have a very special bond with my baby before he was even born.
I did have an extremely long labour and ended up having a Caesarean as Darby was in a posterior position, however, by using my breathing and focussing techniques throughout my labour, I have very fond memories of it. I never felt afraid and I always felt a calmness, and therefore felt empowered to help make decisions throughout my labour, and the birth of our baby.
We thank you Lainey from the bottom of our hearts and look forward to using your amazing programme with our next baby.
Amanda, Steve and Baby Lily Rose
Lily Rose's Birth
Hi there,
It’s Amanda from your birthing course. Just letting you know that Steve and I had a beautiful little girl on July 14th, Lily Rose
(7 pound 15). We were lucky enough to only have a 4 and a half hour labour!!!!
Thank you for everything that you taught us, if it wasn’t for the breathing techniques I don’t know what I would have done. Even Steve thought that the ‘hippy crap’ was worth it and he was glad that he had some good techniques to help me through it.
Thanks again
Opal, Marcel and Baby Celeste
Celeste's Birth
Hi Lainey
Marcel and I gained so much valuable information over the weekend and I wanted to give you my story.
I needed to be induced because I was two weeks overdue. Whilst Marcel and I were excited on the day we also carried a bit of fear about the unknown. I was attached to the drip and baby monitor and slowly things started to happen. The first real contraction caught me by surprise, but as it passed I knew what to expect.
I found myself breathing through the contractions bringing my attention to my body. I used the TENs machine, which you also recommended, from about 12pm when my back started to hurt.
At 3 pm the midwife checked me and I was only 1cm dilated. I found this mentally challenging, exhausting and frustrating. Again at 6pm the midwife checked me and I was only 3cm dilated.
This is where my mind took over and I thought to myself “Come on Opal… Lets get things going!” I sat up, got on the chair, closed my eyes and worked with the contractions. As they came, I would stand and swing my body to them. Then I would sit down at the edge of the chair visualising my baby moving down. The midwife kept asking if I wanted any gas, but I thought to myself that as one contraction subsided that I could manage the next without anything.
By 8pm the urge to push came on strong. The midwife said I wouldn’t be ready and again checked me. I was 8cm dilated and she couldn’t believe it. This gave me even more motivation to keep going the way I was.
It was at this stage that Marcel stepped in. Through the TENS machine and monitor straps he rubbed my back, talking in my ear, “you can do this.” It was amazing how strong I felt hearing his words and our little baby girl, Celeste was born at 9.45pm, 17th May.
I breastfed straight away and she attached beautifully.
It saddens me that women are so frightened of labour that they opt for an epidural even before their labour starts. I am sure that it because of all the negative stories that they hear. I am so happy that mine is a positive story and think that these need to be shared to encourage women and allay some of their fears.
Giving birth is a very powerful feeling mentally, physically and emotionally. Your classes helped me get my head around the fear factor.
Thank you Lainey
Sonya, Peter and Baby Justin
Justin's Birth
Hey Lainey
Just reporting in to say that Justin Peter Rule arrived 4 weeks early on the 9th of July, the Thursday after we attended your workshop. Thank the universe for Lainey because we used every technique, you’d taught us!
The labour lasted 6 hours and I breathed my way through the whole thing with no drugs. Justin came into the world a happy little Vegemite and it is an experience that I will treasure forever. I am looking forward to doing it all again in the coming years with the knowledge that I can once again use the Bub & Bloom techniques.
I kept my cool the whole time and focused on making the experience a calm one for my little one entering the big wide world and it worked a treat! He has been a cool little cucumber since his birth, and we’ve had comments supporting this from the midwives in special care (he was there 9 days) and from friends and family visiting the last couple of weeks. Of course, he does the odd squealy tomatoe face- but who doesn’t when they are hungry?
I have told anyone who will listen and recommend your Bubby Bloom classes to my pregnant friends. As far as I am concerned it was the best money I’ve ever spent, and I’ll be back for a refresher in my next pregnancy.
THANK YOU!!!!!!
