Hypnobirthing Revisited

[WriterMama]

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[CrunchyGranolaMom]

I feel a lot of the same things that you do, so, as a compromise, instead of taking the expensive classes, I bought a used copy of the two tapes and the book used in the classes. While I think that I would be better prepared for a "hypnobirthing-specific" birth if I had done the classes, I feel pretty darn ready for a "my kind of" birth.

My baby is due in a few weeks, so I can't comment on how this all works out yet! Good luck figuring out what you want to do.

[Tanibani]

By "managing very well" ... was it completelely painless - your 16 hour labor I mean.

If so, then you probably don't need the class but...

I think you should go ahead with it.

Any tool that will help in labor/birthing (and HypnoBirthing is a great tool) then you should use it.

I'm glad you already believe what the class teaches, but the class (and practicing with the audio tapes every single day) helps to deepen your relaxation - which is the most important thing.

I took it the class (the book/tapes alone would have made little sense to me - I needed someone explaining it to me), had a completely painless 18 hour labor in the hospital.

Many of my practioners 1st time births were 6 hours. Most of those moms felt endorphins in between surges (contractions.) I only felt endorphins when I was in the shower (and more deeply relaxed.)

Thanks to my HypnoBirthing class ... I truly connected to the whole spiritual aspect of labor/delivery... without the pain.

The thing that irritates me about most childbirth prep classes (like BFW) is that they say "pain serves a purpose." Phooey, not in a normal birth. If something is WRONG, then yeah, it serves a purpose. But contractions don't need to be painful.

I panicked in the beginning too (and started to tense and it hurt - a lot) then I got a grip, went limp like a rag doll and the pain completely stopped.

During transition, I was brushing my teeth between surges, then leaning over the sink breathing and relaxing during the surge. It did not hurt.

Last 2 hours of pushing wasn't painful either. With great regret, I opted for Pitocin (low drip - did not hurt at all) because after 18 hours my uterus stopped contracting.

Sorry for the rambling post. Hope it helped.

[MysticHealerMom]

probalby redundant, but,

it's supposed to teach those things plus it's supposed to help you relax and sort of self-hypnotize yourself, sort of like deep meditation during birth. It is described as differnt than you describe your first birth, so you may get something out of it over and above your previous experience.

I say go for it if you can afford the classes.

[greensmile]

Normally ucs don't hurt- exception posterior presentation, which for me wasn't going to work( baby turned). Every one of my 5 births were mostly painless except once when I got stressed, then it hurt a bit until I relaxed again. Beautifully that pushing was painless, all the rest hurt in the final moments. I love the endorphin high. Never took any classes, just read Childbirth w/o Fear.

[greensmile]

Just had to add- all were at home with low lighting and peace!

[WriterMama]

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[cottonwood]

Originally posted by Tanibani
The thing that irritates me about most childbirth prep classes (like BFW) is that they say "pain serves a purpose." Phooey, not in a normal birth. If something is WRONG, then yeah, it serves a purpose. But contractions don't need to be painful.

I totally agree with you! Same reason (well, one of the reasons) I get annoyed with Birthing From Within.

[Spark]

Here's the Cliff Notes version of my HypnoBirthing experience. I enjoyed the insructor & techniques. The whole time, I kept thinking, "This is too simple. How is this ever going to work?!?!" When my water broke one night, I found out. I have no other children, so I don't know how else labor works, but it certainly wasn't like people described. I was completely dialated in 5 hours, but then some complications arose that were handled beautifully and calmly. Jude was born after 17 hours of labor with his hand up and bit wrapped up. I was never in "pain" per say, except for an hour when I got into a birth tub that didn't agree with me. Jude was born peacefully. It was wonderful.

Now, my HynoB instructor had her first baby without HypnoB and she said that was fine. But, when she did HypnoB for the secone (baby is crying. Typing fast) she didn't even think she was in labor until she felt the urge to push.

Good luck

[Tanibani]

WM, yes it's me.

I'm still on BC raving about it - and trying to let other mother's know that it exists and works. Here is my most recent thread. A mom who is currently taking the class wrote back.

