Can anyone recommend a book on hypnobirthing?

[FatimaLovesBread]

I've been looking at hypnobirthing. I don't think I'll do it fully but would like to read up on it to takes some of the practices on.
I suffer from health anxiety and think it may help to remove some of the fear of pain so I can be more relaxed and hopefully not get panicky.

Has anyone used a good book/cd? Are there any iPhones apps?

hey,

i've been reading the fabulous "mumsdays" blog, she talks about Hypnobirthing there and will point you in the right direction. I'm thinking about it too, there are practitioners who come and give you classes at home. Google it to see if there are any in your area.

Hope that helps xxx

Hi there, you should try "birth made easy" by paola bagnall, it's absoluely brilliant for talking you through birth and how you can enjoy it all! I was very nervous first time around, and this book gave me the confidence i needed. Highly recommended! Hope that helps too, and enjoy! Xx

i've read this one:
www.amazon.co.uk/Hypnobirthing-Breakthrough-Easier-Comfortable-Childbirth/dp/0285637711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343719026&sr=8-1
it's by the woman who developed hypnobirthing and it's really good.

Sorry, i forgot to convert the link, here you go:
www.amazon.co.uk/Hypnobirthing-Breakthrough-Easier-Comfortable-Childbirth/dp/0285637711/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1343719026&sr=8-1

The marie mongan one is the archetypal hypnobirthing book. Saw me calmly through a very traumatic birth and I had a lot of fear re: medicalised birth. Had a calm and happy pregnancy, healed very quickly after birth and have a lovely laid back little fellow of 6 months now.

natal hypnotherapy is the UK version, great CDs and book. also it depends if you find the american accent soothing as to whether you will get on with the hypnobirthing...

Michel Odent, Ina May Gaskin both leading names in the field of birthing without fear and therefore pain...

Natal Hypnotherapy IS NOT the UK version - quite different things really. HypnoBirthing, the Mongan Method, is the original and, in my experience with 2 births, the best.

You'll find a lot of Natal Hypnotherapy people on here trying to down-talk HypnoBirthing. They will always say its too American and that HypnoBirthing has an American accent but it is actually voiced from a very English sounding Brit, which they would know if they bothered to buy the book/CD.

Thanks, I'll have a look t all the suggestions.

I found a course nearby but it's far too expensive so I will have to stick to a bit of reading

nelly, sorry you read my note in this way. I read and did Hypnobirthing with my DS1, it is wonderfully helpful. My CDs were narrated with a strong american accent. I have since found Natal Hypnotherapy which personally I find better, it's after all a personal thing, no need to be so agressive or indeed rude :)

I had Maggie Howell's Effective Birth Preparation book and her CD. They were brilliant - I actually was quite looking forward to going into labour.

I ended up being induced and on the horrible drip for 30 hours, but I had got myself into such a place in my head that I honestly thought I'd only been in labour for 3 hours. I totally recommend it.

I too have read Paola Bagnall's book - BIRTH MADE EASY. As it is my first pregnancy it has been really helpful at explaining the birth process in a clear way. It has also made me feel much more calm and confident about my body's own ability to give birth naturally and I feel I have lots of techniques to pick and choose from to help me avoid panicking.I am now actually looking forward to my labour ...! I use the accompanying CD in the book to relax and fall asleep too. I would definitely give it a go!

Link to the Birth Made Easy is: www.birthmadeeasy.co.uk

LLLaura - I think the point is that you were incorrect to say that HypnoBirthing uses an American voice; this is an accusation often made by Natal Hypnotherapy/Maggie Howell, as is the claim that NH is the UK version.

If anything NH is inspired by The Mongan Method, as is the Birth Made Easier book also referenced in this thread.

As an aside, f you are not a hypnotherapist you may not realise that accent is irrelevant. If you are hypnotised the accent isn't noticed and the sense of the words goes in regardless

Hello - like OP, I used the Marie Mongon method book, it was great - Just out of interest, how much was the course that you found? I too just read the book, the course I found was £250 - I've heard the cost differs from area to area. Good luck (p.s. I got my book off ebay, much cheaper)

I think that every woman has to find the method/support that works for her! Whatever helps her stay calm and feeling confident...whether that is hypnobirthing, hypnobabies, natal hypnotherapy, birth made easier. There isn't just one approach. Also for some just a CD is enough, for others they need 1:1 sessions with a specialist and others still like to learn in a group. I don't think anyone is criticising anyone else. We all want the same thing - calm mums, calm babies, positive experiences

I do hope this works for you but you MUST PRACTICE. I went on a proper course and bought the marie mongan book but I had a lot of intervention throughout labour and all the training went out the window and fear took over. I'm not saying it doesn't work, not at all, but just make sure you really work hard to get it right. Hope you have a successful labour hon xx

HypnoBirthing is not just hypnosis for birth and to say this confuses the public and means that they don't get what they think they are paying for. The Mongan Method, i.e. the original HypnoBirthig method, is a comprehensive antenatal course. It is not just the use of hypnosis for birth.

However, plenty of hypnotherpists who have added birth to the lists of conditions they treat, (e.g stopping smoking, fear of flying) have appropriated the name HypnoBirthing because they think it is more marketable. They don't generally add the name of the condition to the prefix 'hypno'. For example, many hypnotherapsits would treat a fear of flying but they don't choose to call it HypnoPhobia or HypnoFlying they just call it 'hypnotherapy'.

I apologise for any offence I have caused mumsnetters. I was simply trying to explain how hypnobirthing and HynoBirthing are all working to the same cause to allow mums to have the very best birth possible.

i used the natal hypnotherapy book (effective birth preparation) and cds and found it really good. i was almost fully dilated when i got to hospital just using the breathing and relaxation!

i also read Ina May Gaskin's guide to childbirth which has lots of positive stories and can help you feel more confidence in your body. (in my experience)

i had a cs the first time so was also quite nervous but i found the relation really helped.