Anyone doing the Natal Hypnotherapy CDs?

[lovechoc]

I have been given one of these from a friend and have just listened to the CD today and found it really relaxed me. Got another 18 or so weeks left yet so hoping to get into a routine of listening to it but has anyone found these very helpful for the birth?

I am being positive and want it to work!

Wonderful. Really helped me. I also did the natal hypnotherapy weekend course (def recommend).

Listen to the CD every day and work on the visualisations - these worked wonders for me in the labour.

thanks pregnabrain nice to hear a positive story from someone. I can't afford to do the course but I'm looking forward to borrowing the CDs from a friend once she's finished with the material for her own labour and birth.

I was so tense with my first labour nearly 3 years ago now, and I really want this next one to be more successful where I'm not dreading the labour but looking forward to it IYKWIM!

This was suggested to me by my MW but I can't afford the CDs. I must say I'm pretty sceptical about it in any case. I'll be very interested to hear how your labour goes lovechoc, although I think I'll be all done and dusted by the time you have yours.

the way I see it, I've nothing to lose after the disaster that was my first labour. Anything is worth a shot second time round!lol

Good luck with yours gaelicsheep, when are you due? I'm due in July, although expect I'll be overdue again.

I'm due about a month before you I think. I was in tears at the MWs a couple of weeks ago - I'm still having flashbacks from my first labour.

The things that are helping me this time are:
a) being assured that at this hospital there is no stipulation about how "early" you can get pain relief (unlike last time)
b) being assured there is no set rule about having to be 6cm dilated before using the pool (unlike last time)
c) being assured there is sufficient staffing that I won't be left alone while trying to push my baby out (unlike last time)

Here's hoping eh? It can't possibly be worse than last time's horrific experience - can it...?

gaelicsheep I have a copy of the CD thtat you can have if you want? I bought it to use for the birth of my DS2 who arrived last week, however I only got to listen to it twice and never the whole way through as we were in the middle of moving house. Let me know if you are interested.

That's really kind of you Chunkamatic, and I'd be very interested to have a listen. I think I'm still CATable if you want to drop me a line.

gaelicsheep good luck with your labour, is this your second baby too? Fingers crossed you get the labour you want.

I think I'd set my hopes too high first time and I was gutted when my labour went on and on for ages, ended up with a 3rd degree tear etc. Won't bore you with the details, but it just wasn't what I was expecting and like yourself, I'm just hoping this next one turns out to be a happier turn of events IYKWIM.

Anyway, so getting to my main point, I'm hoping that using a form of relaxation (i.e. self hypnosis/Natal Hypnotherapy) will make things go smoother next time.

Congrats to you Chunkamatic!!

Gaelicsheep - I used the cd after a third-degree tear, back-to-back, head stuck ventouse first labour.

I started having flashbacks halfway through my second pregnancy and the cd really helped me to get over the anxiety.

With a tens machine and a little gas and air, dd1 arrived in a much better birth.

Third time around, I really trusted the cd and had an absolutely brilliant birth with the tens machine and the cd ...

At the very least it helps with sleep and relaxation in those last weeks.

Good luck.

I couldn't use the 'during birth' cd as the whole thing reduced dh to a state of quivering, snorting hysterical laughter each time he heard it.

When I'm getting het up, he still sometimes intones 'Relax, followed by your name'.

I'm really interested in these - although I'm only 14 weeks at the mo - but does anyone know is there only one brand of CD/provider or many to choose from?

If it is the latter, anybody have any recommendations for the best/their favourite?

i used them and found them really useful - the contractions never got beyond being moderately uncomfortable, just used TENS and gas & air. another thing that helped was that my DP and doula also listened to the CDs and gave me cues to remember some of the visualisations etc.

good luck lovechoc - i think being positive and open-minded about it working will help a lot

I used the Hypno-birthing book and CD with ds and found it wonderful.

I really do mean wonderful. I could not really get into the whole 'magic glove' thing, but the other visualisations were great and I was very relaxed.
Had a home birth with just the tens machine and my dh and midwife had no idea what stage I was at - I was very chilled, had a quick labour (3 hours) and no pushing - the breathing bit worked.

Not trying to sound all proud and annoying, but it really worked for me.

