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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

hypnobirthing

14 replies

warthog · 23/02/2011 22:37

please talk to me about it. close to birth of dc3 and really really not looking forward. i need to change my mindset.

does it work????

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ninipops · 24/02/2011 11:13

Hi warthog, I did hypnobirthing for DC1 (DC2 on the way) and while I didn't have the pain free birth that they bang on about in the classes I felt prepared for what was going to happen. Obviously not in an I know exactly whats going to happen kind of way but I had a bag of tricks that helped me to stay calm and not panic.

You know better than I did what labour is like and how you can cope sounds like what you need is some relaxation and de-stressing techniques and hypnobirthing will give you that - just don't get too hung up on having the ultimate birthing experience that they try to push!

EauRouge · 24/02/2011 11:27

Like ninipops, I did hypnobirthing with DD (first DC) and did not have a pain-free birth but I think it did make me feel a lot more positive in the run-up to labour. It might be worth a go but it depends how close you are to birth because you are meant to practice the relaxation techniques. You might be best off reading a book like this or this

Would you be able to talk to a MW or doula about your previous experience, see if you can figure out what you think went wrong and if there are ways to prevent it happening again?

lilly13 · 24/02/2011 12:05

i did a one day hypnobirthing course with my patner, and we both found it extremely helpful (focuses mostly on breathing and relaxation tecniques). i have also read a book by marie mognan and have been listenig to CDs. i think if you are serious about it, you should start asap. if you are in london, there are lots of practicioners who offer intense courses.

tiokiko · 24/02/2011 12:07

I used this Natal Hypnotherapy CD and although I wasn't expecting much, I do think it really helped.

I found it helped me to control my breathing and stay calm (I'm usually quite stressy but was super-calm when in labour for some reason) and I do think it made a difference, along with my TENS machine which I used from the first contraction and didn't take off until DD was born.

Whether it was down to hypnotherapy and TENS or just good luck I can't say, but I got to 7cm with TENS only and then used G&A for the rest of the birth and stitches afterwards.

I am 7wks with #2 and will definitely use the CD again, can highly recommend it.

Original poster

warthog · 24/02/2011 15:31

thanks all.

i guess i was looking for a pain-free labour without the drugs! it's just not going to happen is it?

i'm quite good at relaxing through the pain and breathing techniques. i just don't want to feel it again. i've gone through it twice and had stitches and all sorts and i just feel like i want an epidural! but based on past experience i probably won't get it, hence thinking about alternatives.

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NotSoPukeyMummy · 24/02/2011 16:01

Natal Hypnotherapy helped me to stay calm and focus. Not pain-free but the pain was "manageable" without drugs for me.

ecuse · 24/02/2011 16:22

I have got two natal hypnotherapy CDs - have been listening to the 'pregnancy relaxation' one - but not sure I'm doing it right because I think I fall asleep every time! But then I always 'wake up' at the end when they count you back into awakeness so perhaps I'm actually in a trance. Just turned 32 weeks so about to start using the 'effective birth preparation' one, but not sure how it will help if I can't stay awake long enough to listen to them :)

NotSoPukeyMummy · 24/02/2011 18:21

ecuse I always fell asleep too. Never heard the ends of some of them.

But when it came to the labour and birth, I "knew" all of the music. So it went in!

NotSoPukeyMummy · 24/02/2011 18:22

P.S. ecuse if you are falling asleep it means you are totally relaxed and absolutely "doing it right"!

freckleye · 24/02/2011 19:12

Hi,
I did a 4 (I think) session Hypnobirth course with DS1 and a top up session with DC2 - gas and air with 1st and nothing with second.
I totally swear by HB!! Also stop watching OBEM and any birth programmes and discussing birth with negative people as this only adds to you worrying about it. Your birth may not be pain free but it will be 'your' birth and everyone is so different- imo listenning to others regale their tale only panics us preg ones!
Also if you have a private one on one session as I did with DS2 they can allay any fears you have residual after previous births.
It's worth a try! Even if it's just so you get DP to massage you and you can zone out for an hour!

lucyintheskywithdinos · 24/02/2011 19:38

I used the hypnotherapy CDs, never made it past the introduction before falling asleep...and had a pain free birth for DD2. It was amazing, I laughed and sang all the way through contractions...despite her being brow presentation.

I really do recommend it!

smoggii · 24/02/2011 20:56

I used the Natal Hypnotherapy set by Maggie Howels too, thought it was fab. The techniques particularly helped me with getting internal exams (TMI) as I was terrified before i started using them.
I used the techniques in the early stages and they really helped, unfortunately things went wrong and it got very medical so i didn't get to test the techniques on the actual birth but i'm glad i used them.
I got my discs off e-bay

Original poster

warthog · 25/02/2011 20:42

ok - this is what i was after - falling asleep to cd's and having an amazing pain-free birth. bring it on!

OP posts:

OhForASilentNight · 01/04/2011 10:42

I also used the Natal Hypnotherapy set by Maggie Howels www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_All_CDs_10.html I was absolutely terrified after a horrific birth with DD1 to the point that I visited the labour ward when I was about 4 months pregnant with DD2 and had a panic attack - couldn't breath, uncontrollable sobbing, etc.

Started the CDs and fell asleep every single time and was worried that they couldn't possibly have any effect but DD2 was born after a calm and relaxed labour (I asked not to be monitored at all apart from having DD2's heartrated checked every 15 minutes having read the notes that come with the CD saying that at instinctively mothers of all types (i.e. human and animal) want to give birth in a safe private environment, not with spotlights on us and half a dozen people looking on) and only a little gas and air. The maternity unit I went to was also brilliant and allowed me to labour with the midwife just popping into the darkened room every 15 minute until DD2 was on her way out by which time I wasn't aware of her being there. At my request nobody spoke to me or touched me without my say so and I listened to the CD all the way through.

I honestly believe that it would have ended in a CS if it weren't for these CDs.
Also, following a happy birth (not so much as a tear and DD2 settled and content immediately, we went home exactly six hours after her birth) I bonded with her brilliantly and haven't had the hideous gut wrenching depression that I had for the first 18 months of DD1's life...

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