The Gentle Birth Method - is it worth it ?

[kylie2dogs]

I noticed the Gentle Birth Method on another thread and I'm thinking of trying it. Has anyone else done it ?

Have just read the book and i liked the sound of it but i think the diet would be quite restrictive. I liked the idea of the massages and the pamper time but i dont think it would be practical. I did leave me looking forward to the next birth(not pregnant but was scared before of birth) but not scared now so in the respect it was good and i would read the book when next pregnant.

Have you read it?

Yes, I know what you mean about the diet, but I suppose its only for a relatively short time. A friend of mine just did it and she cut out wheat and sugar most of the time. Had some reflexology and massage and bowen. And did the stretch oil thing. And she had a six hour labour in hospital, water birth, no stitches. Suppose there is no guarantee but I thought it'd worth a go.

Def worth a go kylie2dogs cos I did it and had 4 hr labour at home for first baby no gas and air even ds delivered safetly no stitches needed. Also stomach went down dead quick. Only one out of NCT who was back in pre-preg jeans that week amazing. Thought it would cost a fortune but managed to do it quite cheaply. Lots of sceptics out there tho who think its luck. Didn't want to risk relying on luck. DH was well supportive too and he's no hippy.

Def worth a go kylie2dogs cos I did it and had 4 hr labour at home for first baby no gas and air even ds delivered safetly no stitches needed. Also stomach went down dead quick. Only one out of NCT who was back in pre-preg jeans that week amazing. Thought it would cost a fortune but managed to do it quite cheaply. Lots of sceptics out there tho who think its luck. Didn't want to risk relying on luck. DH was well supportive too and he's no hippy.

How did he feel about massaging you and what did you eat on a typical day? I find it wuite hard to be inventive with food.

No he wasn't into massages so did them myself. But he read some of the book and kind of got his head round the birth rehearsal stuff. And was well into the home birth thing. Basicly he was up for whatever I wanted to do. Food wise I didn't go hungry - had terence stamp wheat free bread, gltuen free pasta but no cake or puddings. Bit of icecream if I was desperate. Didn't follow it too the letter but tried to do something from each section - diet, exercise, reflexology, birth rehearsal, stretches.

even if your not able to do all of it you can pick and choose a bit. didn't do the diet properly and couldn't afford the treatments she recommends but i'm convinced the abdominal toning and pelvic drainage massages helped my low lying placenta move up and the general preparing for the birth stuff was quite good.

she doesn't do that awful hippy pretending there'll be no pain crap, instead she tries to explain how to cope with and minimise the pain you have. she also doesn't rule out caesarians or pain relief but aknowlages that some women will need these no matter how well prepared which is nice because although i didn't need either i don't think anyone who does should be branded a failure like some natural birth methods tend to do.

was back in size 10 jeans with an almost completely flat tummy days after the birth and the homeopathic stuff helped both before and after labour.

good luck with your baby

Pinktuplips what do you think made your tummy go back so quickly? Do you think it was that you didnt gain that much weight or what? I was lucky to get in my size 144 a year later!! Wont be like that next time.

jellyjelly, i think it was partly that i only really gained bump which may or may not have been the yoga and eating well (didn't follow he diet properly but i did keep my wheat intake down and ate alot of the foods she recommended for my body type), and i think the constant massaging with oil helped make my skin quite supple and stretchy. i didn't get a single stretch mark on my tummy even though i've always been prone to them and got loads on my boobs in the first few months before i found the book.

Will have to try and get pregant and re read it, trying to read all the positive birthing books and it has changed some of my views so if you know any other books please let me know.

What are the principal areas of this book and have I left it too late at 31 weeks?

Dont think you have left it too late, it focuses on less intervention if you need it thats fine but she think you can help big time to control what type of labour you have.

Does focus on massages and stretching in the vagina from 36 weeks to help stretch so most of her woman dont tear as they are supply.

It is a good read and can (it did me anyway) feeling scared of labour.

