Post Your Hypobabies Experiences (Good & Bad) Here!

[ScarletBegonias]

I am doing some research for a client of mine who is also a first-time mama and my dear cousin. She wants to know more about Hynobirthing but I myself have no experience in any way with hypnosis.

I wanted to hear opinions and stories from mamas, not companies. Any stories, whether they were good experiences or bad or neutral, I would be so grateful to hear.

I have seen a lot of mamas swear by Hypnobabies, but I would like to hear the other end of the spectrum too. Also, I am especially interested in first-time mamas who used hypnosis and mamas who have had both natural births with and without hypnosis and how they compare.

Thanks in advance!

[broodymama]

I used Hypnobabies with all 3 of my births, so I don't really have anything else to compare it to. Did I have completely pain-free births? No. But everything was manageable, I kept my calm and focus during my births. My labors were quick and intense but I didn't feel out of control. I'll be using Hypnobabies again for this next babe.

I don't have DS' birth story written out anywhere, but here is DD1's birth story and DD2's birth story.

eta: DS was my first birth, and I used Hypnobabies with his birth too. (hospital birth, induction via AROM)

[CageFreeFamily]

I used Bradley Method for my first and self hypnosis for my second.

I took the HypnoBabies classess, but I didn't really use the program per se. The instructor gave me a special guided hypnosis to help me with the 27 years of extreme insomnia and fibromyalgia... it was basically about healing and trusting my body.

It was a wonderful guide, but what I found most useful is that I had to successfully train myself to accept that open state. Through learning to use the guided hypnosis I learned to have wonderful control over my mind, emotions and body and was able to successfully VBAC by DD despite 5 days of extreme prodromal labor.

The experience of falling into deep relaxation in mind and body instead of trying, actively to manage each contraction was SO MUCH BETTER.

I think learning self hypnosis could be one of the most important tools to peaceful, non-violent birth out there.

[Veritaserum]

I used hypnosis with my last four babies (Lamaze with #1--got an epidural) and love Hypnobabies. I wouldn't want to give birth without it.

Over 200 hypnosis birth stories are archived here and you can click to read stories of just first-time mamas. Here's a set of first-time mom birth stories.

[callieollie]

I used Bradley with my first and Hypnobabies with my second birth. I enjoyed Bradley while I was taking it. I thought they provided a lot of very useful information and good ways to cope with the pain. But, I had a very difficult labor (back labor, 28 hours, 3 1/2 hours of pushing) and I felt that it didn't provide any information on how to handle back labor. Also, because of the back labor, I had a very different progression of labor (long contractions, no breaks in between), which differed a great deal from what we were taught during Bradley about how contractions would be and what to expect from them. Also, it relies a great deal on a partner (hence the name, husband-coached childbirthing) and, while dh was supportive during the pregnancy, he had no idea how to help me during the labor because of how much pain I was in, and pretty much froze and did nothing. I felt very alone during labor.

