Would you choose "hypnobirthing" or "natal hypnotherapy" course?

[rimsky]

Hi all

I'm really interested in having a natural home birth, and people have suggested doing either a hypnobirthing or a natal hypnotherapy course. In my area both of these are starting soon and I'm not sure which one to choose!

As far as I'm aware the Hypnobirthing course is based on Marie Mongan teachings, and the Natal Hypnotherapy on Maggie Howell teachings.

Are these courses basically going to be one and the same or are there significant differences? And if there are differences what is the advantage of one course over the other?

Bumping for you..

I´ve no idea about the courses, but think mind over matter is definitely the way forward with child birth .. even just not overthinking it..

I didn´t use any pain relief and didn´t even arrive at hospital until my little ones were ready to be born. I kept waiting for the "when its unbearable go into hospital" stage...

Bump with interest.

GBhome how did you manage that? Did you just think you could do it?

Another one planning a HB this time around and curious about any technique which I can use to relax and feel more in control. We're going to have a doula for this birth (trainee) so won't be able to afford to do a course, but would be interested if anyone has found the CDs you can buy online of use.

Rimsky when are you due?

I'd go for hypnobirthing. I did a sort of mini-hypnotherapy thing which focussed on breathing, which I found really useful, I also did natal hypnotherapy. As far as I could see, the hypnotherapy helped me feel in control and calm in the moment. I felt in tune with my body/contractions and it helped me cope well. It helped with each contraction and lessened the perception of pain.

The natal hypnotherapy I found was more about visualising a place 'away' from the birth, iyswim, which I thought would be useful. But when it came to it I didn't want to distance myself - I couldn't - I found it easier to be in the moment and embrace it all.

I have to say though, I did all the hypnobirthing stuff for my second birth, so I had the fact that I'd been through it before, knew I could cope and was a bit more, ahem, stretched, all acting in my favour. I also had a quick birth so no chance to get too tired. Birth shouldn't be a competition and we can't predict how things will happen.

I don´t know really, I think I´ve always been able to talk myself out of some kinds of pain, not all..

I figured it couldn´t be that bad, women do it all the time, and if it WAS bad then it would soon be over. I stayed absolutely on my own, no distractions, (people, telly, music, nothing) and concentrated on just being, entering another plane if you like. As it was the middle of the night it wasn´t too hard, dh slept on both times till being told to drive to the hospital ; )

Just driving to hospital and being in hospital was disruptive, and stressful, I didn´t like being taken out of my "bubble" though it was better when I´d arrived and signed all the papers etc and was left to get on with it with just the midwife.

I do believe childbirth is over-medicalised and that this somehow puts the mother under stress and stops what should happen from coming naturally. Breathing techniques were also critical to me re maintaining control over the situation, I think learning these really helped me have an incredibly positive esperience of giving birth.

Oh, DC 1 was an instrumental delivery, DC 2 normal vaginal delivery.

HTH

I chose natal hypnotherapy as I preferred the 'british' accent (although Maggie Howell is dutch apparently) to the american hypnobirthing.
Would really recommmend it.

Found it a fantastic technique, excellent for relaxation during pregnancy and believe it helped me to manage my labour very well. Used the NH techniques I'd learnt in conjunction with TENS for 1st stage and G+A for 2nd.
It definitely gave me confidence in my body to carry and deliver the baby.

I used CDs and we took a weekend course with a NH practioner which was great and helped DP to understand the technique and support me.

Planning to do it again for no 2.

Thanks GBhome, and well done.
Sorry to keep quizzing you but where did you learn the breathing techniques?

I'm doing the Natal Hypnotherapy CD at home, have been doing it twice a week since 35 weeks pg. Hoping it helps a little bit by next month!

I am really enjoying the CD and can just relax and take all the suggestions on board. I agree, would rather listen to an English accent than an American one.

Natal Hypnotherapy has a better cs rate of just 9% for workshop attendees compared to 15% for hypnobirth and UK average of about 25%.

Personally find NH less aggressive towards medical staff and more collaborative approach. Feel this is more conducive to a relaxing birth environment, but still not compromising on what your needs and wishes for the birth are. NH practitioners are more closely monitored and regulated too.

I have enjoyed two NH homebirths with no medical intervention and without feeling the need for drugs etc. Am now 36 weeks and awaiting arrival of number three - again planning homebirth with support of NH learnt techniques.;

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Sounds like both techniques have pros and cons... Not so good when all the pregnancy seems to have made me incapable of making any decisions! But am possibly leaning towards NH following the responses though...

Wholelottalove I'm due 19th September so thinking I should start planning all this now feel a bit disorganised!

I did HB. I was (well, still am) a therapist so did the training with Marie when I was pregnant. It worked (and I am a complete wuss when it comes to pain). I now teach it because I am such an advocate of the course.

Hi Notso, I came across an ancient american dvd, I think from the 1970s, there was a whole series on childbirth and still absolutely relevant to me decades later. I downloaded it, no idea now where from, sorry I can´t help more!

Thanks GBhome, I have looked at the NH and that has breathing techniques so think I will give it a go.