HypnoBirthing? Bull***t or beneficial?

[ChineapplePunk]

Has anyone tried it? I am a natural born sceptic when it comes to these things, and I know there isn't exactly a wealth of peer reviewed studies supporting the benefits of hypnobirthing. However, I am curious nonetheless.

Well, I've been using a maggie Howell natal hypnotherapy cd since I was 34 weeks, now 37 and the reason I started with it was because I was feeling very tired and very stressed and suffering with terrible insomnia. I decided to give it a go following a recommendation in a book. I have been listening to it three times a week and will soon up that to once a day and although I can't yet say whether it helps with actual labour and birth, it is absolutely helping me prepare myself for labour and birth. I feel calmer, more relaxed and much more capable than I did before.

It's basically just about being as relaxed about the whole thing as you can and using mind techniques and visualisation to help you cope. I'm a fan. And it can't hurt can it!!!

I haven't tried it, because visualising is not my thing.

However - I don't see any reason why people shouldn't give it a go, even if it doesn't work you can still have drugs etc, so there is nothing lost in that sense.

There's some quite interesting thoughts about hypnobirthing in juju sundin's book Birth Skills. Basically, yes, it is a good technique, but it might not be enough for you on your own so it's not a good idea to go into labour relying on it totally and with no idea about other things you might try. If you do and it doesn't work for you, you might get panicky or feel like you have failed - which of course you absolutely haven't. Labour is painful and different things work for different people to cope with it, so it is a good idea to have a few ideas about different ways to stay calm rather than just the one technique. (And of course, if none of them work - you can still have the drugs!)

I read Hypnobirthing The Mongan method when I was pregnant with DC2 and even though I didn't apply the techniques fully during labour it helped a lot.
It relaxes you and helps you breathe through the contractions which imo make them less painful.

Like anything else, it depends on you and the birth you end up having. It can be helpful (I've read). For me, it all got forgotten pretty soon (but then my births were on the bad side of horrific!). If nothing else, listening to the CDs were a fantastic way of having a rest and a kip in later pregnancy!

Can't hurt, worth a go basically.

I'm a huge sceptic but I gave a hypnobirthing CD a go because it won't do any harm and if it does help then great. I found it very relaxing listening to the CD. In fact I'd fall asleep well before the end I had a home birth and did use some of the techniques but as I have nothing to compare it to I can't say it did or did not help.

V beneficial! Dc1's birth was a disaster from start to finish so when preg with dc2, I bought the CD's. I did it every day for the last few weeks of pregnancy and it really helped during his birth The pain was much less. I felt more in control and calm throughout. He was 10lbs 13oz but it was such an easy birth.
Would thoroughly recommend it - in fact have bought the cd for a friend who is pregnant with her first.

I read the book, but didn't use the CD. The techniques seemed to help me get to sleep in late pregnancy which must be helpful, and I remained incredibly calm throughout a long labour, even though SPD meant I needed an epidural eventually and only just avoided a cs. Hard to say if I might have been calm anyway.

So I tend to tell people to try the book/CD but only splash out on an expensive course if they really think it's the thing for them - anything that helps you stay calm in late pregnancy is possibly a good idea.

I'm sure it can help as part of an arsenal of tools but I think you have to have some faith in it.

But Marie bloody Mongan can bugger right off with her dangerous and accusatory stance on childbirth.

Hi I used hypnobirthing and had my daughter at home ( first time mum ) with no drugs at all and no stitches needed. The midwives couldn't believe it ... Good luck it was definitely worthwhile for me I did start the whole programme quite early on in my pregnancy though and took it seriously! ( btw I am not one of those anti-drugs people or hippie types I simply have a huge phobia about hospitals and procedures of any kind!) all the best to you

I was a massive sceptic. A friend lent me the book and CD. I read it/listened to it... and remained a massive sceptic. I think you have to be more open minded than I was able to be .

However DH was able to make me laugh whilst in labour by quoting things like "my birth will be easy, because I am so relaxed." in a "woooo" voice.

