Hypnobirthing - any positive stories /experiences out there?

[cupoftea123]

Hi, I'm at 29 weeks and been wondering about hypnobirthing, a friend recommended a local course to me, it's about learning deep relaxation and breathing techniques to help reduce the tension during labour. It sounds pretty interesting but I was hoping to hear from any other peeps who would recommend it.

I've got a book and CD on the Mongan method, no classes here where I live (not uk) I'm 23 weeks so shall watch this thread with interest. My last labour I took no classes and didn't do any reading but it came naturally to me to use visualisation and meditation techniques and I found them very helpful.

I'm starting a class when I'm 24 weeks (so 2 weeks time) after I went to a taster session. Could you see if any companies close to you do free taster sessions?

I know 4 people who had done the course and 3 of them had fab first time labour of around 6 hours (2 in water, 1 on dry land) my 4th friend had to be induced and ended up with a crash C section, she said the techniquies helped her stay calm.

I did hypno course and practice in my first pregnancy, and Id say it really helped me get through a vvv long labour at home (3 days!), without pain relief or drama. The best thing about it I thought was the fact that it gives you a really positive outlook as you go into labour. I would say it doesn't cover some of the important basics you should get to know about your options and possible outcomes, so Id recommend it in conjunction with something like active birth training or NCT. Am about to give birth again and have just done a refresher day, and a friend of mine just had her first baby following some hypno training, in 3 hours......!
Good luck with whatever you choose, even after 3 days I LOVED giving birth so something worked with it x

Three of my friends had amazing no pain relief births and swear by hypnobirthing. One of them helped another of our friends, who was abroad and couldnt afford proper healthcare, so had to give birth in a motel with a private midwife, by teaching her the breathing techniques. She also had a brilliant uncomplicated birth, luckily!

Two more of my friends who had done the course, had to have inductions in the end as they were over due and the hypnobirthing thing went out the window! Though I would say it still helped them stay a bit calmer in the circumstances.

I couldn't afford the course so I did the cds, not the same but similar, in my last pregnancy, I had complications in my labour but I would def say that having done all the hypnobirthing cds, that I stayed calm and was able to keep my head during all the fuss and panic, so still a positive experiance.

My friend has recently passed her hynosis course and has become fully quailfied, so she has offered to do the hypnobirthing for me, so I'm going to go for it this time with an open mind.

I only managed to do half the course (as DS decided to arrive in the week between the two sessions!), so I didn't manage to master the whole hypnobirthing thing really, but the breathing exercises and relaxation techniques were invaluable IMO. Not just for contractions, but also for dealing with other painful things (internals, cannulas being put in, epidural being inserted). In fact, because I was making no noise, the anaesthetist didn't want to give me the epidural as he thought I didn't need it

I got to about 6-7cm with just painkillers, then gas and air up to 9cm, then I had an epidural. I feel like I might have been able to go on without the epidural if I hadn't been so fecking knackered by that point.

So even if you don't end up with a 'classic' hypnobirth, and have interventions like I did, the techniques are still BLOODY useful I think.

It worked brilliantly for me! Mongan book and CD only (no classes available), and read lots of positive birth stories (Ina May Gaskin book). Was the lovelies, easiest birth (3rd baby). I'd do it all again tomorrow

Hello - I read the mongon method and listenend to the relaxation cd bit. I didn't bother with the bonding with your baby cd as I couldn't take it serioulsy.

I am crap at visualisation, and was concerned I would not benefit from the method as i only really took in the breathing methods. I was induced, and the whole process took 2 days - I got quite pissed off, but found the breathing REALLY helped:) Day 1 and 2 i took long periods after my prostin pill (induction pill) where i would rock on the ball, listening to a relaxation music cd (not HB, but one off amazon) and doing breathing.

Late on day 2 after 3rd pill, I had my 'membranes ruptured' - HB talk for waters broken (I think) and the whole thing was was quite painful as prostin can make some women quite sore - i breathed and suddenly without intention started visualising without prompt and got through it.

at 8pm went into active labour and I did visualise lower muscles as silk ribbons unravelling, I could feel the baby loweing down, even though the MW didn't really belive me - I was not peaceful and serene and took up the gas and air, but found the HB breathing useful to focus on gettinga s much entinox into me as possible. At 9 i asked for an epidural, the HB did not really help me that much with the prostin induced pain, and the aneathatist came up and spent 10 minutes f**king discussing it - he said I was very calm and relaxed to be really wantring one, and perhaps i should try without - then I felt the baby come down, and without pushing he made a very quick appearance. I did not push once and although it was uncomfortable, i was not in agony, and the MW was suprised how smooth it went. No stitches, and all went well.

This was my 2nd so that could have helped, but i would def recommend the HB. I was not that good at it, and being a cynical old sceptic only read it out of interest, but found unintentionally it really helped, so if someone were to put some effort in, they would prob find it great. Would do it all again tomorrow, and am quite sad this will be my last bubba:(

Good luck

Have done the course, but waiting for flump to arrive 39+2. It has made me a lot calmer and I am actually looking forward to the birth, whereas I was very panicky about it before.