With my second, I wanted an approach that I could do myself but could also include dh if he wanted (and was able). I looked into Hypnobabies and saw such rave reviews that I decided to give it a shot. I listened to the tapes during the pregnancy and felt that they really helped me have a relaxing, enjoyable pregnancy. I also was more comfortable physically - much less back pain and other common discomforts of pregnancy. I also slept MUCH better - I always fell asleep to the tapes and I actually used them to help me fall asleep. The birth itself was wonderful. From start to finish it was 3 hours, 20 minutes. I woke up to what I thought were Braxton Hicks at 1:40 in the morning and went and got some water (thinking I was just not hydrated enough, switched a load of laundry, and then decided I should maybe time these "pressure waves" just to make sure they werne't coming regularly. Well, they were regular - 2 minutes apart! I still didn't really believe it since I was still so comfortable so I waited until about 2:40 to wake up my dh. He went to call our doulas and mw (which I objected too. I said, "this probably isn't it. And even if it is, I have HOURS to go. I'm completely comfortable. Don't wake them up."). He called anyway and we left for the birth center at 3:15. We arrived at 4:20 (it was an hour and 15 minutes away but in the middle of the night we got there slightly faster). The pressures waves were regular but just felt like tightness -the same feeling you get when you have your blood pressure taken. The only time they hurt was when we pulled into the birth center. There's a bump there, which dh didn't realize, and he pulled into the parking lot kind of quickly. It kind of threw me off center a bit, which required me to move out of my deeply relaxed, limp state. That contracton HURT, and lasted about 1 1/2 -2 minutes, compared to all the others, which never lasted more than 45 seconds. We got inside, they checked me, and I was 6 cm! They told me I could get into the tub so I got in at around 4:30. Around 4:40 my doulas arrived. I was laughing and cheering the fact that I was 6 cm, posing for pictures with my fancy drinks with the umbrella straws in my nice cozy jacuzzi tub, and just having a great time. About 10 minutes later, at 4:50, I started getting more "serious." I kept saying, "I'm feeling the pressure low" and needed to be reminded to relax my shoulders. At 4:55, I said, "I have to poop," got on all 4s to stand up and just started pushing (still not realizing that I was pushing a baby out, rather than just pooping!). My doulas called the midwife in saying, "she's pushing" and I thought, "I am?" and 4 minutes later, my daughter was born. It was amazing. It was fast and easy and peaceful. Pushing was intense, especially because I didn't realize I was pushing. But honestly, I can tell you that 1 contraction was painful (the one pulling into the parking lot), 2 were intense/uncomfortable (during the 5 minutes of transition), and pushing was just a little overwhelming, but other than that, it was painfree, relaxing, and wonderful. I seriously can't wait to give birth again. I had such a wonderful experience and rave about Hypnobabies to everyone I see. I can't imagine giving birth without it now that I've done it!

[xelakann]

I just had a wonderful hypnobabies birth. The labor was fast and almost completely painless. I honestly couldn't believe it was working for me... I did hypnobirthing (took the full class with an instructor) and though I really liked it, it didn't work in labor--in terms of it being painless. I did the hypnobabies homestudy with this baby and it really worked. You can read my birth story on my blog.

http://westmama.wordpress.com/2009/10/19/beauty/

[Belia]

Hypnobabies didn't work for me. (The home study course)

Part of it was the circumstances- my water broke when I was 36.5 weeks along, and 24 hours later I still had no contrax. So I had pitocin and, 11 hours later, an epidural. I hadn't even finished the Hypnobabies course.

Part of it was me, though. I don't think HB was a good fit for my personality. I was never able to get the "anesthaeia" (spelled wrong) to work when I was learning. I am an overthinker and a worrier, and when I get stressed my brain speeds up. Getting induced with pitocin was my biggest fear (almost more than a c-section) and when that became imminent my brain really kicked into high gear. I never even turned on a HB CD during labor- I had NO DESIRE to.

Having a doula who responded to me at every point no matter what was going on was much more helpful.

I still do use the very first thing from Hypnobabies, though.... the secret, safe place. When I need to relax or can't sleep I go there in my mind and it helps.

[fazer6]

I had the same thing as Belia, waters went at 38w but not strong enough pressure waves so on with the pit after 24 hours. I had finished the course and sort of done some maintenance and a bit of the partner script. But I thought I had 3 weeks left so I wasn't as prepared as I could have been.

My birthing was fantastic, oh yes with pit it was intense and I did feel pain. But at no point was it unmanagable and I never doubted my abilities or even contemplated an epidural. I used some gas an air for transition and pushing, that was nice to have something else to focus on.

What I liked was the completeness of the course. I really did feel completely prepared and not at all scared about my first birth. I pushed in a calm relaxed way and so minimised any damage (2 very minor stitches).

I started the course a lot earlier this time and at 33w am starting maintenance. I'm also making sure I do more of the finger drop practices and the partner script and tailor sitting to open my pelvis.

