Hypnobirthing - anyone tried it?

[Tilyoufindyourdream]

Currently pregnant with first baby. Wondering whether to try hyonobirthing. There’s someone near me who offers KG Hypnobirthing, over 5 sessions.

Has anyone found this helpful? Thanks

I found the affirmations and the inclusion of my DH useful. I used to fall asleep to the "Rainbow Relaxation" track. Crappy midwife messed up my birth plan but I'm glad I did it.

I really tried with it but I had to have an induction (I was over 2 weeks overdue) and I had a reaction to the induction drugs which put my contractions into over drive and baby in distress. Hypnobirthing did absolutely fuck all in that scenario but there is a lot of smugness around it so it works in easier births I guess.

Made a huge, positive difference to my second birth. Please do it, I would recommend it to anyone. Gives you some sense of power over your experience.

Sort of similar to @Optimustime, it all wasn’t much use when it came to needing a C Section due to both of us having sepsis.

I do think at the end of the day there’s only so much you can control about birth. While the breathing and relaxation tools that are part of hypnobirthing can help, they are not a safe guard against the unexpected happening.

I would recommend it.

I did it both times. I was very lucky and had two water births and came home the same day both times.

I also found a tens machine very useful, especially as DD1 was born in the first few weeks of COVID and I stayed home as long as I could as you had to be 4cms to have a birthing partner then. I got to 8cm before I had to have medication using the hypnobirthing and the tens machine.

I would also recommend the naked Doula on Instagram. I had a second degree tear on DD1 but no stitches the second time and swear she saved my bits with her advice x

I found the breathing techniques incredibly helpful. The midwives commented on how much it seemed to be helping me. Would definitely recommend. I found I did the course (positive birth one) and then picked the bits that suited me

Yes I had a few private sessions at home it was fantastic
I ended up with emergency c section but there were lots of “hands on” examinations throughout and doing the “exercises” helped me cope with them!

I found it really useful. I had a planned section which was still a bit nerve wracking and the breathing techniques and visualising really helped with it. It also helped manage my anxiety in the lead up and I used it a lot when I was post partum and felt overwhelmed etc.

I think it's worth doing because it's transferable skills you can make work for you, so as long as you go in with an open mind, you'll get something from it. I also did a lovely pregnancy yoga class once a week that combined elements of hypnobirthing with yoga which was really nice.

I should add, I had a induction and emergency c section first time round and VBAC the second time and found it great for both

1000% recommend it - had a brilliant experience with my 3rd after just going one of the internet video courses for £36. Felt empowered and loved the whole labour after a really awful time 2nd time around.

I find MN really positive about hypnobirthing but I have to be honest and say it wasn’t for me. I did an online course and bought the affirmation cards which I read and took in numerous times before labour. Labour didn’t go as planned and it all went straight out of the window, no amount of positive quotes would have made sod all difference. As this post already shows though, it definitely works for some.

I found it very helpful. I think for a successful birth there are three pillars.

Number 1 is preparation and this is where hypnobirthing comes in. The more you understand What's happening the less you panic and feel out of control. Having a plan and tools made a huge difference to me and I got through a back to back birth and a nearly 11lb baby with g&a, waterbirth and hypnobirthing.

Number 2 is your support system. I had a phenomenal midwife who made sure I felt involved and empowered. She absolutely pushed for me to get checked for a c section when she wasnt sure if the baby was lying funny the week before but when we got the all clear she supported me in my birth plan. My husband was also an incredible help and this was also down to hypnobirthing. He did the positive birthing videos with me, learnt massage techniques and also learnt everything so he could coach my breathing.

Number 3 is pure damn luck. You can do all the prep in the world and have the best team but the baby is going to come how the baby is going to come and thank god for modern medicine. I had a friend who was an athlete, a doctor herself, went private so had great support and did all the work. If you could earn a good birth she would have had it but unfortunately it was difficult and traumatic and thankfully they both got out alive. Hypnobirthing will only go so far here but she still says shes glad she did it.

So yes, Id recommend fully. Also read 'how to give birth like a feminist' i adored this book and 'expecting better'

I had a planned inductions with my second baby and I used hypnobirthing techniques and if your hypnobirthing teacher is a sanctimonious purist she’ll tell you that you can’t do hypnobirthing with an induction.

However I can tell you that it did work for me. I was frightened to give birth again following a 38 hour labour following induction with my first that nearly ended in an emergency CS. Hypnobirthing allowed me to feel like I was in control of the process - I found the visualisations, positive affirmations and the breathing techniques very helpful. In fact I actually sent dh away so I could concentrate for about 6 hours! I spent that time pampering myself with good music and a film/book and some lovely scented hand cream.

Then as the induction started to gather pace I I used a long repeated track of rainforest sounds on my earbuds to help me through - that got me to fully dilated on only half a paracetamol.

Dh came back and I had to literally beg dh to go and get the midwife who had told me “there’s no way you’re ready to push, you wouldn’t be talking and laughing believe me!” But I was so in control of the pain. And then I said to her “look, I’ve had a baby and I’m concerned this one is coming now - please check” She said, “yes you’re at 10cm gosh” and had to run and get a trolley and zoom me off to the labour room as by that stage I really couldn’t walk as the baby was coming! I asked for an epidural at that point and everyone laughed (including dh) - it was far too late.

