Hypnobirthing-should I save my money?

[victoriascrumptious]

I once went to a hypnotherapist to quit smoking. The only effect it had was to make me want a cigarette the whole time the therapist was talking. It wasnt that I was being deliberately obstructive I was really really trying to go under and really believed it could work for me.....it didn't...not even for an hour.

Should I bother looking at hypnobirthing?

If it makes you want to give birth quickly it might be good

on the other hand if it makes you want to give birth a lot you might end up with 8 children

hehe.

Why not just buy a Hypnobirthing book, that comes with a cd. They only cost about £12 on Amazon.

I'd recommend doing a course - was brilliant for me.

i got a hypnobirthing cd off ebay and it helped me to cope with the contractions - felt pretty unprepared for the pushing bit though!

I got a cd and also got a book by Marie Mongan from the library. I found the cd quite annoying but part of the book were really helpful and I had a lovely waterbirth at home with no pain relief. A very different experience to the first time round.

Depends on what you want to get out of it really. I did a hypnobirthing course for DS2's birth as wanted to dissociate the birth from DS1's birth - and it worked a treat for me. Was the birth fast? yes Was it painless? no but was tolerable Did I use the techniques? not really but knew they were there and my mind was in the right place for the birth to start off with

I don't think buying the book or CD is the same as the course at all, how could it be ?
We had a hypnobirth 5 years ago and it worked right up until I walked through the hospital doors and then the old fight/flight hormones kicked in, but I still coped better as a result of the course I felt.
This time I am really committed to hypnobirthing and a home birth, no bright lights and hands up my fanjo pulling me out of the trance.

Had my baby 4 weeks ago. I did an intensive 2 day hypnobirthing course, practised the relaxation techniques, had my partner read me the scripts, listened to the CD every night for about 6 weeks... And then had possibly one of the most hellish births imaginable which ended in pethidine, an epidural and emergency C section then a follow-up operation after the wound ruptured.

However I don't want to dismiss hypnobirthing as I think my main problem was that my baby's head never dropped down and engaged in my pelvis!

Despite the problems the course really helped me prepare for labour - I was calm, relaxed and excited about it! The first 12 hours were at home and did go well. I remember chatting to the midwife calmly between contractions and did dilate well during that period.

Guess my answer to you is maybe!

lurking with interest

I got CDs from Ebay (natal hypnotherapy) and used those - had a fab birth experience this time compared to #1 and #2. I now can sell on the CD's as well and get my money back.

I wouldn't say the hypnotherapy was a total sucess, but I do think it went a long way to helping me be positive about this birth and did help me to deal with the pain, even though things hurt still.