Judging by birth stories in the yahoo group if you put the effort in and really do all the practice stuff you can have a completely pain free birth. If you mainly do it but aren't so diligent you can have a completely comfortable birth.

I'm a big hypnobabies fan and for me it appears to be the most sensible method of birthing (although if I can avoid PROM this time I'll see if I can have a water birth next time).

[ScarletBegonias]

awesome! thank you mamas so much for your experiences (and the link xela).

it really does seem that everyone is happy with hypnobabies and the only "bad" exp were with mamas who had prom.

keep the stories coming!!!!

[Harmony08]

Okay, I'll take the other side....

I did the homestudy course and I took it very seriously. I completed it and everything. I liked the affirmations, they helped me fall asleep. I liked the fact that it got me to rest every day. I went into labor around 1:00 a.m. and it helped me relax in bed even though I had too much pain (yeah pain) to sleep. The next day I listened to the cds on and off and was relaxed. around 5 or 6 p.m. though (17 hours of labor) the pain started to get really intense and it got worse and worse and worse. I tried to listen to the cds but I started feeling really irritated by her sickly soothing voice going on and on about how I wasn't in pain and deserved a fast easy birthing. These messages started making me feel discouraged about my own actual birthing experience. I turned it off and didn't look back. After that I was on my own (I had a doula and DH but ya know) moaning, and crying, and finding positions, getting in the tub etc. My midwives told me to go in when I was 2-3 minutes apart and at 7:00 a.m. (30 hours) I was still 4 or 5 minutes. I went to the hospital then (absolutely exhausted, couldn't stand) and gave in to the epidural, rested for 5 hours, pushed for 4 and had my baby at 5:00 p.m.

I am not sure how I feel about Hypnobabies but I won't be using it again and I won't be recommending it to anyone. I think it may have contributed to a peaceful pregnancy but it mostly just made me feel bad about myself and my birth. I thought I must be doing something wrong because there was a lot of pain and because it was not fast and easy. Even now, reading other people's replies, I feel like I did something wrong or something. But I do think that that is ridiculous, we all have different bodies, different births etc. If you asked me before ds was born, I probably would have thought somebody with my birth experience just didn't "get it", did it wrong, wasn't serious enough etc. It took me a long time to feel proud of my birth. I worked hard, held out and avoided some interventions, and pushed my son out. We bonded instantly and are healthy and happy. I think Hypnobabies contributed to my inability to feel good about my birth because I had been so "brainwashed" to expect something so different.

[Mosaic]

I used hypnobabies as a first-time mom, and I loved it. My birthing started on Saturday morning, and I was still not convinced I was having a baby until the midwife checked me and I was 6 cm (Sunday morning). DD finally arrived at 10:30 Sun. night due to lousy positioning (back labor, argh!), but I used the hypnobabies throughout and thoroughly enjoyed my birthing.

Like the previous poster, I distinctly remember the point where I was done with the "fast and easy birthing bit; I told them to turn off the "easy first stages" and put in the "birthing day" track. I was about 7 cm at that point, 4 hours after I walked in the door at 6, after a night of no sleep, and from that point on I was golden. It was a tiring birth, as I was on my feet or hands and knees the entire birthing due to the position and back pressure, but I can't say that it was painful.

But the tracks, cues, etc. all worked perfectly; and I felt calm, in control, cracking jokes the entire time. My birth was also not fast or easy, but I did get the natural birth that I wanted. In all, I found the practice and "homework" to be relaxing and positive, which really contributed to my overall attitude during pregnancy. The birthing day tracks were also very helpful just when I needed them to be. In all, I can't say enough great things about the program!

[Starflower]

We tried to do Hypnobirthing but it didn't work out for DD's birth.

