Hypnobirthing - please share your experiences and tips!

[rwhite]

I'm not pregnant currently, and probably won't be pregnant again for at least a year, but I have just recently become very interested in the idea of hypnobirth. It sounds amazing, and I have read some very positive things.

I was just wondering if any of you lovely ladies would mind sharing your experiences of both planning your hypnobirth and executing it.

With my son, I feel I had a great labour, so definitely have no anxiety about a subsequent labour and birth, and I know that would probably help a lot if I would already be going in to things with a positive outlook. I had a water birth with gas and air, but would definitely like to go all natural (still wanting a water birth next time around though!)

Thanks

 

[kellyb]

I wish I could comment on my experience with hypnobirthing, but I haven't had it yet! I'm due in November and will be using a combo of hypnobirthing and the Bradley method, so fingers are crossed that all goes well. I'm looking forward to it. You may get more responses in the Home and Natural Birthing section. I'd love to hear from more people as well!

 

[rwhite]

Good luck, how exciting! Thanks, I think if this thread stays quiet I will post in there also.

x

 

[punk_pig]

I used a Natal Hypnotherapy CD prior to my labour and I think it helped a lot (although not sure what it would have been without it). I used a lot of visualisations and had a much more positive attitude to each contraction, seeing it as moving m forward rather than bringing me pain.

I was in labour for four days in total and did use TENS and Co-codamol up to 9cm.

I kept being told I was coping very well and therefore my contractions weren't "active", even when I felt urge to push getting stronger, so it is important to find other ways to communicate the progression of your labour because you may not be screaming. My delivery midwife was shocked how calm I was and how low my baby was by the time I reached her and joked that maybe I used the CD too much!

 

[rwhite]

I used a Natal Hypnotherapy CD prior to my labour and I think it helped a lot (although not sure what it would have been without it). I used a lot of visualisations and had a much more positive attitude to each contraction, seeing it as moving m forward rather than bringing me pain.

I was in labour for four days in total and did use TENS and Co-codamol up to 9cm.

I kept being told I was coping very well and therefore my contractions weren't "active", even when I felt urge to push getting stronger, so it is important to find other ways to communicate the progression of your labour because you may not be screaming. My delivery midwife was shocked how calm I was and how low my baby was by the time I reached her and joked that maybe I used the CD too much!

What an amazing experience - four days in labour with minimal pain relief! That's amazing

Congratulations Where did you get your CD from?

 

[punk_pig]

Congratulations Where did you get your CD from?

I ordered it off the Internet (can't think where just Google Natal Hypnotherapy)- there were other CDs you could get with it (music and one for during birth etc.) and a book too but I was quite far along when I found out about it so didn't think I had time to do the whole intensive thing, so I just got the birth preparation CD.

I don't know how it compares to hypnobirthing as that is a trademarked technique...maybe others have experience?

 

[rwhite]

I'm not too worried about whether it's the genuine article I suppose, as I wouldn't imagine it would matter so much whether it was the branded product or not, it would probably do the same thing - which it sounds like it did for you. I was actually wondering that when I posted this thread so thank you

 

[Kay_Baby]

I have done a hypnobirthing course and I loved it.

I feel so relaxed and confident about having this baby. I haven't gone into labour yet so can't comment on that part of it but my husband was so surprised by how calm I was when it looked like things were going wrong with this pregnancy.

 

[WhiteGeisha]

I bought Natal Hypnotherapy cds and book and well I might as well have pissed my money up the wall! lol.

It all went out the window when the contractions kicked in!

I think TENS machine is a godsend and I used this up until I was about 6cm dilated. Hospital wouldnt admit me despite bleeding heavily so I was sent home 3 times to cope and my Tens and birthing ball were all that kept me from going insane!

I didn't even think about the cds or anything when I went into labour, but I am shit with pain so don't know why I ever thought I could get into any sort of 'zone' to help me with labour! If G&A hadn't been invented, i'd have thrown myself off the nearest bridge!!!! x

 

[rwhite]

I bought Natal Hypnotherapy cds and book and well I might as well have pissed my money up the wall! lol.

It all went out the window when the contractions kicked in!

I think TENS machine is a godsend and I used this up until I was about 6cm dilated. Hospital wouldnt admit me despite bleeding heavily so I was sent home 3 times to cope and my Tens and birthing ball were all that kept me from going insane!

I didn't even think about the cds or anything when I went into labour, but I am shit with pain so don't know why I ever thought I could get into any sort of 'zone' to help me with labour! If G&A hadn't been invented, i'd have thrown myself off the nearest bridge!!!! x

Ah bugger, I'm sorry your plans went out the window! Glad the TENS machine worked for you though, I have heard some fantastic things about those, I might have to use one in early labour next time...it's too bad you can't have them in water otherwise I totally would.

