From London to Barcelona, Embracing the Power Within (Pain-Free Birth with doula)
The power of the birth took over my body. I felt incredibly sensual and full of love
Giving birth to my second child, Xavier, in London was a profoundly transformative experience. After a less positive first birth, I was determined to approach this pregnancy and labor with intention, preparation, and a deep connection to my body's innate wisdom.
This is the story of how I achieved a natural, pain-free, and even pleasurable birth, and how that experience now informs my work as a doula in Barcelona. If you're pregnant in Barcelona and considering doula support, I hope my story inspires you.
My journey began with mindfulness practices like meditation and yoga, which I continued throughout my pregnancy with Xavier. My first birth with Pep had highlighted the importance of preparation. While my experience with the London healthcare system shaped my approach, I now live and practice as a doula in my home city Barcelona, and I'm passionate about empowering women here.
I decided to hire a doula for Xavier's birth. Our connection was instant, and her experience was exactly what I was looking for. Over 4 pre-birth sessions, we explored my emotional landscape around birth, including my own mother's birthing experience and any subconscious beliefs or fears I held. As a doula myself now in Barcelona, I understand the importance of addressing these topics. We also worked on visualisation techniques to cultivate a positive mindset around birth.
My mother arrived to care for Pep as my due date approached. We discussed how my birth companions' support would be crucial. My doula guided my husband Jim and my mother on how to best support me, emphasising minimising questions and maximising comfort (e.g., offering water rather than asking if I wanted it). This would allow me to stay connected to my instinctive self during labor.
Jim learned massage techniques to encourage oxytocin release, the "love hormone" crucial for contractions, labor progression, and relaxation. These gentle strokes on my back, arms, and chest were deeply soothing and sensual.
Breathing exersecis became a cornerstone of my preparation. I practiced activating my diaphragm and relaxing my belly, using a 4-count inhale, hold, and extended exhale. This controlled breathing helped me manage contractions by allowing my internal muscles to work without resistance.
I believe this was the most important factor in my pain-free birth.
I learned that tension during contractions creates pain. By staying present and breathing deeply, I allowed my body to follow its natural rhythm. The only painful contractions I experienced were during external interruptions like dilation checks and room changes, moments of disconnection from my inner world.
During contractions, it was essential to stop whatever I was doing and focus solely on breathing. This way, the internal muscles could work without resistance. The uterus is designed to contract naturally, just like other muscles in the body. To give an example—if you stretch your arm and then bend it, you feel no pain. But if you add tension while bending it, the muscles begin to strain and ache. If we move too much during contractions, our muscles tense up, leading to exhaustion and discomfort. That’s why it was crucial for me to pause and breathe deeply through every contraction, no matter how mild.
Everything began when I reached 40 weeks. I had been diagnosed with mild gestational diabetes early in my pregnancy, but I managed it well with diet alone. However, because of this, the doctors insisted on inducing labour once I reached full term. I wanted Xavier to come when he was ready, but I also trusted the doctors, and their concerns made me doubt myself.
So, I tried acupuncture to see if it would start labour naturally. It gave me some contractions, but it didn’t fully kick-start the process. Three days later, I woke up with mild contractions and went to St. Thomas’ Hospital, as that was the day they had scheduled my induction. While in the induction ward, they performed a membrane sweep, but it didn’t speed things up.
Later that evening, the midwife gave me two options: wait until morning to see if labour started on its own or have prostaglandins administered that night to induce it. Since I was tired but still had a lot of energy, I chose the prostaglandins, knowing that I wouldn’t sleep much that night anyway. Perhaps it wasn’t the ideal choice for a fully natural birth, but my impatience got the better of me.
After they administered the prostaglandins, they told me that if they worked, I would start feeling stronger contractions within two hours.
Jim and I decided to go for dinner at a pizzeria across from the hospital in Westminster. We were in high spirits. But as soon as we stepped outside, my contractions intensified, and I told Jim that I wouldn’t be able to sit in a restaurant. Instead, we bought a sandwich and went to a small lounge area in the hospital’s induction ward.
As soon as we arrived, I felt a powerful force pulling me inwards. I began to distance myself from everything around me. Labour was taking over my body.
Despite the midwifes initially dismissing my early labor signs, my doula arrived and created a calming environment with music and dimmed lights. I sat down in a chair in the lounge. She turned off the television, dimmed the lights, and played some very relaxing music from her phone. Meanwhile, I was seating in a chair backwards, with my belly resting against the backrest, and my husband started giving me a sensory massage on my back to stimulate oxytocin.
Suddenly, I felt a pop inside me—my waters had broken.
I was quickly transferred to the natural birthing unit. Once there, my doula helped me turn inward again, using soft words and gentle music. She had already spoken with the previous midwife and ensured that, despite my gestational diabetes diagnosis, I would be taken to the natural birthing unit with no interventions. Her voice was heard, and they brought me to the natural birth room.
Once there, I felt deeply relaxed, and my contractions took on a new intensity—I was in the transition phase. They were much stronger but carried a sense of pleasure. I felt the need to push and let the energy flow freely.
I felt incredibly empowered, completely in control of the situation. Without any hesitation, I took off my clothes and got down on all fours, moving freely as my body guided me. I felt deeply sensual and full of love. My movements became fluid and wave-like, happening instinctively. Each contraction brought pleasure, and I moaned without being able to control what was happening. With every surge, I felt both more relaxed and more exhilarated at the same time.
One contraction followed another, leaving little time to fully absorb the deep sense of well-being they brought. On one hand, I felt my body contracting intensely, but on the other, I felt almost desensitised. The pain that would normally come with the opening of the bones was counterbalanced by the endorphins my body was producing.
At that moment, I was completely unaware of my surroundings—I didn’t know how many midwives were in the room, nor had I even taken in what the space looked like. All I could see was the top of the birthing bed and the faces of my husband and my doula.
And just like that, after a few hours of powerful contractions and pushes, Xavier was born. I felt intense heat and pressure, but no pain.
When I heard the midwives say, "What a beautiful baby," I couldn’t believe it. I turned my head, and time seemed to stop. There he was, curled up in a tiny ball on the bed, not crying, not moving.
With the midwife’s help, I gathered him into my arms while his cord continued to pulse. He was peaceful and relaxed—absolutely perfect.
It was such a calm and respected arrival into the world, a moment of deep and special mother-child connection.
This birth experience taught me the incredible power of the female body. With preparation, support, and trust in our innate abilities, we can embrace the birthing process and experience it as a powerful and even pleasurable journey.
If you're pregnant in Barcelona and seeking a doula to support you on your own unique journey, please feel free to reach out. I'd love to connect!
PS - My birth story has been published in the book Partos Felices by Pol.len Edicions. You can see it here.