Hypnobirthing VS Natal Hypnotherapy

[LightUpLightUp]

This topic is really interesting me at the moment. I am currently 25 weeks pregnant expecting my second. I had a straight forward birth with my first and although I'm not scared, the talk of hypnotherapy intrigued me and I bought a book which has been extremely interesting and I'd like to go to some classes.

Looking into pricing though - I'm not sure we could afford a hypnobirthing class but would try to if people really do recommend it, however I could only afford to go alone and not bring my partner the prices are £300 for a couple £175 for an individual - has anyone any experience/success stories/are they worth it?

Today I have stumbled across Natal Hypnotherapy and have noticed they very reasonable at £75 per couple including lunch! However I have never heard of Natal Hypnotherapy before and I am not sure what the differences really are. Can anyone help?

TIA

[KateTheHuman]

I'm just going to buy a cd and book from amazon. No way i can afford classes but definitely want to try something like that!

[MsBug]

I did natal hypnotherapy and only had the CDs and still found it helpful. Not sure what the difference between the two is.

[squizita]

Through the grapevine I have heard that Natal Hypnotherapy (I have the CD) is better adapted to a wide range of birth scenarios and more compatible with the kind of mindful practice you find in the "birth skills" books, whereas Hypnobirthing (with some of its practitioners) can give the impression it can eradicate pain leading to stress if that doesn't happen and the idea you "didn't do it right".
Having said that, this was advice from a mum who was very disappointed with hypnobirthing shortly after birth (she wrote and complained) because she felt it did not prepare her for (genuine, not 'spiral of intervention') medical stuff that arose and left her feeling she'd failed for getting pain relief. It might well be the one instructor she had though.

[Plateofcrumbs]

I did a bit of research on this a while back and decided I preferred the sound of natal hypnotherapy. They're basically similar techniques, one (hypnobirthing) pioneered by an American called Mary Mongan (I think ?) and the other by Brit, Maggie Howell. Some people prefer natal hypnotherapy just because the CDs have a British accent.

From what I read about the two I felt natal hypnotherapy was a bit more pragmatic and geared towards supporting you to have the 'best birth for you' rather than being too evangelical about 'natural birth or bust'. Also found the hypnobirthing insistence on calling contractions 'surges' etc a bit grating. Probably doesn't help that I went to a seminar by a hypnobirthing practitioner who I really didn't like. I want to give hypnotherapy a shot on the basis that if nothing else being calmer and more relaxed going into the unknown of birth can't hurt, but don't want to be left feeling like a failure if I end up screaming for an epidural. It's a tricky one because at some level you have to 'believe' in the power of the hypnotherapy for it to work but at the same time I didn't want to feel 'duped' into thinking I was guaranteed a fantastic birth.

I've only been listening to the CDs, and as I fall asleep 9 times out of 10 when I try listening to them I don't know if it has done me any good aside from helping me get some shut-eye (which isn't to be sniffed at I guess!)

I've been reading this book as well which whilst not hypno- specific has some good advice on natural birth prep whilst being being pleasantly pragmatic.

[Plateofcrumbs]

squiz we x-posted but that's basically the kind of feedback I'd heard (and v much the style of the hypnobirthing teacher I met) which put me off it.

[LightUpLightUp]

Thank you - I think you're right, I may feel like I have failed and also a big waste of money if I'm led to believe all will be perfect - I would also feel uncomfortable going on my own when everyone has their partners!
I'm doing yoga and I may go along to a Natal Hypnotherapy session. I would just read the book but I feel I need someone to teach me how to breathe properly and relax.

I'll look into some CD's also!

[Pinkie2103]

I bought the natal hypnotherapy CD (for VBAC) and like it so far. Had some great reviews and wasn't too expensive either

I am hoping to utilise some of the ideas from 'Birth Skills' by Juju Sundin too (www.amazon.co.uk/Birth-Skills-Proven-pain-management-techniques/dp/0091922143)?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21 which I read the first time and really recommend

[MsBug]

Well i had a birth with lots of intervention and found that the natal hypnotherapy helped me cope with that situation. Obviously it wasn't the kind of birth i would have chosen but i don't think hypnotherapy could have done anything to get dd unstuck

[MsBug]

Oh and i didn't have much faith in it beforehand, i only listened to the cds because they helped me to sleep. I had the ones with the English lady and there is something very soothing and sleep inducing about her voice.

[KatharineClover]

We were discussing this at antenatal class (I'm currently using natal hypnotherapy CDs) - apparently the differences are:
With hypnobirthing you attend class, your birth partner then has a script to read out at certain points during your labour, and exercises/massage to do to you. American and use different terms e.g. Contractions are called surges I believe.
Natal hypnotherapy is designed to work from CDs alone, although you can attend a class if you want to. Your partner doesn't have to do anything (other than be aware of certain trigger phrases e.g. 3,2,1 relax). English voice and terminology. There is a cd of just music for the birth, that plays the same background music as the birth preparation cd.

Personally (30 weeks preg), natal hypnotherapy CDs have helped me hugely with my trauma from my previous birth - where I was scared and fearful I am now excited about giving birth (a position I never thought I would be in!). Listening to the cd also always sends me to sleep, and relaxes me :)

[PenguinsHatchedAnEgg]

I agree with what others have said. Natal hypnotherapy is far more pragmatic and focuses on tools for dealing with pain, not claiming that it won't hurt.

Personally I found hypnotherapy useless in actual labour, but it teaches transferable skills which I have found very helpful in a smear, when examined for stitches, etc. Also quite good for generally stressful situations!

[lighteningmcmama]

I did hypnobirthing and found it amazing with dc2. Doing it again this time around. Having said that, I did a lot of research when I looked into teachers and met my teacher beforehand to see if we got on, and also to find out about her approach i.e. would I end up guilt ridden if it didn't go to plan. I had a wonderful teacher and a good birth, and things went haywire postnatal for me with my tear not healing, and hypnobirth have me a v calm perspective to deal with what was actually a horrible time