HypnoBirthing

[lucyw19]

Im, slightly worried about childbirth. Ive been told about hypnobirthing.

Has anybody used this method??

wb x

Not yet
Start classes next week

How many weeks are you and i hope you dont mind me asking but is it very expensive?

x

I used a tape but stopped doing it after a couple of weeks. I had a drug free birth and some of the ideas stayed with me even though I hadn't done it nearly as often as I should have.

I'm 20 weeks
It's costing 300 quid but that includes training DH too
You can get CDs much cheaper

I did hypnobirthing and I recommend it to everyone. I didn't make my birthing pain free, but it gave me the tools to manage pain and stay positive. I was told I pushed for two hours but slept through most of it. When it was over I though 10 minutes had gone by.

I went when was 34 weeks. Had a one hour session where we talked and then was put under (but still there IYSWIM). Then had another session 1 week later where the hypnotist made a tape that I listened to every night.

The problems I went with were that I was finding it nigh on impossible to sleep and wanted to be able to cope with natural labour 2nd time round.

Started sleeping really well and although didn't listen to the tape during the labour (only 2hours ish long) it went really really well. And I did ask her to put something in about weightloss while she was at it, and lost loads of weight really quickly but healthily afterwards
Think I paid about £120 but that was for one-on-one sessions. It's cheaper if you get organised and go to group sessions. I'd missed the op to do that.

Im really interested in doing this! It sounds quite expensive, but worth it all the same!!

But knowing my luck they wont do it where i live.

Id like to know more about it then!!
wb x

These sites should help you find a practioner

www.hypnobirthing.co.uk/

www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/

I had a great birth experience 5 months ago. Whilst I can't obviously put it down solely to hypnobirthing cds, they did give me great relaxation techniques that I used effectively throughout labour. I can also say that they definitely helped me relax towards the end of my pregnancy and even helped me look forward to the birth - these two things in themselves are great pain relievers. I got them from natal hynotherapy - it's worth a go.

I used a hypnobirthing CD but realised that I wasn't using it as much as I should and hadn't started practicing as early as I should. Nothing locally (despite pleas for help on their website!) so I found a hypnotherapist who had similar experience and saw hers twice - sounds like a similar thing to pooka (without the weightloss - what a great idea!) but I saw her first at 37+ 5 and then at 39 weeks. Tape very useful. DOn't know how useful yet as am due tomorrow, but was hooked up to BP monitor yesterday and able to start self hypnosis and bring BP down while my DH watched in awe!! Worth a try, I think!!

I'd like to find about this too - can anyone recommend a particularly good cd? thanks

Yes and it worked for me. I was worried about childbirth and how I would cope with the pain as I am a wimp when it comes to epidurals - I can't stand the thought of a needle anywhere near my spine! I went to classes. The price included 5 2hr classes, the book and CDs with the relaxation programmes and affirmations. I listened to the relaxation CD every night for a few months (rarely heard the end of it because it was so relaxing I fell asleep!)- I should have done the affirmations more. The visualisation, relaxation and breathing techniques all helped me cope during labour. It didn't make it pain free but it helped me stay calm and cope the whole way through. I used gas and air from 5cm dilated too. I would use it again. I also did the NCT classes. They were good for meeting people and learning about what happens if you need a cs etc but the breathing techniques we were shown wouldn't have helped me in labour.
Hypnobirthing also gave DH confidence during the labour as he had a very defined role in helping me with the hypnobirthing techniques.

Sorry I'm going on a bit - but I love to spread the word about hypnobirthing! They should make the classes available on the NHS! It would probably reduce the need for intervention etc and save a fortune - but judging by the short sighted economies made by NHS management when it comes to maternity care (like closing down mw led units) it is unlikely that this will happen any time soon

I honestly can't praise it enough. I was really really sceptical,but after having every drug possible with dd's birth, and getting very panicky Idecided with birth No. 2 that I was going to do everything I could to have a different experience.
Would also recommend ante-natal yoga. The breathing techniques I learned were an absolute god-send. Made an enormous difference.Maybe because it was a second labout things just progressed differently, but I was so relaxed, breathing properly and controlling the pain myself to the extent that when the time came to go to hospital (was supposed to have home birth but no midwives that night ) got there and was already 10cm and dealing with pain really well. Waters didn't break and ds was born in the "caul". Had had the odd niggle all day but still took dd to her baby gym class, then mooched in the garden with her in her paddling pool, then she had a nap and I had a lie down and then contractions only needed to be breathed through from about 6pm. DS born just before 9pm. Home by 11pm. Was confident enough this time to refuse overnight stay given that not my fault was in hospital in the first place ()
Did tear (again) but healed really well (had had to have an episiotomy and restitch when dd was 7 months oldish).

