Can anyone give me any relaxation/hypnobirthing techniques.....may have left it too late!

[Tanyaaah]

Been having on off pain in my hips and irregular contractions last night, this morning and now.
I really started to panic this morning as I woke up in severe pain in my hip/pelvis and couldn't stand up. Took a while for me to calm down, as I was worried I was about to give birth and I was alone with a toddler!
This is my second baby, so I've done it all before but I wasn't scared then as didn't know what to expect, but everytime I feel like it's starting I panic that I'm not ready and don't want to go through it again. Last time was very long and painful, wanted to be all serene and hypnobirthy about this one but haven't got round to getting a book or preparing myself!
Help!

Please! Need hints on what to focus on during contractions.

Counting is good. I think I counted up to 20 then back down again.
Imagine that you are somewhere nice? Some people apparently like visualising waves breaking on a beach. I think I found imagining walking up stairs more useful though?
Can you put some music on?

try breathing out slowly over the length of a contraction.

i'm not sure it helps with pain, but it took my mind off it.

if you have a spare pair of hands, maybe get them to give you a back massage (worked for me)

cbeebies is a great toddler calming device if you need it, and if your LO doesn't sleep after 7, there's always iplayer/youtube/DVDs!.

OK, I did the who hypnobirthing course and practiced lots, but the only thing I actually did in labour was.....when you feel a contraction breath in slowly and deeply. Feel your abdomen raise. Imagine a balloon inflating as you breath in. When the balloon is fully inflated, slowly breath out. Imagine the balloon floating off into a blue sky.

Do this repeatedly, if you can imagine each balloon as a colour of the rainbow, sot the first is red, the second is orange, ect.

What ever you do, stay calm and positive. Panicking about giving birth alone with a toddler will not help. Just call the midwife. Your toddler will be fine, if they are awake. Most babies are born at night, when toddlers are asleep Just give them crisps and a DVD if they happen to be awake.

I second counting.... Think I counted through all my contractions and coped without any pain relief.

Also keep telling yourself that is one less contraction to go through!!!

Good luck

Thankyou for your suggestions! I counted through last time, instinctively, I'll try the ballooon thing too. I try to relax all of my body but its really difficult.
I have friends who used hypnobirthing and had no pain relief, wish I could have afforded the course.

Breathe! I swear i forgot to breathe with my first but second time around, deep, quiet breathing helped me through. Focus on your breath, count as you breathe, listen to your breathing. Breathe, breathe, breathe!
I read the book but didnt do a course and only listened to the cd a handful of times.
It all ended in an emergency cs but i felt in control and prepared for any outcome.
Good luck!