Hypnobirthing

[MrsD'ville mkII]

Has anyone tried this? I've come across it lately and am very interested to put it into practice when Max decides the time is right to put in an appearance. Unfortunately we can't afford to take a course so I've had to make do with a book and CD, better than nothing. The only problem atm is that I fall asleep whenever I start listening to the CD lol! The book reassures me that this is fine and means I'm achieving impressive levels of self-hypnosis, but I'm quite sure it's to do with being very tired all the time!

Anyway would love to hear anyone else's experiences of hypnobirthing.

[Penny Lane]

I read about it & also tried to learn but found it hard to stay awake! I tried my hardest to implement hypnobirthing through labour but am afraid to admit that I became one of those grunting/screaming/roaring women that I promised I wouldn't!

The courses are very expensive but if I were to try hypnobirthing again I'd do the courses, didn't have the stamina or willpower to do it alone. Having a partner who knows what to do would be good too and that's where the course comes in handy.
I do think that you'll have better luck than me if you use the cd's, maybe practise early in the morning?

Sorry, that wasn't much help !

Just wanted to add that I did quite enjoy the labour part up until I was transitioning, it was good listening to my body & finding ways to ease the contractions.
A book I loved during pregnancy was Ina May Gaskins Guide To Childbirth, have a look if you can :)

[rebenny]

Hi, never tried it, but have read many good things about it. When I was birthing both of my kids I found being able to 'go inside' myself really amazing. The experience of birthing with no pain relief and totally naturally is something I would totally recommend (as I asume you would do it like that with hypnobirthing). Although I went to yoga before birth, iyswim, whilst I was in the throws of labour all I learnt went out the window and I just listened to my body and (once) my midwife. I guess what I'm saying is whatever method of labour you choose, I hope you have a wonderful time and relaly get to enjoy it.
Hugs rebenny x

[2+bump]

I have a friend who used this and she kept very calm during quite a traumatic labour. Quite fancy trying it myself this time around

[MrsD'ville mkII]

It seems that you have to put in quite a lot of work during pregnancy for it to really work, and I left it too late. Reading up on it did though make me realise how much the mother's state of mind affects labour, and I went through 17 hours with nothing more than TENS, which I realised once it came off had been doing nothing for the last few hours! I focussed on my breathing and several midwives commented on how calm and 'natural' (their word!) I was. Unfortunately at 17 hours with zero dilation we had to call it a day and Max came out by c-sec. We discovered afterwards that I have a - gnargh, can never remember the proper word! - tilted back cervix, which makes things tricky. Also Max had turned back to back and he was 10lbs 4oz, so all in all I never stood a great chance of delivering him naturally! I had a planned c-sec with DD so never went through any of this voyage of discovery.