hypnobirthing - yay or nay?!

[user1460551377]

I'm 5 months pregnant with my first baby.
Considering hypnobirthing but just wanted to see how other mums found it, if they used it? Thanks X

[123rd]

I'm not trying to put you off but a couple, friends of ours , paid quite a bit to go on a course to learn the " techniques". She said after the birth that all practising went out of the window and she huffed and puffed, screamed and writhed around like a cave woman!!!
I think things I've that are good possibly to have in the back
Of your mind. But your labour is an unknown quantity.
Good luck tho.

[LakeFlyPie]

I used Natal hypnotherapy not hypnobirthing as I preferred the English accent to the American one.
I listened to the self hypnosis CDs and then had a couple of sessions with an NH recommended midwife a few weeks before the birth of DC1. Then did CDs and had a refresher session with midwife for DC2.
Would highly recommend it.

[99percentchocolate]

I've just finished my course but haven't had the baby yet. I've found it incredibly helpful with dealing with outside issues that were causing me anxiety. I was diagnosed with antenatal depression a few months ago but this improving using the course techniques. I'm also sleeping much better than I was (even before I was pregnant).
I may well turn into a screaming banshee during the birth but that's fine. I've got enough out of it in terms of relaxation techniques to take into my every day life that in my eyes, it's worth the money.
I've also met other locally pregnant women through it and stayed in touch so far, that's lovely.
One of the mothers from my course had a terrible birth first time round and really panicked. This time she had a lovely relaxing birth and only needed gas & air to help her along.

[underrugsswept]

I did a course with my DS and absolutely loved it. It made me feel confident and calm (I'm a natural worrier) during my pregnancy and I had a quick labour (less than 3 hours from being 2cm dilated to delivery) and a lovely water birth with just some gas and air while I was pushing. I also made some friends I'm still in touch with years later.

I'd say you need to go into it with an open mind - the videos they show you of women 'breathing the baby out' are a bit optimistic in my opinion. I was mooing like a cow at the end but still, I never felt panicked or like I couldn't handle things. I'd fully recommend it.

[Bluecarrot]

I did the cd course and found it useful for early stages when I was finding hospital surroundings intense. I did go on to have strong pain relief and promptly forgot the hypnobirthing UNTIL it came to pushing. Sadly baba got stuck and I needed a csection but I prior to that focusing on the contractions like waves, saying the affirmations etc were v calming ( as my DP silently freaked out and didn't say a word the entire time) it felt so natural, like a reflex, as I had practiced it so often.
And I went to my lovely happy place as I was being prepped for section.
Was also nice to use to when I found it hard to drop off to sleep both pre and post birth.
I'm pregnant with dc3 and will prob end up having another section but am listening to the cd anyway.

[Shirkingfromhome]

How are you at relaxation / meditation generally? You could try pregnancy yoga and if you find relaxation techniques work for you then give it a go?

I did pregnancy yoga for both pregnancies and downloaded a Kathryn Graves hypnobirthing cd from I-tunes. It worked for me in the early stages but only because I found a visualisation that I could work with. Anything that keeps you breathing and relaxed to begin with is great but don't rely on it to guarantee you a perfect labour.

[Shirkingfromhome]

I should add I had really easy labours with both mine (both under 5 hours and sub-15 minute pushing stages) but I wouldn't attribute this to hypnobirthing as such. Whatever keeps you relaxed will get you through wether its hypnobirthing or lots of drugs . Good luck!

[user1460551377]

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Good to know you're there! X

[DawnMumsnet]

Hi there OP - and a warm welcome to Mumsnet.

We can see you've had some helpful replies here, but we just wondered if you'd like us to move your thread over to either our Pregnancy topic or our Childbirth topic? We're sure you'll get plenty more advice in either of those topics, so just hit the report button if that would help.

We can also help if you'd like to change your username over.

And congratulations, by the way.

[VeryPunny]

I did two expensive courses (different ones for DD and DS - I am a slow learner, me) and it was a total and utter waste of time. It did contribute hugely to my sense of utter failure when I wound up with an EMCS with DD who was breech, so there's that.

What did help was an epidural and incredibly supportive hospital staff - both the doctors and midwives at my hospital were very anti-intervention.

I know lots of people rave about it but I suspect those that do would have had reasonably straightforward births anyway. Neither of the courses I did (Mongan method and Wise Hippo) provided me with tools for what to do when it all went tits up and you're begging for a general because it all hurts so much.

[CutYourHairAndGetAJob]

I just listened to the cds (natal hypnotherapy), I found it really helpful to cope with two very different labours (one long with lots of intervention and one short natural labour at home).

It's definitely worth a go.