Has anyone tried hypnobirthing?

[ferntwist]

I’ve been reading about it this weekend and watching videos on YouTube and it sounds great. I haven’t signed up for a course yet. This will be my first baby but I’ve had a number of miscarriages, so feel quite anxious and would like to feel happy and relaxed instead!
Would love to hear if anyone else is planning a hypnobirth or has done it before.

I haven’t but a friend of mine did, she’s a first time mum and it sounds amazing! She was so calm and positive about the whole labour thing and really inspired me. If my pregnancy sticks I will definitely be trying to do this myself.

I did it, it’s brilliant. Not nearly as hippy as it sounds, full of really good techniques to stay calm and positive through labour which helps to release the right hormones to progress labour. It obviously doesn’t prevent the need for medical intervention if something means that’s required but can help even in those circumstances.
No, I don’t teach it! But I had a great relaxed waterbirth with DS despite him being 9lb 6oz, the midwife commented on how quiet I was and I’d definitely do it again if I had another.

Thank you for your replies ladies. Oh wow Dr, congratulations, that sounds like a wonderful birth. Was your partner very involved too? That part of it really appeals to me and DH as well.

Marriage Fingers crossed for a sticky one!

Yes, well, sort of...

I did the course, went to the practice classes, listened to the music etc. Convinced myself that it was all going to be great, relaxed etc etc

Got admitted with reduced fetal movement, got induced, had an epidural, failed to push baby out and then had a c section. However, I did use the hypnobirthing techniques when I was having contractions and that did help

Thank you Wowzel, glad that all was well in the end and that the techniques helped during the contractions. Did you find out why your baby’s movements had reduced in the end? That must have been scary.

Oops didn’t mean to keep saying in the end

I used the Maggie Howell natal hypnobirthing book and CD, I found the techniques so useful from the moment my contractions started, it kept me calm, which helped me listen to the midwife. I had a fairly short labour at just over five hours and no pain relief. It was a really positive experience, I definitely made noises when I was breathing, loud breathing I guess, but I didn't shout or scream, which is pretty impressive giving that I am not very good with pain normally :)

With my first baby I read the book (Maggie Howell?) and listened to the CD every night... he was induced in the end and had the hormone drip, an epidural, episiotomy and forceps so it didn't do me much good!

With my second I reread the book and gave the CD a couple of listens. Spontaneous labour, I was already 10cm dilated when we got to hospital, baby born 40 mins later, no tearing etc. Not sure if it was because of the hypnobirthing or just second baby? It still hurt but I was able to keep relaxing myself reminding myself my body knows what to do. I'd recommend the book.

X post! Looks like we're both Maghie Howell fans!

I didn’t with dd and completely flipped out at 4cm and lost all control. It was horrible.

I’m going to try it this time around and see if it helps to keep me calmer than last time. It certainly can’t make me any worse 😂

Wow ann that’s fantastic. Sounds like a wonderful birth experience.

Good luck Teddy!

So glad everything was better second time around Trying

Placemarking

I did the Marie Mongan method, a 4 week course with DC1 and a refresher class with DC2. Also used the cds and book. Both were unmedicated water births in a midwifery led unit with no stitches. I can't say I was quiet but I did feel calm and in control. DH also loved it as I needed him to do the visualisations so it gave him something to do.

Even first time was fine, sorry it sounds much worse written down than it actually was! All v relaxed really, the midwives and doctors were all amazing and it was still a positive experience despite the interventions. Maybe the hypnobirthing prep kept me calm? I was evangelical about it telling everyone I'd be breathing the baby out! Quite disappointing to say no actually he was evicted!! 😊

I couldn't afford the expensive hupnobirthing course but I did the natal hypnotherapy cds with dd2. I had a long stressful labour with dd1. Second time round was great. I was so calm and relaxed and really felt in control. The cd wasn't expensive and really helped. There are a couple of phrases that made me think and dh didn't listen like it said you should but it didn't matter at all. I've used the ' 3,2,1 relax' technique in other situations too and it seems to help
Good luck op

I didn't do the course but had the CDs which I used with all 3 of mine. DC1 I don't think it helped much, I was totally freaked out by the whole thing and ended up with an epidural. DC2 I was more prepared and kind of got how it hypnotherapy would be useful - it didn't really do anything for the pain, but stopped me freaking out during transition. There is a point where my body just kind of takes over and that's when I feel really out of control - for me that was way worse than the pain and that is the bit that the hypnotherapy really helped with.

