Hypnobirthing

[LolaStarr]

I'm currently 15 weeks with my third baby, and after losing my second at 21 weeks last year the thought of labour is absolutely terrifying me. I bled a lot and ended up having a blood transfusion, and the possibility of hemmorage (sp?) and not being in control really scares me. I was just wondering if anyone has tried hypnobirthing before, and whether it's worth looking into?

This isn't what you asked, but have you considered an ELCS? If that's not what you want to do, hopefully someone will be along with some advice.

And

ELCS is something I keep thinking about as well but I keep changing my mind about it. The recovery time really puts me off, and I know there can be serious complications from CS as well. I have an appointment with my consultant next week so I'll be asking her opinion on it then.

I recovered really easily! If you want to ask me any questions you can, I had an ELCS because I'm scared of labour and it was great. The recovery was fine, I was back to normal after a couple of days and had no complications.

I did Natal Hypnotherapy (similar but more UK friendly was my understanding - they don't require you to use a particular set of a language or avoid words etc).

I was anxious about labour anyway, and then DD was born v prematurely which added to stress of the whole thing. But I found NH to be extremely helpful, and I recommend it to anybody that will listen. Labour was still painful but I was (mostly) calm and in control, and I have some really nice happy memories from it.

I judge it to have been a success because I don't feel apprehensive about having another birth.

I did hypnobirthing and had a wonderful (home) birth. I am not convinced this is down to the CD and book or just due to genes and very good luck.

I got Marie Mongan's book with CD. DH and I read the book and we listened to the CD most nights before bed. I fell asleep every time; don't think I ever heard the end of it.
I also read about 3-4 positive birth books like Juju Sundin's birth skills (?) Ina May Gaskin (?) Natural Childbirth and another by Grantly Dick-Read?
Most of it felt like clap trap but I took lots of little bits from them all to help me through it.

I hadn't had any complications and my family have all had nice straightforward births so I felt very positive about it. I kept thinking that I 'knew' I could do it, iykwim.
In reality, I was just lucky. Good luck

Hypnobirthing certainly has a place. Keeping calm and controlling adrenaline is useful

However... It's really important to realise that how you birth and how much pain you're in is not down to it being 'your fault' because you're not zen calm. It's a function of how the baby lies on the day combined with your physiology.

Losing a baby at 21 weeks must be very traumatic and it's expected that you would be upset and anxious with your next. I wonder if some general therapy would be more beneficial? Also have you had a full debrief on what happened last time? This can help you to understand why it happened and perhaps reassure you that it is very unlikely to happen again?

for a safe, uneventful pregnancy and delivery.

I did it but ended up with a traumatic birth anyway (in labour for five days, totally dismissed by hospital then EMCS). Prior to that I had an extremely positive "yes I can" attitude to labour, my mum had had four positive birth experiences, and I knew it would hurt but thought it would be fine. I was wrong.

I kind of resent the implication by hypno birth practitioners that it's all about attitude - if you have a crap traumatic birth you feel rubbish enough about it already without being made to feel worse!

Sorry didn't finish post - just wanted to say the upshot of that is do give hypno birthing a try but don't place too much expectation on it iyswim.

V sorry for your loss op and fx for you

I second a pp re c section in that my recovery time was quick - I was walking about with relative ease (bit ouchy but it wasn't awful) the next day and I'd say I was totally pain free about ten days later.

I've got to have another section should I want another baby due to a specific type of cut they made, so I have no choice but ELCS.

Thanks for the replies everyone. I really need to have a good think about what's going to be best for me. It's good to hear a couple of you have had good experiences with ELCS and it's definitely something I will keep in mind.