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Childbirth

Anyone tried Hypnobirthing?

15 replies

DessieLou · 16/10/2012 15:25

Have you tried hypnobirthing? What was the verdict? I so want to believe all the 'pain free birth' stories but can't help being a little sceptical!

OP posts:

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ICompletelyKnowAboutGuineaPigs · 16/10/2012 19:05

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wkmmum · 16/10/2012 19:09

I've done the classes! Am 34+4 so haven't tried it yet though. Although from talking to people who have and videos I've watched it sounds amazing. This is DC2 so will be interesting to see how it compares to my last labour xx

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Olympicrock · 16/10/2012 19:11

One of my friends found it so amazing with her 2nd 2 deliveries that she has now trained to deliver the courses! She has done it with another close friend who says she had a wonderful delivery because of it

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mom2rhysnruby · 16/10/2012 19:18

Im reading the marie mongan book & already feel calmer about inpending birth no.2 after a terrible 1st.
The breathing techniques have helped me to relax more & i find myself using the methods when i get my aches & pains now and find they do work to some degree.
Im due in 10 days so watch this space, & ill let you know how i get on lol eek! X

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elizaregina · 16/10/2012 19:20

I havant done it personally but I am told that its so amazing that ladies in labour sound too calm for the hospital MW to say come in....so MW now need educating about hynobirthing to say - get them in.....

ie someone who hasnt done it would be screaming in pain.

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amirah85 · 16/10/2012 19:21

Done with both of mine,want painless but contractions were only uncomfortable,only pain I had was with the pushing,and I don't really agree with the "u shouldn't feel the need to push".I reccomend it to everyone,really enjoyed my labours :-)

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OddFrog · 16/10/2012 20:06

Highly recommend it! We did the classes and listened to the CD, read the book, etc. I was very sceptical, but decided that if it couldn't do any harm I might as well enjoy the benefits of the relaxation at least and went for it.

I am terrified of hospitals - no rational explanation, just terrified. Despite planning a lovely home water birth (ha), I ended up with an 'elective' c-section.

The hypnobirthing techniques got me through it without a hitch. I zoned out before the spinal (which I'd been dreading) and my DH had to reassure the medical team that I was ok. I didn't even hear them talking to me until I wanted to. The anesthetist said we were the calmest family he'd seen. I felt in control. I didn't need pain relief on the ward after, just the music and using the coping techniques we'd learned. I'm not one to refuse a paracetamol usually, just managed fine without them at the time.

DC2 is due in Dec. I've got the relaxation and affirmations going a few times a week and planning to be at home this time (with any luck). Feeling confident and quite happy about it all.

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AdiVic · 16/10/2012 20:50

Hello - I did and it was FAB! It was my second, so had done it before, but had an epidural, G&A, Pethadine so had no idea what it actually felt like. The first time I was petrified, drugged up and had some painful damage, but really wanted to experience it with my 2nd properly and have a natural as possible time. I read the marie mongon book and listened to the CD etc. In labour I downloaded some relaxation music instead and did the breathing and visualisation.

I was induced, and it took 2 days to get me going which was invasive and uncomfortable - that was the worst bit, but still not too bad. I was on my ball, relaxing to my music and doing the 'breathing down' bit. I could feel my body and muscles doing their thing, and then said to the MW that he was coming and was moving down. She said she doubted it as I was very calm. Too much info here, but i felt like i really needed to go for a no 2 (which is the baby moving down), and the pressure was powerful, but not painful. She was quite dismissive in a polite way and said they would have a look at my cervix when my contractions started. I was having tightenings, but they felt powerful, not painful - I did manage to breath them away, I was also on the drip which apparently makes them harder and faster. Anyway, by the time they did look i was 7cm (gone from 1cm in less than 2hrs). Within an hour he was born. I did feel a bit panicky, but only because my body was working like a machine and i felt like my mind wasn't ready for it, I was a bit like "Hang on a minute, wait for me".

I can honestly say I did not push once, and although it was uncomfortable, I didn't have one graze/stitch and after he was born was up within minutes feeling like I could run a marathon! I felt amazing:) It was the most overwhelming, brilliant moment of my life and if I had to do it again tomorrow, I'd be trotting in:) There is alot to be said for not feeling that fear. I'm actually quite sad I wont' get to do it again (medical reasons say I shouldn't).

