Hypnobirthing question

[Natalie's Mama]

I used hypnobirthing with #1 and it worked really well until I agreed to let them break my water. After 34 hours of coping well I got behind and couldn't relax and ended up getting an epi at about hour 36.
So this I'm trying to be much better practicing so it is easier for me to get into the relaxed state again. The problem is I keep falling asleep! I never get more than 5 minutes into the tape before I'm out like a light. I know they say it's a good thing and you're still taking in the messages but I'm worried I'm not getting any active practice so I started doing just the breathing and visualization without the tape and I still fall asleep!! I can do the breathing while doing yoga and it is working well but as soon as I hold still I'm gone.
Has this happened to anyone else? Were you still able to use the methods when laboring with success? I'm starting to have a bit of anxiety about coping with labour again and not being able to stay awake is worrying me!

[buckeye_bebe]

Have you tried using the techniques without the tape? If you can engage the techniques and relax (slower, deeper breathing, lower heartrate should be apparent), then it might be working for you. I have the same problem. I don't think I've finished a session, but I can get an immediate reaction from using the techniques.

[terrabella]

Originally Posted by Natalie's Mama

I used hypnobirthing with #1 and it worked really well until I agreed to let them break my water. After 34 hours of coping well I got behind and couldn't relax and ended up getting an epi at about hour 36.
So this I'm trying to be much better practicing so it is easier for me to get into the relaxed state again. The problem is I keep falling asleep! I never get more than 5 minutes into the tape before I'm out like a light. I know they say it's a good thing and you're still taking in the messages but I'm worried I'm not getting any active practice so I started doing just the breathing and visualization without the tape and I still fall asleep!! I can do the breathing while doing yoga and it is working well but as soon as I hold still I'm gone.
Has this happened to anyone else? Were you still able to use the methods when laboring with success? I'm starting to have a bit of anxiety about coping with labour again and not being able to stay awake is worrying me!

OMG, you poor thing!

[GoldmanBaby09]

I did hypnobirthing and fell asleep during the cds and did just fine. I would also practically fall asleep when we did exercises in class with the instructor. I would intentionally put on the cds before I would lay down to take a nap while I was pg. I was always asleep in 5 minutes. I also listened to the cd in early labor, though didn't sleep I think it is fine if you can't stay awake. As long as you can get to that place, and hearing the repetition from the cd gets you to associate with that, it is doing it's job.

[Natalie's Mama]

Glad to hear that Goldmanbaby. DH is calling it hypno-sleeping now because tape or no tape as soon as I start I pass out! I started skipping to the visualization part so I could at least do a bit of it! On the up side I haven't had any problems with insomnia this pregnancy. I throw the tape on and off I go!

[GoldmanBaby09]

I just noticed that you are having a homebirth with this one, and I would definitely say you will be fine. I think they hypno part would be much harder to manage in a hospital setting. But when you're home, everyone there is focused on you and making you as comfortable as possible, anyway. I was big on repeating mantras internal during contractions("I can do this, I can do this;" "This one will pass, this one will pass") and some unfocused awareness as well (I remember staring at the glimmer of my wedding ring in the tub).

[S.Elise]

Natalie's mom, your story is the exact same as mine....I could have written that post. Separate from the hypnobirthing and falling asleep point, I have also been thinking that if my water breaks naturally this time, or my labor progresses faster than last time even with unbroken water, I won't have to have my water broken. And I think that what got me last time was the sudden jump in pain level (after 30+ hours of no sleep, mind you) before and after AROM.

For both of us, this is number 2, so let's hope the really painful part comes a little sooner, when we are more able to draw on our coping techniques!!! Its hard to deal with ANYTHING after that amount of sleep deprivation.