HypnoBirthing

[lucyw19]

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

Has anybody used this method??

wb x

I've used a hypnotherapist for 2 sessions at £30 a session (we're not in London though) - just telephoned a few that were accredited with hypnotherapy association and "interviewed" them telling them what I wanted and seeing what their experience in the area was. Have yet to give birth, but seem quite good at the self hypnosis so far, can bring down my BP when hooked up to the monitor!

lucy, I didn't have classes but read the book and listened to the CD.

It may work for some people, and the general relaxation techniques did help a bit in labour, but when the real pain started I wanted to kill the hypnobirthing authors and burn the book, (not literally by the way!_ because they deny the pain is real and say you can overcome it with the power of the mind etc etc, and to me that is just a lie. It is an overwhelming physical experience and painful at the time, nothing to do with your conscious mind in my opinion. You forget it afterwards and it's like a dream that never really happened. but trying to harness your mind and stuff: well to me it seemed like one big con. Things like counting, roaring and music worked a bit, but not positive visualisations. Having said that, of course it's worth giving it a try as it might work for you, but there might be better ways to invest the money!

GemmityGem: I'm really glad you posted that, I thought that I was the only one! I found that the breathing helped me not panic with the contractions, but they certainly weren't only "tightening" and by 8cm dilated I needed something much stronger.
The MW said that I was very "focussed" during contractions, and I'm sure that was a benefit of the hypnobirthing, but it was still bloody painful and intense.
Maybe if DD had been facing the right way, it would have been easier, but I really wanted to rip the book into little shreads afterwards.

don't know really anything at all about hypnobirthing...

but there is nothing wrong with feeling the pain!! it is a positive pain...being prepared as much as you can and being ready for birth is a good thing....each contraction brings the baby closer to you...it is not meaningless pain...experiencing it is not a bad thing IMO......

and to suggest you can have painless birth.....well, i don;t know if that is a realistic expectation..

but if it does work..great!

the thing is, of course no one really has a painfree birth and i know that, but if this helps me prepare for the labor, and contractions, as i dont want to panic and make it worse.

Ill get the book, but i cant really afford the classes =/

x

lucy - i found visualisation when i was pregnant really helpful...and using the gas and air as it remined me to breathe deeply!!

as long as you understand what is happening to your body...and work with it...you'll be fine.....

happy birthing......

Hi there ...I agree the pain is real alright I certainly wasn't serenely listening to cd in labour but I do think it helped me to focus with the pushing contractions and not to panic and remember to breathe - all things that help you to deal with labour pain effectively (I didn't do classes - just cd most nights for last 6 weeks and by end fell asleep within first 15 secs so assuming my subconscious took over then

So those of you who had bad first experiences, this could be really good to "recondition" youselves and feel positive about labour as if you are scared could be counterproductive as you will tense up and feel more pain. (this hapenned to a friend of mine - bad first experience, didn't cope with pain at all well 2nd time - throwing up with it then an experienced mw got her breathing properly and she delivered a 10 pounder with no pain relief)