It sounds like its a very positive thing to do. I really wnat to do it, would anyone mind telling me how much they paid for it??

wb x

Hi there

I think this is a great thing to do - I ordered some hypnobirththerapy cd's from the internet last time and managed a home birth with my first so tens and gas and air and no stitches. I think a combination of factors gave me the good result...home birth allowed me to stay relaxed and when it was the pushing stage I did really go into myself and was able to be very calm and take it steadily hence no stitches. I didn't listen to the cd in labour but I basically went to bed with it every night on a walkman from about 30 weeks so my theory is that it went into my subconscious and conditioned my thoughts (and you know what, if it didn't then it made me sleep better in the last trimester which is also important!)

Have done same thing this time, again really helpful with sleeping and going for homebirth again and hoping for same outcome. I have a different cd this time that comes with a book and you can get it from Amazon - Hypnobirthing the mongan method and it is only a tenner. Definitely a worthwhile investment!

I also know someone who attended the classes having had a difficult first birth and she had a totally different second experience so if classes are your thing fine - I just dont think you have to go that route.

I'm not sure that I could ever be the sort of person who could have a c-section under hypnosis but the theory that the more relaxed you are, the less pain you feel makes absolute sense and preparing your mind to be positive and relaxed in labour is likely to result in a better outcome for you and baby in my opinion.

Best of luck

Message withdrawn

I agree re pain relief dh tried to set it up for me when I hit peak contractions and I remember chucking the headphones accross room as 80 sec contractions didn't fit with serene cd for me.

(that was before he practically electocuted me by pouring essential oil onto tens electrodes)

May have been more useful in latent stage and as I said earlier, I think brill to use for birth preparation

thank you for ur advice, its great =]

Ive ordered the Hypnobirthing the mongan method, so hopefully this should help as the classes, seem quite expensive ?

wb x

Sorry - just seen that Marjean had recommended natal hypnotherapy cds. Should check more thoroughly before posting

Really glad to come across this thread, hypnobirthing does sound great

Lucyw19 - the mongan method hypnobirthing book and cd was the one that came with our class anyway so I reckon that is all you need.

My 1 natalhypnotherapy cd cost 15 quid but if I were to do it again, I'd consider getting the whole course for 50.

I'd also like to second the usefulness of ante-natal yoga - I've done yoga on and off for the past few years and found the breathing techniques and positions invaluable throughout my labour and birth. It doesn't have to be expensive either - my local Sure Start does ante-natal yoga classes for a pound.

hello,
glad I saw this thread too as I have been debating whether or not to shell out for the classes. I had an horrific birth experience with ds1, which took me months to physically (never mind mentally) recover from - I couldn't even walk for the first 10 days! It was a nightmare and I remember being utterly shocked at how painful my contractions were - I just couldn't cope with the pain at all. I'm 23 weeks just now and really want to be more in control this time and not handle it so badly.

Hypnobirthing just seems too good to be true. I've got the Mongan book and have been using the cd, which just sends me to sleep (can't be bad!) and I just need to justify the expense to myself before I sign up to the classes. Someone, help me justify it!

Has anyone tried it and really not liked it?

Message withdrawn

Thanks for all this great advice. I have been toying with idea of self-hypnosis but now I'll definitely go for it. The one I've found (here ) is £75 per session and she reckons no more than two sessions. Don't know if this is a good or bad thing, as £300 seems to be the going rate?!

I think it must change where ever you go.

But i'll get the book and cd's for sure and try them, at least ill feel slightly more relaxed!!

Thankyou for all the advice, i feel to young to do all this.

wb x