Hypnobirthing - anyone tried it?

[Daniya]

Has anyone thought about, or actually tried Hypnobirthing. I just came across it and would be very interested in other people's experiences.

Thanks all!

have you heard of natal birthing as opposed to hypnobirthing (its the uk equivalent apparently)? there's a £140 course deal on at moment that someone on another thread recommended...
www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/29109/index.html

which makes it HALF the price of hypnobirthing courses (which are all around £300) anyone done natal birthing or know the difference between the two?

is natal birthing as good as hynobirthing do you know? seen a £140 deal for natal birthing, as opposed to £300 hypnbirthing costs...

I hate to put a downer on this thread, but I did hypnobirthing and didn't find it particularly helpful. It might be if you have a very straightforward birth, and mine was going that way to begin with, but then my DD's head was at a weird angle and the appearance of ventouse, forceps and then finally an epidural and more forceps sent any hypnobirthing ideas flying out the window! Honestly, I wish I had saved the money on the course and just bought the CD!

Hypnobirthing courses do tond to be expensive (I think we paid about £250 5 years ago, but IMO woth every penny.

The only reason DH agreed to "such nonsence" was because we were both still scared- shittless traumatised after DS1's birth. I was induced with DS2, and while the pain was no where near as severe as with DS1, I can't pretend it was pain free.(I had pethedene, and asked for an epidural)The midwives were rather unsypathetic, and laughed at my hypnobirthing tape. Fortunately DH had learned a lot from the course (all of which you can read in Marie Mongons book)for example he asked for the lights to be dimned, and for the labour room door to be closed. So over all Hypnobirhing did help.

I had DD at home, using the hypnobirhting methods I'd already learned, and was able to have a pain free labour. The "surges" were very stong though, similar to being blown by a very stong wind (gale?)

I just wish more people knew about hypnobirthing. I will definately be sending DD on a course when/if she is ever pregnant.

Hi there

We did the Natal Hypnotherapy weekend course in Chiswick and it was ace.

We paid £140 and it was definitely money well spent, as far as I'm concerned. The course combined really useful practical information with several hypnosis sessions.

I'm due in a few weeks with my second and, even if hypnobirthing does absolutely nothing for me during the labour itself, it's been worth the money just to enjoy the last part of pregnancy without being crippled by fear.

I highly recommend it. Not sure what the difference is between the one we did and the Mongan ones. I suppose it's maybe a slightly different method or something?

It would be wonderful if those of you who are expecting come back to this thread to update us with your experiences of Hypnobirthing & Natal Hypnotherapy.

I didn't have a 'horror birth' with my DD; it took about 2 hours to go from 2cm to delivery (I even had a nap for the first hour after having a shot of pethidine) with only a teeny,tiny tear.

The preceeding 40-odd hours of contractions were horribly painful though, as I seem to be a wussy, very low pain treshold kind of person, and the pain relief available (bath, TENS, G&A) stopped working for me after only a few hours.

If hypnobirthing is an effective way of managing this kind of pain, then It will certainly make me less nervous about trying for DC2, and not spending the first part of my labour tense, miserable & wailing in agony would make for a very positive experience.

Hi there

I'm pregnant with my 2nd and my husband and I wnet to a hypnobirthing weekend for our first pregnancy. I also read the book.

I don't think I was in any sort of hypnosis or altered state of mind during labour ( I felt EVERY pain) but I think it changes your attitude to one of - labour is an entirely natural process and women all over the world do it without medical intervention.

So - although I definitely felt the pain I coped with it and had no pain relief and no tears! So, not sure whether that was due to the birthing classes or an attitude.

I'm just reading up on this now but at 35 weeks I think I may be too late Plus I think the price of the classes is way too high... Why can't they just tell you the techniques in the book?? I do agree with the principals but I'm also feeling it's a bit much of a ripoff... If Mongan really wanted to help women have relaxed births she'd publish the techniques

Here is what I did.

Listen to the affirmation tape whilst pregnant (atleast twice a day)

Listened to the relasation tape to help me fall asleep at night.

During labour I listend to the affirmation tape, and imagined blowing up helium ballons.

When the "surge" started I started breathing in, imagining a red helium ballon inflating. Then I imagined the balloon folating away into a clear blue sky, as I breathed out. The next ballon was orange, the next yellow, through the colours of the rainbow. I didn't use any techniques that required DH to touch me, stroke my arm etc., I just did it by my self. It worked for me, but did require concentration when the "surges" were strong.

I thought the techniques were in the book?

Oh that may be my hormones raging... I'm only half way through and she keeps referring to what you'll learn in the classes so I assumed she wouldn't say... I'll get stuck into the rest of it tonight then. Where did you get the affirmation tape from and can you buy it on CD without going to a class?

I got the affirmation tape from the class...so I'm not sure where you get them from. I really want a new Rainbow realxation tape (Iv'e never heard the end as I always fall asleep listening to it) so will try to find out for you.

oh great... Thatd be wonderful! So you dont reckon its too late for me to start it?

i had a long chat with natal birthing teacher yesterday, and have decided to do it instead of hypnobirthing. Reasons being; she said hypo is very "scripted", ie you have to hypnotise at a set time in labour, deep breath at another etc, whereas with natal you get given all the tools and decide what you want to do when. Plus with Natal you hynotise yourself, with hypno your birth partner has to. and hypno has all US terms like "surge" rather than "contraction" which apparently confuses the UK medical staff! Plus natal is half the price - £140 offer at moment, see www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk/ yet it's all same principles at hypno.
would be interested to hear from Hypnobirthing people what they think about this advise from the natalbirthing lady? Pregnabrains im going to do the same one as your course...but spoke to the woman in New Barnet as nearer to me. But a few people on this site's've raved on about the teacher in Chiswick...so may drive there to do it there as she's been recommended..

Dear EmmaPP

I'm afraid your Natal birthing teacher has misinformed you about HypnoBirthing.

We teach you how to go into self-hypnosis at any point in labour (not a set time). In fact, with practice, you can go in and out of the state whenever you wish.

Like Natal, you are given all the tools and you choose if you want to use them and when you want to use them.

You do not need someone else to bring you into the state of "Self-hypnosis", you do it yourself. With HypnoBirthing we show birthing partners how to help you deepen your state - this allows them to be part of your labour, not an on-looker!

The terms like "surge" are not American, they are used instead of contraction because it describe what is happening in your body in a gentler way. Doesn't "surge" sound better than "contraction"? I don't understand why it should it confuse medical staff - the descriptions are for you & your partner.

Anyway, I highly recommend that you talk to one or two local HypnoBirthing practitioners for more details about the programme, so that you can draw your own conclusions about which course is best for you.

I am not qualified to make comparisons between the courses since I haven't experienced the Natal Hypnotherapy course, but I do know what we teach in HypnoBirthing and don't like to hear that other "birth educators" are making suggestions about it that are clearly not true.

With best wishes
HH