Hypnobirthing does it work? Whats best to try?

[lancslass17]

Im thinking of trying hypnobirthing and just wondering if anyone has used it and if it helped. Also where do i find the best person/app/book etc. Thanks

I used Maggie Howell (you can buy it on iTunes) for both DS1 and DS2. With DS1 I didn’t really commit to it, but second time round I really did. DH said he could really tell the difference and said I was much calmer and I did manage with no gas and air.
I’ve just downloaded the album again for DC3

No idea if it works as I'm pregnant with my first child but I've booked a course of 4 hypnobirthing classes at the hospital where I'm booked to deliver.
A friend listened to some podcasts/mp3s and read a book when she had her first child, think it was the Katherine Greaves method. The classes I'm going to attend are based on wise hippo. There's loads of info out there, maybe do a Google search with your location

Avoid Marie Mongan.

It can be a useful tool but remember it's there to help you manage the situation, not guarantee it iyswim. It is useful if you have a baby in a good position and one in a difficult position for example. Useful for a vaginal birth and a caesarean. It is not going to ensure a vaginal birth or prevent complications. If you need an epidural, you didn't fail at hypnobirthing.

I think it’s usefulness as long as it’s used with a combination of other things.

Many of us find actually despite excellent prep, fitness and employing these hypno birth type methods birth while an amazing experience is very intense and painful. I wished I had been told how full on it could get.

My mw said you need to have a range of coping techniques. This is what worked for me with ds:

Affirmations saying out loud in run up to birth (you can get these online and they say things like my body knows exactly what to do). I picked two to repeat in labour and that really helped.

Hypnoborthing type techniques - visualisations etc

Yoga birthing breathing techniques - I got a sitaram yoga birthing cd

Juju sundin birth skills - can’t recommend this book enough. Heard about it on line and it really helped.

Wish I had done perineal massage - the people I know who did it tore less than I did

And a good birth plan!

I studied with Marie on her training course when I was pregnant (I was a therapist back then and we are the worst patients ever).

I'm quite practical (so knew all about what pain relief was available and wasn't going for a 'natural or failure' birth). It never says that it guarantees you any birth in particular - just that you get the best out of any situation. If you get the books and cds if so use the American recordings as the British accent just sounds weird. In hypnosis some wording sounds odd ( it there is a reason for it) and somehow an American actor accent gets away with it better!

The birth itself was very boring and I didn't feel the need for any pain relief - I was curious about the air and gas but couldn't be bothered to walk across the room to try it to see if it was like the dentists gas.

I ended up on a drip to 'get things moving' as lazy bones baby was taking his sweet time (he is part sloth) which I was warned would make the contractions more severe. The nurses didn't believe that I was in labour when I arrived, nor that the baby was crowning as I was 'too chilled'.

I ended up teaching it and it does set you in good stead if things don't go 'to plan'.

If you are calm and clear headed (and know what questions to ask) when things start going 'wrong' then you have (or feel that you have) some control over what is happening to you and your baby.

I had one mum who ended up having an emergency c-section pretty early due to health problems with the baby. Dad called me to say that they used the techniques on the course to keep calm and focused, discussed options with their doctors and the hospital and it stopped them going into a blind panic. Another was a friend abroad who did the course there and had a back to back birth using HB - she said it stopped her being scared and panicky. SiL had 2 very large babies without any pain relief and said that giving birth was 'fine'. The feedback I got from parents was that it gave them condidence that they had tools on the bag for whatever turn tool place on the labour ward and that the main thing was remaining calm and relaxed, and feeling in control.

Oh and on HB you do visualisations, relaxation and self hypnosis techniques, breathing techniques, learn about perineal massage, birth positions, exercise/diet...

I did a hypnobirthing class at the hospital which cost £50. It was based on Katherine Greaves and whilst I’d say most of the visualising techniques went out of the window for me what did help me was:

The breathing technique they taught us
Familiarity with the hospital as they showed us around the birth centre and delivery suite
Me and my partner both knowing what to expect
My partner knowing what to do to help me, applying pressure to my lower back was one tip they taught and really helped

I’d really recommend it!

It worked for me. Amazingly. I googled a few different ones and chose a teacher that could do a home course as I couldn't make the evening classes with ds1. Agree maybe avoid Marie Mongan.

I used hypnobirthing with my first two births and have now pulled out the practice techniques for my third pregnancy. I found a local private group class. There were 3 couples including myself.

I found it really helped me to focus, stay calm and breathe properly. Birth was still painful.

The class I felt was really well balanced. Other commentary techniques were also discussed and the teacher was very good about talking about how hypnobirthing could be useful in all birth scenarios (natural and C-section).

I think it really depends on the teacher. I'd call around and ask quest questions about what they cover and their views on more medicalised births.

My first two were born at home with no pain relief. Painful, yes but tolerable.

Ah yes it was Maggie Howell. You have to commit to 15 min a day practice but I'd say it's just really good for destressobg/lowing anxiety as well so lots of benefits

No. An epidural works.

Why are people saying avoid Mickey (Marie)? I've not heard anything but I trained years ago).

I hypnobirthed for the first 18 hours of my 28 hour labour. Only went for an epidural because I was so exhausted and wasn't dilating and knew I needed to rest.

My partner was great at the positive affirmations and it was really lovely and relaxing. I'd definitely recommend it and definitely use it again for my next labour.

My mum was a total cynic until she saw it in action and can't believe how calm it kept me. Our practitioner used the Katherine greaves method.

Should have added tens to my post

I used the Maggie Howell CD and book and it was great for keeping me calm, didn't take the pain away, but made me focus on my breathing and I felt that I had a good experience labour wise because I stayed calm.