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Childbirth

Share experiences and get support around labour, birth and recovery.

Did hypnobirthing work for you?

11 replies

naturelover · 13/06/2007 13:43

I'm looking into it as I am expecting my first and want as natural a birth as possible.

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belgo · 13/06/2007 13:47

I'd also like to find out about this. What I did find in my previous two labours, is that I seemed to go into a sort of semi hypnotic state even though I didn't know about hypnobirthing.

TheBlonde · 13/06/2007 14:01

I did a course before having 2nd baby, but we were rubbish at practicing the techniques so in the end I just listened to the CD while we were at home. Listened to it while labouring at home and it did help

I think if you did it properly it could really work

appledumpling · 13/06/2007 14:20

I hypnobirthed and of a 14.5 hr labour only the last 2 hours gave me any trouble and even then I didn't need any pain relief. I also had DH doing acupressure and the 2 together worked well.

The first 6.5hrs I wandered round the house just breathing as we had been taught and the contractions were very tight but didn't hurt. The next 4hrs I spent in the bath and the contractions got tighter and longer but were uncomfortable rather than painful.

Then I moved into the bedroom and had DH doing acupressure during contractions. Some of my contractions were over 3 minutes in length and the acupressure was a real help then. I could breathe through about 90 seconds of contraction but then I was reliant on the acupressure.

I didn't "breathe the baby down" as such because the urge to push was so strong. I yelled quite a bit at this stage but it was more as a form of release. It was painful but I still felt in control and I was chatting with the midwife between pushes.

For me, hypnobirthing was about allowing me to have the homebirth I wanted which meant only having access to gas and air. As it happened I had the homebirth with no pain relief, was calm and relaxed throughout and the midwives could not believe what they were seeing.

I practised the relaxations and affirmations most days for about 12 weeks. DH had not a lot to do with it until the day although he was fine with what I was doing. It worked for me and I will be hypnobirthing next time.

Regardless of whether you hypnobirth or not, the midwives I had said it is a matter of attitude and how you approach birth. If you can just let it happen and go with the flow it will be a much better experience. HTH and good luck.

ShowOfHands · 13/06/2007 14:23

I planned a homebirth and managed to get from 3-10cm in 4hrs using hypnobirthing. No pain relief, just a pool and breathing. It was wonderful. I ended up with a stuck baby though and an emergency cs but still used the techniques throughout the cs to remain calm. I can't recommend highly enough.

elibumbum · 13/06/2007 14:29

It really helped me. I used the relaxation and breathing techniques + gas and air. Only needed gas and air from 5cm dilated and didn't have it during the second stage as they took it away from me! I didn't breathe DS out as he didn't tuck his chin in much so he required lots of pushing whilst standing up - don't think I would've remained as calm during that part without hypnobirthing.

I really recommend it - but you have to practice it regularly. I will use it again next time from at least 20 weeks.

preggerspoppet · 13/06/2007 14:36

I used natal hypnotherapy

DH and I did the birth prep course for parents, I really enjoyed the birth experience. (so did he!)

Gizmo · 13/06/2007 14:40

I used it and would recommend it, but with a few reservations.

Firstly, I found it was much more robust if I steered a realistic about what it could do for me. I had the advantage of having already experienced birth so I knew something about the quality of the pain for me, and I had no expectations that hypnobirthing could make it disappear entirely. It didn't, but the pain was manageable and I felt in control for 99% of the time.

Secondly, make sure your environment is set up to be conducive to hypnobirthing. Don't do what I did and try to move furniture, inflate a birthing pool and monitor husband and child playing lego in between contractions - this leaves no time for you to actually retreat into your calm hypnobirthing world. In an ideal world you'd have your nest prepared, and your partner too, well before labour started so you could get on with the techniques

And finally, don't use hypnobirthing as a substitute for good preparation in other ways. Think about what you might do in different scenarios and how you will decide that you need to use plan B. I think it's important to accept that while your preparation should make a huge amount of difference to your chances of having a safe and happy birth, there is still an element of luck in this process, and you need to be aware of how you will handle things if luck is not on your side.

Having said all that, I'd use it again - I had a 6 hour homebirth with DS2 using tens, pool and hypnobirthing for pain relief. No tearing, a midwife on hand at all times and able to sit on my own sofa with a cup of tea and feed DS2 within 15 minutes of him being born. Lovely. So I'd say give it a go.

elibumbum · 13/06/2007 18:40

I agree with Gizmo. I did the NCT classes too so I would be prepared on all fronts and made myself read the cs chapter in my birth books! A good hypnobirthing teacher won't claim that it will make birth pain free! IMO even if it keeps you calm and a bit more comfortable then it is worth it!

WriggleJiggle · 13/06/2007 18:48

Did any try hypno birthing without having done a course? Did anyone just use the books and CD? Obviously it probably isn't as effective, but its probably still worthwhile to 'have a go' at isn't it?

bohemianbint · 13/06/2007 18:49

Yes yes yes! I used it and it was great. I had my first child at home last year, waters went at 8am, had mild contractions that I couldn't even feel for a couple of hours, then it all kicked in and DS was out by 1pm! Funny thing was I had to visualise my labour whilst under hypnosis and when asked by the teacher how long I wanted the labour to be I said (optimistically) "4 hours" which is pretty much what I got!

Due to the speed of things I didn't really get chance to do half of what I wanted (birth pool not up fast enough, no time for relaxation and midwives insisted that I "push" rather than breathe etc) but had short, fab homebirth with nothing but gas and air. Gave DP something to do with himself as well, I think it's good how HB involves the father as they can prob feel like a bit of a spare part otherwise.

bohemianbint · 13/06/2007 18:51

Oh, I did try just using the book and cd without lessons initially but went for the full thing as the hypnosis sessions and support of the teacher were absolutely invaluable. Best £250 ever spent I think.

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