Hypnobirthing

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Has anyone done in a hypnobirthing course in preparation for labour?

I've heard a couple of people say good things but I have no idea how to choose a course/ practitioner.

I'm already doing the NCT course at the beginning of Sept (due 25/10) so I'm not sure if both are needed.

Any advice?

I did one as well as NCT and found the hypnobirthing one much more useful to be honest. It covered the stages of labour, different positions which can help you, breathing exercises, visualisation and other relaxation techniques, types of medical intervention and questions you can ask about these (ie reminding you that you don't have to blindly agree to everything the hospital might suggest). There were some 'woo woo' bits like talking about aromatherapy oils and getting your partner to read to you from a hypnosis script (way too cringeworthy for my northern boyfriend!), that's probably not for everyone, but I just took the bits I found useful and left the rest. Haven't given birth yet so no idea if it works but I feel happier and more confident about the process. Have been listening to the relaxation tracks and I fall asleep every time so it must be relaxing!
I just googled hypnobirthing in my local area and found a class that was reasonably priced and close by on dates that suited me (wanted to do it a good few weeks before due date to give me time to practice). I wouldn't have known how to choose between them really, I'd imagine they all use the same sort of principles. I guess just read a few reviews and see how you feel. If you don't want to shell out for a course there are some good books on it too, and you can watch demonstrations of the breathing techniques on YouTube.

Hi. I am doing one - I totally bypassed the normal courses as I have been given next to no info from my midwife and found my children's centre classes didn't work for my husbands shifts. I absolutely love the hypnobirthing . I agree with @Sallyann33 my northern husband nearly died when she asked about the script reading but we have done it once. If you can overlook some really hippy stuff its almost all really useful. We have been using the breathing at night and I am out like a light after 10 mins!!! I would 100% recommend

Loving the hypnobirthing too!

My husband and I have just done a Hypnobirthing course. It wa ms really good, and actually not at all hippy. Just a lot of common sense.
It puts you back in control. I would suggest anyone reads the Katherine Graves book anyway even if they don’t do a course. Really useful.
The mediation’s you can download from iTunes are good too.
My husband has been taking the course quite seriously. And doing all the reading around it. He’s been sending me daily affirmations which I have to say I am finding little bit Cringely. But I think it’s helping him to not feel so much like the spare part. I think it’s actually a good way to make sure that the husbands feel included too.

I have been considering both (already booked on NCT and start in a few weeks) as due mid October but seems very pricey to do both so I found a digital course online that we started last week. For £35 it's approx 6 hours worth of videos and got some great mp3s and other materials. My husband and I have done the first few sections together so far and have found them very informative and relaxed. Obviously I can't compare it to a in-person course but seems like a good alternative if you're considering doing one. Here's a link to the site:
thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk

I second the previous post, the Positive Birth Company pack has been completely fantastic for us so far.

Thank you so much for your responses. The general response seems to be really positive so I think it is worth a go!

@Emelene and @Running365 - The positive birth company have a session running in September about 6 miles from where I live, so I am going to talk to DP tonight and then book it!

I can’t recommend it enough. I practised the breathing techniques and listened to the Katherine Graves tracks every day for 3 months. Yesterday I gave birth and breathed the whole way through it without even using gas and air. I didn’t set out for it to be a natural birth at all - I just somehow didn’t need anything when it came to it. It was 100% down to the hypnobirthing. I started off with buying KG’s book as I figured there was no harm in reading a book. I thought it made a lot of sense and then did a course to reinforce everything. It’s definitely worth giving it a go!

I did hypnobirthing with my second & the difference in births was absolutely astounding.
I didn’t do a course but used Sophie Fletcher’s Mindful hypnobirthing with CD & did all the exercises from 9 weeks as well as yoga.
It kept me in control & I knew what what was going on. Didn’t take the pain away but allowed me to breathe so I can focus on the contraction.

Definitely recommend it.

Yes - another recommendation here for the Katherine Graves book. It's on kindle too. Hypnobirthing was actually my husband's idea, recommended by his friend whose wife did it. He and his pal are very no-nonsense sciency kind of guys but even they thought it was great. I went along to the same class that his pal' s wife did and really enjoyed it and learned a lot. I found some bits a bit cringe but most of it very useful and logical. It made me much calmer about giving birth. I'm starting NCT next week so will be interesting to have the comparison. It was nice doing the course with other people but if you're pressed for either time or money, just reading the book covers everything I learned anyway. The online course sounds interesting- haven't come across that but sounds like a good alternative. My course was £200 for 4 evening sessions and I got the book and MP3s etc.

@minttealady that sounds great! Obviously something in it then! Congratulations!

I've just booked on to the Twickenham course in September. Looking forward to trying this out now after all the recommendations!!