Hypnosis For Childbirth Roll Call

[Spark]

I know a lot of us have mentioned using hypnosis during our pregnancy/labor. I am an avid supporter! I used hypnosis for both of my children. I first happened upon it, because I was planning a homebirth and my greatest fear was "handling the pain." I used HypnoBirthing and took the class. It worked perfectly, except for the last 1-2 hours before pushing (out of 17 hours, but he had MANY complications). With my second pregnancy I used a program that had a lot more CDs and had an amazingly easy birth. (4 hours and NO PAIN)
This time I'll do the same program that I did with my DD. I actually already started them, just because they really help me enjoy pregnancy, trust and feel good.

So who else is planning hypno? and, what program(s) are you considering?

_____________BASIC INFO ________________
the best I could write up anyway!
Just some basic info if you don't know what the heck we're talking about...
When I first heard of hypnosis used during childbirth I was SCARED! I pictured women in a trance. But, it's not like that at all. Using hypnosis, is like doing guided imagery. You are totally in control, things are just much easier. Hypnosis during childbirth is a wonderful way to reduce or elliminate pain during childbirth. It makes pregnancy easier. It makes birth easier.

How it works is through repition. At some point during your pregnancy you'll take a class or send away for CDs. You will listen to the CDs every single day. The repitition locks the information away in your mind. You can even sleep all during the CD and never listen to it consciously. It still works!

There are TONs of different programs. All the programs are pretty similar. And, they all rely on that same information and use smlilar scripts. (Sidenote: Mongan developer of HypnoBabies has actually sued a number of other hypno programs and has never won, because the original scripts have been along well before Mongan happened upon them.)

Some programs use just a couple of CDs (one guided visualization and one affirmations), other use multiple CDs. Some have classes IRL and others do not.
Here's just a quick list of some of the ones I know about. There are MANY more out there though. Research and make sure you're choosing the one that best meets your needs.
www.hypnobabies.com
www.hypbirth.com
www.hypnobirthing.com
http://psychceu.com/peterson/hypnosis.html

[juliasmum]

Thanks for the links... I really need to look into this more because I want to use hypnobirthing. Anything to get me through the labor without an epidural!

So who has used which programs?

[Spark]

I think HypnoBirthing is good. I esp like that the classes are offered all over the country. (If you're into taking a class) What I didn't like about HypnoBirthing is that the one CD you listen to every night began to wear on me. The sound of Marie Mongan's voice with her little dialectical nuances annoyed the crap out of me after the 50th time listening to it. I really enjoyed the variety of some of the other programs. I felt like they gave you more tools to work with. That's just my opion though!

Really, I think ANY of them are going to work, you just have to be commited to listening to them EVERY day. It helps so much with pregnancy, too. It's a joy to listen to a good program.

[StarCat]

I used hypnobirthing with dd. I e-mailed them and asked for referrals in my area and they emailed me 2 names the first lady didn't answer when i called so I called the 2nd number. She is the most amazing woman and doula and I knew right away I wanted to use her. At first we were only going to do the hypnosis with her but then I decided to use her as a doula as well. Toward the end of my pregnancy she trained in hypnobabies as well, she said she combines them now depending on what she feels the person will best respond to. I already called her to make sure she can doula for me this baby, she was one of the first people I told!

Anyway- this seems the best place to describe my hypno experience. so here goes...I woke up on the 4th of July and my water broke....it was Sunday and I had just been to see my midwife and she checked me to see if I was dilated and I was way posterior and closed...my doula called and told me her FIL was very ill and in the hospital and they wanted to go to south fl. to visit but she wouldn't go if anything was happening and I said go ahead, I'm closed...this baby isn't coming out anytime soon. I should have known when I scrubbed the fridge on Saturday but duh....then Sunday I woke up and splash...I was so nervous/excited/panicky/happy I called the doula, I called the midwife who told me to eat and shower but I never started my hypnosis. At first I wasn't having feeling anything but when it started it really started...Then we forgot the tapes when we went to the birthh center!! My doula was still a few hours away but when she got there she got me to a good place for awhile. Unfortunately I wasn't able to push out the baby in 3 hours and we ended up in the hospital but that has nothing to do with the hypno...Basically, I practiced EVERY day for like 3 months and a few times a week from like 13 weeks until the last 3 months. I had several hypnosis sessions with the doula but I was so excited when the time came I forgot that I had to actually use it, I ended up trying to chase down the pain instead of staying ahead of it..HOWEVER...I am sure that it got me through early labor without me even knowing it. I got a great nights sleep even though I was most likely in the early part of labor, and I was able to utilize the hypnosis a little once my doula helped me to focus.

