Hypnobirthing in practice: how helpful was it during labour?

[TheWildZebra]

Hypnobirthing - what’s your experience?

I’m 6.5 months and have just finished reading Siobhan Millers hypnobirthing book. It makes it all sound so easy, like we have so much control over our bodies in birth. I want to believe it, it certainly creates a great sense of security and agency over a process that is literally the most unpredictable thing ever.

But how much of it is ideology?

now that I’m showing, I feel like I have someone - colleagues and even near strangers- come up to me on an almost daily basis to tell me their birth horror stories. Surely if hypnobirthing was something everyone practices (and I don’t think it’s mega niche given it’s including in antenatal classes etc) then you’d hear less about these experiences.

I’d like to hear from those who went into birth wanting to rely on hypnobirthing, and otherwise were meant to have very low risk pregnancies/ births. How did it work for you?

I did the maggie howell natal hypnotherapy, was so helpful in my first birth, straightforward though and in the nice calming environment of the midwife led unit, it still hurt but the breathing and focus helped keep me calm.

Used the same technique for my second, but was induced and on the syntocin drip, when they ramped the drip up the hypnobirthing went out of the window, and i couldn't stay calm.

I listen to Mary Mongan’s hypnobirthing tracks endlessly.

For baby 1, I started at home, ended up in hospital too late for any medical intervention, baby and me were both fine.

Baby 2, had at home, much better birth. Midwives didn’t believe how far along I was as I was quite calm.

Baby 2 was much smaller, so easier delivery was probably due to that in part.

I think you’re right in thinking that it’s something to add to your armour, but may or may not work for you.

Hypnobirthed 25 years ago, with a straightforward birth thank God. Gas & air only. Found the breathing and visualisations really helpful. Realise I was very fortunate with a simple labour.

I read the book and I listened to the affirmation going to sleep or for naps during my first pregnancy. It helped me feel positive and excited about the birth. I’m a rational person, so the visualisations of sunrises and rainbows didn’t do anything for me. However I tried to see past that and just concentrated on seeing the contractions as something that is meant to be and my body is designed to deal with. Really trying not to fight it and instead relax into the contraction.
I had also done antenatal yoga and we did a simple breathing technique of exhaling for twice as long as you inhale and to count both. It took me a long time to get the hang of it, but I found it sooo relaxing in the end and it worked an absolute treat during my first birth, where contractions were regular. I had an amazing birth, despite my daughter being back to back and it being quite slow. I didn’t even push, just breathed and the body took over.
I was super excited about my second birth and fully expected it to be just wonderful as I was ‚good at this‘ (I know I know) However the contractions were so irregular right until the end that I never felt in the flow like I did the first time round. I thought I wasn’t coping as well, because the contractions felt intense, despite being irregular that I didn’t realise how far I was until probably 30mins before deliver when we tried to rush to hospital, but had to pull over to give birth at the side of the road. It wasn’t a horror story though. My body knew what to do and I actually felt surprisingly calm when it happened. I know though that I was lucky and am incredibly grateful that we were both well.

you mentioned the need to be in control. During my first birth I was in total control of the breathing and I made that my task and focus. And I firmly believe it gave my body the chance to get on with the birth. Second time round I was out of practice, without the yoga (Covid) and a toddler to run after.

I really wanted it to work and tried both times but a combo of induction and a bad reaction to it (hyper stimulated uterus and 3x Normal contractions) meant it couldn’t help for long x

My friend did three natural births and always made me and others feel bad about having elective c sections ( I choose mine as I was afraid or prolapses) . She has only told us now years later how many issues her births have given her bowel wise and she’s just had some serious surgery. Saying all that, I found what I learnt in a hypno birth course helpful to get me through the anxiety of my spinal and c section.

It’s many years since I had my kids but I think this is a great post…

I had both of my kids at home in a pool and for me water was the most helpfull thing but we are all different!

it’s a tool that you have to use - it will help you but the reality is it’s tough- it’s called labour for a reason.

I think you should go in with a very open mind and use whatever works at the time.

being concious of your breathing always helps and so it’s really helpfull in labour.

but just be kind to yourself and don’t expect that using hypnobirthing can make sure it will be all calm and pain free…

The problem is that so much of labour is down to sheer luck. All births are not equal and, as much as you prepare, your baby and your body may well have other ideas.

I could not have been more prepped, from a hypnobirthing perspective, for my first. I absolutely believed. I thought I had it all lined up and my breathing exercises and pregnancy yoga and all the rest of it were all I needed. But then it all went very wrong (very very long labour, failure to progress, ventouse, forceps, all the drugs after refusing them for hours and hours to start with) and I felt like I'd failed. It took a long time to get over.

With my second though, I pushed her out with no pain relief and could breezily make myself a brew afterwards. I went into that birth with no "birth plan" whatsoever, apart from to get the baby out safe and well. I told the midwife yes it was fine for her to leave Galaxy 103 on as it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference, and she laughed. A few hours of riding the tough bits and swigging lucozade through the easier bits, and we were done.

Was all a far cry from my first, when I had a playlist, low lights, ideas about what drugs I would say yes and no to and when, blah blah blah. Looking back, I cringe at how little I was prepared for reality.

The difference was pure luck. Teamed with the "easy" birth being a second birth I guess. And the irony is that if I'd had that straightforward experience first time round, I would have put it down to the hypnobirthing.

Hypnobirthing was useful once the second epidural was in (first hadn’t worked) and I could finally relax and concentrate on breathing.

It was completely useless for the pain though.

I’d done a recorded course with practice audio every day for weeks.

It was great for my baby later on though - used to play the soundtrack next to the crib and she’d go to sleep!