Angelique
My name is Angelique. I have been with my husband
since 2001 and we got married in 2004. We have one son (Marley) together whom we
birthed naturally with a midwife at South Coast Medical Center in Laguna Beach
in January 2006. We are expecting our second son in March of 2008. Having my son was the best experience I have ever
had and my life’s purpose changed that very day. From that moment on,my passion
was solidified and my career had forever changed. I quit teaching high school
and several months later decided with my sister to become a Holistic Health
Practitioner, Massage Therapist, as well a Hypnobabies instructor and Doula/Hypno
Doula.
I want to help with the birthing process, from the time a couple decides to start a family. It is truly the most exciting, empowering, and special time in life. My husband and I didn’t have childbirth education and luckily our birth was quick ( if you click on Marley’s name you can read our birth story), but then I was able to be in Michelle’s room when Sunny was born…(they were born in the same room by the same midwife only 12 weeks apart from each other) Michelle was so calm and in control and everything seemed so beautiful and natural. Even though I didn’t have an epidural, I still wish I would have been as peaceful as she was during her birthing time. She was/is a true inspiration and it was then that I realized that THIS was the childbirth education I was looking for and never found, and therefore chose not to have any.
After the birth of both our children we sought out Hypnobabies so that I could have this birth for my children to come and to share with women who are seeking the same experience for their births. It was then that I realized that although teaching is my passion, it is the subject content that was wrong. My passion isn’t in the high school History class after all, but rather teaching Hypnobabies to parents to be where my heart beats true. Hopefully we will be able to spread the word one woman at a time at how beautiful, peaceful, pain free and fear free birthing can be.
Education Information:
Master’s Degree in Education
Bachelor of Science Degree in Child Development
Hypnobabies Certified Hypnosis Instructor
DONA trained Doula
Massage Therapist
Holistic Health Practitioner (in progress)
My pregnancy with Marley wasn’t the easiest. I was put on partial bedrest from week 16 until week 35. That was a long time to stay put. I had a shortening cervix. Luckily I made it to full term. I went to my midwife when I was 38 weeks pregnant for a normal check up. I was feeling a little discomfort and asked her if she would check me. She was very surprised and told me that my bag of waters was bulging and I was 3 cm dilated and to go to the nearest restaurant and have dinner and walk around for a bit and see what happens. I was so nervous. My husband and I went to BJ’s pizza…ironic because our angel of a midwife is also named BJ. I was in awe and couldn’t stop crying. And to boot - we weren’t expecting this so we had no bags in the car and weren’t prepared at all.
After dinner we walked around for an hour in shock that tonight could be the night, it was a Wednesday. We called BJ and she suggested we go to the hospital. WHAT???? So we did. I got checked again, still a 3. Then I went to the bathroom and noticed what I now know was my mucus plug. The nurse suggested that we walk around the hospital for an hour.
Nothing happened and we were sent home.
For the next two days I had mild birthing waves. No big deal but they did keep me on the couch. Unfortunately, Matt and I decided not to do childbirth classes because we couldn’t find any that we liked, I was also unaware of Hypnobabies at the time.
I saw on the computer that the full moon was on Saturday at 5:45 am and told my husband, “that is when I will start my true birthing time”. I even called Michelle, who was my Doula, and my parents.
Sure enough, 5:30am on Saturday morning I woke up to my water breaking. It was a surreal experience. My husband jumped out of bed and grabbed a towel and told me to go to the bathroom. We sat in the bathroom together and the look on my face must have freaked him out because he just sat so quietly. He called BJ who informed him to relax and call her when my birthing waves were 5 minutes apart for an hour. I got off the toilet and made my way to our bed and had a very strong birthing wave. I told Matt, “we gotta go NOW!!!” I KNEW it was time. AND to boot, we live 35 minutes, with no traffic, from the hospital. So Matt called BJ back and told her we were on our way.
OH my dear husband….this is the funny part of the story. He decides to feed the dog, clean the dishes and wash the windshield of the car at this moment as I am standing there saying “WHAT ARE YOU DOING????” But they get nervous and this is what they do.
On the way to the hospital he was calling everyone and stopping at every red light. I was telling him to just keep going. We got along PCH and the sunrise was so pretty. He put on a Tim McGraw cd and I remember us singing lyrics here and there between birthing waves as we were approaching the hospital.
We parked the car and walked, YES, walked through the entrance of the hospital and a sweet nurse happened to be right there to help us to the LDR (Labor Delivery Room)
I immediately went into the bathroom again and minutes later my midwife was there. She asked me to get into bed so that she could check me and I was already at 9cm and fully effaced.
By 9:14am my beautiful Marley was born.
Thanks for visiting the Natural Way
