Hypnobirthing

[sunshinecitrus1]

For those of you who have tried hypnobirthing... At what stage in your pregnancy did you start the courses / reading books etc?

My friend just gave birth and used the positive birth company pack, she has said if she could go back she would start ASAP learning and practicing. At least 20 weeks so this is what I’m doing :)

I’m using the bump to baby chapter, I started it about 24 weeks. It’s so helpful

@sunshinecitrus1 Had my first baby 8 weeks ago and I used the Positive Birth Company digital pack. Would highly recommend it! I’d say the earlier you can start it in your pregnancy the better but I literally watched it right through once at maybe 35/36 weeks and it still helped me loads 😊

Thanks ladies! I am only 8 Weeks + 4 Days so it is very early days for me but I was just intrigued when others started it as I know it is something I definitely want to try I have heard good things about the Positive Birth Company. @Oneandabean I will have a look at Bump to Baby too, that sounds interesting!

I used hypnobirthing over 9 years ago with DS1 and recall I started practicing every evening around 24 weeks. Up until that point I'd read the book but not done any of the practices.

Worked for me, was able to give birth easily using just visualization and relaxation techniques. A lot had to do with baby being in perfect position and had evenly spaced contractions that I could mentally prepare for. He arrived in 4 hours or so.

@Strokethefurrywall Great thanks for the advice! Sounds like your birth overall was kind to you but the techniques you had learnt must have helped you cope even better

Hi, I'm 29 weeks and have just finished watching all the videos on the Positive Birth Company online course. I first downloaded it at around 22 weeks. Now I need to start listening to all the MP3s and practicing my breathing. It's really informative about birth preferences, I hope I can stick to it during the birth and it stops me having a wobble!

Following with interest as have just started reading the positive birth company book at almost 30 weeks.....wondering if I should consider online too.....

@ALew15 I found it really informative too 😊 I had my first baby 8 weeks ago (induction due to large baby and split pelvis 😓) and it really helped me 😊 I had a couple of older midwives at the start of my induction who were VERY pushy on pain relief but I felt really confident expressing what I was comfortable with after watching those videos and having a better understanding of what was happening! I managed 39 hours flat on my back and completely immobile due to split pelvis with only gas and air and using breathing techniques from the videos 👍🏻 If the midwives had had their way they wouldn’t have let me have my waters broken without having an epidural 🤨 nothing against epidurals if that is anyone’s choice - it’s just not something I really wanted unless I felt I couldn’t cope any longer without it 🤷🏻‍♀️
Keep practicing the breathing and good luck 😊😊

@HungryHippo20 can’t comment on the book as I haven’t read it but I used the digital pack online and found it really useful 😊

@HungryHippo20 got the book for Christmas so started reading it now. Im Due April 12th. Was going to buy the online pack as well, but going to finish the book first. I will probably finish reading it before next Monday 😆

Yes think I'll do the same @blodyn91, I'll speed read it over the next few days 😆

The online course definitely outlined what my preferences would be- staying at home as long as possible, little interference in midwife led birthing unit, use of birthing pool, dimmed lighting etc. But then again I am open to all eventualities should they arise, I feel I am informed enough to make choices that are best for me.
Just need to train my lovely hubby up now!

I did hypnobirthing as a zoom course from 20 weeks. It helped me to stay calm during the rest of my pregnancy. In reality, it just didn't work for me in labour and when my dh put my tapes on during contractions, my exact words were, "Turn this shit off!".

Not done any hypnobirthing previously but am keen to try. I have had two previous inductions and both were very medicalised for various underlying reasons. Similar outcome likely this time and I will not be a candidate for midwife led / birthing unit etc. I’m open minded generally but I’m just wondering if like NCT they are a bit biased towards the ‘all being perfect’ water birth / relaxing whale music scenario as opposed to lots of interventions and medical involvement? Probably not phrasing this well but hopefully you get the gist!

@ALew15 DH watched all the videos with me...and could only watch them one at a time or he fell asleep. Says she has “too relaxing a voice” 🤣

@Chanel05 🤣🤣 I feel you on that one! The tapes were NOT for me 🤣 definitely helped me be more informed on what was going on and my birth options etc though 😊

@Puddlelane123 I had an induction too and the course definitely still helped me 😊 obviously there was some stuff that I couldn’t have like the lighting etc but in terms of educating me on what my birth options actually were in that situation and helping me to stay calm and be assertive in making those choices it definitely helped. The first pair of midwives I had were VERY pushy about pain relief and very negative about the induction process (started off by telling me I had to have an epidural as I had a big baby and I “would most likely need forceps”). Obviously that didn’t make me feel great but instead of panicking I stood my ground and explained what my choices were based on what I’d learned from the course. But they still kept trying to force it. Change of shift came and my next pair of midwives were an absolute DREAM 😍 3 pessaries, waters broken, hormone drip, 39 hours start to finish. No need for assistance, minor internal tear with. Few dissolving stitches. Breathing techniques and some gas air for pain relief. The course is definitely slightly geared towards the “perfect” scenario but there’s definitely stuff in it relation to induction and c-section etc too 😊

@Puddlelane123 I'm afraid I cancelled my course because I found the pbc very skewed towards the perfect birth/no intervention! From the get go. But I may have had an overly strong reaction here. I can understand how the techniques would be helpful x

Thanks for all the replies ladies! I think I am going to look at reading the book around 20 weeks and then move on to the course. Really interesting to hear all of your experiences with it. In all honesty, I rarely hear anything negative about the Positive Birth Company apart from them taking a “perfect birth” approach to things. For me, I am aware that not all births are perfect and complications can arise but I want to gain more knowledge and feel more prepared at the very least so I think it will be useful for me xo