I actually had a v quick birth with no pain relief, so maybe it did work after all on a subliminal level

Hypnobirthing isn't about guaranteeing the birth you want. It doesn't make a homebirth with no drugs 'possible'. I think the only negative I found with it is that I failed to recognise first time round that it's about helping you feel confident, relaxed and positive regardless of outcome. Yes it can help you work towards your ideal, but it's more important to use it as a tool for harbouring positivity.

I tried for a homebirth, drug free first time and couldn't do it because I have a twisted pelvis (didn't know at the time obviously) and can't give birth vaginally. Second time round (twisted pelvis still undiagnosed), I used it to approach whatever came my way (another emcs as it turns out) and it was brilliant.

I would agree with Showy. Hypnobirthing helps you cope with the situation. It may calm you by giving you techniques to distract you but it won't fix any problems due to biology or plain old bad luck.

I'm not a woo lentil weaver but I do think expecting the worst, hoping for the best and doing what you can to prepare is a useful attitude (as is accepting that much of your preparation may be futile if your body or baby are not designed for easy birthing). I knew nothing much about the actual physiology of birth and what would happen at each stage and what practical things I could do to help (like using gravity) so I did NCT classes. My head needed a bit of prepping too so I gave hypnobirthing a try.

Who knows if it worked? Would my labour and ds's birth have been worse without it? No idea. But it did no harm so that'll do me.

I really enjoyed the book and I think it helped me cope in labour...

I did a Hypnobirthing course and certainly didn't achieve the calm relaxed state that I was supposed to! However, having said that, it did make me more confident in my body's ability and I did my best to stay relaxed etc and was able to manage the labour without drugs, so I would say that it helped me to achieve the drug-free birth without interventions that I wanted, but as for the "it's not a contraction, it's a surge"..... IT'S A GREAT BIG BLOODY PAINFUL CONTRACTION!!!

I think anything you can to do make your birth as positive as possible and relax you throughout pregnancy as well as birth is worthwhile.

I haven't tried it yet myself but will be giving it a go. My mum used hypnobirthing (which surprised me as I really didn't think it would be her thing) when she had my brother and I and strongly recommended it, helped her feel more positive and in control etc, as others have mentioned. Coincidentally, she had very little drugs, just some gas and air right at the end, it may be unrelated, who knows.

Figured I might as well give it a go, will hope it helps but will be prepared in case it doesn't.
Good luck

Amazing, just amazing.

Dd1 induced due to pre eclampsia, failed epidural, no hypnobirthing, I still can't talk about that birth properly, when explaining it to a friend a while ago she commented she could hear in my voice how it had left me and just thinking about it has left me tense, no major complications just a horrible fast labour with a midwife who thought I was dosed up to the eyeballs when the epi wasn't working.

Dd2 also induced due to pre eclampsia, another failed epidural though this time they recognised almost immediately that it hadn't worked but couldn't do anything, in the meantime I'd taken a hypnobirthing course and read the Mongan method, such a calm easy birth that the midwife didn't believe I was in active labour till dd2 was crowning, still giggle at the panicked look on her face at realising I hadn't been exaggerating my progress!

Dd3 naturally went into labour, no pre eclampsia and could tangibly tell the effects. Went for a bath while waiting for dh to arrive at hospital and went through a cycle of oh god I can't do this on my own which accompanied intense pain to ok calm down remember the techniques and feeling calm and very little pain, completely dealable with. The midwife had done a check and said I'd be hours so when things started to feel a little harder with the methods I decided I needed gas and air if this was going to carry on all day. Got checked again and now know that intensity was due to being nearly done, 2 more contractions and dd3 was out.

Can't recommend it highly enough, even just the book, I did the course to help get past the issues dd1'sbirth had left

It's bloody fantastic.

Think you have to practise everyday and really believe in it otherwise no point, you can't just 'dip toe in'.

It's also good to use alongside other pain relief e.g. gas and air, as both about relaxing and letting go - not tensing up. It's not just about taking pain away - although it does do that - but also helping you remain calm and in control no matter what gets thrown at you. Especially once you're on the NHS production line...

