Hypnobirthing! Any positive experiences to share?

[Grace2296]

Hi everyone,

I’m 29 weeks tomorrow and thought I should maybe start thinking about preparing myself for birth and labour (this is my first baby!). I am really interested in hypnobirthing, has anyone had any positive experiences with this? Could you share any places online to find out more info or a podcast/online course I could look at?

Thanks 😊

Hi Grace,

I’ve had two really positive birth experiences with hypnobirthing. I felt that it helped me move from being anxious and doubting myself, to feeling ready and confident that I could do it. My first labour was 6 hrs and my second was under 2 hrs, and both times I was fine without any drugs or gas/air. I could have just been genetically lucky, as my sisters also had quick births, but it definitely helped my mindset.

The hospital offered hypnobirthing classes for a small fee. With the pandemic, this will probably not be possible but hopefully there are some virtual alternatives for you. Good luck!

The Positive Birth company are amazing - they do a reasonably priced digital pack. I gave birth without any pain relief using what I’d learnt. I’d do it again tomorrow!

@MumofBoysBexley @Nightmanagerfan thank you ladies, both your stories are amazing! I can only hope it does the same for me ☺️

I used the Maggie Howell natal hypnotherapy book and CD, I only read half the book, I was dubious about some of the things I read and a bit 🙄 when people said it took away the pain, so stopped reading it. The CD though I liked, and I used the breathing techniques to keep me calm and focussed during labour, when I did try gas and air it took me out of my breathing rhythm, which I didn't like so carried on without it. Was a good experience, not pain free, but good :)

I've signed up for hypnobirthing online www.hypnobirthing-online.com/, although I'm yet to start it so can't offer a proper recommendation! I was persuaded by the many positive stories on her site and the fact that it was only £25.

I was also recommended The Positive Birth Company.

Would second what Mumofboys said. Whatever direction your birth ends up going in, preparing with hypnobirthing will help you go into labour feeling strong and confident, even excited, which is exactly the mindset you want to have. Good luck with everything.

I am also 29 weeks tomorrow!

Downloaded the positive birth company digital pack last night, but haven't done anything with it yet. They are pretty active on Instagram too, if that is your thing.

I will definitely have a look at The Positive Birth Company, thank you everyone! It’s really reassuring to hear your thoughts 🙂

@NotMaryWhitehouse due date is creeping up for sure!! 😆 hope all goes well for you! X

I really rate Hypnobirthing or equivalent courses. I had a high risk pregnancy & despite my best efforts, my boy was born early by c-section. I think the things I learnt on the hypnobirthing course helped me to cope with all the unexpected turn of events.
It wasn't the birth I planned but all I learnt was still really helpful.
Best of luck!

Positive birth company was amazing and really affordable. I was so nervous about labour before doing the course. Ended up with a textbook birth and the midwives said they couldn’t believe how calm I was especially for a first time mum.

I def recommend positive birth company i listed to the digital pack on my daily walk so it feels really manageable. Its all about changing your mindset and looking forward to meeting your baby rather than fearing the unknown (so much negativity surrounding birth is built up in our minds subconsciously). Im due in about 3 weeks so fingers crossed it makes a difference...it just feels quite good to do something positive and constructive and makes you feel more in control. Wishing you all all the best!

After a traumatic first birth I signed up for the bump to baby chapter. I’d highly recommend it, I’m actually quite excited about the birth now and feel so much more confident. Beth is amazing, there’s lots of short videos which keep it manageable and a Facebook page for continued support afterwards.

I read the books and tried to adopt the mindset, but I ended up being induced, and the pain came on so quickly it all went out of the window.

I fear it's just another stick for women to beat themselves with, if it doesn't go to plan.

Plus, mimsy language like "surges" is just so twee. It's a contraction. Deal with it.

@Sheleg I think you may have had a bad hypnobirthing course. The one I did teaches you how to feel comfortable with every eventuality including induction and things not going to plan. It’s about having the confidence to make the correct decisions during your birth and feeling positive about the birth even if things didn’t turn out you you would have liked. There was no silly phrases or anything like that, it was done by a midwife who gave a lot of excellent information

OP, by all means do the course, buy the books, whatever. But first labours are potentially tough, you have no control over your baby’s position or the favourability of your cervix, and you don’t know what your pain threshold will be, particularly if labour is prolonged and occipito-posterior.
Keep an open mind, and don’t label yourself a failure if you need proper pain relief.
As a retired anaesthetist, I have put epidurals into so many exhausted demoralised women who, once I’d made them comfortable, told me they wished they’d had the sense to ask for one hours earlier. There are no medals for needless suffering, and if you are not one of the lucky women with a roomy pelvis and occipito-anterior baby, don’t beat yourself up if hypnobirthing just doesn’t cut it.

I'm by no means a hippy dippy type person and I hate yoga, but so many people have sworn by hypnobirthing and having read up on some of the science behind it, it does make sense so I'm going to try it. It's more about controlling fear and anxiety than anything else from what I've seen but by no means will it necessarily mean you have a smooth quick labour so that's how I'm setting my expectations.

When would be a good time to start a hypnobirthing course? I'm only 14 weeks but trying to create a bit of a timeline as to when to do what.

I agree with @Oneandabean, @Sheleg doesn’t sound great. After doing the one by the positive birth company I felt like I was better prepared dor all kinds of birth - c section, induction, etc.

Thank you everyone for your views!

@Luckyelephant1 I have only just started listening to an audiobook, I’m 29 weeks. I didn’t feel the need to worry about birth/labour until very recently when things felt like they were creeping up quite quickly! 😂 I’ve always had an open mind and just wanted to have some techniques to remain calm under my belt. I am enjoying my book, Mindful Hypnobirthing by Sophie Fletcher, I’m also going have a look at the Positive Birth Company stuff too following all of these recommendations x

Yes it might not work out, and yes nobody should ever feel bad about that, but ultimately if it's possible a natural birth is by far best for you and baby and as it's indisputably scientifically proven that fear hormones actively work against labour progression then doing things like hypnobirthing increases the chances for many.

I had 33 hour labour with induction drip and no pain relief with DS1 which was pretty horrific and wouldn't recommend induction by syntocin drip with no pain relief.

DS2 was 6 hours, in the pool, no interventions of any kind, and I silently meditated throughout the whole labour and got blessed with the most incredibly amazing natural hormone cocktail rush when I'd pushed him out that I didn't get first time and since learned it only comes in a natural birth.
Currently pregnant with number 3 and literally cannot wait to do it all again!!

Ish. I ordered a "birth in a box" and I think people only order these alongside hypnobirthing but me thinking I was hard as nails didn't see why as loads of woman every day give birth. I wish I had as I was ill prepared but the water birth at home was amazing and I wouldn't do it any different a second time round (even if I demanded to go to hospital for an epidural when he was crowning )!