Hypnobirthing - Is it worth it? Does it cover everything?

[User24689]

Hello everyone!

Just after some help from those that have done hypnobirthing previously. A friend of mine found it really helpful and I have been looking into giving it a go – found a local place that does a course over 2 Sundays, or does 10 weeks of weekly classes. The 2 Sundays appeals to me and to DH who is a bit wary of hypnobirthing (he is concerned it will be very hippy and will involve chanting and ringing bells but he’s going with it, for me ) and thinks it will be better to get it done quickly!

Can you imagine doing the course over 2 days?

Also – I’ve got details of my hospital antenatal classes and a number to ring to book them – this is the equivalent of the NCT classes (I’m in Oz). I wasn’t sure whether I should do both. The hypnobirthing lady said that I can do both if I want and that the difference is mainly that the public hospital classes tend to have more focus on the various interventions I may be offered and prepares you for the ‘what can go wrongs’ of labour, whereas the hypnobirthing prepares you for a natural delivery without a focus on interventions.

I guess my concern is… what if it DOES 'go wrong'?! Would it be a problem if I missed all the stuff on interventions, or could I just do my own reading about that stuff?

Has anyone done hypnobirthing and felt it didn’t help them or didn’t prepare them for labour? I have only read glowing testimonials and spoken to people who have first-hand experience of it helping them, so I feel like it would be a good thing to do but on the other hand, it’s expensive, and if it’s that good an approach, why don’t the hospitals advocate it themselves?

Any thoughts would be most welcome! I’ve posted this in childbirth too, hope that's allowed.

I found hypnobirthing very helpful and I was working form book and cd so I imagine the course would be even more powerful.
Although my two births went fairly to plan, I think hypnobirthing can be really helpful in staying calm if things didn't go to plan. It taught me that while I couldn't control what happened in labour, I could control how I reacted and coped with what happened and could stay calm and focused throughout.

I went to the NHS classes here the first time and did find they were very focused on potential intervention and explanations of that. I didn't find out anything new through the classes as I had already done my own research and knew about potential complications and interventions. I did find the classes a bit depressing and they scared me a bit as they were very negative.

I had hypnobirthing CDs/iTunes downloads for DCs 2 and 3 and found them very helpful.

What about doing the hospital classes and then buying a hypno download? Will save you some time and money. I loved listening to the tracks every time I went for a nap. I rarely made it to the end of the track though before nodding off, although that didn't seem to matter too much.

I'm in Oz too and found our antenatal classes really good. They covered possible interventions so you'd know what to expect if you needed any of them, but also did breast feeding, baby massage, pelvic floor exercises, birth massage, stages of labour, post-birth recovery, solving pregnancy aches and pains etc. It was really comprehensive. A midwife and a physio ran the classes together and they were very supportive of strategies like hypnobirthing and active birthing, telling us all to go and look them up if we were interested.

Rather than book into a course (would probably still be really good, I just thought it would be expensive), I downloaded the UK Maggie Howell hypnotherapy mp3s from her website and also ordered the book. Would recommend all of the above so far, although still 2 weeks off due date! The hypnotherapy stuff does do a great job in making you feel more relaxed and prepared for everything.

Oh and I'd also add that although you can definitely do your own reading about possible interventions etc, the classes are invaluable for getting to ask all those questions you end up having and getting answers based on your own midwives/hospital system. Thought I already knew loads about labour, interventions etc and still ended up with a million questions!

I'm halfway through a hypnobirthing course at the moment. It's ace. I'm a really negative person and just to hear a different positive view is wonderful. We talk about what our bodies are capable of. We haven't talked about interventions but I know if I was to bring it up they would happily do so. I figure I know the basics of interventions anyway and if I did need help on the day then I would be comfortable enough to discuss my options and trust my other half and the midwives. Hypnobirthing works by changing your pov so I'm trying to focus on a natural birth rather than anything else. I know ladies who are in my class and also doing nct classes too. Whatever you feel comfortable with!

How "woo" is it? I like the idea of the breathing control exercises, and relaxation to help manage pain, but I have zero tolerance of unscientific woo of all types :)

Is it something I could take the practical parts from and ignore the rest?

I'm also halfway through a course at the moment and planning on doing NCT also (more to meet people than for the info TBH)

In response to why hospitals don't advocate it... I think that actually they are starting to. I heard about Hypno at my booking appointment where the midwife recommended it and told me that NCT was a bit rubbish and hippy-ish! Also more and more hospital birthing rooms have pools and you are (apparently) much more encouraged to move around and listen to your body than you used to be.

I've found it to be full of good science and amazing reassurance so far... But I guess we will have to see the results in 15 weeks time! :)

I did weekly classes with a highly-regarded London midwife-teacher, and though DH reading the meditations nightly was a wonderful way of going to sleep (generally I'm pretty insomniac), I wouldn't do it if I had my time again. I took it seriously, practiced often etc, but it didn't help at all when I went into labour. It's possible, though, that this was because my labour didn't progress, I never dilated and I ended up with a CS, so the pain never felt progressive or a means to an end - maybe it would have helped in more normal circumstances.

I wouldn't call it woo at all from what I've seen so far. We've gone through the practical bits about how your body labours, the different stages, plus a lot about what progresses labour and science. Basically your body produces oxytocin but only when you're relaxed which is where the whole hypnobirthing birthing thing comes in. They make it clear its not a miracle cure, more about giving you a different way of thinking about it. I'm at colchester hospital where they've just started offering it for free.

My husband's response always makes me laugh. Came out of our first session "that's perfect for you, excellent idea to go," followed by a pause and "some of its a load of guff though"! Gotta love him.

Our hypnobirthing class was lovely, but cost almost £1000 for the two of us, and I ended up having an emergency c-section. So it wasn't - in my particular situation - really worth it. I also felt a massive sense of failure after the birth recalling what the coaches had said, which kind of made my experience worse. So, I think it's a positive thing but of course there are no guarantees with this stuff.

There are different types of hypnobirthing. Some are more pragmatic than others. Natal Hypnotherapy (of which I am a Pracitioner) is all about fostering positivity about birth in all its forms and so should anything not go to plan it helps women remain calm and in control. Its also easier to use with no scripts for birth partners to learn. We teach physical skills such as positions and breathing and massage. We don't cover interventions or drug based pain relief or any postnatal topics like breastfeeding which NCT courses do. If funds and time were unlimited I would always advocate doing both.

Oh I also meant to say, it's most important to find the practitioner who is the right fit for you and that the course has a small number of couples on it. I would say maximum of 4.

Also...£1000 is hugely expensive. I charge £190 for 2 full days or £150 for a full day private session.

Thank you all SO much for your responses, they have been so helpful.

Yes wow at the price saltedcaramel. The one I am looking at is $500AUD which is about 250 pounds. Having read through all the responses I think I'm going to book the hospital antenatal classes too as it sounds like there are other things covered in that which would be useful - thanks gingerfluffball for the aussie perspective! I think it would also be a good way to possibly meet other mums from my area as I don't have any friends who are either having babies or have very young children.

Think I will give the sunday hypnobirthing classes a go as well as it seems that the majority of people did find it useful. Thanks again :)