Is Hypnobirthing worth it?

[PinkPlantCase]

I can’t decide if hypnobirthing packs are worth paying for.

I’m already pretty well informed, I’ve read a lot about the different stages of labour, what happens to my body and baby, the different types of interventions and things that can go right/go wrong.

I’m not scared about the idea of giving birth, part of me’s looking forward to it. I know it’ll probably be long and perhaps difficult but that’s okay.

I’m booked in for a home birth with a pool and get on really well with the Homebirth team, they’re very centred on respecting what I want. It’s all very hands off and I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to try for a homebirth.

I get that things change and might not go to plan but that’s just part of it all really.

What more will hypnobirthing give me that I haven’t already got my head around?

I have an understanding about keeping active during labour and and an idea of different positions. I don’t know much about breathing techniques but there’s lots of ways I could find out more about those if I wanted.

I don’t know if it makes a difference but I’ve also lived with chronic pain for the last 8 years so being in a lot of pain is something I’m fairly used to 😂

I highly recommend the home birth natal hypnotherapy I had a CD I put on my phone and listened to every day from about 8 weeks before the birth.

There's a hospital version too.

It's a great way to relax and train yourself in relaxation strategies for the birth.

It came with a CD of what I call "whale music" (like they put on in spas and when getting massage). I didn't use this with ds1 but stuck it on as background when I had ds2 at home. It was great. It turned out to be all the backing music to the first CD and is inadvertently trained myself to relax when I heard it. It was very good.

My friend runs hypnobirthing courses and I don't reckon they are as good as investing time yourself training yourself to relax. A bit of brain washing etc.

I just bought a second hand book and taught myself. Soooooo worth it. I was obliged to have an induction again, and the book said you can't do hypnobirthing along with induction but that's nonsense. It was brilliant. I got to 7.5cm dilated on just 2 paracetomol and I had to beg the midwife to check me because she didn't believe I was in active labour (she just kept saying, "you can't be, you wouldn't be this calm and chatty"). I'll admit I panicked a bit and lost my concentration when she basically yelled "oh my you ARE in labour!" and pushed me at top speed on a trolley to a labour room. But up to that point it was amazing and I'm sure I could have kept going if I hadn't had that massive disruption.

Do it. I got to 10cm dilated at home w minimal pain using the techniques (did a course and then listened regularly to cd). Other complications then happened but I can't believe itd have been that easy /pain free without it. I basically had no tiring extended painful first part of labour.

I have just had a home birth and heavily used the positive birth company digital pack. I was a novice but it taught me about up breathing (which I used a lot!) and the positive affirmations were very useful on the Freya app.
The pack wasn't expensive and definitely worth it in my opinion :)

I’ve been using the bump to baby chapter and it’s been invaluable. I’m pregnant with my second so know what to expect but I’m so glad I used it this time round

Agree with pps it was a fantastic tool in my kit and helped me feel empowered and kept me focused. 2 natural births with only gas and air. Well worth it!

I just read about hypnobirthing online..3 children with no pain relief ...but centered myself and great breathing skills!

Thanks for the advice all!

Breathing is essential for labour. I did the positive birth online and it wasn’t that expensice.

Also would recommend the positive birth company online one - very good value

Out of interest, which techniques of hypnobirthing did each of you find most useful?
Breathing?
Affirmations?
Meditation?
I’m not someone that buys into affirmations personally, so if I omit that, am I losing out?
I’ve just completed the positive birth company digital pack, which I loved.

I feel the same re affirmations @bubblesforlife! I think the breathing is great and even just the knowledge about oxytocin vs adrenaline and how uterus works in labour etc. I've found it a great book so far and I'm only at chapter 4 😆

Honestly no I wouldn't bother paying / most you can get for free on you tube/ google.

You can also pick and choose the bits you like and don't like. I loved the breathing techniques and postcard affirmations but hated the guided meditations with a stranger talking over things.

My pregnancy yoga teacher was big on breathing techniques and I really took it with me into my labour.

@bubblesforlife when it came to it it was just the breathing and the Freya app which got me through. I found I really had a much better understanding of the role of hormones etc too which helped me not panic and stay calm.

I didn't use full on hypnobirthing but I think having an understanding of how your breathing impacts your body and how to control your breathing, how to find your "zen" place in your mind while in pain etc is so incredibly helpful. I've had 3 amazing births, and while luck obviously plays a big role, I think the fact that I was able to remain calm and trust my body and my team helped immensely.

Definitely. I had 6 sessions with a hypnotherapist rather than a more generic group. He went through my fears and somehow made them into good things. He made contractions feel short and the space between them feel long so I was so relaxed and like the other posters the nurse wouldn’t believe I was so far along. The absolute best thing tho was being able to overcome my fear at such wierd sensations and really enjoy it all.
Later I needed some extra attention and it was too late for an epidural but I’d learnt to lie on a beach in the sun totally relaxed while my body over there was being seen to. Amazing experience, I don’t konow why it’s not used a lot more for all sorts.
Enjoy!

P.s. the skills have been invaluable since in learning to put myself into a trance to relax quickly .