So - yes, I’m totally converted to hypnobirthing - if you can trust the process and make it “yours” by cherry picking the bits that you feel are really in tune with how your mind works.

By the way the labour was actually really still tough as in all the rush to get me to a labour room, I got a bit panicked and that meant I didn’t manage the process as well as I maybe could have. So I did indulge in gas and air - fabulous stuff. And there was a moment when I really wasn’t sure I’d made the right choice - it burns when the baby crowns. But no choice at that point and I’m not smug but I am proud that I did it (especially after the hellish experience of my first bungled induction!)

I really recommend certain elements of hypnobirthing, particularly the breathing/relaxation techniques.
However, I did find a lot of it didn’t personally suit me, I found super cringey and not my cup of tea (positive affirmations etc)

I did it with baby number 3. I had to have a very long arly induction and DD had a couple of health incidents post birth resulting in a NiCU stay. The hypno birthing really helped keep me calm. Particularly post birth where I listened to the tracks.

It helped me for sure! You've got nothing to lose for trying it. I ended up giving birth using hypnobirthing techniques and a TENS machine and 2 paracetamol (I declined further pain relief as wanted to save that for "when I really need it later on" and the midwife seemed to think I wasn't very far along as was quite relaxed.....). Baby arrived within 3.5hrs of contractions starting!! If things hadn't turned out like that, the hypnobirthing techniques would still have helped me to stay calm during early labour. So I think they are a really useful tool regardless of how the labour turns out.

It helped me, despite having a fast active labour in the end, no time for the birthing pool or dim lights or soft touch massage. The breathing and relaxation techniques were really effective during early labour, and the knowledge of what was happening to my body helped quell anxiety / panic when it all ramped up to 11.

Great for my first, straightforward labour, kept me calm and focussed. Not so great for my second as had an induction and things ramped up very quickly on the drip and no amount of breathing helped

I did a group hypnobirthing course. I didn't particularly enjoy the course but practised at home and loved falling asleep to the CD. I had both DC at home, and although I struggled when it came to pushing, I don't think I could have managed the pain without having practised hypnobirthing.

I would definitely recommend it

I guess I used it in principal, but without any of the fancy courses or audio recordings 🤷🏻‍♀️😂😂

With my first baby, I had a series of CDs…..but the woman’s voice annoyed the shit out of me 🫣😂 So they were swiftly donated to my local Sure Start Centre.

With my first (hospital induction) and my next two which were planned homebirths, I just kind of zoned out. In hindsight, I probably wasn’t very nice because I just wanted to be left alone, nobody touch me, nobody talk to me, nobody breathe near me 😂
I just went into my own little mental zone to get on with the task in hand.

Lots of good stuff written here already :)

I did an in-person hypnobirthing course with DH, such a lovely fun woman who was so positive and encouraging. As homework we had to go away and listen to relaxation tracks together in the last few weeks of pregnancy. We'd lie on the bed, listening together.. and fall asleep! And have a glorious relaxed nap.

I used the same tracks and music (made available separately by the teacher) in early labour, and it helped me connect to those lovely relaxed naps with DH - the music felt safe and familiar.

And at hospital it helped me block out everything else and focus on breathing and keeping moving (I walked around the room until transition, pretty much)

I had 2 fast labours, very painful (just used gas and air as I didn't want to be attached to an epidural) but no tearing, so yes; I highly recommend.

I found it all really helpful.

I had a very very long latent phase first time round and found the imagery of the 'sun getting really really warm and then the cloud coming over' helped me cope with the contractions.

I still use some of the affirmations to get through hard things, and have taught some of them to the kids.

The breathing techniques helped me when things got scary at home with a rapid labour and an ambulance had to be called. I started to panic and my mum helped me get back in control with the techniques (not before I'd lost my shit at everyone....)

I've had 3 completely different births including one full on medical staff and the machine that goes beep one and there was something in what I'd learned that helped me each time.

I went to some active birth classes and they were helpful too. Things like making sure your hands aren't clenched, blowing pain away and staying upright and active all came in handy.

Yes its absolutely brilliant. Fully recommend siobhan millers positive birth book it was actually recommended to me in my first pregnancy by my local hospital!

I took it very seriously, had one to one classes, practised the visualisations nightly with DH for months. It was absolutely no use in labour.

With a time machine I’d save my time and money by not doing that or NCT classes.

I was a midwife for 20yrs. Spent the majority of my career in a high risk delivery suite, then the final 3 years in a MLU. Coming from high risk to MLU, I was initially sceptical of hypnobirthing, but fast became a convert. The mothers who embraced it were very relaxed throughout their labour experience. The midwives delivering the programme used the Marie Mongan programme. Would also recommend you follow ’at essentiallybirth’ on Instagram, & buy Nicole Schlogel’s book ‘7 secrets every pregnant woman needs to hear before giving birth’. Just so’s you know, she’s not a personal friend, just a midwife I admire. I hope you really enjoy the experience. Leave the worrying to the midwives and medical staff, and I wish you all the very best. Exciting times for you!