Natal Hypnotherapy "v's" Hypnobirthing

[angfirsttimer]

Can someone tell me what the difference is? I bought a CD for Natal Hypnotherapy from the NCT website, and it says throughout the information with it please dont confuse us with hypnobirthing.
Have any of you tried the natal hypnotherapy?

I have a completely open mind about hypnotherapy in general, but I borrowed the Hypnobirthing book from the library and hated it.

It is very "Americanised" and is constantly promoting "Hypnobirthing" as a brand. It also starts with a horror story about the author's experience giving birth in a US hospital in the 50s which bears no relation to what you may experience in a UK maternity ward today, but gives the strong message that hospitals and medical intervention are "bad".

There is a lot of smug talk about "Hypnobirthing mums" and it actually says that HCPs will be in awe of you as you "birth" your baby which I found laughable.

The book advocates the use of castor oil to induce overdue labour which I believe goes completely against current advice in this country.

I wont be buying the CDs needless to say. A lot of it is basic common sense relaxation
techniques and visualisation which I am already familiar with from going to a yoga class, no need to spend hundreds of pounds on attending commercial training courses if you ask me.

I think hypnobirthing has a much gentler approach than people seem to be implying- maybe the book seems a tad more fanatical because this was a totally new movement in the area of childbirth when the author was pioneering it (she's been developing it since the late 50s)and therefore she had to demonstrate a clear and unerring belief in her new system?

This other system sounds like a version of her original method, with toned down elements to fit in better with british sensibilities which is fab, if it makes you more comfortable with the whole thing and you glean the benefits. But dealing directly with the fear through self-hypnosis was the founding concept behind the Mongan method and is totally central to it. Replacing some of the terminology is part of it and I think that whilst some of it is a bit airy-fairy some of it could do with changing as implications can sometimes be scary or unhelpful.

I found the book clear and very informative on the whole historical background of childbirth, examining why so many women are fearful at the prospect. It's certainly helping me to understand and overcome my own fears. I reckon we should get far more reassurance that childbirth can be uncomplicated and natural- before this I'd hardly ever seen it depicted as anything other than traumatic and destined to go wrong in some way.

The only really wide of the mark thing anyone's said is that it's geared toward dr-led birth and frowns on any form of intervention. It frowns on any unnecessary intervention (of which there is a great deal as it's become the accepted norm) and as such it supports a woman's capability to deliver rather than her unquestioning reliance on the advice of practitioners who favour the more medicalised approach to birth.

I recommend it, so far. It seems a healthy way to approach childbirth, which focusses on improving the experience of birth and giving some of the power back to women so they can do what came naturally to them before it was all distorted through ignorance and religious fanaticism. What's not to like? :)

I used the natal hypno cds and found them v useful for relaxation towards the end of my pregnancy, especially as I found it really hard to sleep. I ended up going over dates and being induced, so had a very intense labour. The hypno techniques were very helpful in the early stages but by the time I was in active labour it didn't really touch the sides, though the breathing techniques helped me gulp down as much entonox as possible. I got through it on gas and air only though so maybe it did help. Still fucking hurt though

I have no experiance of natal hypnotherapy, but prior to the birth of my daughter I attended a hypnobirthing course (using the Marie Mongan method.) I have to say, I thought it was absolutely brilliant. Our teacher was brilliant (a big part of making the whole thing a success) and included general advice in the course to avoid having to take a NCT class too. My daughter was born at home and the birth was actually enjoyable (sorry if this sounds really smug but it's true!). My son was born last year in hospital also using hypnobirth.

pinkelephant73 - you may well laugh at this, but on both occasions the midwives caring for us commented at the end that they didn't see births like that often and were amazed at how relaxed, calm and in control I was. On both occasions we were pretty much left alone right up until the very end. I realise this sounds very cheesy, but it's true!

I would defintiely reccomend it. Having said all this, I don't believe I was hypnotised at any point. It's all about deep relaxation, going with and not fighting your body, and breathing. Your partner does play a large role too. In answer to some of the other posters comments, yes it does say that we should change the language of labour (contraction / surge) but it's up to you how far you take this (we didn't ask our midwives to use any of this language. We just asked them to honour our calm environment).

I do also agree with pinkelephants comments about yoga helping though. Essentially (for me) it was just about deep relaxation, and if you can find this another way then that might work just as well for you!

Just to add something further, I think your committment and belief in something plays such an important role. I think that whatever method you choose - natal hypnotherapy, yoga, hypnobirth - if you believe in it enough it'll work as well for you as any of the others. The power of positive thinking and having a focus (method) of any kind that you believe in can only be beneficial. Labour is such an unknown and potentially scary thing for lots of people. If you go into it armed with something you feel confident will help, chances are it will.

My other advise would be not to take it too seriously. We never wrote birth plans, because ultimately anything could happen,and as lovely as 'breathing your baby out' sounds, you never know what's going to happen. Stay open minded.

I know that this thread is quite old. As this has popped up again I wanted to give my details as I am sure some ladies might be curious as to who taught prittypea! I teach in NW and SW please follow www.hypnoclinic.net to see the course options. Bicnod we would love to see you again for a refresher! Happy birthing ladies, whichever course you choose to take will be the right one for you. I truly believe that we are guided to what is right for us