hypnobirthing/natal hypnotherapy cd recommendations?

[ooosabeauta]

Have just been reading another thread which mentions using natal hypnotherapy cds, and it has reminded me that my midwife suggested I start using a hypnobirthing cd asap (am 36 weeks pregnant).

I don't know if these are the same thing, but can anyone recommend any useful titles that I can look for in the shops? Thanks!

Basically natal hypnotherapy is the UK version whilst hypnobirthing is the US version. I think courses/workshops in both systems are available in the UK. I've been looking into this too and started off with the US book: Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method: A Natural Approach to a Safe, Easier, More Comfortable Birthing with CD
www.amazon.co.uk/Hypnobirthing-Natural-Approach-Comfortable-Birthing/dp/0757302661/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1283098994&sr=8-2
I have to say that I didn't like it, although from other people's posts on other threads here, other women do find it helpful. I found her quite preachy and judgmental - empowerment is great, but the flipside is that a woman who is finding her pregnancy difficult or doesn't manage to achieve the straightforward (and pain free!?!?!??) birth the author believes she should be able to, may end up feeling "blamed" for having "failed". I also think she doesn't stick to the limits of her own professional qualifications in the advice she gives (e.g. stating in the draft birth plan at the end of the book that you should refuse Vit K injection and elsewhere referring, although with no references, to research that proves that babies who are born to mothers who have epidurals experience feelings of abandonment - really? how do you measure this??). It's also written from a very American perspective that assumes your care will be highly medicalised and that MW-led options are not available, so some of what she writes is less relevant to the UK. That said, I did find some of the relaxation, breathing and visualisation exercises useful and hope to include these when the Big Day arrives. I didn't bother listening to the CD.
I then bought the UK book and CD: Effective Birth Preparation (Hospital or Birth Centre): A Self Hypnosis CD Programme (Natal Hypnotherapy Programme) by Maggie Howell.
www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/ - don;t bother buying through Amazon - they took forever to still not fill my order so I cancelled and bought directly from the natal hypnotherapy site instead.
I've found this takes a much more realistic approach to what is and is not feasible when pregnant and giving birth and that things don't always go to plan. I found that her book gives a more structured approach with suggestions and ideas of different ways to cope at different stages of the birth and how your partner can assist you. I've been listening to the CD and have found it good for relaxation. Note that the CD is sold separately from the book.
Personally, if I was going to buy just one, I'd go for the Maggie Howell. But it is a very personal decision.

Good luck!! Am also 36 weeks today!

I have to disagree with that appraisal. The difference is that HypnoBirthing is the original hypnosis in birth programme whilst Natal Hypnotherapy is a copy thereof.

HypnoBirthing is a full programme rather than just a CD and book. Reading just the book (and not bothering to read the CD) is not going to have the same effect as taking a course. I suspect you bought the US version of the book by the way rather than the blue/white UK version?? It is not at all preachy or judgemental. No one is deemed to have failed and the book empowers women to make decisions right for them, which may empower them to say yes to a c-section without the guilt that so many mums experience.

You may find a HypnoBirthing Practiioner who is able to teach you on a 1-1 basis even at this late stage although usually it's best to see a Practioner before 30 weeks.

I have heard good things about the Natal Hypnotherapy CDs too though.

Thank you both for such thorough responses.

Cardomomginger I have to say that the description you give of the first version explains exactly why I had been reticent to try any hypnobirthing. Having read a local hypnobirth centre's website I felt that it was telling me that I failed miserably in my first birth because it was slow and I felt I suffered an awful lot of pain, and I'm not really willing to accept that that was a personal failure IYSWIM. This second time around I am quite traumatised by my first experience, and am worried that I'll tense up and cause more problems. What I'd really like is to be able to learn to breathe and relax and lessen the fear I've now got. Unfortunately our NCT leader last time didn't believe in teaching breathing techniques, so that's something I could do with equipping myself with this time. I'll definitely have a look for Maggie Howell. Thank you!

NoseyNooNoo thank you. There is a practitioner locally, but having read her website I don't think I could 'buy into' her techniques enough for them to be effective, mainly because her blurb does seem to suggest that my first birth experience was sub-optimal because I mis-managed it, which I find difficult. I'll have a look generally at Natal Hypnotherapy CDs.

Thank you both, and happy 36 weeks cardomomginger!

Fair enough NNN. I couldn't find a UK version of Marie Mongan's book - didn't even know that one existed. And the US edition I read frankly put me off listening to the CD or investigating classes. But, as I stressed in my previous post, whether you "get on" with any particular approach and set of techniques is very personal and what one individual finds helpful and of benefit, another may not. Good luck to all of us!

I'm 38 weeks with DC2 and have been listening to the Maggie Howell Natal Hypnotherapy CD. I haven't got the book, just been listening to the CD.

Obviously, can't comment on its effectiveness during labour, as am yet to do that bit! But I feel so relaxed at the thought of labour, I feel it has already been worth the time and money, even if I go to pieces when it comes to the crunch.

My first labour was 3 days of painful contractions, ended up being induced as my waters had broken and labour was failing to progress, and then had to have forceps as DD's heartbeat was dropping with each contraction. And I had all the pain relief going. And was exhausted by the end of it, couldn't cope with actually looking after a baby at the end of it all!

So the thought of doing it all again got me very panicked. The CD has really relaxed me, hope it does the trick when the big day comes!

Thank you InTheZenGarden, I'll definitely have a look at her stuff. I need to get into town for it though I think because Amazon says 7-11 days for delivery, and I have left it a bit close for comfort!

Sorry to hear you had a difficult labour experience too. I was really hoping that somehow I'd be having a caesarean this time (this baby was breech for quite a while so I'd pinned my hopes on that), so now at this late stage I'm realising that I've got to do this, and I couldn't cope with it being like last time. It's good to know that you are able to feel calm about it having done this cd. I'd better be listening to it night and day to make up for lost time!!