Hypnobirthing: Book vs sessions

[PreggoEggo]

I am starting to read the hypnobirthing book which I am finding brilliant. I am a bit worried about the breathing techniques though as I seem to be rubbish at them.
My question is this: is it worth having the actual sessions with a hypnotherapist? I have found someone who does it, but I am reluctant to pay the £150 it's going to cost me. This will be my third delivery, is having the one-to-one session time going to make a difference compared to reading just the book alone??

I tried the CDs and, to be perfectly honest, they had no effect whatsoever.

I would say it is definitely worth forking out for the sessions, and that you have a really positive frame of mind that it IS going to work.

I just used the book and CDs and while I don't think I ever got into the deep state of hypnosis they spoke of, I had a brilliant birth - not pain free, but it was entirely manageable and I needed no pain relief, not even gas and air. I did write on my birth plan that I wanted to be left in peace and they left me - midwife sat quietly beside me but never once checked to see how far dilated I was or anything. 2.5 hours he was out. I felt euphoric and very proud of myself afterwards. So I would say that the books/cds worked for me.

I didn't try to do it all - definitely imagined the opening up of the womb like a flower and I also imagined that every breath I took in was the colour blue. As I breathed it out, I imagined breathing it down so that the blue flowed through my body and relaxed everywhere it touched. Seemed to do the trick.

PS - that sounds very hippy and weird but it worked :)

Do you feel that you understand all of the techniques? Do you understand how and when to use the breathing techniques. Are you free of all fears? Are you positively looking forward to the birth? Is your partner fully on board with his role during the birth?

If you feel that you wholly understand the theory and how to apply it as a couple then you will be fine to carry on as you are. If you feel that you have dounts it would be worth talking to your local HypnoBirthing Practitioner - just make sure he/she is a an official Mongan Method practitioner.

Good luck!

I paid for a course, and it was worth it's weight in gold imho. The techniques were explained, we got plenty of practise time, got some extra tips etc and ongoing support after the course right up to the birth. My hypno-therapist also runs a support group so I was able to meet other local hypnoMums and share tips, questions etc - it was brilliant. I think I may have given up just with the book as it's no substitute for having a human explain things and go through them with you in person... Good luck - it's the most amazing, life changing things I've ever done!

I read the book and listened to the CD every day for the last 2 months of the pregnancy. Labour not pain-free (by a long shot!) but a lot more manageable. Quite enjoyed it to be honest. I was rubbish at the techniques (I'm no good at meditation or anything so don't think a hypnotherapist would have had much luck with me either) but the breathing and the theory behind it - ie especially the breathing in slowly and visualising things for dilation - definitely helped me "stay above the pain". I knew it was hurting but I could remove myself from it to a degree. (until I started puking at transition stage and it mucked up my breathing!!!)

DH wouldn't have gone anywhere near the lessons for mumbo-jumbo reasons - that was my main reason for not doing the course! Loved the book.