Natural/Unmedicated Birthing Methods Board
http://www.babycenter.com/bbs/10516/thread601/

(I hope it's OK to link to another board. I'm new to these boards. It's for informational purposes only.)

[gabesmama]

Writermama,

I swear by hypnobirthing! My doula used hypnobirthing and it enabled me to have the birth I wanted. I felt totally in control. I was able to labor at home until I was 8 centimeters dialated and then we went to the hospital to push the baby out. All natural , no drugs. What really helped was having my doula there to help facilitate the hypnobirthing. My birth was the single most empowering event in my life and I feel I was able to do it because of the hypnobirthing.

I'd just recommend to talk to other mamas who went through the class that you are planning on taking or if you can find a doula who uses hypnobirthing. Although it may be costly it is well worth it

When are you due?

Good luck,

Lori

[WriterMama]

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[Tanibani]

Do you think that a doula would be more effective or does it depend on the temperment of your partner?

My .02 cents... if your husband is serious about helping you (practices with you at home every night - or often) then he will be just fine.

I really think the "coach" here just has to be 100% on board.

My husband wasn't interested at all. Which was fine by me, I just practiced and practiced by myself, getting myself prepared. We hired my HypnoBirthing practioner (who is a master hypnotists of 18 years prior to becoming a HB practioner) to attend my first birth - not knowing what to expect. She was my "back-up" in case I ran into trouble. I figured she could help me calm back down, focus, etc...

Well... I was doing soooooo well on my own, I found her talking to me incredibly distracting and annoying. I didn't need her relaxation prompts at all.

The wonderful thing about THIS course is that it doesn't really teach the mom that she NEEDS a coach. Yes, your partner can give you prompts and help you reach a state of relaxation. Some people need that. Fine, but reading unassisted birth stories, it is clear to me that women CAN birth their babies completely on their own... even Dr. Grantly Dick Reed speaks of painless birth experiences... this just seems like "natures" way. Anyway...

Finally, for pushing, when people were yelling at me (counting down, etc...) long story... the ONLY voice i could focus on - that meant anything to me, was my husband's.

I think your husband will be great! But it's up to you. You'll see how you feel at the end of the class.

[Quirky]

Here's my .02, based on my hypnobirthing class and childbirth experience.

I think that hypnobirthing's promise of a pain free birth works for a lot of women. I think it also doesn't work for a lot of women. I took the class from a great instructor, and there was a lot more to it than just the book and tapes. We practiced a variety of different self-hypnosis and relaxation techniques, which were great, although the mechanics of childbirth portions of the class were pretty textbook.

My husband and I practiced the relaxation techniques together, and I listened to the tapes as well as to several relaxation script CDs that my instructor had prepared. I was confident going into my childbirth experience that I would be able to achieve my goal of a drug-free delivery. My attitude towards pain was, if it doesn't happen, great, if it does happen, I'll be able to cope with it through my relaxation/hypnobirthing training and other pain-coping techniques, such as walking, the hot tub, different positions, good nourishment and hydration, etc.

I definitely did not have a pain-free delivery, although I coped very well with relaxation, visualization, and my husband's help with stories and physical stimuli to take my mind elsewhere. It was a deeply satisfying and empowering experience.

However, I think that if I had set myself up to "expect" a pain free delivery, I would have felt like a failure when that expectation wasn't met. I know other women who felt as if they had failed, or been cheated, when they didn't achieve a pain-free delivery through hypnobirthing, and I feel that I was able to avoid those feelings by having more realistic goals and expectations.

I would definitely recommend the hypnobirthing course to anyone, if it's being taught by a great instructor. However, although I think you have to have as positive an attitude as possible, you may want to be careful about expecting a pain-free delivery and you will want to have as many tools in your toolbag for dealing with pain or discomfort as possible in case you need them. I also highly recommend hiring a good doula, especially one who does massage, etc., to help you and your partner through the process.

Good luck!

[applejuice]

Emil Francel

My parents used this for their unassisted homebirths in the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

They used an LP vinyl from Emil Francel who had a television program in the early 1950s.

What ever works...

What ever helps...

Do it.