Has anyone been or doing Hypnobirthing ?

[YummyMummy247]

Hi lovely ladies,

Just wondering if anyone has done or currently attending Hypnobirthing? If so what is it like, what kind if think of it and does it really help?
Any info would be fab!
My midwife told me about it today and it sounds really interesting. Hoping I can make the dates and times!
Thanks in advance xx

[LazyDoll]

I practiced hypnobirthing with my 3 births. All at home. Can't recommend it enough! Still use the techniques now for blood test or dental work Congratulations on your pregnancy

[jewel1968]

Yes I did twice. First time with a CD and second time with a hypnotherapist. Was convinced I wasn't under but as it happened both birth were completely without pain relief. I remember the midwife saying that she had never seen anyone more focused. Who knows could have had an impact but could be coincidence. Worth a try.

[venys]

I just read a small book on it, and just imagined a happy place with my last home birth so it doesn't hurt. Good idea from LazyDoll doing it for other uncomfortable things.

[Bellamuerte]

It's basically just meditation and relaxation, not hypnosis at all. I tried it and found it a bit airy-fairy new-age and unscientific because they were talking about nonsense like "energy" etc. Just doing straightforward meditation is much the same imo.

[CluelessMummy]

I did it with my first, but IMO it's only really relevant if you don't need any medical intervention. I was always going to be induced on my due date so that immediately ruled out a water birth, staying at home for as long as possible, etc. and made a lot of it inapplicable to me. Having said that, I was 48 hours in hospital from induction to birth, and the relaxation tracks did help me get some sleep the two nights I was there. But the fact that every session mentioned water birthing (I'm sure that isn't everyone's experience) and the hippy-dippy aspect grinded on me so this time around I'm just going to reread the bits of the book that were useful to me and dig out the audio tracks again.

[slowsloth]

I’d recommend it. There are a few different methods. We did the Marie Mongan method which I think is the original one. We had someone come to our house for 5 classes. We had refresher sessions for dd2 who I’ve not long ago given birth to.

Obviously I think it’s good as I did it twice

Just the breathing techniques to use at different stages of labour were worth doing the course for.

[Ninjamilo]

I've booked a course for January - definitely not airy fairy hippy stuff with the instructor I'm using - I couldn't stand something like that 🤣

[mindutopia]

I did natal hypnotherapy when I had my first baby (and doing it again this time). Yes, it's fantastic, though I would caution that it's really about practicing it, not taking a course. We did take a one day course last time (but it was pretty pointless), but you can't just turn up at a course, do it for a day, and plan for it to work for your birth. It's about regularly practicing self-hypnosis, so you'll need to commit to doing it 2-4 times a week in the weeks leading up to the birth. Make sure the course you take comes with a programme to use at home, ideally a book, and self-hypnosis tracks. For much less than the cost of the course, you can just buy all that stuff yourself (for natal hypnotherapy, the mp3 track is 10 quid and the book is about 15, I think and that's all you need). The course just told us what was in the book (which I'd already read) and there were like 2 practice sessions, but you could have done those at home.

So yes, it's wonderful. I started to practice with my first around 30 weeks, did the tracks about 3 times a week (about 30 minutes or so long), and I had a really lovely, comfortable, relaxed birth. I had a home birth, which I think helps as it makes it much easier to relax, but I didn't need any pain relief other than a TENS machine. I was really comfortable, all really smooth and relaxed natural birth. The relaxation techniques are applicable in other areas as well if you have any anxiety. I've used basically the same for flying (have a fear of flying) and for having dental work done. So it is really effective. But just make sure you leave plenty of time to practice ahead of 37 weeks and focus on the regular daily practice rather than a course (though the course isn't a bad thing either as long as it isn't all you do).

[mindutopia]

Also, make sure whatever it is is actual hypnotherapy. Some of what the pp's have described doesn't sound like it. It isn't just 'relaxation' or 'meditation' if you are actually doing a proper programme designed by a trained hypnptherapist. But there's a lot of weird crap on itunes and stuff people try to download that is like that. Avoid that stuff and do a course/programme that is evidence-based and developed by a hypnotherapist.

[YouBetterWORK]

I've just bought the Maggie Howell cds and book off eBay (can't afford a course fee, and also still undecided about what my birth plan will be). Got about a third of the way through the book and listened to the CD yesterday. Felt very chilled out after that. Whether I'll keep that in mind while actually going through it remains to be seen!!

[Bellamuerte]

I did the hypnobirthing course at hospital and it used words like "feel the energy of creation flowing through your body". And I was like - Is it kinetic, thermal, nuclear or electrical energy? Because there's no such thing as "energy of creation". Meditation is helpful and has proven health benefits but the rest was just hippy-dippy nonsense.

[YummyMummy247]

Thanks ladies for replying. My midwife has recommended it. Apparently they do the course through the hospital I want to have the baby at so that's handy.

Yes I'm really interested in it as feel I can go into the frame of mind and also be really focused when I want to be.

Had a bit of a traumatic pregnancy with my first. So not only was she 6 days late I went into really slow labour. Couldn't stand the gas and air as felt really sick from it so ended up having diamorphine to help with the pain but then had to end up having an epidural in the end that I didn't really want as could only have the diamorphine twice. The epidural only ended up working down one side of my body so at least I could feel when the contractions were coming. Then when I did start pushing finally baby got stuck at one point and her and my heart rate had gone crazy. Ended up having a ventouse delivery and lost loads of blood. So not ideal!!!

So this time round I'm hoping it goes more smoothly and praying I don't need another epidural. That's why I really want to give this Hypnobirthing a go to see if it can get me focused.

Thank you everyone for all of your suggestions and comments. Praying Its on of a night time so my partner can look after my little girl.

[SheGotBetteDavisEyes]

Yes, I did the breathing techniques and it worked brilliantly for me. Really helped to control how I coped with the contractions. Every time I briefly 'lost' my breathing, I could tell a HUGE difference!

[DeadDoorpost]

I didn't intend on doing hypnobirthing but apparently that's what I did on Tuesday when I went into labour. Seemed to really help with I was on the gas and air. Don't remember a thing though. Midwife was impressed.

[wheresmyphone]

I tried. Attended 4 training sessions. Just fell asleep after 5 minutes at each session. Great sleep but really expensive 😀. Gave up. Had lots of drugs on the day instead👍

[YummyMummy247]

@wheresmyphone did you do your training through the hospital.

As presume with it being the NHS it's going to free? xx

[wheresmyphone]

No. I was paying an extortionate amount privately. My post was really a joke. It didn't work for me but I am
sure is worth while for many people. Do what ever works for you in getting ready.

[CL1982]

Just ordered some CDs. Anything that will calm me down is good!!!