Hypnobirthing classes - worth the ££?

[Clairea82]

Hi!

Thinking about joining a Hypnobirthing class, but going to cost about £180. Wondered if anyone has experience of doing this and what it was like? Was it worth the money?

I would love to know the same thing. I have a friend who swore by it and another who said it was rubbish???

Sorry for hijacking!

Yes yes yes. It's fab. I did natal hypnotherapy (Maggie Howell) and it was enormously helpful.

I hope so... we're planning to do them as I have had panic attacks in the past and am hoping that an approach such as this will keen me calm and focused. £250 near us though but if we weren't doing this would be doing NCT instead and not much in it!

I wouldn't mind knowing about this too. I was sent a link this week and I am tempted. DH would probably think it was a load of rubbish though!

It's around £300 in my area but I'm definitely interested/curious. I've ordered a hypnobirthing book and CD to see what I think first then may sign up for the classes if I think it will suit me.

I swore by them until I went into labour and then I completely forgot that I had signed up to it!

I think they gave me unrealistic expectations of childbirth. I was actually looking forward to going into labour and my hospital bag was packed with relaxing CDs, aromatherapy oils and candles. Dh asked if I was off on a mini break to Champneys!

The reality was vomit, blood and shit. Nothing like Champneys at all and I didn't even get to unpack the CD's...

tungthai that actually made me laugh out loud! Oh no, I think that's made my mind up for me then. Might just try a CD instead of the £200 class.

I booked a private 4 hour session for a Saturday, so my husband and mother (birth partners) could attend. The teacher was also also a very experienced midwife, so we were able to ask any question we liked about the birthing process. It took away a lot of my fears and stress - and the cd has already been helpful through false labour over the past week. Even if I don't get the birth I want as I may now have to be induced, it was worth the money (£120). Having said that, if you are signed up to a good set of antenatal classes, it may be worth just getting the CD.

I'm wondering the same thing book and CD vs classes - £300 round my way. We are doing NCT too as this as our first baby but I'm starting to think another set might not be worth the money if I can do it myself....

tungthai - that's exactly my worry, that it will all seem great but will go completely out the window with the first contraction!

Do they tend to teach you about what is happening though and what your body is doing throughout the process? I think it will help me feel more in control if I understand what's happening....

Think I may do as others are and try a CD first. Good plan!

Lots and lots of women only use the Natal Hypnotherapy cds and book and don't actually do a workshop. However the workshops (£95 in most parts of the UK) teach them so much more in terms of the practical and physical things including working with the medical team, massage, understanding birth physiology, learning rapid relaxation techniques. The main thing that most couples get out of it is the fact that the birth partners feel soooo much more knowledgeable and understanding of what to do to keep her calm and relaxed and how to do it.