Hypnobirthing

[Raindancer411]

Hi all, am going to be going to some groups to do with mental health in pregnancy and it says they so relaxing via hypnobirthing.

What is it and has anyone tried it?

It's just a relaxation technique to help you manage pain. I went to a relaxation class when I was pregnant and considered a hypnosis thing course and regret not doing it tbh.

I think I really helps to be relaxed during labour - I was and it definitely helped things progress quicker I think, but had I been more informed I think it would have gone even smoother. I only had a 10 hour labour and I truly didn't think it was that bad despite a 3rd degree tear and forceps delivery, largely in part I think due to being as relaxed as possible and trying to trust in my body to do what it had to do.

Best of luck! It can be quite an empowering experience!

I did it. It helps a) make you understand that birth is not inherently something to be afraid of and b) gives you visualisation strategies to help get you through labour.

Worked for me! (2 home births without pain relief). But I was anyway not that worried about birth and Labour. Also worked for my friend who developed a bit of a phobia of birth after her first one. Helped her a lot with the next two!

Thanks both, sounds promising :)

I discovered it on baby number 5! Gutted I didn't know about it before! Definitely do it. My 6th baby floated out!

I did an active birthing course, which included the breathing elements of hypnobirthing, as well as learning about the mechanics of birth and practicing different positions. It worked amazingly for me and I would/will definitely do it again second time around.

That said, I had a straightforward and quick labour (3cm to delivery in 4/5 hours). I didn't have any pain relief but if it had been a long labour, I'm sure I'd have chucked the breathing exercises straight in the bin and gone for the drugs!

Absolutely, definitely worth doing, just don't pin everything on it.

I'd describe myself as the worlds biggest cynic but after a horrendous birth with my eldest I was willing to give anything a go.

With my 2nd, I read a book about hypnobirthing and listened to the CDs really just viewing them as a relaxation technique during pregnancy. But it totally worked, I was able to use the breathing and visualisation when I was in labour.

Definitely give it a go, no harm an lots of potential benefits

I did this with my DS. Had a cd from ebay that was purple, I listened to it every day for 2 weeks and it was brilliant for labour. I was induced and it was suddenly very painful but I used the sound of me huffing the gas and air as the gentle waves on my Caribbean island, lying in the sun with my feet in the water, the little waves rolling over my body with the breath in, then rolling away again taking the pain with it on my breath out. Was really good x

I’m 33 weeks and husband and I went to a midwife led hypnobirthing course at the weekend.
It was excellent - asked lots of practical questions, we both found it really informative and I’m now feeling a lot less worried about the whole process.
I found being able to “visualise” it, with the breathing has meant I feel a lot less anxious about the birth!
Obviously have no idea yet if it helps or not!
I was very cynical - and worried it would all be hippy nonsense - but a lot of friends have done it using cds (including friends who are even more cynical than me!) and all said it helped and recommended trying it.

Can't recommend it enough. I was terrified about birth and had a med free water birth. (Obv large part of that is down to luck but I wasn't even slightly scared which was incredible considering how terrified I was before I did it.)

Thanks all :)