Hypnobirthing

[firsttimemumm]

Anyone ever tried hypnobirthing and whats your opinions or experiences on it?
Im considering it but never tried before as this is my first baby

Hi, I've no hypnobirth experience yet as I've just started 1to1 classes for my 2nd pregnancy but I'm enjoying it already! Already hopeful of having a fantastic birth this time and I've learned a lot already that I didn't know with my previous birth, so I feel more prepared, in control and positive.

I used it for my first (didn't do a course, just a book and CDs). Can't recommend it highly enough, the breathing exercises really helped, and my birth partner helped with some visualisations. It got me through a very long back-to-back labour without any drugs at all (until I had to be rushed to theatre last minute when DS went into distress).

it's very relaxing and even if you don't end up using it during birth it was still good techniques to learn and nice to take time out to relax and prepare for birth mentally (a lot of visualising a positive experience etc).

the course i went to was a group course run by midwives so also nice to meet other mums and get to ask the midwives questions etc

I used some of the visualisation techniques and mantras and it was massively helpful. After birth the midwife let on she was a bit miffed I had been so "stubborn" and not been "listening" to her. Which is true! I was focused on my own body. I did write a note on my birth plan which they did read. It's becoming more mainstream so I think that helped.

I've started classes for hypnobirthing but am a first time mum so no direct experience yet. After nearly finishing the course I felt a lot more clearer about my choices and how I want to write up my birth plan so that's pretty useful.

I'm an emetophobe (extreme phobia of vomitting) and I did a course of cbt, exposure therapy, and also mindfulness which really helped me a lot so I decided to do hypnobirthing to learn the relaxation techniques and to avoid having to use any pain relief or interventions which are associated with nausea or vomiting.

My husband and I did the online pack from the positive birth company. We BOTH cannot recommend it enough. It helped me through the last weeks of pregnancy (would've earlier had we started earlier) and also kept me sane when my baby decided it wants to stay out for a bit longer. He was born at 41 weeks and although I was fed up I tried to stay as calm and relaxed as possible. When labour finally started (oh it came with a bang in the middle of the night and immediate contractions 2 mins apart lasting 45 secs) I stayed calm and focused. When I arrived at the MLU the midwife didn't believe I was in active labour, only to check me and find that I was 5cm already, she said I was way too calm. It massively helped me to know what I wanted for my birth, or even more importantly what I didn't want. I had written my birth preferences and the midwife even took a photo of it because she loved the approach. There was a point when little ones heart rate dropped after 4 hours of pushing (cord over his shoulder as it turned out) and my husband felt confident enough to ask the midwife to give me a couple more pushed in the pool before getting me out as he knew that's what I wanted/felt comfortable with. Thanks to HB I ended up having my dream birth and delivered my little one safely without any interventions in the water.

@Peanutty, I love your story. Was this your first?

Mum of 3 here. Not a hypno earth type in the slightest. BUT I found hypno birthing amazing with my third!

I wonder if these sorts of threads tend to attract only positive responses? I did a hypnobirthing course in my first pregnancy and it was a complete waste of money that I still regret (11 years later!) The TENS machine I hired for my second Labour a few years later was a far better investment 😄

It’s possible that I was unlucky with the HB practitioner however, plus I went overdue and had to be induced - and i found that HB affirmations were no match for artificially induced contractions.

I’m sure it works for some; just thought I’d offer an alternative point of view for balance 🙂

@Sessy19 thank you :-) yes it was my first one.

@JuneFromBethesda of course there's no guarantee - but it's always a good thing to be positive and HB can really really help. You get an online course now instead of a class which is £35 a the best money I've ever spend. We were umming and ahung whether to do a class but it was £400 so decided against it.