Worth spending this much to do a hypnobirthing course?

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I'm researching courses locally (baby no 1, planning a home birth) and they all cost about £300, so I wondered whether people wouldn't mind telling me if it's worth spending the money to do a course rather than self-directed with books/CDs?

In my mind, the advantages are - sufficient designated time for me and DH to learn/practice hypnobirthing (might not be great at keeping up with books and CDs), flexibility to adapt things to our needs, opportunity to ask questions/troubleshoot. We haven't had much time to focus on the pregnancy or upcoming birth, so this could be a really useful time for us both, and most of the courses are well-established/led by practicing midwives. But it's such a lot of money to spend.

£300?? That's crazy money! I ordered a book from amazon that came with a CD, I read the book (well, bits of it) & listened to the CD every night when I fell asleep. Also went to a weekly yoga class for help with breathing etc (wasnt a specialist yoga class or anything, it was in the local church hall & I was the only pregnant woman there!)

Had a great labour, only gas & air & no stitches. Whether I was just lucky or if it was the hypnobirthing or not I don't know but I certainly wouldn't pay £300!!!

I think you can also download some hypnobirthing apps & have them in your phone to listen to also.

Good luck

We paid around £250 for a private hypnobirthing course and I would really recommend it. If you can afford it, I think it was probably the best money we have spent on the baby!

I was frightened and convinced I wanted an elective C-section basically because I felt I couldn't cope. The course and practice at home completely changed my mind and we're now going to a midwife led unit for a natural birth.

I think it depends what sort of person you are - I don't think I would have got through the book on my own for example so really appreciated the teacher taking us through guided meditations and fear release tasks.

The Marie Monghan method and book (I think this might be the onechubbychipmonk is talking about as it comes with a CD) is written for an American audience which also grated slightly; the teacher was able to put things in a more 'British' and less hippy right on way way which helped me see how it could work for me.

If you think you will work through the book, do all the exercises and practice practice practice, then you might be ok to just go yourself without a class. If not, I'd pay for the class.

Good luck either way!

Thank you both very much--really helpful perspectives. I think we would benefit more from the class but it is expensive... one of the other benefits of doing the course is that DH is as involved as I am in it, which he might not be with books/tapes. Hmm, will talk it over again tonight.
Thanks X

I understand you wanting to get your hubby involved but when your in labour your totally 'in the zone' yourself i don't really think hubby gets much of an input.

My DH listened to the Cd a few times but to be honest when I was in labour I was totally focused in my head and in my own wee world that he could've been talking double Dutch for all I was listening to him!