To those of you who have hypnobirthed...

[HardCheese]

To those of you who have taken hypnobirtihng classes, done the daily meditations and affirmations, and practised the breathing seriously etc - how genuinely useful did you find it in labour? Did you opt for pain relief, and if so, what kind and at what stage?

I ask because we've just had our first class (Mongan method, 34 weeks pg), and while it was perfectly nice, just as listening the rainbow relaxation is perfectly nice, it all feels a bit flimsy as a way of dealing with something as overwhelming as facing first-time labour. (Maybe this sense will change after more classes...?)

Would be interested in the experiences, positive or negative, of anyone who used or tried to use hypnobirthing in labour. Were you supported in your efforts by staff where you gave birth? (I'm planning on an MLU, just me and OH, no doula.)

Also wondering whether people for whom it hadn't worked ended up feeling as if they'd 'failed' a test they'd set themselves?

I didn't really do hypnobirthing as such, though I did have a self-hypnosis for birth MP3 that I listened to in early labour and had been listening to in late pregnancy but not terribly seriously.

I did put a lot more effort into techniques in this book and earlier this pregnancy when I was experiencing horrendous pain they thought was miscarriage, I found I automatically started to do it again.

The technique I used in labour was to have a stress ball and breathe while moving it towards and away from my face while squeezing it. In the book, it says repeatedly: "focus like a laser and focus on nothing but this". When I thought I was miscarrying, I was in A and E and noticed a pattern of dots on the chairs and my head just started: "focus like a laser and focus on nothing but this". I can still visualise the pattern!

There are a wealth of different strategies in it though, a lot of movement based strategies too... I can see when I am at pregnancy yoga how some of it could be adapted to labour with this mindset. I personally found it more useful than the hypnosis stuff which seemed more passive to me, but that might just be how I viewed it and I didn't do a course so my knowledge isn't amazing!

ChineapplePunk - you sound like you are in an excellent place. I hope your birth goes really well.

I used it with DS (now 2) and it absolutely changed everything for me; going from being terrified and horrified at the thought of giving birth to it being the most awesome empowering experience I've ever had.
I embraced it thoroughly, doing lots of practise with DH in the weeks before I went into labour as well as visualisations, relaxation and breathing practise too.
In the end I laboured for 17 hours at home (from plug going) arriving at hospital 8cm dilated. I had one sniff on the gas and air when they broke my waters (Hypno will teach you how to cope with whatever happens, but won't guarantee you a 'straightforward' birth - I had a ventouse in the end as DS's cord was round his neck twice), but didn't rate the G&A so focused on breathing.
I started off in the MLU where they were wholly supportive but got moved to delivery suite when the waters needed breaking and the mw I had there didn't understand it so well and really from there I felt things became much more medical (in hindsight this was the right thing for us because DS wasn't going anywhere on his own). As I understand it these days most birth units and MLUs are very aware and supportive of Hypnobirthing, but put it on your birth plan to make sure they know why you'll be acting very differently to most women they see.
As I said, in the end my delivery wasn't exactly as I'd hoped, but Hypno still ensured I had the most amazing experience, was in control at every point and I feel very very proud of myself and my body that we did that!
I'm now expecting DC2 in a month's time and will be Hypno-ing it up all the way! I can't speak highly enough about it...

Hi All,
I am 39 weeks and 2 days. I have been listening to Natal Hypnotherapy CD for 2 months now about 2 - 3 times a week. I always fall asleep whilst listening to it. Will this make much difference? It seems that other people set time aside to practice their breathing which I haven't been doing. Should I? Is it too late?

Falling asleep is ok. Someone actually asked that question on mn a while back and the actual lady on the cd posted to say- fine, it will all be going in.

Thanks noseynoonoo.:)

mumsrthebest, to echo what heliumballoon said, falling asleep is actually very positive. Well, according to the Mongan Method it is, and I'm sure it will apply to all hypno methods across the board. A quote from the Mongan Hypnobirthing book:

"Often mums will question if the time they are spending in practice is working for them. They find that after one or two practice sessions, they are no longer able to stay with the material because they drift off into their own thoughts or they fall into a deep sleep. Actually, nothing could be better. If this should happen to you, be aware you are not actually asleep. You have successfully conditioned your mind to respond immediately by bringing yourself into a state that seems like sleep. If this happens regularly, just know that your subconscious is tuned into your practice sessions and is processing them for you. That is part of the conditioning affect."

And no, it's absolutely not too late to practice your breathing. :)