Did hypnobirthing work for you?

[cupcakeandtea]

I had a pretty lousy time with my first DC. The labour wasn't that long but I panicked and the pain was pretty horrendous, which led to an epidural and inevitable forceps delivery.

I'm due in April and we had a session with a hynobirthing specialist on Saturday, which was absolutely brilliant. She explained the whole idea that adrenalin when you panic makes the birth so much harder and more painful and I'm practising my breathing techniques every day and listening to the CD she gave me.

I really, really hope this birth is a more positive experience but I just wondered whether hypnobirthing had worked for other Mumsnetters at all?

Hi,

I had a horrible first birth too so I have bought a hypnobirthing book and CD, hopefully it will be better this time around.

Watches thread with interest.

OP, I'm only 35 weeks with my first baby, but as we're doing hypnobirthing classes, I posted a thread about it in the Childbirth forum - have a look, lots of responses there from people who have used it in labour.

I had an epi and bad tearing the first time.
The second time I tried to keep positive and used the hypnobirthing breathing and mantras going during labour and had a really great labour. No pain relief drugs were required and never even got around to using the tens as I was so focused and in my own little world.

If there is a next time, I'll definitely be getting some books and CDs to help me along. I was very late in picking the idea of hypnobirthing, only a few weeks before I gave birth. But it still helped!

I used hypnobirthing first time around. I found it was great for eliminating anxiety and relaxing ahead of labour, and also useful during the early stages, but pretty useless once it came to managing the hardcore contractions or "surges" as they call them. I ended up throwing something at the cd player, after it kept telling me to embrace each gentle birthing wave.

That said, I think I was completely unprepared for how painful labour can be, and so panicked, despite everything I had learned. I suspect it would be more useful second time around as you have some idea of what to expect.
I will have to have a c-section this time around, due to a bad tear the first time, and will probably dig out my tapes in order to prepare for that.

Bottom line, I think it is useful, but don't expect it to work miracles and give you a completely pain-free birth!

I used hypnobirthing. Like RiskIt, I picked it up pretty late on, and I only had a book and advice from otheres who had used it, as there were no classes where I live. I would totally reccomend it. I had no drugs, not even G&A and really didn't find the pain too bad. And was only in hospital 1 hour before DD popped out. I combined it with a water birth, which worked really well.

That said, I wouldn't absolutely swear by it. Like bumpology said - it's not a miracle cure. The stuff about 'breathing the baby down the birth canal' I take with a pinch of salt - but I'd love to hear that it is possible and I just got it wrong!

The basic principle of relaxing which stops your body experiencing a lot of pain, I totally believe though. Hope that helps.

It's very helpful up to a point. I had a pretty horrendous labour and didn't get any G&A til I was fully dilated and the breathing techniques did help me to cope better than I would have done without it (only had the book and didn't read it properly as I thought it was a bit daft tbh, all that stuff about urges and blue ribbons...)

Had I had attention from a decent MW and some gas and air I think it would have been brilliant :) (would have still needed a csection though, it can't work miracles!)

If you can afford it I would have another session nearer your due date but do keep an open mind as babies can be awkward beggars!

Yes, it was fab. I just wanted a method for coping with contractions, I didn't mind if it hurt somewhat. When it came to it I just found the latter stages of the experience very intense, and I didn't feel anything at all as DC's head emerged. My labour was just under 3hrs. It was my second baby and with my first I'd had a horrid induction and instrumental birth.

For number 3 it didn't work quite as well, but I hadn't practised enough and hardly at all with DH. I was more stressed on the day of the labour generally too. So, although not pain free, it still helped a lot.

Will be trying harder this time round .