Hypnobirthing experiences please

[Carlitawantsababy]

Hi, I'm expecting DC#1 in 10 weeks time and l'm starting a hypnobirthing course in about 3 weeks. I'm planning a home water birth. I have been listening to the hypnobirthing CD (and falling asleep!) but have yet to read the book. I'd love to hear your hypnobirthing experiences good and bad!

I used the hypnobirthing CD too for my 3rd birth ( and always fell asleep at the end!)

I had a great birth at home but I'm not sure if it was down to the hypnobirthing as my others were all good too (and all at home, so maybe it's down to that)

If nothing else, it was a good way to relax.

Did you listen to the CD during labour badger? I'm kind of confused about whether that's the idea? Did you do the course?

It was good for me. Didn't use it for first birth, but even if your birth isn't completely pain free, it will be easier than if you hadn't done hypnobirthing, IMO.

No, I didn't do the course, I am a cheap skate and bought the CD from ebay.

I didn't listen to it during the birth as I'm one of those people that don't like any talking, I just tend to go in to myself. I think you can listen to it during the birth though- just depends on how you feel on the day 'spose.

I listened to the cd a lot and fell asleep pretty much every time. I was convinced it wouldn't work...BUT it did. Home water birth, no drugs and all I can remember thinking is "my body will open like a waterlilly". Trust me, I wouldn't say that....it was definitely from the cd.

Go for it!!

Thanks lynette
one yes, I can't imagine the water lily springing to mind otherwise!
Sounds good so far!

Carlita, total convert here. Did the HypnoBirthing course five years ago now as was a panicker and quite scared of labour. Had straightforward water birth, 8 hours established labour, very calm and in control throughout. Second birth two years later was only 2 hours long. I did the course feeling a bit skeptical but it totally worked. Please go, enjoy the course, put in the practise (thats the important bit). I am sure it will help you. I teach HB now because there was no one locally teaching and I am so convinced of its benefits. You are doing the right thing definitely!

Wow, thanks tabitha, sounds like it was great for you! By practice do you mean relaxing to the CD or will it all become clear once I'm doing the course? I'm really looking forward to getting going with it, even more so for hearing how well it worked for people!

I had one sort of by accident. I had a c-section and anaethestic didn't work so i did self-hypnosis and it was really good.

I had the Natal Hypnotherapy CD. It really did work, there was a point where I realised I wasn't scared of the birth at all, and couldn't recall ever being scared, even though I knew I had been. I ended up transferring for augmentation and then an EMCS, but the calming and visualisation techniques took me quite a long way (as in 2 days) into a difficult labour.

Do it, have had three hypnobirths and they were easy calm lovely experiences.
It takes the fear out of pregnancy and labour which allows your body to just let go and get on with it, enjoy

Thanks imagine and future great to know that hypnobirthing still helped you.
fanny sounds great! More details please! [nosy]

Baby 1 - hypnobirthing techniques + tens machine (I had a long early labour). Gas and air just when I was having stitches. Baby got a bit stuck as he'd got a huge head which measured the top line on the graph. It took two hours at the 'pushing' stage out but no pain - honestly.
Baby 2 - hypnobirthing techniques until 7cms then tens and gas and air. I was induced this time and found the last hour pretty intense when I went from 7-10 cms all at once so grabbed the gas and air! Pushing stage was 10 minutes and didn't involve any pushing, my body pushed by itself which is what should happen naturally - no other animal has to be told to push when giving birth.

I recommend hypnobirthing to anybody, I was calm and quiet for both labours. I found labour tiring and hard work but honestly didn't find it painful. As fannybaws says, it stops you being scared so that your muscles don't tense up and can do what they are naturally supposed to. Even if you have a complication like your baby being in an awkward position, hypnobirthing will help you stay calm and relaxed. You do need to practice every day so it really sinks in. Good luck.

Thanks chocolate that's great, really helpful.

Hi, I did hypnobirthing, was very skeptical but it really worked. I did it late and didn't complete the course due to early induction, but it still really really worked. I had a very rapid labour with the nasty full-on fake hormone contractions, I was totally ok when hypnobirthing but was in a lot of pain if my 'spell' was broken.

I just did the breath counting and also I think something to do with ribbons and my uterus?

My husband liked that he could help, he did the counting etc with me.

Slight downside was I growled and swore at anyone who approached as if they touched me I lost my trance and could feel the pain.

It was amazing, I use the techniques now whenever I have the dentist or a smear .

Good luck!

I just did the counting too. Midwife didn't think I was in labour until I was pushing far too late for 2nd mw.

I was told I couldn't be ready to push, then they examined me, then they freaked. I think if you're quiet, they think nothing is happening.

I did the counting too - the 'slow breathing' with each contraction really helped and if I lost my focus on it, things went a bit pear shaped. Also, imagining a balloon slowly inflating as I breathed in and blowing it away as I breathed out was a great distraction, you can imagine different colours/patterns and it helps you stay focused on the breathing. Your birth partner can be really helpful rather than sitting feeling like they are being no help. Mine did the 'depthometer' and 'glove' relaxations with me both times.

Agree with sparechair they don't take you very seriously if you're quiet. They got in a real flap second time when my 'pushing' took 10 minutes, they didn't think I was at that stage. I had to say a few times that the head was coming out before anything happened. If you're not making a fuss they don't come in very often. I thought being left to get on with it was a good thing with hypnobirthing as there's less distraction but it means they might not quite realise what stage you're at.

Agree sparechair you can use the technique anytime. I don't find myself thinking of an opening waterlilly very often but when I had a major op a couple of years ago and came out of te general, I was ok. It was painful, but I could control my reaction to it by using the same techniques. It is very powerful.

The other thing is that I also pushed before the midwife was aware. I remember saying "he's coming". The midwife said that I had a while to go and he was there, very quickly. Like others, my body knew when to push, it was all very natural.

It is amazing.

Wow, thanks everyone, some great stories. I take it I'll learn the different visualisation tools in the course?
Did you all know you were in established labour even though the midwives didn't? I ask because my mum had a 2.5 hour and a 1.5 hour labour start to finish and considering I'm planning a homebirth I'm wondering if I'll know to call them in time!

I think i knew but was in denial as I was so in control and it was so different from my first.

I used HypnoBirthing for my son and it was such an amazing experience and the techniques changed my life that I trained as a Practitioner. You can see my son's birth on Youtube:

Enjoy your classes!