Hypnobirthing

[mammacaz]

I've just paid out quite a chunk of my savings to try hypnobirthing for my first child. I'm currently 31 wks and start the course soon but just wanted to hear other people's experiences of hypnobirthing and what they thought good or bad!

[Kione]

I can't comment on an actual course but I bought a book on it that came with a CD. The book and CD are american and quite cringeworthy, they expect DP to do the visualizations with you but I found them useful.
The breathing through the contractions came naturally and I spent many hours at home dilating as hospital said I wasn't far enough to be admitted.
I think it really helped, DP said he was surprised as everyone on TV seems to despair and scream and I was calm and quiet. I still was in a lot of pain tho!
Anyway, I am pregnant again and I will use it again.

[Heirhelp]

I had a difficult birth (over two days and emergency c section) and I just used the CD every day before birth. It kept me calm and relaxed in pregnancy and the 15 min relax session was perfect for dealing with pregnancy insomnia. I did not find it useful in labour, I was calm for the first day so maybe it was helpful and I used the techniques to calm myself down in theatre.

[malvinandhobbes]

I read the book and listened to the CD. I found the bearing down breath helpful.

[ReallyExhaustedLlama]

I did a course when I had my first and listened to a CD recorded with a British voice by our trainer. I also did pregnancy yoga. I had a really calm first birth, arrived at hospital at 9cm dilated and just had gas and air when pushing. Midwives just sat to one side quietly until the delivery and was all quite calm and controlled.

I did try to listen to the cd and do some yoga the second time round but was much busier/tireder with a toddler around
So I found it harder to make the time to do it 'properly'. I think it still helped to keep me calm and cope with the birth although the second time pushing took a lot longer with a bigger baby. Also I had been induced and the midwife on duty didn't believe I was ready to push - probably not helped that I'd coped with the contractions calmly/quietly (ironically) which meant it was a bit fraught as I was still in ward and they were panicking they had no delivery rooms.

Overall I think hypnobirthing was useful to me to learn more about what is happening/why during birth and teach you skills to breathe/keep calm that help alleviate/cope with the pain and everything else happening around.it was also useful for my partner.

The only think I'd say is I think it's always worth keeping an open mind about medical intervention/pain relief as every birth is different so you can't plan every detail ahead just go into it as well prepared/informed as you can I guess. (The hypnobirthing people can be quite anti interventions/anaesthesia but in reality sometimes they are necessary).

[Kione]

I agree with open minded to pain relief if needed.
I combined the two as at home I tried to keep calm but when I got to hospital all pain relief possible as I was composed but in agony.
I wouldn't want to spend so much time by myself at home this time round, I hope its quicker!

[ReallyExhaustedLlama]

Oh I did also use a TENS machine too for both of mine which is a weird sensation but I think helped!

[HobnailsandTaffeta]

I did it after a bad first birth.

Totally worked very calm 2nd and 3rd birth even when one got stuck.

[ThinkPinkStink]

I can't say for certain as my due date is still five weeks away...but we had two full day hypnobirthing sessions two weeks ago, we found it really reassuring and relaxing - and we feel much more equipped to have a calm and straight forward birth.

NB: our session leader was pro anaesthetic, intervention and surgery as needed, it was more about being ready, irrespective of what happens.

[Dixiechick17]

I used a CD and book, techniques kept me calm during labour, helped me focus on my breathing and my labour progressed quite quickly. Managed without pain relief, it didn't take away the pain, it just helped me focus.

[Bananasinpyjamas12]

Watching as interested in hypnobirthing too. Are the CDs just as good as a course or do people fine the courses tend to have a better success rate?

[soundsystem]

I didn't do a course, just used the book and CD and it worked for me. Labour was quite calm and contractions were intense at times but not painful. The CD is a bit cringe but I usually fell asleep within the first 5 minutes, even if I started of wide awake!

