Hypnobirth CD vs Classes - any opinions?

[FatBat]

Hi! I am 28 weeks pregnant and thinking of doing a hypnobirthing course (Mongan Method)... but they are so expensive! I was wondering if the book and CD were good enough on their own, or if there was a genuine benefit in attending a class (preferably a benefit that makes it worth the £300). I've just started an NCT antenatal class so it's really just for the relaxation and breathing techniques. Can anyone offer any advice based on their own experiences? Thank you!!

I bought the NCT hypnobirthing CD, and , to be honest, it annoyed the hell out of me. The woman's voice was not at all hypnotic, just boring, and there were a couple of times when she said something vague, like "Think of a beach", and I did, and then she went blathering on about some specific things about the beach which contradicted my view of the beach! The "script" didn't make nearly enough use of effective words such as "strong" and "powerful" and "open", but blathered (again) about "wonderful" this and that, which I found incredibly weak.

As you can tell, I lost respect for it quite fast!

I think a class would probably be better, as it will be interactive, and not dictate what your birth visualisation is.

And please make sure your visualisation does not break down over interventions. This must be the major psychological danger area, as not being prepared for "things to go wrong" is just wrong. If you wanted to be in control in the first place, by taking a hypnobirthing course, the idea that things could go "so badly out of control" would be even more frightening than for a woman who is aware of all the options.

I hope I have not put you off one or another method (except that CD), and that this has been a fair post! Good luck.

Thanks for the feedback - and no, it hasn't put me off at all as I'm trying to read as many opinions as possible before I decide what to do! Just nice to have some genuine thoughts from those who have been there and done that...

I'm glad. It is really hard to be surrounded by people who are so very opinionated about things, when you don't yet know what you are about! However, as this is anonymous, I will never be able to pressure you in RL, so hoped an honest report would help! ;-)

The Natal Hypnotherapy book Effective Birth Preparation recommends giving yourself hypnotic suggestions to help you cope with less than ideal birthing scenarios, along the lines of "As I see the doctor approaching with scissors in his hands I feel calm and relaxed and know I'm going to see my baby soon" (obviously that's a rather exagerated example!).

Whether to go on the actual course or not, dunno really, I never did a course, so can't tell you if that would've been much benefit. I imagine it is much more effective for you if you do the course. The biggest benefit I could see though would be for your partner. I just about managed to get mine to read a few chapters of the book, and persuaded him to try out a particular type of massage that was recommended. But going on the course together would really submerge them into it with you, and they'd learn much more about how to be useful, the right things to say and do, the right way to behave, if they take it to heart they could turn out to be a much improved birth companion.

If you have the money and the time, I'd say it's a no-brainer, but if you haven't, well, it's tricky isn't it. Really think it should be free on the NHS .

I've done the course and it does work if you're 110% committed to it so that's the first thing.
I personally don't think the CD's are enough, there are physical anchors that the hypno-therapist plants if you like so that when you're in labour and your DH does the same the memory of feeling safe and secure comes flooding back.

If you can't afford the course though, the CD that comes with the book is very good and would see you through the worst of it.

I attended classes with my DP and best friend and think they are worth every penny. Yes, the book and CD are great for practicing but I found it invaluable to have somebody show me how the techniques actually work.

For example, during one session our teacher got us all relaxed and then told us to imagine our dream kitchen, the smells from the cooking, the heat from the oven, etc. Then she told us to see a lemon on the worktop and to pick it up seeing every dimple on it. Then we imagined cutting the lemon in half and taking a bite, the smell of it, the feel of the lemon juice on our lips, tongue and inner cheeks. When she "woke us up" we were all salivating like mad and smacking our lips! It was a great exercise in getting a physical reaction just through thought and I don't think I'd have achieved that reading a book.

She also helped us address any concerns we had over the birth and encouraged us by giving positive feedback.

Yes, it's expensive but I used my £190 health in pregnancy grant towards the cost. Agree it should be available on NHS!

I did the course and loved it. The book and CD were good but as our course was run by a midwife of 25 years experience, we got a really good antenatal education from her as well.

For me, understanding what happens physically to you and the baby during labour was just as important as preparing relaxation techniques.
I agree the 'anchoring' stuff we did in the classes was quite important and we definately got our money's worth out of it. I suppose it depends how good the person running the course is.

Hypnobirthing was brilliant for us. It wasn't pain-free, but DS was in a bad position and I don't think that's the aim really. It gave me confidence in my body in the run up to labour and confidence during labour that I could manage, despite it being quite lengthy.

The reason the course is expensive is because you're getting a complete ante natal course thrown in with it, it's 12 1/2 hrs worth of your practitioner's time.
I personally don't think the book would have been enough for me, as on the course you will get extra hypnosis experiencesthat deal with fear release (very important to me) and also scripts for your birth companion to use to help bring you into a relaxed state quickly.
As other posters have said, you have to put the practice in to get the results, just reading the book may explain things to you, but won't help you much without putting in the effort.
Btw, the book/cd you've got is probably the US version, the UK version you get on the course is more tailored to the UK birth experience which is less medicalised than the US in general, you also get a different CD with it.

I have recently had my first session and I think it will be well worth the money. If you can afford it then definitely book a course

There's a home study prog using the best bits of HB & experience that Dany from tums2mumsat a bargain rate, you get mp3s & study booklet & an online support group. My friend won a copy last week in a competition & I've had a look/listen & it's pretty good if you can't afford 1-2-1 courses.

Gentlebirth - if the HB course is being taught properly then it should be preparing mums to cover all eventualities. That's how I teach it & it's in the practitioner notes, not to mention the book & cd affirmations we hand out to every couple.

And excuse me while I wash my mouth out with soap n water, but Babycentre has a really good Hypno community covering all types of hypnosis for childbirth, it's a shame we haven't got similar for mumsnet.