 

[Tamashii]

I too did the hypnobirthing-mp3-download-from-internet (again can't find the link to the site) but I found it really helped although I still needed pain relief and ended up with episiotomy plus forceps delivery but that was because my little one got stuck.

I have had previous hypnotherapy for anxiety to know I can do self hypnosis really easily and did yoga for quite a few years before getting pregnant. This def seemed to help me personally with the hypnobirthing since I'd been "under" before. I used the mp3 for a good few months before birth and then there was an additional track for labour but I never managed to do that one. Maybe this time.

The main thing I remember was there was a part in the hypno about visualisation going down to "level zero.... zero.... zero" where the pain would be completely manageable and you were really deep under with slow, slow breathing and this kept going round in my head when contractions hit. I feel it realy helped me to relax more and not panic or lose control but once I had pain relief in the form of pethidine/morphine all that went out of the window as I was so out of it I couldn't concentrate on whatever I had learned from the hypnobirthing any more.

I am def trying to avoid the morphine this time so I don't feel so out of it - seems to affect me quite strongly. I am open to any offers of epidurals should the pain get too much but the breathing and hypnobirthing really seemed to help me providing I kept focussed.

Not sure how much better it would be if you go to an actual hypnotherapist for a course of hypnobirthing but I couldn't afford it.

Good luck with it all and I hope you report back that it was a huge success if you do go for it!

 

[weenireeni]

Thought I would bump up this thread as just wanted to update with my experience of hynobirthing, so far!

I have been having classes with the lovely Rachel from www.birthpeacefully.co.uk , in SHeffield, and she has completely put me at ease, and I am now looking forward to labour!

I am not a stressed person but I am very impatient, so wanted to be able to relax myself pre and during labour. I have learnt some amazing techniques, and my husband has been able to feel a lot more involved too! Before he was worried about me being in pain and him not being able to do anything, whereas hypnobirth has helped give him a role during labour, and spend more time with bump beforehand!

I would say the classes are perfect for any mum to be wanting to have a calm labour - the videos of ther mums are just amazing, and I am sure my labour will be just as positive. Hypnobirthing has also taght me some great relaxation tips, which i can use after labour too. For anyone feeling sceptical, I wasn't sure that it would 'work' for me, but the music and scripts put me in such a state of calmness that I totally feel in a trance! If I'm relaxed, then my body will be relaxed, so less pain - brilliant!

Most of all, Rachel is an amazing woman, and someone I feel I can turn to with any stupid question, even if not hypnobirth related!

Hope to read about other people's experiences!

 

[amerikiwi]

Hi Rwhite! Long time no see--I used to live in Wellington until moving to Sydney earlier this year.

I prepared for my daughters birth by listening to they Hypnobabies CDs and although I didn't do any of the exercises or scripts, I was able to get into a nice "happy zone" and had a wonderful labour and delivery. I also used the Tens machine at home before getting into the pool at the hospital. I'll be preparing with the same CDs again this time.

PS: If interested in the Tens, the physio department at Wellington Hospital loans TENs machines for free to use during labour. You pick them up at about 38 weeks and drop them off after delivery. Give them a ring and ask for Anne when the time comes. She also runs free aquanatal classes at Kilbirnie pool (which has a creche to look after the older siblings).

 

[rwhite]

Hi Rwhite! Long time no see--I used to live in Wellington until moving to Sydney earlier this year.

I prepared for my daughters birth by listening to they Hypnobabies CDs and although I didn't do any of the exercises or scripts, I was able to get into a nice "happy zone" and had a wonderful labour and delivery. I also used the Tens machine at home before getting into the pool at the hospital. I'll be preparing with the same CDs again this time.

PS: If interested in the Tens, the physio department at Wellington Hospital loans TENs machines for free to use during labour. You pick them up at about 38 weeks and drop them off after delivery. Give them a ring and ask for Anne when the time comes. She also runs free aquanatal classes at Kilbirnie pool (which has a creche to look after the older siblings).

Hi doll, I remember you! I see you have bubba #2 on the way, congrats! Not long now.

Sounds like I will have to look in to the CD. I am terrible with remembering/having time to do exercises so if it's possible to get through without them that's great to know!

I am really liking the sound of TENs machines. If it means I don't have to have back pains like I did in early labour then I'm all for it I've just started a job at Welly hospital recently so presuming I am still there by the time I am due with another bubba it will be very handy. Oh and aquanatal classes sound great, would be good to ease up some of the weight.

xx

Thank you so much to all of you lovely ladies for your fab advice x