Hypnobirthing

[BabyBeanBelly]

Hi,

I just wanted to get an overview of hypnobirthing experiences; good or bad. I'm in my 2nd trimester and keen to give it a try. I'm under no false illusions with respect to the pain of labour (although this is my first) and I expect I might still need the pain relief, but hopefully the hypo will get me from home to labour ward without breaking down/ stressing out too much.

Those of you that have tried this, did it work? Are the classes better than self-teaching via CD/book? Do you have any hints/ tips?

I'd love to be able to feel calm in labour as for me focussing/ stressing about pain just makes it worse. But as I've said above my current thoughts are that I'd use hypno but have a plan B for pain relief, probably the epidural...

Hope you can help...

I had a v positive experience of HypnoBirthing with my second birth - about a 70% reduction in discomfort. Highly recommend going to a class and then practicing at home with cds etc after the class.

The classes we took definitely helped in the early stages... Although after they broke my membranes and I went from 3 to 10cm in 45 minutes, all thoughts of 'surges' and 'intense sensation' went out the window - it really was pain!

Overall it was helpful, and particularly it was great to do it with DH, as it helped him to be ready and have him a role on the day. The deep breathing exercises are also useful when you are dealing with a screaming newborn at 3am

I had one-to-one hypnbirthing, 4 sessions initially (from 34w on) and then another when I went overdue. I found the CD I was given really relaxing, and helpful for getting to sleep at night; I also found the initial discussion about relaxing and letting your body do what it needs to, rather than trying to either stop it or do things "out of step" REALLY helpful.

I had quite bad Birth Fear and hypnobirthing got rid of that at least. It was quite amazing to watch the videos of women giving birth without any screaming too - very different from tv shows! - and reassuring, which all helped.

I think I would have got more out of it if I hadn't been sick with the contractions - I just turn to mush when I feel sick, so couldn't even think about the hypnobirthing stuff - but I still think it definitely helped me, especially when stage 2 kicked in - I did try to stop the first major contraction because I thought I was going to poo on the bed (I didn't, I'd cleared everything out in the previous hours) but then I realised what was going on and just let it happen - stage 2 was only half an hour. :)

Two very positive experiences, first birth was textbook, no intervention, used pool, no pain relief, incredibly overwhelmingly intense when DS was coming out but not exactly painful. It was a wonderful experience.

With DD i was induced due to BP. Went fairly quickly from just the pessary, established labour about 4pm, gas and air about 10pm, DD born at 2am. Continous monitoring with DD so on the bed, l was
much less in control of the situation and that definitely contributed to the overall experience. However, was still largely positive just not as serene as my first birth.

I have been lucky to have had two relatively straightforward births that have progressed well.

Hypnobirthing is also wonderful during pregnancy to help to prepare for the birth. Would highly recommend. I

Stray I on the end. Meant to add, we payed for private classes worked out not much more than a group class. The key is to listen to the cd as much as possible. Good luck

I was pregnant with my son and felt scared about birth and I realised that I didn't really understand what happens during birth, so, I wanted to learn more. I bought a book called 'HypnoBirthing' by Marie Mongan - after reading the first two chapters I was convinced that I could birth my baby comfortably with calm and confidence. I protected myself from negative opinions and influences about birth, booked our Hypnobirthing course and we practiced the relaxation techniques so that when the time came we were ready and waiting. I was so positive and I felt empowered.
When our son started to come, I was so excited that I was finally going to meet him, I cried tears of joy. I was fearless and absolutely ready to trust in my body to birth my baby. I breathed my son out, I didn't push and when he was born he didn't cry; after all why should he cry? He had just had a lovely, calm birth and was like a little buddah and we faced each other and took in the amazing feeling of him being out in the light. It was intense and inspring and I wanted to do it again.
I was so impressed i trained in the technique and have been teaching it for ages