I wanted to go through that entire story because I think its important for anyone who is considering hypnosis and isn't sure if it will work to know that sometimes it may not, but I can honestly pinpoint where I went wrong with it and I know thats why it didn't work. Hopefully this will save someone else from making the same mistakes! I am confident that this time will be better and that it will work perfectly!

[Spark]

Becca, what a wonderful birth story! It was exciting and grand! Now, I never have used hypnosis in my labors. Ever. I just trusted it was all in me anyway. Interesting, huh? With my last birth, it was like my mind remembered everything on the tapes. Every ctx/surge brought my breath as practiced on the tapes, a profound inward feeling, total relaxation. I never did or thought anything particulary hypnosis related. I found that I NEEDED that with the HypnoBirthing program however. Like I needed the constant reminders.

Now, I'm not sure if that was a program difference, a personal program preference or just a second birth using hypno. But, I know I'm doing my non-HypnoBirthing CDs this time.

Oh, and I have ordered the Eliminate Nausea Now! CD from HypnoBabies. I can HARDLY wait for it to get here! I hope it works beautifully!

[MistyB]

I plan on getting a set of CDs in the next week or two..I am excited about trying it!

Nt

[Spark]

Cool Misty. What set are you getting?

I really think the earlier you start, the more benefit you get from them. But, the thing is, if you know you're the type of person to burn out... ie not listen to them every day the last 4 months... then hold off. It's just so crucial to listen every day the last 4 months.

[IncaMama]

i'm thinking of trying this...

[Spark]

I think hypno is AMAZING! I have a friend Amy IRL...
She had two natural drug free births and said they were painful they were crazy she felt like she was being torn apart, but she did it. Then, she happened upon hypno. And decided to try it for her third baby. She's thinking it won't help too much, but just enough to take the edge off. Well, she goes into labor and she keeps telling her husband that they'll leave to go to the hospital when it hurts (instead of paying attention to the time of her ctx ) Anyway, finally her husband convinces her they have TO GO! They get to the hospital and she realizes on the way in that she has to push! Her 3rd baby is delivered in the hall way. She did say that pushing hurt, but that she didn't have any pain like she did with her first two. She's gone on to have 2 more kids using hypno and loves labor.

I like that story about Amy. If you check the various websites they all have great stories. Especially if you've done labor without hypno, I think you'll see a HUGE difference WITH hypno. It's really worth checking out! I hope you have fun researching it, Michele.

If you have any questions or concerns, there's quite a few of us here who have used different programs.

[guest9969]

Originally Posted by juliasmum

Thanks for the links... I really need to look into this more because I want to use hypnobirthing. Anything to get me through the labor without an epidural!

So who has used which programs?

You are in St. Louis, aren't you? Sorry if I have the wrong person but I think I went on a zoo trip with you. Anyway, I did Hypnobirthing classes with a very nice lady in North St. Louis. PM me if you want some info on it.

We loved it - I had a 2 hour labor. For me, it was *not* painless but I never felt like I needed drugs and I do think it is why I had such a short labor. I recommend it to anyone who will listen.

Jen

[guest9969]

Originally Posted by Spark

The sound of Marie Mongan's voice with her little dialectical nuances annoyed the crap out of me after the 50th time listening to it.

: :

I couldn't listen to the relaxation rainbow even once. It made me laugh - no way could I relax to that!

I liked the ones my husband did better. My favorite was "imagine you are in your favorite kitchen" with the smell, sounds, etc. Lots better than rainbow mist - whatever!

[Spark]

Originally Posted by GriffinsMom

I recommend it to anyone who will listen.

Jen

Yup, hypno is THAT good!

Jen... glad Mongan annoyed the crap out of someone else, too! LOL! I much prefer variety! Ahhh, that kitchen makes me want to vomit right now, but I bet 2nd/3rd trimester it would be heavenly!!!

Oh, so I ordered Stop the Nausea or whatever CDs from HypnoBabies. I ordered them like 90 weeks ago... actually one week ago. I had to pay $6 shipping for one tiny CD... AND IT'S STILL NOT HERE!!!! ARG!!!

[juliasmum]

Thanks Jen! Yep, that was me at the zoo.

Sending you a PM!

[MistyB]

I think I will try HypBirth. I want to get the set early on and

listen to it a few times to get the concept in my mind, then do it intermittently. The last few months I will start doing it daily. I know that I would get bored with if I heavily concentrated on it too early on.

I have several other wellness based/healthy living hypnosis tapes that I use once every week or so.

[*Amy*]

I am definitely going to use some form of hypnotherapy for birth, but I haven't decided which one. Since I live in lame old Dayton Ohio, there are no classes, so I'll have to do homestudy. I am not sure which one to choose!

For those of you who have used one, did you also take another class like Bradley?