help me make a hypnobrirthing class choice

[HardCheese]

I have to choose between taking the standard 4-week hypnobirthing course but at a date which starts exactly a month before my due date (!) or shelling out for private classes which I can start earlier, but which are much more expensive.

Help me think this through, please! On the one hand, I want to get started with hypnotherapy as soon as possible, on the other, I tell myself the money could be spent on other things, like little socks and a breast-feeding pillow/bottle of post-natal champagne, and I could be lucky and get the course finished before giving birth - this is a first baby and could be late...?

I personally don't think it's worth starting a course that is so close to your due date. Say you were two weeks early, you'd only have two classes and virtually no practice time.

I'd either go for the earlier class or have a think about natal hypnotherapy CDs

Try to do it earlier if you can. DS was two weeks earlier than his 'due' date and four weeks sooner than I thought he would make an appearance!

I did the HypnoBirthing a week and a half before the birth. I was a trained therapist so did the training course over a weekend. It did work fine but I suppose I didn't need convincing that the hypnosis would work because I had already seen pain management in action and knew that the brain is quite an interesting thing.

How much is the difference in costs? Do you know anyone else who could double up on the private teacher and reduce the cost?

Oh, and the course covers what is in the book. On the course, you get hypnosis and relaxation treatments, which you can't do yourself! There is a CD with the book so you can do the practise.

I should flag that I am a Certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner. I think you would get more out of a private course at an earlier time. This will give you time to practise what you have learned during the course.

NewYearsResolution is correct that Natal Hypnotherapy is quite different from HypnoBirthing - NH seems to be telling you how to turn down the pain whilst in HypnoBirthing you are convinced using hypnosis that your body is perfectly designed to birth your baby and therefore the birth is calm and easy - pain doesn't come into it.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

I think that private classes to happen earlier in your pregnancy would be a really good idea. I did hypnobirthing and think that you do need to listen to the exercises a lot in order for it to be very effective. Also, in my experience (for two pregnancies) the relaxation exercises really helped me to sleep really well - and it's a great time to be well rested!

I hear you on the spending, but the two good birth experiences I had were invaluable, and I honestly think that the money I spent on the HB course was about the best value for anything I've paid for ever.

DS1 was born 3 weeks early so hanging out for the course would not have worked too well. Also, private lessons without having to listen to other couples craziness would be lush...