Hypnobirthing

[Gemmy]

Hello,
I have done a search on here about hypnobirthing but can't seem to return any results and I know I have read posts about it over the last few months.

I am 32 weeks pregnant and just about to start a course on Hypnobirthing after seeing a few amazing labour videos and reading the Marie Mongan book and it totally making sense to me. I just wondered how anyone who used the same method felt about it, I am slightly concerned it doesn't give me too much time to practise the techniques but I am thinking it will all help and whether I could read your birth stories.

Thank you very much

Gem x

 

[Sherlock]

I think Redshoes used this technique.

 

[LucyBee]

Redshoes did a hypnobirthing course and so did I.

I can't recommend it highly enough. The Marie Mongan book is great. I don't think it's too late for you at all. Try and listen to the meditations at least once a day now leading up to your birth.

Unfortunately, due to Tom's size (he was 10lbs 14oz and three weeks early) I was unable to deliver naturally so I had a scheduled section. Despite this, I still used the hypnobirthing techniques to keep me calm throughout the surgery.

Hypnobirthing is fantastic. It completely changed my opinion on childbirth. Before I did the course I wanted every drug going but afterwards I did my birth plan and it stated NO drugs at all.

My friend gave birth on Friday night. She did a hypnobirthing course too and managed to get fully dilated with just 4 paracetamol. Her baby was delivered by forceps in the end but the midwives could not believe she had got so far and remained so calm and happy.

Go for it. It was the absolute highlight of my pregnancy. If you have any questions, send me a PM.

Lucyx

 

[LucyBee]

Redshoes did a hypnobirthing course and so did I.

I can't recommend it highly enough. The Marie Mongan book is great. I don't think it's too late for you at all. Try and listen to the meditations at least once a day now leading up to your birth.

Unfortunately, due to Tom's size (he was 10lbs 14oz and three weeks early) I was unable to deliver naturally so I had a scheduled section. Despite this, I still used the hypnobirthing techniques to keep me calm throughout the surgery.

Hypnobirthing is fantastic. It completely changed my opinion on childbirth. Before I did the course I wanted every drug going but afterwards I did my birth plan and it stated NO drugs at all.

My friend gave birth on Friday night. She did a hypnobirthing course too and managed to get fully dilated with just 4 paracetamol. Her baby was delivered by forceps in the end but the midwives could not believe she had got so far and remained so calm and happy.

Go for it. It was the absolute highlight of my pregnancy. If you have any questions, send me a PM.

Lucyx

 

[Gemmy]

I have my first session on Thursday and she is coming to our house - I have started to practice the breathing exercises, and its funny how now that I want to do it I am looking forward to the birth rather than being apprehensive, I really do believe in it and I think will help me in life in general as I am a bit of a worrier normally!!

 

[cez8457]

Ive never heard of hypnobirthing sounds interesting, will look into it if i have another baby, as i panicked all through kylas birth, which id heard of something like this before.

 

[BabyMagic]

I only started looking into hypnobirthing when I must have been about 34 weeks pregnant (??). If I am lucky enough to have another child I would love to attend the course. This time around I only read the book and it really helped me. I particularly found the 20/20 breathing useful as it made the contractions (waves ) feel shorter.

I managed without pain killers and remained calm apart from when I had to go to hospital (we had probs with cabs) etc. When I got stressed out I could suddenly feel pain. Once I got to the birthing pool in the birthing centre in hospital I relaxed again, and before I knew it the baby was out. It is SO true that fear causes tention which causes pain.

I listened to a meditative CD every night from about 35 weeks, and I then also listened to it during the birth... I also repeated some of the affirmations (particularly during swimming)

Birthing CAN be a beautiful experience. Having said that please don't put yourself under too much pressure. I, for instance, didn't tell anyone how much I wanted a drug free birth so that I wouldn't set myself for a failure. The main thing is to keep an open mind.

Btw I wish I had opted for a homebirth as I was copying very well at home and going to hospital distracted me from the breathing etc. tecniques (it is not the nicest of experiences to be stuck in a lift with about 20 other people and try to remain calm ).

Good luck

 

[BabyMagic]

Here is my birth story if you liked to read it

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=73373

 

[BabyMagic]

After LO was born I also posted some tips for a natural birth

viewtopic.php?f=5&t=73274

 

[cez8457]

where do you get the hypnobirthing cds and books from, do places like mothercare sell them? Who does the courses? I am getting very broody lol and had a very panicky birth with my daughter so would like to try the relaxing natural way if possible next time(if im lucky enough)

 

[Gemmy]

Thanks BabyMagic, I haven't got my CD yet but I have been practising breathing whenever I can. I am looking to homebirth but haven't been able to discuss with midwife yet - as its been a different person at every appointment!!

Cez8457, the best place is to search on the internet - ebay have them or put in hypnobirthing on google and your hometown and it will bring up practioners locally to you or go to http://www.hypnobirthing.co.uk and it will tell you all you need to know. Also if you go on You Tube and search for hypnobirthing there are some amazing videos of woman going through labour using the technique. Its a very calm experience using breathing techniques so your body isn't tense and therefore doesn't experience pain like a woman would do if she was tense or anxious as it allows the body to birth naturally as it was intended to do.

Gem x

 

[keli]

I read the book and i did the breathing exercises i found it a great help and was totally calm during my labour and managed with no pain relief just gas and air. I agree that tension causes pain and the more relaxed you are the easier labour will be. Good luck xx

 

[cez8457]

Thanks gemmy i know where to look now.
You'll have to let us know how you get on using the tecniques.

 

[Gemmy]

Just wanted to quickly update-I only have one session left and they have been really good. Even my husband who is normally quite negative about alternative type of therapies has enjoyed them - he even fell asleep doing one of the scripts!! I have found that I can easily fit in the relaxation cd each day and to be honest it sends me to sleep which is great because I really don't sleep well at the moment. It has given me a different way of looking at giving birth and I really hope I can use all the relaxation and breathing techniques when I do go into labour and not just let it all go out of the window :- ) - at the moment I feel really confident about it.

And another thing is that I asked my midwife about homebirthing finally (I have never seen the same midwife twice yet) and she was very positive and said they do support homebirth and have booked in a home appointment at 36 weeks to have a chat about it all, which I am delighted about! I really didn't want them to be unsupportive as I had heard that certain midwives in my area really weren't when it was a first baby.

Anyway just wanted to say its all going well and would recommend it.

Gem x

 

[Tadpole]

Hiya,

I used the marie mongan book & cd for my homebirth and had a beautiful birth experience. birth story here if you're interested.

viewtopic.php?f=60&t=90672

good luck.

 

[Redshoes]

So pleased to hear you and your OH are having such a positive time with the Hypnobirthing course Gemmy I really cannot recommend it enough, its great for pregnancy too, calming and relaxing and during labour the breathing techniques make your surges (contractions) soooooooooooo manageable, as well as listening to the birth affirmations whilst in labour, that seemed to help too. I left Hypnobirthing out of my birth story, as well as my use of aromatherapy and homeopathy, but please PM anytime if you want to Very best wishes, as long as you have water and no lit gas fires, you are perfectly suited for a homebirth, so glad your MW has been positive about it with you

 

[elaine22]

I read the Marie Mongan book and found it so helpful. The breathing exercises helped me relax and deal with the pain along with gas and air right up until I gave birth. I would recommend it to anyone considering it! I still use one of the breathing techniques now to help me get to sleep lol.