hypnobirthing

[MrsBone]

So, I wanted to take the hypnobirthing class, but every time I pick up the book and read the different exercises, I just sort of laugh. It seems so absurd to me. I really try to focus and read and I even have tried out the visualizations, but I can't seem to get my mind in the right place. It just seems so silly to me. It may have something to do with the fact that my first labor was so intense and tiring, I cant imagine being able to relax and be virtually pain free during such an intense experience. I feel like I did pretty darn good considering the circumstances. I did utilize the breathing exercises last time and I feel like those helped me stay focused until about 7 cm, when I finally asked for nubain. I had been in labor for 38 hours by then and had no sleep, so I was exhausted. Anyway, I want things to be different this time, but whenever I think about actually using these hypnobirthing techniques, it just seems absurd. I have  a friend who is a hypnobirthing instructor and will do a class for me(she said she could do a condensed 1 day class if that would be easier for our schedule) and that she doesn't need to teach me certain things, like eating properly, or how labor and delivery works and all that(since I've done it before), but I just don't want to pay the money for something I don't really think will work, ya know? Did anyone else feel this way about hypnobirthing? It won't work for me if I don't believe it will work will it?

[~Adorkable~]

i encourage you to do a search and read up pn the many threads about this very thing, there is a lot of opinions and info in them. good luck on your choices.

also remember when you are reading things that HypnoBabies is different than HypnoBirthing they are different programs with different thinking about some important parts.

[annaconda]

Hi Mrs. Bone!

I'm doing hypnobirthing classes.

So first, I think that if you don't believe something is going to help you, it's probably not.  There's no reason to take a class if you don't believe it will help you that's for sure - I'm sure your time is valuable.

I also have not done a lot of the exercises (the glove relaxation, stuff like that).  What I have been doing is working on total body relaxation and positive affirmations.  And I've been doing the breathing for early labor (exhales twice as long as inhales) etc.  I listen to the CD that didn't come with the book that has birthing affirmations and the rainbow relaxation every night.

The class we're taking - the reason I'm looking forward to it is that my husband is not doing nearly any of the reading I am.  So the class is something we are doing together and I hope to develop a common language to talk about things during the birth and also give him concrete ways in which he can help me.  Frankly I'm feeling really cool and excited about the whole thing because I'm so prepared... but he is going to fret if he doesn't have tactics to employ.  Bring in the class.  Let him help me to relax instead of spreading his own tension.

Those are my thoughts on it... 

[HarleeMomma910]

Annaconda, where do you do your hypnobirthing classes at?  I'm currently reading the book and loving it, I really believe this can help.  I'm 26 weeks into my first pregnancy and would like to take classes, mainly for my husband like you said, who also doesn't read.  Hopefully he's retained some of what I've read to him though.  I'm in Southern Illinois, hopefully I can find classes near me!

[SierraBella]

I did hypnobirthing with #2.. sort of. I went to the class, but I didn't really practice any of the excersises. All I really did was listen to the CD before I went to bed, and in my sleep. I ended up having a completely painless labor.. I felt my contractions, but they didn't hurt. I was also a little skeptical because my labor and birth with #1 was sooo painful and intense. But, it really worked for me, and I plan to do it with this one too.

[Jaimee]

I used the HypBirth home study course for my first birth and sort of reviewed it for my second.  What I say to people about hypnosis techniques is that there are three levels.  One: you learn affirmations and reach a point where you truly BELIEVE that birth is normal, natural, and something you were designed to do.  Two: you learn some great relaxation techniques that are effective up until about transition.  Three: you actually learn to hypnotize yourself and reach a place where you feel no pain throughout the entire birth process and may even deliver your baby without really pushing.

I reached level two and it was a great experience.  Even though I did not make it all the way to full hypnosis, I did reach 8cm with hardly any pain.  After about 8cm (during transition) my relaxation skills were no longer effective.  I used water, changing positions, and low moaning mantras to get me through the rest. 

It is very likely that your second labor will be much easier than your first- at least much shorter.  I was walking around at 5cm dilated for over a week and when I finally went into active labor it was 1/4th as long as my first labor and he flew out in two and a half pushes.  It was awesome!

[annaconda]

Love this thread - great assessment on the levels!

I looked on the hypnobirthing website at this link to find my provider.

http://www.hypnobirthing.com/findapract.htm

I had a choice of two, and looked up other hypnosis resources in my area.  I then checked with them and they strongly recommended one of the two practitioners, so that's who I went with.  I'm really happy with it.

We also are using Mind over Labor (book) - our teach lent it to me and let me make some copies out of it for extra ideas for visualization and opening.