Hypnobirting course or a doula?

[ChurrosConChocolate]

I'm 27 weeks pregnant with my second DC and had a horrible time emotionally and physically with the birth of my first so I'm looking for ways to help this time go better for me. My husband bought me a hypnobirthing taster session for Christmas and I've found the relaxations, breathing, recordings and reading the book useful but I'm wondering whether I would get more out of doing the whole course?

I'm also contemplating hiring a doula and I've found a trainee one so the price would be about the same as a hypnobirthing course. Can't afford to do both.

If you have done one or the other or both what would you recommend? If you could choose one which one would you choose?

Is it hypnobirthing or natal hypnotherapy? I did a couple of workshops in the latter and thought they were really good, but I've not given birth yet so ask me again in 3 weeks time! However, at my last midwife appointment my blood pressure was too high and baby's heartbeat was a bit too fast so I was sent off for monitoring. Over the 20 minutes that that took I listened to a relaxation track from my hypnotherapy CD and breathed and that managed to bring both blood pressure and heartbeat down to normal.

I would say hypnobirthing because in the end of the day, no matter how good your doula is, you still have to do the work. And of course the worst case scenario like what if she can't get to you because of traffic or weather or something?

I am very pro-doula but a student doula may be in this for her experience, not so much yours.

Don't be put off by a student - it totally depends on the person. I had a student doula and she was great - a mum of four having been thru Caesarian, vaginal and VBAC she kept me calm, rubbed my back thru contractions and held my hand all the way.
I had a medical phobia to deal with prior to my first birth and did a lot of preparation with natal hypnotherapy CDs. They were brill. Put them on my iPod and listened on tube, in bed, and there is a post-natal one that was a life saver - I was in bits after with mega tears and stitches. I had a 36 hour labour with induction and the midwife said I would have ended up with an EMCS if I had not been so calm. the birth music CD helped me get the 1 hour of sleep I had in the entire labour. I used Maggie Howell's ones- they are on amazon but you may be able to pick them up 2nd hand. I had the set of 4 or 5. I reviewed the set on amazon and have it 5 stars.
If you have to choose pick hypnotherapy - agree with previous poster that it is YOU doing the real work so the more you can prepare the better.
Good luck - you can do it.
X

Thanks for the views! I'm meeting the doula on Wednesday so I'll see how that goes. Wish I could afford both!!

I didn't know natal hypnotherapy and hypnobirthing were different things? What's the difference?? Is one better than the other?

I don't think there's a big difference - NH is British and Hypnobirthing is American. So I guess it depends which accent you want to listen to on the CD! Oh and also NH is abut half the price of hypnobirthing.

Could you find a doula with hypno birthing experience? Whereabouts are you, I maybe able to recommend a few? (Was a mentored birth doula bt taking a little break) x

Hypnobirthing is brilliant as it encourages your partner to take a really active role in supporting you in labour, so maybe you wouldn't need the additional support of a doula?

Tranquility I'm in south-east London. I thought about a doula with hypnobirthing experience but as I can only afford a mentored doula I'm a bit limited in who to have.

I've got the Katherine Graves hypnobirthing recording so it is in British English...

I'm still in two minds about what I should do..

Go with the doula and just keep listening to Katherine's lovely voice

I did the course with Katherine first time around - I was planning a home birth and found her stuff super relaxing. But it all went tits up at the birth (induction at 42 weeks, hyperstimulation immediately, crash section). The hypnobirthing stuff helped (I needed no pain relief until the spinal for surgery) but it was not a nice experience.

Luckily DS was fine but second time around I wanted a doula. And it was great - I am convinced she is the reason I had a vbac. Not because she 'did' much (no massages or anything - I don't like to be touched in labour!) but she did invisible things, like make sure me (and DH) had enough to drink and supported dh so he could focus on me. Also kept a bubble around me so the midwives dealt with her/Dh.

If you PM me your email I can dig up my notes from the course and copy them. Katherine is a bit of a hybrid, as she has her own take on the colour visualisation etc (she was trained up before hypnobirthing became as prescriptive as it is now, it's all trademarked etc).

Honestly, I found it was mostly just listening to her as I feel asleep that helped! Reading Ina May gaskin is also good.

Glad you had a really positive doula experience for your birth. She sounds like she protected your space perfectly x

For me, a doula. I did natal hypnotherapy for DC3 but when it came down to it I needed totally different coping techniques, like mooing like a cow and getting into undignified positions .

For me, a doula was more flexible and able to adapt to circumstances. I am having one this time too.

For Dc2 I mean. on 3 now!

Flip I've been listening to it as I go to sleep too. I've also just finished reading Ina May's guide to Childbirth! I suppose the thing with the hypnobirthing is I've read Katherine Graves book, I'm practising the breathing and visualisations and relaxations. I wonder what else I'll learn on a course? I'd love the notes if it isn't too much hassle, would they be any different to what is in her book though?

I think a doula would be great but I can only afford a trainee one. I've met one who was lovely but I'd be her first birth and I wonder if that is fair on either of us as I have quite a few 'issues' from my first birth, and I'm not sure how they will manifest in labour... Hopefully meeting another one on Thursday so will see how that goes.

Thanks for all the advice, it does help!

I think a trainee is potentially fine, but I'm not sure I'd want to be the first birth...

My amazing doula was only just qualified when we had her.