Hypnobirthing vs. Hypnobabies

[gunnarsmama77]

Hi all, sorry if this has been covered before. I took a hypnobirthing class this spring, primarily because there aren't any hypnobabies classes in my area and I thought an "in-person" class would be better than a home study course, everything else being equal. I liked the class, agree with the premise, and have been listening to the CDs daily in preparation for my 2nd son's arrival in late August.
Now, though, looking into hypnobirthing vs. hypnobabies, it sounds like a lot of people think hypnobabies is more complete as a system. As I still have 7 weeks (approximately) to go, I think I have time to do the hypnobabies system, I'm just struggling with justifying paying $110 (the system's 20% off right now) after already paying $240 for hypnobirthing. I can pay it, though it would shift around money I'd earmarked for other "baby stuff," but of course it would be a small price to pay if it helped me to achieve the natural birth I'm hoping for. Does anyone have experience with both systems? Would the cost be justified? Obviously I can't tell if hypnobirthing will work until I am in labor, and I'm one of those people who'd rather be overprepared than underprepared. Would the systems mesh/would it lessen my preparedness to listen to both? Thanks so much in advance!

[Veritaserum]

I've done both and I prefer Hypnobabies for reasons I outlined here:

http://www.birthnaturally.org/hypnobirthing.htm

You have three options:

1. Just stay with HypnoBirthing and hope that it works for you.
2. Use the Supplemental Birth Hypnosis set sold by Hypnobabies (more on that below), which you can order by calling Hypnobabies at 714 952-2229.
3. Look at your HypnoBirthing course as an intro to childbirth hypnosis and do the complete Hypnobabies program.

As I said above, I took a HypnoBirthing class with my second baby and then supplemented with the Supplemental Birth Hypnosis set from Hypnobabies. This set does not teach the Hypnobabies tools (lightswitch, Peace, Release, etc.). The supplemental set gives you recordings to practice the deeper techniques mentioned (but not practiced) in HypnoBirthing. I credit my comfort during that birth to the Hypnobabies supplemental recordings because I got so tired of Rainbow Relaxation. Without the supplemental recordings, there is no way I would have been able to use Glove Relaxation or the Control Valve (more powerful HypnoBirthing techniques), since I only got to experience those techniques one time during my HypnoBirthing class. They are described in the HypnoBirthing book, but you don't get a script or CD with which to reinforce them (a NECESSARY step to learning a hypnosis tool). With the full Hypnobabies course, every technique is reinforced by a specific script or recording. The lack of structure and materials in HypnoBirthing is one of the many reasons I prefer Hypnobabies (the whole course) over HypnoBirthing....

In order to do the complete Hypnobabies course (option 3), you'd need to be willing to fully commit to it and relearn a few key things such as:

*it's OK to push and a totally involuntary pushing reflex is very common with unmedicated childbirth (Mongan believes there is no physiological reason for women to push--she thinks that women only push because they've been told they have to)

*moving around is a helpful thing to do during labor as it facilitates the baby's rotation and descent, can aid a mother's comfort, and can speed up progress (Mongan believes that movement during labor is not helpful and that lying in bed is better/just as good)

*pain during childbirth is not only caused by mental attitudes, but can be lessened (potentially eliminated) by relaxation, other comfort measures, and hypno-anesthesia techniques (Mongan implies that if a woman simply believes that birth doesn't have to hurt and relaxes "enough" or "correctly" she will not feel pain--moms who feel pain didn't believe enough or didn't relax correctly).

Depending on the beliefs of your HypnoBirthing instructor, you may or may not have gotten a strong dose of those points, but they are in the book. They rubbed me the wrong way. I did Hypnobabies (the full course) with my fourth and fifth babies and liked it a lot more than HypnoBirthing, in part because I could use them while being active and I had instant ways of entering hypnosis.

[Sudonk]

Originally Posted by gunnarsmama77

Does anyone have experience with both systems? Would the cost be justified? Obviously I can't tell if hypnobirthing will work until I am in labor, and I'm one of those people who'd rather be overprepared than underprepared. Would the systems mesh/would it lessen my preparedness to listen to both? Thanks so much in advance!

During my first pregnancy, I took a live HypnoBirthing class for exactly the same reasons you mentioned. I enjoyed the class, and felt like I left believing that a comfortable birth was possible, but the amount of information we got on how to achieve that seemed way too limited to me. I did get the supplemental information from Hypnobabies, and that allowed me to gain the skills I needed to have a good birth. But even in the midst of the birth, I told my husband more than once, "Next time we're learning Hypnobabies!"