I did the course and the tutor was (and is) a very experienced midwife in her late 50s. I think having a midwife as tutor made a big difference to me as I had faith in her knowledge and advice. I am definitely not a lentil weaver either.

As others have said, only got one DC so nothing to compare it to but it enabled me to feel calm and not panic despite what turned out to be a less than natural birth. I found contractions quite manageable and was 9cm dilated when I got to hospital (after about 4 hours of labouring at home) and felt ok although did have a bit of gas & air at that point. Unfortunately as DD was very distressed I ended up being wheeled straight to theatre for a crash section under GA, but at no time during labour did I feel that I was in terrible pain or that it was frightening/horrible.

I will use it again (probably do a refresher course) if I have another baby.

I was highly sceptical but thought it was worth giving it a go. Did the course with tutor. Can honestly say it was money well spent!

Not only did course make us set aside time as a couple to think about baby, but also gave the opportunity to bond with baby in way that I don't think my husband would have thought about otherwise.

It did take a lot of practice, and giggles, but when it came to it I was in hospital for just 3 hours before having baby and home 12 hours after. Didn't experience pain, just pressure (please don't hate me for it!) and had a natural waterbirth. Sounds very treehuggy, but was an absolutely amazing experience.

I could literally have done it again the next day - I was totally buzzing! Course just teaches you to let your body do what its built for, rather than working against it with panting and pushing etc.

Worked for me anyway, and will be doing a refresher course for bump!

beneficial.

i had 3 homebirths and did all of it myself with no intervention, no drugs, no g&a, nuffink but relaxation excercises and breathing.

you have to really, really believe it though. i was still a bit skeptical at the last minute and couldn't convince myself 100% - i also wanted to be prepared for change of circumstances and emergencies, but i got 3 births exactly as i planned and wanted.

Definitely worked for me with my two DS after a very painful and long birth with DD. I recommend it to all my friends.

It wasn't painless but it was really manageable.

It worked for me too but I do agree that you need to practice it regularly. My first birth was about 98% pain free and I'm planning to use hypnobirthing for the second. It seems to me that it's all about going back to your 'animal' instincts and reprogramming your mind to forget all the horror birth stories that you hear. There's no other animal that needs a midwife shouting at them to push, they just let their bodies get on with it and keep calm and quiet. Obviously, if your baby's in a bad position or distressed, it may not be born very easily. But hypnobirthing can still help you stay calm and relaxed and hopefully more comfortable than you would be without it.

I think I may give it a go. As many others have said, it can't do any harm. I am only 14 weeks pregnant at the moment but I have absolutely convinced myself that I am going to have a horrendous birth. I'll be 41 by my due date (first baby) and have really homed in on all the negative stories I've heard. Now, I know 41 isn't exactly geriatric these days, and I consider myself to be fairly fit and healthy, however, I am a pessimist by nature. Seems to me that anything that increases my positivity can only be a good thing.

I am willing to try anything. Drugs a-go-go, as well as "lentil weaving" methods.:) I'm not precious about the whole natural birth thing, but it'd be nice to create an atmosphere conducive towards not freaking out entirely when the contractions start. :)

I've been doing the natal hypnotherapy cd (maggie howell?) and have really enjoyed it. No idea if it will help at all on b-day but I do feel so lovely and relaxed after doing it that even if it makes not a jot of difference on the day I still feel it's been money and time well spent. Lentil weavers ahoy!

I used to teach it - I trained when I was pregnant. I also knew which drugs I could have when (I am a wuss when it comes to pain)! It worked for me - a very boring, uneventful birth.

I only had one client who didn't have a 'calm' birth - baby was ill and she was born very premature and poorly. The dad did call me to say that they used the relaxation techniques to get then throught the tough time and he was grateful that they had done the course.

The course teaches you how to relax into the birth, use natural/breathing methods and how to approach the situation if things don't go to plan. It can also be used for breech babies (don't ask how, but it does!)