The book is really not expensive on Amazon and well worth a go!

it's great to hear these positive stories so far..I also had a back-to-back labour first time round, hoping things are easier this time though! RedLentil you are giving me hope!

JetSetWilly - I know of two different brands:

The Mongan Method (book is "Hynobirthing, The Mongan Method")
and
Natal Hypnotherapy (book is "Effective Birth Preparation")

Both have CDs to buy.

Couldn't tell you which is better. Mongan method had definite breathing techniques to follow, whereas Natal just says breath how you want as long as it's slow and deep. Mongan has more visulisations whereas Natal has more pre-birth ridding yourself of fears, I think. Mongan goes on about painfree birth more. Both aim to train up your partner to become a more useful member of the birthing team.

Mine was back to back too lovechoc - too bad they didn't realise until I'd delivered him! Interestingly, one thing I will most certainly NOT be bothering with is a TENS machine. It was worse than useless last time, and yes I did start it early on. By the time I got to hospital I had it on absolute maximum trying to get it to do something. It was just one big distraction that stopped me from concentrating on dealing with the pain. I know some people love them though, including lots on this thread apparenty

I used the Natal Hypnotherapy birth prep CD with my first. I found I usually fell asleep halfway through but always woke up just before the end. I was slightly about whether it would work but in the event it definitely helped. I remained calm and relaxed throughout labour and managed with just gas and air and TENS machine. Midwives commented on how laid back I was for a first timer. Am hoping the CD will work its magic again this time round for my second. Good luck!

very good thanks smilehomebirth

on that basis i think Natal sounds best for me

good luck with the deep breathing and visulisations everybody!

Got mine last month (the VBAC version) and have only listened once so far but could not relax as DD was in fits of giggles and would not go away . This thread has reminded me that I need to get off MN and start listening to them so thanks!

This is Day 3 for me listening to the CD I've been given and I'm really getting into it now. I'm jotting it down in my diary when I do these sessions (just after DS goes to bed at 7pm each night seems to be the ideal time - not too late that I will fall asleep!). I think you have to believe that it's going to work otherwise there's no point doing it (DH soon-to-be a clinical hypnotherapist so he's been giving advice and will also do some scripts with me nearer the time too).

gaelicsheep back-to-back was hellish, I remember it all like it was yesterday. I was screaming in pain at times because of it. They knew quite early on that he was back-to-back and I tried all the tricks to turn him but nothing worked. This time round I'm sleep LOADS on my left side, no one told me about how it's not advisable not to sleep on your back, so this time I am armed with knowledge!!
I always meant to get a TENS machine but never did get round to it, don't think I'll bother though this time either. I will start off with gas and air and if I need something stronger I'll ask for it. Hoping this Natal Hypnotherapy may reduce chances of needing pain relief though.
Good luck with this next labour, and we all have to have faith that no two labours are the same - it can only get better!!

BigMomma3 it's best to do it at a time when you know you won't be disturbed. More chance of it working for you

Lovechoc - without wanting to depress you, that's what I thought too. I'd start off with gas and air and see what happens. What nobody told me was that at my hospital I could have had almost anything else in the early stages except for gas and air. They didn't see it as a continuum of strength at all, which didn't tally with what I'd read/been told at all. I think my hospital was really really crap actually - thank God I've moved!

I really need to get over this and move on don't I?

I got Blissful birth this week.

I listened to it yesterday. The hypnotherapists sounds a little bit menancing TBH. I am not sure where he is from but he has a bit of an east end twang. When he says 'you will be feeling very relaxed NOW' I felt like I really should be.

I did snort quite loudly at the 'you are loving your body' bits . There is also a woman singing 'sweet little baby' in the background which is a little bit icky.

But I am a total, inbred cynic and am trying to open my mind a bit. The basis is sound and I do need to learn to relax. I have another one from my MW and I am going to listen to that too.

Have started a yoga class too.

Really really need a home birth. Need to calm down

gaelicsheep I got asked if I wanted gas and air as soon as I was in the early stages of labour at the MLU. They didn't stipulate what I could and couldn't have, I was just told to buzz if I needed anything stronger and I think I was only 2cms at this point.

It really must vary from hospital to hospital.