With my second pregnancy, I got the full Hypnobabies Home Study, and was simply astounded by the depth of information it contained. I honestly felt like I learned more about childbirth and hypnosis in the first hour of reading Hypnobabies than I had in the entire HypnoBirthing class. The amount of natural childbirth information in Hypnobabies made a huge difference in my confidence and ability to make good, informed decisions about care for my baby and myself. But the large number of skills that could be applied in a practical way during the birth made just as big a difference. My body needed me to be mobile during my births, and that just wasn't possible using the HypnoBirthing techniques. When things became intense, my only way to remain comfortable was to curl up on my side with my eyes closed and wait...and wait...and wait. It led to an unnecessarily long, complicated birth. I developed the same complications during my second birth, but was able to get through it with ease, thanks to having the Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis skills that allowed me to move around easily into the positions my body needed. For me, the proof was in the use of the skills. I had a good first birth. But it took a huge amount of work to achieve it, and I was left feeling a bit traumatized and overwhelmed by the experience of my first birth using HypnoBirthing. Using Hypnobabies for my later births felt like second-nature, and I didn't feel like I had to really work at my relaxation. I was more comfortable, more relaxed and more confident with less effort. One of my first thoughts with my first Hypnobabies birth was "Wow, that's it? But it was so easy!"

In my experience, the HypnoBirthing skills can really help achieve a far better birth than birthing without them. But there simply aren't any additional skills or childbirth knowledge to use if things aren't completely smooth and uncomplicated, or even to use if things get more intense during transition. So for women who do happen to have uncomplicated births, it can be enough. But for women like me who have any other type of birth, it can really leave them feeling a bit overwhelmed and disappointed. That's why I preferred Hypnobabies. The Hypnobabies Home Study really prepared me to have the best birth I could, no matter what circumstances arose. I felt much more confident knowing that I probably had more knowledge and skills than I would need to have a great birth, and I preferred that to worrying that what I had learned simply wouldn't be enough.

Only you can decide if you will benefit from learning Hypnobabies, but since I've been in your shoes, I thought you might appreciate hearing my experience. You'll do great either way, I have no doubt. The decision depends in large part on if you want to put in a little more effort (if you can call relaxing and reading fascinating information effort) in the next 7 weeks, or put in additional effort during the birth. If you are considering having any more children, that may be a reason to get Hypnobabies now during a sale, and having it for this baby and your whole next pregnancy.

Good luck with any decision you make, and congratulations on your little one!

[gunnarsmama77]

Thanks so much, both of you! I really appreciate both of you sharing your experiences. That's exactly what I was wondering about--I've been listening to the rainbow relaxation and the guided relaxation but I kept wondering: so what do I listen to while I'm giving birth? Veritaserum, I think I will just look at hypnobirthing as an introductory class and focus on hypnobabies from here on out. I ordered the home study course today, I'm excited to start!

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by gunnarsmama77

Thanks so much, both of you! I really appreciate both of you sharing your experiences. That's exactly what I was wondering about--I've been listening to the rainbow relaxation and the guided relaxation but I kept wondering: so what do I listen to while I'm giving birth? Veritaserum, I think I will just look at hypnobirthing as an introductory class and focus on hypnobabies from here on out. I ordered the home study course today, I'm excited to start!

I'm sure you'll love it! I looked forward to my practice time every day.

[St. Margaret]

You are going to love it! I loved the CDs (not much in birth but preparing) and had a WONDERFUL first birth. Just got the course out again for #2 (keep that in mind-- you'll want to refresh for each baby you have, if you're having more, so the cost will be even more worth it).

[Partaria]

Wanted to sort of resurrect this thread, as I'm facing a similar question.

I registered already for a hypnobirth course, read the book, listened to the cd, and kinda thought- this is it? Our actual face to face class starts in January. But at this point, I'm wondering if I should cancel and switch over to Hypnobabies.

Sounds like people on this thread think it's worth it to do both, seeing Hypnobirth as an intro.

Would others still agree with that?

I asked our hypnobirth instructor if adding in Hynobabies materials was okay, and she seemed to suggest that doing so could really throw you off the techniques you learn in Hypnobirthing. Do they not mix well?

[A_Random_Phrase]

I haven't experienced either but I did buy a hypnobirthing book with a CD in it. From what was said on this thread, though, I think I would go for hypnobabies if I were going to have another baby.

See this thread on hypnobirth that is currently going on. It looks like it addresses your issues:

http://www.mothering.com/community/forum/thread/1280085/hypnobirthing-yay-or-nay

[Veritaserum]

I would skip the class and just do Hypnobabies.  Really, there wasn't much substance to the HypnoBirthing class that wasn't in the book (which you say you have already read).  If a mom has already taken a HypnoBirthing class and decides she wants to learn Hypnobabies, then that is when I say to look at HypnoBirthing as an intro.  A HypnoBirthing class is certainly not any kind of requirement prior to learning Hypnobabies and would ideally be avoided (imo) due to its less effective techniques and weird teachings about movement and pushing.
 

Originally Posted by Partaria 

Wanted to sort of resurrect this thread, as I'm facing a similar question.

I registered already for a hypnobirth course, read the book, listened to the cd, and kinda thought- this is it? Our actual face to face class starts in January. But at this point, I'm wondering if I should cancel and switch over to Hypnobabies.

Sounds like people on this thread think it's worth it to do both, seeing Hypnobirth as an intro.

Would others still agree with that?

I asked our hypnobirth instructor if adding in Hynobabies materials was okay, and she seemed to suggest that doing so could really throw you off the techniques you learn in Hypnobirthing. Do they not mix well?