The hypnobirthing techniques I’d learned in Lauralyn’s class became a lifeline as my body continued to change and open. My key word changed from the word peace to the word open as things progressed. I kept chanting inside my head with each surge breath, “open, open, open” – it seemed to make the difference between me losing control and staying down in my self-hypnosis. I was surrounded with support throughout my labor. Whenever a surge began and I begin to moan, I’d feel hands pressing against the pressure points on my hips, fingers stroking my arms and forehead, and hear other voices join me in a chorus.
