To Hypnobirth or not to hypnobirth?

[dal21]

Has anyone got any first hand experience of whether this helped them in labour? My midwife today said that although initially sceptical - the recent births she has attended where the women have done this have made her revisit her opinion. The women apparently were in control and were fantastic births. So she has basically said that if we are open to the idea of it - we should look into it.

Any thoughts?

I did a self-hypnosis course for my first pregnancy and I'd hightly recommend hypnosis. Although the labour didn't progress and I ended up with an emergency c-section due to foetal distress, I still felt that the overall experience was incredibly positive, which I definitely put down to the hypnotic suggestions. My only word of warning would be that in my case I felt so confident in my body's capability to give birth naturally that I was very blase about the doctors' concerns about the baby's heart-rate, which in retrospect still gives me chills.
PS. In the course we did he said that we'd also be able to have dental treatment without anaesthetic - a theory which I haven't dared to test!

Has anyone got any tips about doing something like this themselves at home? I haven't really got time to start classes or anything, but any tips on getting in the right frame of mind, or any exercises etc I could do myself which might help would be greatly received.
Thanks PPS (35+4) xx

Hi,

have not given birth yet (33+1)but have been using a Hypnotherapy CD. Don't know if it's going to work but I believe it is helping to protect me from negative thoughts and images about birth.

I am really looking forward to the birth and feel calm about things so I think it is doing the trick. And the relaxation is great!

Just need to convince dh,I think he has pretty stereotypical images of how he expeacts the birth to be !

I used the Natal Hypotherapy CD, which I just listened to at home quite a few times once I started maternity leave. Also listened to it during the labour - home birth, very quiet and peaceful. Far from pain-free, but no pain relief needed, and I never felt as if I couldn't cope well with it using breathing and massage. A friend who ended up with a C-section also used the CD and thought it was great too. Give it a go! (Incredibly relaxing to listen to in the last few weeks of pregnancy too)

Hearing all the fantastic and positive stories is great! I am on the search for a course held over a weekend - cant find any yet! most seem to held on a weekly basis. can anyone point me towards one that is held over a weekend?

there was a thread on this a few days...But totally reccomend HB! I had my first child at home last year and labour was 4 hours (which was pretty much what I'd visualised!) I think the sooner you get on it the better though, I did it from about 28 wks; my friend did from 36 and didn't rate it as highly, although her teacher did sound crap!

Princess - there are lots of CDs you can buy as noted here, also look at amazon and the nct website. Also, I looked at this website that naturelover recommended lucysymons.squarespace.com - she does a phone session with you if you're not nearby her in Surrey. Then she does a bespoke CD for you 60 pounds. That seems pretty reasonable if you don't have time for a class.

My instructor is Rosie Goode here in London. She's amazing and she got my husband right on board in the first few minutes. It's really important for him to be supportive. If you doubt his ability to get there with you, can you hire a doula with hypnobirthing experience? The Doula UK website would help you find someone like that. It can be so much less expensive than people think to have a doula!

When is the best time to start the classes?
Also are private classes better than a group (or vice versa)?
The lady in my area offers both and I can't decide.

I had one (personalised) session with a hypnotherapist who recorded it and gave me a tape, told me to listen to it as often as possible before birth. I listened to it regularly but often fell asleep half way through! Which is probably why it did nothing for me in labour. I would suggest if you are considering hypnobirthing (and there are so many positive stories out there I still think there must be something to it) - take it seriously, go to a course and be very very open to it. Otherwise you may find like me it didn't help. Although my tape really helped with that last month of pregnancy insomnia!!

Wow - never thought so many courses and check ups would be involved in having a baby!! Will have to find somewhere that just does it in a weekend. DH cannot take more time off from work for these ontop of the other classes!

I am also doing a course - give birth in two or so weeks. The teacher is very good, and I also got the Natal CDs first as we are doing the course rather late:

www.babyjourney.com/locationsuk.htm

Patti Good - she doesn't do weekends but does do evening classes and offers a private sessons.

It's great to read the positive stories, and hopefully I will have my own to add soon. I am have gone from being terrified to looking forward to it.

I had a difficult birth with DS1, which meant I was really sacred of giving birth again. My hypnotherapist gave me an individual 'fear relase' session (she sent DH to the pub next door) which really, really helped. If you're aprehensive about giving birth, it't a good idea to ask for this.

I had 3 sessions with a hypnotherapist. She recorded our second session, when I was put under, and I played her tape every time I had a nap or went to bed for the last 4 weeks before ds was born.
I really really think it made a difference. I approached the birth with much more confidence than with dd and just seemed to cope with the pain 1000 times better.
Also would strongly recommend ante-natal yoga. That also was a god-send.

If anyone is still looking for a weekend class can I recommend this lady

www.yourbirthright.co.uk/index.asp?PageID=15

She also does classes over a few weeks. Based in the midlands, I think near Leicester/Nottingham.

I spent a few hours talking to her today and she is awesome. I'm nearly considering getting my tubes untied so I can have a hypnobirth, she's totally inspiring. I was a bit sceptical about this sort of stuff before but I felt so relaxed as she demonstrated some of her techniques.

Thanks Stripey. I have found a lovely lady based in London. Does the classes over 2 saturdays. am going to the ones at the tail end of this month
katerine graves

Hi there - I did the Natal Hypnotherapy course over a weekend a couple of weeks ago with my partner. It was brilliant! I am now 38 weeks - so not sure how things will go, but I do feel positive, prepared and very excited about the birth. Even my partner who's pretty reserved and sceptical enjoyed the weekend and thought it was helpful - so we'll see...

www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/

If you want to ask HB teachers and mums about this, you might want to try the official HypnoBirthing UK site forums:
www.hypnobirthing.co.uk/forum/