DH and I took the classes. I thought the relaxation exercises worked well, but when I was in labor, DH wasn't able to coach me as we'd planned. If he'd been able to coach me, I think it would've worked well. I ended up with an epidural and some complications. I think it was just too stressful for DH so I had to make a choice. We both were needing some support at that time. Later on, DH told me he didn't really believe the Hypnobirthing would work. Or maybe he just didn't believe he could do it. I don't know if he felt pressured to do it or not. I don't know if it was the method or not. I really think he was just really nervous about the birth and wasn't in a space where he could really give me that type of support.

In any case, if I ever were to have another child, I would try Hypno again, but I would want a doula or some other person to be my Hypnobirthing partner so DH could be there for support but not for the Hypno role.

[Sudonk]

I took a HypnoBirthing class during my first pregnancy, and used Hypnobabies for my next two. I don't recommend HypnoBirthing, but LOVED Hypnobabies. I had some serious complications the first time I used it, but remained totally comfortable the whole time and never had to transfer (I was at a birth center). With my second Hypnobabies birth, I had an intense 3-hour birth with only 25 seconds of active pushing (although my body had been involuntarily pushing for a whopping 4 minutes before that), and it was completely manageable. The strongest sensations were like a menstrual cramp, then I was holding my baby. Definitely no complaints!

I teach Hypnobabies now, and as an instructor I do occassionally encounter women whose experience isn't as good as mine was. In most cases we can delve a little deeper and find the reason behind it. Pain is generally a signal from our body that something is wrong, so in some cases when moms aren't able to utilize their hypno-anesthesia to the degree they want, it stems from a physical problem. The mind won't accept the suggestions that she is comfortable unless she is aware of the potential problem or danger and addressing it. That happened with one student whose blood pressure was extremely high and whose baby was going into distress without her having any idea. She kept coming out of hypnosis when she heard the suggestion, "You are safe and your baby is safe throughout your birthing time." She wasn't at all comfortable and was getting frustrated, so chose to head to the hospital much earlier than planned. Once her blood pressure was identified as being high and stablilized, the baby responded well and her hypnosis skills began working beautifully again, giving her a comfortable birth with no need of pain meds.

Under no circumstances is an uncomfortable birth using hypnosis the mom's "fault", and though the vast majority of women will experience benefits of using self-hypnosis for birth, there are, unfortunately always exceptions to that. And for what it's worth, the Birth Guide has been recently re-written to include more open suggestions about successful birthing, and avoiding suggestions that it is "fast", since that can be frustrating for women to hear when it is not.

[Cativari]

Used it with DS and had a very good experince. What little "pain" I had was less then period cramping. I went from complete to baby in 5 minutes. The total "labor" (from the time I knew babe was coming) was about 10 hours but mostly were BH like contractions.

I just started using it again for the upcoming birth and it's already (2 days in) improved my sleep and the aches and pains that come from chasing/carrying around two little kids and being pregnant. I told DH last time that it didn't matter if Hypnobabies worked in the end the extra rest it got me during pregnancy was worth the money.

[kiwiva]

I used HypnoBabies (home study) for my birth and really liked it. The affirmations during pregnancy were great. I was the most relaxed pregnant woman! I absolutely LOVED doing the daily hypnosis. I did have pain during labor, but I think I was overthinking and not letting the training kick in well enough. I also wasn't ready for my birth when my water broke at 39 weeks and labor did not commence for 2 days, so I don't think I helped myself any bc at first I was denying that it was time and then being stuck at the hospital did for the 2 days did NOT help me get into my zone. But if I were to birth again I would absolutely use it again. I didn't use pain meds, tho there was pain, I was able to manage it with the help of my doula, midwife and my husband and his relax cues.

I did listen to the "push the baby out" CD over and over during 3 hrs of pushing and it didn't grate on my nerves, I think it helped me not lose my cool. Though it did bug my midwife and nurse I think, we were all joking about it.

So not pain free but definitely helped me.

[Bluegoat]

I've been using the Hypnobabies program this pregnancy, so I have no idea how it will work out in the birth. But I have also noticed that I am sleeping a lot better than I did in previous pregnancies, which has been worth a lot.

