Hypnobirthing - Full course or shortened private version??

[k4mi]

Hi all,

I am 31wks and have been reading Mrie Mongan Hypnobirthing and doing Natal Hypnotherapy CD's for relaxation for around 6 weeks (on and off!)

OH is concerned i am not really 'getting into it' enough and has suggested we splash out on a course.

I have the option of the full accredited hynobirthing Marie Mongan course over 4 weeks (12hrs total) with one other couple for £250 or private tuition for one day (also based on Marie Mongan but using other techniques) in our own home for £300 which lasts 7 hours.

Questions are this:

I find the Marie Mongan method quite prescriptive and a bit Americanised and wondered if anyone else had done something like the self-taught / some additional private tuition route and had good results??

I am worried if we don't do the full course it might not work but something appeals to me much more about doing it in our own home (where birth will be) and having a one-to-one teacher. But i don't want to spend all this money and then feel we should have gone with the full accredited course.

Any thoughts / experiences??

Hi. I just did the CDs like you are doing. I listened to the birth preparation about 30 times before giving birth. Normally I stayed awake during the CDs and felt very relaxed, sometimes I nearly fell asleep.Occasionally I felt distracted by other things (such as a bad cough or the phone ringing) but i just trusted that they would work. I gave birth twice using this method and although the births were hard work, I did not feel actual "pain" at all - just a big effort. Breathing the whole time seemed to keep "pain" at bay. I purchased the music CD to go alongside the Maggie Howell programme and played it throughout both labours.The 2nd labor could have been traumatic (gave birth in a car!) but once more the CDs got me through the process in a totally calm way. Are you doing the CD at a quiet time in the day with no distraction? Do you find it easy to visualise the images in the CD? If so I reckon you will find the CD enough - good luck to you!

We did the private course and I thought it was excellent. I'm really self-conscious, I would have had trouble doing the course and relaxing with people other than my husband, so for us it was a really good idea.

Our teacher did the Marie Mongan method, but because it was just us we had a lot more flexible to shape it to fit what we wanted, and to discard the parts that we didn't find helpful. It was taught by a midwife, who was excellent and fully accredited by the Marie Mongan people.

I also got an extended music CD, it was very helpful.

I did it when I was about 34 weeks pregnant and managed to learn it all in that time and had a great birth. But that was one of the things that made me do it privately, I didn't think I had much time to get it sorted, so I wanted someone to really focus on me.

Hi
I have been using the natal hypnotherapy CDs for awhile now and went on a one day course with a natal hypnotherapy teacher to learn about the self hypnosis more, it cost £95 and that included your OH (although mine didn't go as not 100% comfortable in those settings, was fine by myself) there were two other couples and it was brilliant!! We did 3 sessions of hypnosis and I managed to get quite deep each time, knowing the music helped too. I prefer the natal hypnotherapy as find the terms in hypnobirthing too americanised and restrictive, I did mine in Manchester with a lovely teacher called Dot Parry, but if that is too far for you there are other areas listed on the natal hypnotherapy website. I personally would recommend it and the price is very reasonable too. Hope that helps

We are doing a 1 on 1 course over 4 weeks. I think it's good to spread the course out as you can practice in between the session and come back with any questions on your next session etc. First baby, so not sure if it'll work, but fingers crossed!!

I agree with gingebrightonmum2b. The one-off courses are good, but spreading them out over a period of weeks definitely helps it sink in a lot better in my exp. Similar to doing weekly driving lessons -v- one of those intensive driving test courses!

I am a HypnoBirthing Practitioner and as a teacher of the Mongan Method we are only permitted to run 4/5 sessions at weekly intervals. This is due to the attendees having a deep experience of a technique led by the practitioner and then allowing time for practice before moving on. As I have a background in childbirth education I am very flexible in terms of covering other topics. But I will always stick to weekly sessions. Visit www.hypnobirthing.co.uk for a list of approved practitioners. If the cost is too high then discuss it with the practitioner sometimes we can be flexible. Wishing you a happy birthing!

I would second what Bumpsandmore says. HypnoBirthing, the Mongan Method, should only be taught over 4 or 5 sessions, totally about 12 hours. If you go the private route, ensure that you fully understand what is being omitted by that teacher? You say that the course is based on Marie Mongan but using other techniques. What does that mean? Will it cover what's in the book or will it be totally different? What happens after the course once you have an opportunity to reflect on what happened during the course? Can you go back to him/her.
The Mongan Method isn't prescriptive really. I think it's only when you attend a course that you realise how flexible it is. For example when I attended a course I felt slightly frustrated by the book but it all became clear on the course.
Does the fully accredited teacher offer private classes? Perhaps you could talk to her. It would be a shame to not do the full course and regret it later.

Good luck

Hi im 28 weeks and have signed up for a private course mongan method
I signed up a long time ago as was very anxious after a previous birth experience
i found a practitioner locally who only does it privately and charges £320
but this is taylored to me, my husband and best friend will attend with me, as they are my sessions i can have who i want
she saw me early on in pregnancy due to me being worried, and having hypermesis, she did a session with me and gave me the book and cds early to help relax me, and was willing to see me again all at no extra charge
i start my four sessions this weekend, tomorrow in fact!

Lilyrose123 - how is your course going?