If you did hypnobirthing

[Carson]

I'm really curious to know what tracks you used or any specific techniques you used during labor. I've been practicing the relaxation stuff every day, but I'm kind of stumped as to how to practice with DH. I've watched the HB videos. I guess I'm curious to know how it works actually in practice from someone who has done it.

I've had a hard time with this mentally lately. I broke down earlier this week with DH because I didn't know what the point was and didn't know what to 'do' or know how it could help me. I could use any reassurance from anyone who used it.

No offense, but I don't want to hear about the hypnobabies program at this point.

[Veritaserum]

I felt lost like that after my HypnoBirthing class. I know you said you didn't want info on the Hypnobabies program, but they have a supplemental set for HypnoBirthing mamas that really helped me (it's a totally different thing from the Hypnobabies home study). The supplemental set included a recording for the Glove Relaxation technique, a Fear Clearing, a recording to listen to during labor, and some other things that I'm blanking on right now. Basically, it took what I learned in HypnoBirthing and gave me a concrete way to practice those tools. You can order it by calling Hypnobabies. 714-952-2229

[GoldmanBaby09]

I did hypnobirthing. I think part of it is finding what techniques are going to work for you. I listened to birth affirmations a lot before I went into labor. I tried to listen to it when I was in labor, but I couldn't lay down to relax. I needed to be up moving around so that didn't really help. What did help was taking each contraction one at a time, only focusing on how that contraction was opening me up, getting my babe one step closer. I also did unfocused awareness and found something to stare at. I watched my wedding ring glisten in the bath tub while I labored there. I also repeated a few mantras that worked for me: I can do this, I can do this; this one will pass, this one will pass; and birth is where women find the strength to become mothers. I would just say these things over and over to myself during the wave of the contraction. I also just tried to be as calm and relaxed as possible, never afraid, just letting my body do it's job. Over all, I had a quick labor (8 hours from when I got out of bed to baby in arms) and it really was relatively painless. I could feel the squeezing but it wasn't really painful. Good luck to you, Mama. Hope this helped!

[alton]

GoldmanBaby - was "unfocused awareness" a specific technique that you learned or just something that you did at the time?

[GoldmanBaby09]

It was discussed in class, and I'm pretty sure it is in the book too. I found it helpful to have something I could stare at to keep my mind off of the contraction. I also labored without my contacts or glasses on, so I couldn't see farther than a few feet without everything being "unfocused" any way

[Carson]

Thanks Goldmanbaby, I appreciate your response. I do have a lot of mantras I thought about - not sure which one I will like the most or will actually use during labor, but definitely have them in mind.

I reread the book sections on birthing and feel a lot more confident and focused. I'm going to practice some of the long breathing (forget what it's called ATM) with DH this weekend.