[Lilcrunchie]

Dh and I took an in-person Hynobirthing (Mongan) class when I was pg with DS 6+ years ago. My instructor was great. It totally left me feeling relaxed, but kept wondering if I should be feeling more...I dunno...hypnotized? I don't know what I exactly I expected to feel, but I kept wondering if it was "enough" to help. My instructor had a home recording studio and made us a bunch of other tracks on a different CD, so I had a lot more variety available to me than most people experience w/ Mongan's Hypnobirthing. When it came time for labor it worked beautifully for me. My labor was about 6-6.5 hours start to finish. I listened to my CDs constantly and just walked and walked (this was a hospital birth attended by a midwife). I eventually went into the tub for a bit and had some transition feelings that were challenging...hot flashes, a little shaky, etc. followed by rectal pressure at that time. But overall, it really, really worked amazingly well. The only time other than transition where I felt really uncomfy was when I was hooked up for intermittent EFM (which in retrospect I would totally decline obviously). Fortunately my doula got my nurse to hook me up so I could be on the ball, kneel over the back of the bed, etc. and that helped. But as long as I could move, I felt great (and I never practiced hypnosis while being "active" but it worked and that's what felt right. Oh, and pushing was annoying but I asked for noncoached, no counting, etc. and my midwife sort of took over and had the nurse and DH pulling back my legs and everyone was counting (except DH)...not really want I wanted and it made me feel out of control. Looking back I should have stopped them, but the rest of my birth was great and it was my first time, so I just went with it in the moment. But I don't fault hypnobirthing...I think my midwife went into "MEDwife" mode.

I used Hypnobabies when pg with my DD about 3 years ago. I used the supplementary course (designed for those that hand done Mongan Hypnobirthing already) so I've never done the fully hypnobabies course. I labored at home for a bit listening to my cds but wasn't even sure I was in active labor. Eventually we decided w/ our midwife to head to the birth center (freestanding) but I wasn't totally sure I was in active labor. I was 10 cm dilated! I didn't have a really noticeable transition, etc. that time. My membranes were still in tact so a good part of my 3 hour labor (more than an hour of it) was waiting to feel pushy. That time I didn't listen to my CDs the whole time but kept using the techniques. I didn't feel the need for my CDs at the birth center. Pushing, etc. was more comfortable that time around and I felt more in control (they respected my wishes for no counting, no coaching, etc. and I "breathed the baby down" in sidelying).

I am a bit of an insomniac typically and always slept sooooo well while using my hypnosis CDs I'm pg with #3 and will be using hypnosis in some form this time around again. Hoping it works as well as it did the first two times.

[evjolin]

back up question to you hypnobabies....does it work well in ANY setting? hospital, birthing center, or home? thanks!

[callieollie]

back up question to you hypnobabies....does it work well in ANY setting? hospital, birthing center, or home? thanks!

I used it with my freestanding birth center birth and it worked great - both at the center and for the hour and 15 minute car ride there!

[Lilcrunchie]

I used Hypnobirthing (Mongan) for my hospital birth (attended by midwives). I did request in my birth plan that they basically let us alone and they did. Like I said, the challenging part for me was when I was hooked up to the EFM and couldn't move as much, but in retrospect I should have totally declined the intermittent EFM strips. But for being in a hospital, it did work very well.

DD was born in a freestanding birth center and I used Hypnobabies there (well, used the tracks at home and just used general hypnosis techniques, no CD tracks).

eta ditto the car ride comments. I used Hypnobirthing (mongan) when driving to the hospital to have my oldest. It was a 45 minute drive, so pretty long for being in labor. It worked well for me even in the car. I used Hypnobabies while driving 30 mins to the birth center, which was more challenging, but I showed up 10 cm dilated so that's why the car ride was a bit more uncomfy that time IMO. Either way, hypnosis helped on my longish car rides in labor.