Birthing From Within or Hypnobabie?

[bright_eyes]

I'm trying to decide between taking the Hypnobabies home study course (since a class is not offered in my area) or taking the Birthing From Within course, which is offered in my area. Ideally I would take both, but I don't have the money to spend on both, since I would also like to have a doula at my birth. I love the idea of taking a course and having the support of an instructor. I worry that if I did a homestudy course, I wouldn't be disciplined enough to put the time in that it requires. But I love the idea of self-hypnosis and when I read birth stories by women who have used hypnobabies/hypnobirthing, I find myself wishing I could have birth experience like that. I was so unprepared for my birth with ds. I had an induction and an epidural as I had no idea how to handle the pain and found it unbearable. So I really want to be prepared this time around but am torn on which route to take.

Does anyone have any advice? Anyone taken both courses? Which one did you like better?

[ananas]

I can't recommend either one, really, since I've never tried either one, but I LOVE Birthing From Within. :

[Veritaserum]

I don't think they are compatible, so you're going to want to pick the one that resonates with you and commit. I chose Hypnobabies, which I love. I'm not one who can wrap my brain around good pain (which seems to be a major focus of Birthing from Within). I tried reading Birthing from Within and ended up chucking the book across the room because I was tired of her telling me that I would feel pain and that I needed to be prepared to cope with it. No thanks! Pain while birthing was one of my biggest fears!

I read birth stories to figure out which program would most likely help me get what I wanted (most comfortable birth possible without drugs). That was Hypnobabies, hands down. Also, you won't be alone if you do the Hypnobabies home study. There's an instructor assigned to handle questions from home study moms. The yahoo group is a nice resource as well.

[bright_eyes]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

I don't think they are compatible, so you're going to want to pick the one that resonates with you and commit. I chose Hypnobabies, which I love. I'm not one who can wrap my brain around good pain (which seems to be a major focus of Birthing from Within). I tried reading Birthing from Within and ended up chucking the book across the room because I was tired of her telling me that I would feel pain and that I needed to be prepared to cope with it. No thanks! Pain while birthing was one of my biggest fears!

I haven't read Birthing From Within yet, but I had a feeling they wouldn't be compatible. Ideally I would take both so that I can choose which route I like better. I've heard a lot about "good pain" and then wonder about the concept of pain in childbirth when I read stories of people who used hypnosis and literally felt no pain. One worry I have, though, is that I have heard that one of the problems with hypnobabies/birthing is that if the women does feel pain that she gets feels she must be doing something wrong because she isn't supposed to feel pain if she is doing it right. Part of me would love to do both so that I can prepare for a painfree birth, but having pain coping techniques I can use if I do feel pain.

[bright_eyes]

Originally Posted by ananas

I can't recommend either one, really, since I've never tried either one, but I LOVE Birthing From Within. :

So have you just read the BFW book but not taken the course?

[ananas]

Originally Posted by bright_eyes

So have you just read the BFW book but not taken the course?

Yes, so like I said, can't really recommend the course. I just really like the philosophy, and the book is my favorite childbirth book.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by bright_eyes

I haven't read Birthing From Within yet, but I had a feeling they wouldn't be compatible. Ideally I would take both so that I can choose which route I like better. I've heard a lot about "good pain" and then wonder about the concept of pain in childbirth when I read stories of people who used hypnosis and literally felt no pain.

Yep. Kinda hard to have a comfortable birth if you know you have to feel pain. That's why they don't work well together (if comfortable birth is your ideal--if you don't care about being comfortable then it could be fine, I guess).

Originally Posted by bright_eyes

One worry I have, though, is that I have heard that one of the problems with hypnobabies/birthing is that if the women does feel pain that she gets feels she must be doing something wrong because she isn't supposed to feel pain if she is doing it right. Part of me would love to do both so that I can prepare for a painfree birth, but having pain coping techniques I can use if I do feel pain.

The failure issue you describe is much more common with HypnoBirthing moms than with Hypnobabies, in my experience. This is due to fundamental philosophy differences. In HypnoBirthing, moms are given the message that birth isn't supposed to hurt and that if they relax well enough it simply won't.

Hypnobabies acknowledges that most women do feel pain while birthing and then gives women hypno-anesthesia tools (your body's natural endorphins) to reduce or eliminate pain. Of course relaxation is part of it, too, but the hypno-anesthesia is what makes up the difference.

Also, Hypnobabies teaches additional non-hypnosis comfort measures (traditional "pain-coping" techniques discussed in a hypno-friendly way) and gears its hypno-anesthesia techniques to be compatible with moving around, vocalizing, or doing whatever else you feel like you want or need to do.

I've used it four times after having an epidural with my first. I think it's great. In the end, though, you need to pick what's right for you.

You can read over 150 birth stories of moms using hypnosis here:

http://www.pregnancybirthandbabies.c...th_stories.htm

[Raene]

It depends on how you feel...are you a warrior FIGHTING your pain?

Or are you going with your feelings, relaxing deeply, and allowing comfort?

Very, very different philosophies behind the two classes. I teach HypnoBirthing, and I'd go for hypnosis over Birthing From Within, but of course I'm biased.

[mysticmomma]

hypnobabies hands down.

[super mamabug]

I am a hypnobabies mama, using it for the second time. I had a very comfortable birth and I'm working towards another. That being said I have heard wonderful things about BFW. I think it depends on your personality and what you want from your birth.

BFW is about empowering you and embracing the experience. They teach that the pain is not to be feared and give you many, many techniques to cope.

With hypnobabies they will tell you that your body is made to give birth and therefore birth is not inherently painful. They will teach you hypno-anesthesia techniques (like the ones people use at the dentist who can't have anesthesia). These techniques will help you relax and embrace the sensations in your birth w/out fear. The main advantage of hypnosis is not the painless birth aspect, but the empowering confidence and lack of fear that most mothers feel going in. I hope you find the right program for you and have a wonderful birthing time.

PS I think that hypnobabies is fantastic during pregnancy too! It helped me sleep, deal with back spasms, leg cramps etc.

[MegBoz]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

I'm not one who can wrap my brain around good pain (which seems to be a major focus of Birthing from Within).

I have no problem with the concept of "good pain."

Guess I'll have to read BFW.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by MegBoz

I have no problem with the concept of "good pain."

Guess I'll have to read BFW.

I have a feeling it will be right up your alley.

[Dahlea]

I chose Hypnobabies and loved it.

[Mamabeakley]

I am a Birthing From Within Mentor (teacher) and I recently audited a HypnoBirthing class (NOT Hypnobabies).

I agree that BFW is more about "good pain" or at least, being able to cope with real pain when it occurs (you don't have to think it's good!) And hypnosis is more about learning to avoid/minimize the pain.

However, there's a lot of self-hypnosis in BFW And partner hypnosis. It's just a lot "quieter" and more subtle than the overt hypnosis present in a HYPNOSIS based method.

My favorite thing about BFW (today!) is that it's not a method. We don't tell people how to give birth or what they should think, feel, or experience about it. We explore what our students' beliefs, expectations, and prior learnings about it are, and share alternative possibilities.

I do think that for some people who have a lot of FEAR or low expectations of their own pain coping capacity, a specifically Hypnosis based method may have a lot of merit. And although I would never choose Hypnosis as a preparation method for myself, I learned a LOT that was useful to me as a doula and Mentor from auditing that class!