To think we're too skint to pay hundreds on a hypnobirthing course?

[Lemonsqueasy]

Had booked on a course through One to One Midwives, turned up to it this morning and they'd been closed down. As I don't know if we'll get that money back I don't want to pay another £100+ for a private course (only option available as we're now extremely limited on time). Anyone used Hypnobirthing on a budget and can recommend a website or something? Thank you!

When I say only option available I mean private rather than NCT or NHS - none of these courses happening before my due date

The Positive Birth Company have an online course which is great. I bought it on offer but it’s definitely less than £50. Well worth it

I uses the maggie howell cds. Found them great. No need for anything else if you can visualise well imo.

Ah thats great, thanks so much for the info!

You don't need a course. My trick was a birthing ball and distraction but the key is to keep positive thinking and rock through contractions. Hypnobirthing courses work because you have already made the decision to use these techniques to get through the pain and lots of people say it didn't work at all - I deduce it wasn't the course but some births hurt more than others!

Get the boom and practice the breathing.

A comprehensive book is just as useful! Your baby Your birth is particularly good

There’s some free hypnobirthing audios on the other babycentre website.

So good to hear, thanks everyone

Just bought a book and watched videos online. Ended up being induced and delivering in an operating theatre for reasons beyond my control anyway, so glad I didn't spend loads on the course. Was nice to have some calm visualisations during it all though.

London Hynobirthing were very recently offering free/reduced fees or it may have been offered on the founder's instagram account (@theyesmummum) - I can't quite remember. I read her hynobirthing book, I really liked it.

I just used the book with DS2, there weren't any courses available near me.

Try the HypnoBirthing book by Marie Mongan.

Get the US version as the CD has an American voice and a British accent one does sound a bit odd (just the wording and the accent - my opinion!). You can do well with the book.

We did hypo-birthing you tube videos. Was great.

However if it this is your first baby the birth will look nothing what you think it will. I wouldn’t spend £100 on something which you are highly unlikely to actually use to the full.

@Lemonsqueasy - Try the GentleBirth App is free for 7 days and there's a 300 page guidebook in it too. See if you like it.

Each day it recommends daily practice depending on your circumstances and guess date. The app includes hypnobirthing but also short meditation training and breathing techniques too which really adds to your mental prep for a positive birth. If you want to take it one step further you can do the online class which also includes the app. www.gentlebirth.com

Here's some more information on the App.

I used a cds from these people www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk
Got them on ebay cheap. Recorded them onto ipod

I didn't have any classes at all (all kinds of reasons) when in labour the midwives said 'just do what you've been told in anti natal classes'; when I told them I hadn't actually had any, they deduced that my body actually knew what to do, and it was nature taking over.

I had a good book by someone called Judith flood. It came with a CD.

Go on YouTube and download the stuff from there. It's fine in that it's distraction techniques and you're into the mind over matter stuff.

But agree with pp just get a birthing ball and the book/CD. I ended up with a long back to back labour, transfer and a semi-ELCS, I'd have been well annoyed if I'd spent hundreds on a birth course.

I'm reading Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better by Siobhan Miller . Time will tell how effective the techniques are in labour (not due until next month) but I like it very much and have found it really helpful in changing my mindset from 'this is a terrifying thing that only drugs can help me cope with' to a positive midnset in which I feel ready to at least try it without.

She also has an online course, which I haven't done.

I second the positive birth company. Also recommend the hypnobirthing book by Katharine graves and her colour and calmness cds

I bought a really good hypnobirthing book and read it religiously. I practiced and visualised and SWORE I was going to breathe my baby out. After day 1 of a 5 day back to back labour I was no longer convinced. I wouldn't waste your money!

What flamingNora said.

Hypnobirthing is a game of chance. Don't chuck your money at a course when a CD will do just as well - if the baby is willing to play ball, that is.

With DC1, I visualized and visualized and practiced breathing for weeks on end but, quelle surprise, first labours rarely work out that way. Ended up with all the drugs and interventions going after 2 days of back to back labour.

Three years later, fully prepared for another birth as hideous at the first, I gave birth to DD in the pool, with no pain relief. Easy peasy. Hypnobirthing had nowt to do with it..!

I agree to not wasting money on classes. My cousin's wife spent money on hypnobirthing sessions, lots of alternative therapy, insisted on a home birth for her first despite midwives being against it (due to her age of 37), bought the pool and everything. It was all planned out. Was going to be 'perfect'.... nope....rushed in for emergency c-section a few hours into her labour. Completely the opposite of what she wanted.
Baby number 2 didn't quite end up coming out to her perfect standards either.
Try the free options first, and remember the baby will arrive how it wants to, it's easier to go with the flow. But breathing/ meditation techniques do help.

Of age assumed she would have a ‘perfect’ birth she want listening in class. There’s no such thing - the classes set you up to hope for the best but be prepared for the worst.