I can honestly say that giving birth to DC2 and DC3 were wonderful, amazing, enjoyable experiences.

I'm also pretty evangelical about water births - only had one with DC3 but soooo wish I'd done it that way with the 1st two also.

I used the Maggie Howell CD from about 26 weeks onwards as I suffered terribly from prenatal anxiety (not about the birth though!) and I found it really helped me when I was having anxiety attacks.

I was scheduled to have a C section but my baby decided to make an early appearance so ended up having a vaginal delivery. It was all super fast, with no time for pain relief and with the shock of it all I didn't really use the methods during labour itself!

Best of luck, OP!

I also did Maggie Howell. Had significant prenatal anxiety and it helped hugely.

Didn't realise I was actually in labour till about an hour before delivery! Probably largely genes but it definitely helped me cope.

I also think people rubbish hypno through misunderstanding it, and think it claims to be some type of silver bullet for all labour complications. It isn't. It's supposed to help you stay calm which can help labour progress naturally, but in cases where it doesn't, it helps you deal psychologically with sudden changes and potentially scary situations. You could hypnobirth throughout an EMCS, for example!

For me it is part of being healthy and prepared for labour, like eating right and exercising. Doesn't guarantee anything but fits you up to face the worst!

Thank you so much everyone, these are great stories. I’m excited to get going although only 17 weeks, so not sure if it’s a bit early to start practice?
After my miscarriages and two operations on my womb for a congenital abnormality I really want to move towards having a non-scary, non-medicalised experience in as far as that is possible.

Another vote for Maggie Howell!

I listened to the mp3 from about 32 weeks I think. I had the book too but I didn’t get through much of it tbh.

My labour was relatively short at 7 hours and I was already 10cms when I got to hospital. I was so calm the midwife didn’t think I was that far along and had to quickly get herself ready. I didn’t have any pain relief and although it still bloody hurt, I felt the techniques made it manageable and kept me calm.

I bought the mp3 from Maggie Howell’s website for £10 and downloaded it straight onto my phone.

fern yes, my partner was very involved. He started a total sceptic and ended up a convert! He made me listen to the affirmations in the car with him - and teased me for refusing to repeat some of them out loud! He said it really helped him understand what was happening and it made us talk about the birth, what we did and didn’t want and what he could do to help. He is much more assertive than me and was on duty to advocate on my behalf on a few points, which he did very well and otherwise was brilliant at helping keep me focussed on the techniques, absolutely couldn’t have wanted more. In fact at the very end after DS head had made an appearance, the midwife asked me to push and he agreed with her, we’d discussed no coached pushing and so I knew when he said that something was up so I did as they asked and he was born on that push with the cord round his neck, which was instantly sorted by the midwife. Being that clear about what we wanted meant that I knew when he asked me to do something different there must have beeen good reason! DS was absolutely fine BTW! I did tear but he had his arm beside his head so it was pretty much inevitable, the midwife was so impressed by the hypnobirthing she suggested I put the relaxation track back on for the stitches!
I used the relaxation track to help me sleep while I was pregnant and to get through the first hideous days of breastfeeding.
I used Marie Mongan and did a personal class.

Another "Sort of". I didn't actually do any courses or any prep specific to hypnobirthing but was in the birth pool at hospital and someone had left behind a hypnobirthing CD, so I stuck it on and listened to it for about three hours on a loop - it was actually really fantastic and got me into this really meditative state, so I think it would be great to use it properly, and I'm def going to look into it for this time.

I've downloaded the maggie howell half hour thing off itunes, only listened to half of it so far as i fell asleep ha but just wondered, are you supposed to actually listen to it whilst in labour or just put the techniques into practice?