Am reading another book called healthy baby better birthing. It is a more positive book and it doesnt just show or describe birthing and the clinical side like alot of the other books i have read do.

One thing i wasnt sure about was putting a bundle of herbs in my vagina during the pregnancy - wont do that even if i did understand it.

ps - I am not pregnant but preparing

Hey there
just wanted to let you know I am trying to follow this. I have cut out wheat with a few very rare exceptions. I have put on less weight than last time but I have got a rather big bump. which is a bit heavy at 27wks. I had a large baby and the gentle birth method talks about not over eating in order to have the corret babyweigh for mothers shape and size, I am not sure if thats workignout for me. but i have o admit ot th odd bit of chocolate at easter and the odd ice cream so no saint! I suffer with SPD really bad which is pretty depressing and this genle birth hasnt helped in this area but I doubt it could.

I actually feel worse during this pg but I dont think its the wheat exclusion or diet I just think its the pressure of already beign a mum and life in general plus bad sore back all day long.

I wont know until the birth but I eager to have another intervention free birth and am aiming for a shorter second birth wihout tearing (had quite bad tears last time) but last time my son was 9lb 11

I will keep you posted.

My son was 9lb so i understand about spd with a big baby and i am dreadign next time in case it is bigger. Can you please post your thought after and good luck.

Freddy - on the SPD front (i am a sufferer too). Have you tried womb massage? Not very common in this country yet but that's about to change !!! It's fab stuff.

I first read the book at around 20 weeks into my pregnancy. I took the diet and exercise advice on board and it turned my pregnancy around to an incredible degree.

I gave up wheat and sugar and almost instantly went from big, huffing and puffing and achy to small, toned and agile. I can take stairs two at a time again, touch my toes and run up escalators. I'm 32 weeks now and I feel like I did pre-pregnancy. Everyone's stopped saying awful things like "Oooo aren't you huge!" etc and started squealing about how trim and toned I look instead. All thanks to Gowri.

I can't afford reflexology, or the other funny healing or therapies she talks about, and I don't do the homeopathy because that would be new to me and I'm not convinced it works anyway. But I do an hour of yoga in my living room every morning, I follow Gowri's dietary guidelines, and at 32 weeks in I've only gained 20 lbs and feel utterly fantastic.

Also, I did hypnobirthing, and find Gowri's book works really well alongside it.

It's my first pregnancy so I have nothing to compare it to, but I feel so, so much better now than I did at 20 weeks, so much fitter and happier, I can't recommend this book highly enough.

Glad to hear a positive tale
I'm intending to start following fully next week - I'm 13 weeks now
There is another thread here

I didn't find the book until about week 30 and then followed most of the dietary advice, did yoga each day and had some reflexologies. I think it helped, I put on less than 2 stone and lost it all within 6 weeks of giving birth. Had an eight hour labour with a bit of gas and air and dd born in the pool. I'd do it again and def think it's worth a go. The only thing you have to watch with it is that you don't feel guilty about not following it to the letter. I think you can only do that if you are both saintly and rich.

For those who have tried it, what do you normally eat for each meal to make sure you dont have anything off the forbidden list? I really want to do it but sometimes feel a bit lost for meal inspiration!

I'm having puffed rice for brekkie and then meat and pots or rice for dinner
Will probably still have pasta and pizza 2 meals a week
Haven't figured out lunch yet - might try some wheat free bread

I'm 31 weeks and love the fact that the 'method' has allowed me to be positive, optimistic and enthusiastic about pregnancy and impending childbirth. I don't have the discipline to follow very strictly but cutting back on wheat and sugar has kept me fit and energetic. Hope to cut it out at end but will have to prepare lots of alternatives to make it easier. I've kept up exercise, and do reflexology when possible.

I really benefit from relaxation principles, and the positive birthing visualisation which has subdued the fear. It's taught me to really understand the physical and work with it when the time comes. Getting hubby involved with relaxation and massage so when time comes hopefully he is calm and positive too!

With all the advice and books i've picked up so far I'm following what makes sense to me and what I can manage. Even little bits must help!