Good luck, go for it and enjoy:)

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Ouchdownthere · 16/10/2012 20:57

We did it and I totally believe it's possible. Was in tears during the course and felt completely different about the labour having done the course.

But, come the day it all fell apart. I do believe though that this is because we got scared and took focus off staying calm and using the techniques. I think your partner should really take the lead but my DH kinda just fell apart and kept phoning people and flapping rather than enabling the calm environment. A waste of weeks going to bed at night listening to hypno tracks rather than my usual desert island discs!

I would love to think that I would try again should I ever conceive but DH would need to climb on board or I would ask for a different hypno partner.

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Ouchdownthere · 16/10/2012 21:01

Oh and go for it, I think must be amazing to have a hypno birth.

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emsyj · 16/10/2012 21:01

I used it with DD and although I ended up with a crash section, I made it to full dilation pretty comfortably - I was 9cm on admission to hospital (yep, classic 'midwife didn't believe I was in labour' story - they threatened to send me home but then reluctantly examined me). The dilation stage was quick at 4.5 hours from first contraction to fully dilated, but DD's severe distress (possibly due to PRM, they're not sure) meant that she needed to come out so I didn't get to use any techniques for the actual delivery. Contractions were very manageable, I used the breathing techniques at home and then had a bit of gas and air at hospital (didn't really need it but was keen to try it out just for interest!!!!) I failed to recognise transition - I was sick (just once, no waves of nausea just a sudden, 'oh, I'm going to be sick now' then it was over) and then said to DH, 'I've had enough of this now'. That was as bad as it got. It was tiring and all-consuming (a bit like doing a really really hard and important exam that you need to devote all your energy to) but I can't honestly describe it as painful.

I plan to use it again this time (now 24+2) and hope to have a VBAC - my first course was taught by a very experienced midwife (and the refresher course I'm booked on is also midwife-taught) which I personally liked as it meant you could ask any questions at all in the knowledge that the teacher would be giving you an informed answer.

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HorridHeffalumpsWickedWoozles · 16/10/2012 21:19

We did it, it's fantastic! DD1's birth (not hypno) was very very painful, full induction with no time for pain relief. I was terrified of doing it again so we did a hypnobirthing course while pg with DD2 to try and learn how to relax and cope better. I used both the Marie mongan book & cd and the natal hypnotherapy cd, I think both have their merits as MM can come across as a bit "woo" and her voice is a bit extremely annoying, whereas the NH one is an English woman with a much less nasal tone.

I would say you need your birth partner to be fully on board as a lot depends on their support both before and during labour. My DH was sceptical at first but did give it his all for my sake and his support was the main thing that got me through.

DD2s birth was amazing. Totally calm, not pain free but much much more manageable, the idea of fear creates tension creates pain is so true. The 'pushing' stage was also very different, having learnt to listen to my body I really did almost 'breath' her out, and because it was so much more relaxed & in time with my body I didn't graze or tear at all. It was a fantastically positive experience and I would recommend it to anyone.

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AdiVic · 16/10/2012 21:21

Ouchdownthere - I knew my husband wouldn't be that good at supporting me as he thought it was all airy fairy, hippy drippy nonsense, so I told him to be there and keep quiet. He was not allowed to use his phone whilst in the room, and he didn't need to anyway. All others needed to know was I was going in, and then when DS had been born. I was quite happy to do it on my own, as I was not into the light touch part of hypnobirthing as I knew it would drive me mad. I was confident and happy to try it alone, must have been boring for him watching me breathing and eyes closed getting into it. He was very good the whole way through, and didn't speak much.

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Ouchdownthere · 16/10/2012 21:28

I wish I had had the foresight adivic

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DessieLou · 19/10/2012 13:55

Thanks so much for your replies! It makes so much sense to me when reading the book and in the class (2nd one next week) but I couldn't help thinking a)it sounds too good to be true and b) why has the rest of the word not clicked on to this yet?! So it's really great to hear your birth stories.
I'm 34 weeks with my first and planning a home water birth. Thankfully my OH is very supportive and is coming to classes with me. My mum and MIL are very sceptical though, my mum keeps taking the piss out of my 'whale music' as she calls the Marie Mongon CD! So I've not bothered to tell anyone else.
It'll be great to hear your verdict mom2rhysnruby especially as you have your first birth to compare it to.
Thanks again and keep your positive birth stories coming in...it's doing my confidence the world of good!