tell me your positive hypnobirthing stories please

[mustthinkofabetterusername]

I'm in the third trimester, have done the hb course, am on the birth ball every day, am practising the breathing techniques every day, trying to practice the relaxation exercises/visualisations every couple of days.

have stopped watching one born every minute. I only want happy, hypnobirthing birth stories!

just looking for some re-assurance that all this time/effort is worth it? would love to hear that hb really worked and paid off for you?

have a toddler to time when they are sleeping is EXTREMELY precious!!!

many thanks in advance

We did a hypnobirthing course and i found it really helpful, especially in the early stages of labour! Unfortunately for me we ended up with complications and I ended up in theatre but even then hypnobirthing techniques were fantastic and I wasn't panicking or even phased by what was going on!
I was gutted I didn't have the perfect hypnobirthing experience however I thought it was amazing how it helped me cope! I think DS is a lot more relaxed as a result of it too! My hypnobirthing teacher told me to look on YouTube at hypnobirthing experiences too which I found helpful and encouraging!
Good luck and congratulations!

I didn't do a course, I just used book and CD. It really helped me, I had a straightforward labour without pain relief, and the breathing techniques kept me calm through the contractions and focussed. I didn't find the visualisations as useful, but I'd got into such a rhythm with my breathing that when I did try gas and air I didn't like it because it changed that rhythm. So I didn't bother with it after two puffs. It's not pain relief, but for me it was an anti freak out tool :) My DD arrived just over five hours after my first contraction.

thanks ladies!

I was complete sceptic and just listened to you tube hypnobirthing videos to fall asleep at night (restless legs plagued me from 30 weeks) with no real faith it would make a difference. It was phenomenal. I had my DD without any pain relief and felt fantastic after the birth. I concentrated on my inhale giving me strength and my exhales pushing the baby lower. Am complete convert now and think it's an incredible tool. Good luck!

I gave birth 5 days ago and it really worked for me! I did the course but probably could have managed with just the book and CDs as it had some cross over with breathing exercises from yoga I did as well. I did find the classes were the only decent nights sleep I was getting in the last 4 wks of pregnancy though so the relaxation exercises must have worked.

I woke up in the morning with regular contractions which were manageable all day (tried to rest and listened to CDs) till early evening when I needed something more so used Tens machine which was amazing! They got stronger and closer together so MLBU said to come in when I couldn't manage any more. Went in a bit later and got examined after an hour or so and was 6cm so was allowed to get in the pool where I pretty much stayed for the next 6 hrs apart from getting out to be examined again when I was fully dilated, then waters burst and contractions ramped up but could still cope, baby born in pool about 1.5hrs later.

Room was lovely and dark with soft lighting, had hippy relaxing music we'd used in classes and spent the whole time in my own little world using the breathing techniques to manage the contractions. I didn't really speak much to MW and DH, just had my eyes closed and DH said I only made mmm noises the whole time!

I struggled with the visualisation exercises in the class and book and not sure I really used them but the breathing and relaxations got me through! Obviously I was lucky to have a normal straightforward delivery but it was amazing!

My first - Had a water hypnobirth and it was lovely.

Just felt so excited about giving birth!

The early labour was quite difficult - all the vomiting and diarrhoea. But after that stopped and the contractions got into a decent rhythm it got exciting. I was dancing around saying I'm having a baby woo!! Ha. Then for the pushing stage the hypnobirthing music was amazing - just made me so relaxed and it was fine.

It was painful, but not unbearably and tens and G&A was enough.

Second time round I was even more excited, less afraid and the music worked even better. Loved giving birth

Thank you to everyone who's replied. I had been getting a bit despondant by everyone I know (none of whom have previously heard of or used hypobirthing) spouting "all that will go out the window when the time comes" etc.

Really appreciate your words of encouragement. Re-committed to devoting time to practising, and looking forward to breathing my baby into the world! :)

I didn't do any of the CD or visualisation. Just read a hypnobirthing book, especially the bit about how contractions work and how tensing up makes things more painful whereas accepting and breathing makes it easier.

That was enough to help me massively. (got through just G&A and counting. Lots of counting )

Oh and it helped me even though the birth was incredibly stressful (DD born out of the blue at 34 weeks) - so I don't agree that it will all go out of the window when the time comes, in fact it was MORE helpful because it helped me deal with the stress and feel in some way "in control"

Was amazing! In short... Delivery unit, use of bath but no pool available. Delivered on bed kneeling up with absolutely no pain at all. Midwives had jaws on the floor! I wouldn't hesitate to do hypnobirthing again.

Definitely do the practise. I found it really did come automatically when the time came because of the practise. So it couldn't go out the window because I wasn't thinking about it really IYSWIM. Just heard the music and went aaaaah and into breathing mode

So glad I found something to give me a positive approach to birth. Hate all the negativity you get about it. It's amazing

Hi all,
must I'm about to have my first hypno birth too. How many weeks are you at the moment? I'm 39+2 and have been using the CDs and book.
I had a very medicalised first birth and was determined to avoid that this time if at all possible.
Was just wondering if anyone else had/has problems staying awake when practicing? Does it still sink in even if it feels like you're asleep? I do always wake up at the end when she does the 54321 thing so maybe I'm not actually asleep iyswim?

I had a hypno birthing cd with my first Dilli and used to listen to it on my daily commute. I fell asleep every single time. I still think it helped though - I was quite calm during labour and had an "easy" birth. I also really really recommend Ina May Gaskins book "guide to childbirth" it's playing to an American audience so lots of the "this is what will happen in hospital" is very different to what we would expect, but the birthing stories (of which there are loads) are all positive and empowering. It's a fantastic thing to read to put you in a positive and confident mindset, in my opinion.

Thanks hens that's really good to know.
I'll check out that book as well.

I listened to the Maggie Howell tape everyday for about the last three weeks of my pregnancy and also read Ina May and the Birth Skills book.

I have a brilliant birth. Every contraction I said to myself (quietly but aloud) "it's heat and pressure and opening" and I pictured myself turning a big dial (of pain) down to one. I also tapped things throughout each contraction.

It worked amazingly for me, was very intense but not really painful. When the midwife arrived (I had a home birth) she thought I must have ages to go because I was so calm and then when she examined me I was ready to push.

Oh and I second a PP that for me it was helpful to really retreat into my own little world. I felt like me and the baby were the only real things in the universe.

I'm not even normally a hippy type at all!

My experience was very similar to Splendide's., that's exactly how I'd describe it as well: intense, rather than painful. I had to politely insist that the midwife did a VE as she was suggesting some paracetamol and a shower. I was 10cm and she called the second midwife pretty quickly

I went for a long walk in Regents Park with my tens machine and then waddled back to the hospital. I was following my hypnobirthing and then threw up. I said maybe I am in transition and the midwife laughed saying I still probably had a long way to go. She then did the first physical exam and I was already at 10 cm :) Best of lucks! If you use a tens machine start early in the cycle.