Good luck

[Mrsmummyof1]

I don't want to sound negative, but the Katherine Graves book and CDs didn't work for me. I was still incredibly anxious and scared. My friend paid to attend a class and it didn't help her either....
BUT all births are different and it may well help you. I'd heard lots of good things about hypnobirthing, that's why I tried it, and I truly approached it with an open mind, but it didn't help. You've paid now so go along and see how it goes.

[Portobelly]

It was brilliant for my husband and I, it put us both on the same page, my husband was a great gatekeeper. I found the suggested dark and calm atmosphere helpful, and the confidence that it instilled too.
Our birth didn't go to plan, but despite the difficulties we both were calm throughout (or at least I was and my husband knew to keep himself calm for me even if he was freaking out)

Do the visualisations every night, prepare signs for the door, and a briefing for midwife etc.

[GoldFishFingerz]

I tried to do it but was too busy chatting to my midwife and then simply bouncing through any contractions! I took some strength from the concept though

[scrumptiouscrumpets]

I think Hypnobirthing is useful if you're very scared of giving birth. The view it takes on birth is positive and completely different to what one hears about it usually. I enjoyed choosing and reading the birth affirmations which are so optimistic and positive - one of them said "I know I will be a wonderful mother", something you normally don't come across. However, I didn't find it effective for pain relief - no matter how relaxed and positive I am, I just can't imagine quietly breathing through a contraction in the transition phase, or not actively pushing, which the teacher of my Hypnobirthing course seemed to suggest. I generally found her approach slightly out of touch with reality, but I suppose it depends on the instructor. I would recommend looking into other kinds of approaches to giving birth, not just Hypnobirthing. I liked Juju Sundin's book a lot, for example.

[Ripley79]

I found the course quite nice, like a relaxed (if pricey) therapy session . I was to be induced at 38w so it was always going to be a bit more medical birth - the slightly hippy hypnobirthing was one of the natural techniques my husband & I wanted to try to help things along.
During labour the midwives mostly laughed (in a kind manner) when we mentioned the breathing rather than pushing - and yeah, it certainly didn't happen like that for us, but it was mostly because of the induction I think. Still worth giving it a shot, and will try it again with my next.
Good luck!

[NisekoWhistler]

I'm 38w and been reading Marie Mongan and have also got the rainbow relaxation cd (you can find it for free to download) I'm really enjoying it and hoping it works for my first birth. I'm a total control freak and a lot say it's useful for this type of person. I'm also the least spiritual person but actually enjoying the affirmations, techniques and visualisations. First time I listened I was like what the....but I think they really help.

Will be back to update in 2 weeks or so

[Kione]

I am watching this and don't think Niselo has had time to update us
I am also reading Marie Mongan but I have lost the CD :(

[Kione]

*Niseko

[BusyCee]

3x home hypnobirth a here. One long, one startling short and (the last) so blissed and zen. I have lovely memories of all them all; anxiety, trepidation, intensity, joy, indignity, power, raw nature, the whole shebang

Complete agree that the objective is not for 'pain free' but for 'fear free'. I desperately didn't want to suffer, and I didn't during any of the three, really quite different, births. Read widely and use the techniques to understand what's really important to you.

Good luck! My last baby is nearly 1, and only today I was saying how sad I am that I won't ever do it again. That's a good sign, right!

[Kione]

My first labour was very traumatic. They sent me home as I hadn't dilated enough and hypnobirthing really helped to keep calm-ish, but the hours in pain at home were horrible and I hated my bedroom so much that DP redecorated it so I could sleep on it again.
Gave birth in hospital with forceps 3 days after I started the contractions.
It took us 6.5 years to TTC again I think out of sheer terror.
But I do think hypnobirthing helped to keep calm, deffinitelly.
This is why I am reading it again.

[NisekoWhistler]

Niseko is currently sat in hospital after being induced not the start to birth I wanted but let's see how we go. Will be sure to come back with an update

[Kione]

Oh no... Good luck and let us know!

[NisekoWhistler]

I'm sorry to report that I ended up with a c section. We tried four attempts at induction but was just never going to happen.
The breathing exercises really did help me through contractions but I will never know if they'd have seen me through full labour I'm afraid.
Best of luck