As someone else said it has made me calmer, thinking about things that may happen which aren't in my ideal birthing plan ( from the waterbirthing pool not being available to medical complications) and I feel like I would handle them better now. I'll let you know how it goes!

AdiVic interesting to see we had the same problem with the anaesthetist! As if you need to be screaming your head off to be allowed an epidural

I cried at mine, and he caved

I am thinking of doing this. My friend raved about this woman - www.thehypnobirthingcentre.co.uk/hypnobirthing-course-venues/
i've also been given a book and CD but am not sure if I'd be able to concentrate to get enough out of it without the classes.
I've only heard positive things about hypnobirthing - much like the posts above.

I did the self-taught course, and it worked well for me. I felt calm and in control through my labour, and when we got the hospital I was 10cm dilated. I was lucky to have a reasonably short (12 hour) labour, and it was a straightforward birth, which no doubt helps, but I would recommend giving it a try.

we've started a course locally even though it costs a bit however I've heard that the nhs are about to roll it out nationally cos of the much reduced rates of interventions (ie lower overall costs). I saw this impressive video of an american hypnobirth see www.sheffieldhypnobirthing.co.uk/?p=589 - such a contrast to those one born every minute traumas that are regularly shown. Thanks for everyone's replies to this thread. If anyone wants to stay in touch to share how their hypnobirth goes please stay in touch! I'm due on 02/08/12 ... not too long to wait now :)

I did hypnobirthing with my first and had a terrific experience. A four hour labour and no pain relief. Also when waters broke, I had to go in to hospital as bp had been a bit high. Consultant told me that I would have to stay in if my bp didn't drop ten points within twenty mins. DH used hypnobirthing techniques on me and I dropped twenty points plus within my allotted time.

I did hypnobirthing with dd2. Great experience. Went in to be induced but kept telling them I thought I was in labour but midwives said I couldn't be. Finally went to be examined before pessary and I was 6cm dialated. Midwife v shocked. I had been using my breathing so virtually no pain. Great birth but pushing still hurt. No pain relief though. Still use breathing techniques for dentist and smears. Highly recommend

loving this thread! 36wks, been doing the CDs and book at home. great to hear how well it can work.

I did hypnobirthing, I lived too far from a practioner at the time, so just went with The Mongan Method book and Cd.

I was 38, first time mother, I had my baby at home. I really didn't feel a thing, even now I can't quite believe it.
I remember when dd head crowned, midwife told me, and I thought "here it comes, the Ring Of Fire" but nothing, just a feeling of pressure.

My waters broke at 9.30 am, dd was born at 4.20 pm. Good luck.

Hi. Could anyone tell me how long I'd need to 'do' the cd at home. I am due on the 15th and don't know whether it's worth ordering now! Was one of the last things on my list, but maybe it shouldn't have been...
Thanks

Give it a bash. I think I stlll have my copy. I'll have a root round and PM you tomorrow if I can find it, i'd be happy to pass it one..

Hi runlola our tutor has recommended listening to the cd everyday from 36 weeks, she says that any practice can be a help though. Get a copy and see how you find it. The breathing techniques in the book are also pretty easy to pick up. Good luck!

Hi Runlola. I started reading the Mongon Method book and using the CDs from about 2 weeks before my due date. DD was 4 days late so about 18 days of 'cramming' in total (usual style for me). I found it totally amazing and would recommend you giving it a go even now. I had a home birth, 13 hour labour and the midwife wouldn't let me get into the pool until I was actually pushing because i was so calm she thought I wasn't far enough along! She finally examined me and said, "goodness, you'd better get in the pool now if you want a water birth" and with that I was pushing, DD out in 30 mins. No pain relief and was honestly the best experience of my life :) Just found out I'm pregnant again and will definitely be dusting off the books and CDs again a week before the birth soon.

I have to say I am really loving all these positive birthing stories, so lovely to hear about them. The one thing that I'm not sure about it the whole 'pushing' thing as the book suggests not doing this as it can tense up the muscles that all the breathing techniques etc are hoping to relax. Apparently our bodies push our babies down naturally without us having to strain. I'm wondering whether I'll be able to let my midwife know that traditional pushing is not what I've been recommended to do. Does anyone have any suggestions or experiences of this? Ta x

I found I did push in the end, but not because I was being told to, I just couldn't help it. Perhaps I wouldn't have done if I'd read the book earlier and practiced a bit more before the birth, but I still felt pretty relaxed throughout so don't think it really mattered. I think midwives are generally pretty happy with what you do as long as they can see progress and nothing is going wrong, so perhaps just go with the flow and see what happens. Good luck!

It works. I had a homebirth in water. No pain relief. Midwife arrived as baby crowned. Born an hour later and my only real utterance was to say Jesus in transition. I was 38yo with that one and will be 41 with my next hypnobaby, fingers crossed this pg and birth goes SA well as last.

Go for if and I hope you have a wonderful experience. Giving birth is awesome in the truest sense of that word. X