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Childbirth

Natal Hypnotherpy course

18 replies

janephilips · 16/09/2008 22:24

Having just done this course I wanted to let others know how fab it was. I was really worried about the birth before we did the course and was desperate to do anything to help. I did loads of research into the different courses available and felt that this one was the best for us. I loved the fact that my DH was really invovled, that it was very tailored to us and that people who did the course were far less likely to have a c-section. It was over 2 days and i loved every minute. It all made such sense and was not at all hippish or wierd.

We are now both so excited about the birth and I can not believe that I am not at all worried about the birth any more.

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hopefully · 17/09/2008 06:39

Glad the course was good. I would have loved to do it, but finances only stretched to buying the CD! Even that has made me far more positive and confident about the birth (not that I'm getting to put it into practice, 41+1 and no signs of baby putting in an appearance!)

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hopefully · 17/09/2008 06:39

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ajm200 · 17/09/2008 09:02

I really like the CD too. I've also bought the full hypnobabies course from America too and think both are well worth the money as they give you so many tools to help you relax.

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janephilips · 17/09/2008 11:19

Re the cost of the course - When you look at what most people spend on other "stuff" related to having a baby it is actually not that much - we spent more on the pram (my little indulgence)than the course.

As our trainer on the course said - the memory of a positive birth will stay with you forever (and with your baby) so £200 is not really that much. Also the course was about the same price as the NCT course but we got way more out of it than the NCT. I think the NCt is great for making firends but for actually learning what to do for the birth, the Natal course wins hands down. (I am a bit of a fan )!)

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hanaflower · 17/09/2008 11:22

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Aubergenie · 17/09/2008 12:02

I'm glad you found the course useful. I did the hypnobirthing course (the Mongan method) and also came away feeling really positive. Won't know for sure until the big day though!

Re the cost. £200 is a huge amount of money if you haven't got it. Actually we initially decided against the course because of the cost (and didn't do NCT classes because they were too expensive) but the trainer came back and offered us a half-price place, so it does seem that there is some room for manoeuvre if it is prohibitive.

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ajm200 · 17/09/2008 12:03

This is my second child and the relaxation tools I've learnt from both (homestudy) courses really do help.

Personnally, I wouldn't pay out 200 quid for the full course though. I found the homestudy courses/CDs provided enough and are a lot cheaper.

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hanaflower · 17/09/2008 14:44

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ajm200 · 17/09/2008 14:56

I got the natal hypnotherapy CDs from a friend but you can get them online on their website www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk

I bought the hypnobabies course was from America and with a favourable exchange rate it is a very comprehensive course. 5 CDs, manuals for mum and birth partner and the course takes about 6 weeks. If you go for the American course, don't be put off by the shipping on their site. Call them, they have a much cheaper way of shipping to the UK that is a fraction of the quoted cost.
See here for info www.hypnobabies.com/mylink.php?id=3812

The benefit of the CDs is you can use them again rather than having to pay out for another course. The american site also buys used courses that are in good condition to sell to those who can't afford the full price.

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hanaflower · 17/09/2008 15:02

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janephilips · 17/09/2008 21:51

The key difference between doing the course versus just the CDs is that my Dh was totally invovled and bought into the concept. I do not think I would have got that with the CDs alone. It also really bought us together as until the course he has not really been that focused on the birth and has avoided reading anything about it. The way the course is set up means that from the first bit, the partners are included and things are expalined in a way that it is so easy to understand. He also loved the hypnosis bit and is going to use it to help him with his fear of flying.

We did this fab excercise at the end where we went off on our own and did this big mind map of all the things we had learnt and how we were going to we use it for the birth - it made the whole course really personal and we could tailor everything to what we wanted. We now have that on the wall at home to remind us of the key things and what we need to focus on.

We also learnt some amazing massage techniques, breathing techniques, key questions to ask the medical team if things were not going to plan, different emotional stages to look out for and how to deal with them and so on.

So all in all the CDs which I am using at the moment are brill, but the course gave us so much more. Of course I have not yet given birth so will see how that goes, but the fact that I am feeling so good about it all now, I already feel it is worth it (especially if my Dh can get on a plane without being a nervous wreck!!!)

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ajm200 · 17/09/2008 22:20

The American homestudy course includes the hubby. My DH has his own book to study from, they do special CDs to calm the prospective dads nerves. He's listened to my cds and has ques to put me into hypnosis that really do work.

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Aubergenie · 18/09/2008 08:10

I totally agree about getting your partner on board. It's so important. I'd read the hypnobirthing book already but it wasn't until we did the course together that my DP actually started to get his head around the whole birth thing. He was initially a reluctant participant and only really came along to humour me, but by the end of the first day he was really enthusiastic. The nice thing is that we've got lots of exercises to do together, which has been lovely. So I suppose what I'm saying is, whichever course/book you follow, get your birth partner involved as well.

Ajm - Did you use the techniques for your first baby? If so, did you find them helpful?

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ajm200 · 18/09/2008 08:45

I did and they were useful but my first birth was a nightmare induction complete with epidural to bring down my very high BP.
The bit I really like is that my partner has key words and guestures to put me into hypnosis if I start to lose focus. I could have done with that last time but we didn't get that far into the course as baby came early.

I've used the techniques through this pregnancy to help with my SPD pain. The american course teaches an eyes open hypnosis technique that I use when the pain in my hips is bad. Last time the SPD put me onto crutches at 5 months.. (I started studying hypnosis at 6 months). This time I've managed with hypnosis and a total of about 4 paracetamol.

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Fragolina · 18/09/2008 15:02

I did the hypnobabies homestudy course from the US as well, and it was fantastic. I don't know how I would have coped without it, the tools for eyes open hypnosis really work. There is also a yahoo group that you get access to and you can post any questions or difficulties you are having, and they are very good and providing this support.

DP was quite sceptical at first, and I don't remember him reading up on his section, but when I went into labour he remembered all the cues and now tells anyone who asks how it was so amazing. The course was very comprehensive and worth every penny. In fact, I bought another of their CDs subsequently called 'peaceful sleep now' as I found it so hard to rest whan baby was sleeping, and that worked a treat too.

It was for our first baby, and I and the baby were both calm and relaxed through a very prolonged labour, which eventually ended with an epidural and forceps delivery because I was just physically exhausted , and the cord was tightly wrapped around the baby and kept pulling her back in.

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janephilips · 25/09/2008 17:15

A quick update - I gave birth to my little girl at the beginning of this week and it was amazing!!! I still can not get over how wondeful the whole thing was. Everything that I could have hoped for happened - I stayed so calm, used my Natal Hypnotherpy triggers, DH was brilliant, my midwife was amazed at how relaxed I was and really helped us to keep that chilled out zone.

The labour was quite long (about 13 hours) but as we learnt on the course that is Ok as it really gives your body time to build up all the hormones. The only time I felt a bit anxious was right at the end when the midwife could not easily find the heart beat and I had to move a around a bit (I had been in a heap on the floor for most of the time). But my DH reminded me of my triggers and i quickly got back into it and before I knew what was happening I could feel her moving down followed by the most amazing urge to do the biggest poo!! It felt so powerful to just go with my body and push her out. A few more contractoins and she was out - no tearing, very little blood and she hardly made a noise. She latched on pretty much straight away and has hardly been off since.

I am over the moon and want everyone to know how brilliant birth can be!!

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ajm200 · 25/09/2008 17:20

Jane Congratulations on your daughter's safe arrival. I'm glad you got the birth that you wanted too.