hypnobirthing vs hypnobabies vs hypbirth

[rootsaloo]

Opinions? I took the Marie Mongan hypnobirthing class and feel like I need more. I also find the voice on the tape annoying. I am considering purchasing the hypnobabies supplemental tapes or the hypbirth program. Hypbirth seems different, specifically targeting endorphins, but its rather expensive. Anyone tried it? Anyone had experience with more than one program? Thoughts? Opinions?
Thanks, Ruth

[Tanibani]

I know what you mean... I took the course. I had a wondeful instructor, so the whole course made sense to me. At first I also hated Mongan's voice. I found it annoying. But I forced myself to listen to it daily (to practice - I hope you are doing it anyway) and in a short time I began to actually like it. One month later (close to my due date) I did not need to listen to the tape during my hospital labor - I had the dang script memorized in my head. I just focused on the memories of feelings it brought me. Total relaxation. I felt no pain for my 20 hour labor. My painfree birth story is on this thread: Tell me more about Hypnobirthing

Anyway, this is an easy dilemna. I'd choose the HypnoBabies Supplemental program. Kerry Tuschoff (sp?) created it using master hypnotist Gerald Kein's Painless Childbirth Techniques. It's a complete course and VERY AFFORDABLE.

Here Kerry explains the differences between HypnoBabies & HypnoBirthing.

Kerry (a former 14 ? yr childbirth educator, now exclusively focusing on HypnoBabies classes) has a yahoogroup just for her moms and is very generous with extra scripts. She is a regular poster on that Babycenter board.

I've seen the Hypbirth website. Nice photo of Amanda on the front page at 9 cm. Very calm. That was me at 9cm too (without Hypbirth!). I was calmly brushing my teeth during transition over the hospital bathroom (ick) sink.

The creator of Hypbirth is a Doula. That is her primary profession. (She was an experienced Hypnotherapist - but only 5 years. She is not a Master Hypnotherapist.) I am always skeptical of people who want to "do-it-all." It appears that she created this course using the best of various other courses. That is fine.

On her bio it says that as a Doula she observed which Hypnosis techniques worked and which didn't. Frankly I need more information. Did she teach the hypnosis course herself to her clients? (I think that is a disservice to clients. Stick to what you are good at.) If so, that would explain why it didn't work for (some/all of) her clients. So she tweaked and tweaked and tah-dah.

The Doula I hired 3.5 yrs ago was new to HypnoBirthing. She started to teach it to her clients. It was an awful experience. She didn't give me the book. She just gave me 2 tapes (rainbow relaxation and Birthing affirmations) of her own lousy recorded voice. It was an extremely watered down version of the course (if you can even call it that.) I was fortunate to have found a local, real HypnoBirthing practioner. She happened to be new to teaching the entire HypnoBirthing course, the way it was meant to, but she was a Master Hypnotist for years. When she heard what my Doula was doing, she was horrified. That Doula is still offering HypnoBirthing under her services.

This experience colors my opinions of Doulas offering Hypnobirthing.

BTW, I fired my Doula and did not need a doula to help me cope with contractions, because I was doing great! Though at pushing, it would have been nice. Someone to offer other choices to the Pitocin we opted for and to help hold me in supported squat so I wouldn't tear.

If other moms on the Hypbirth site say it's good, that's great. I'm sure it works. But Hypnobabies is far less expensive. That makes my decision a whole lot easier.

As far as specifically targeting Endorphins... e-mail Kerry and ask her about that. Whichever program you use, if you are DEEPLY relaxed, then you WILL feel the endorphins.

Kerry is careful not to promise that birth with be painfree. For the majority it can be. But for some (who are too stressed out going in, unable to trust and relax - or who have not practiced) there will be degrees of pain.

So eventhough the Hypbirth "sounds better" keep that in mind. It's all about $ ka-ching $ making a sale.

The majority of my Hypnobirthing practioners students had first time 6 hour labors. (I credit that to the fact that my practioner was a Master Hypnotist.) Many of her clients felt endorphins BETWEEN EVERY Contraction!!! My labor was 18 hours - I know why - and I only felt endorphins when I was in the shower - even more deeply relaxed.

My .02 cents.

[mamaley]

Hi--I just got my hypnobabies lessons yesterday in the mail, and it looks very good--very thorough. Since you just need some brushing up, I'd try her supplemental programs like Tanibani suggested.

[ecomommy]

Hello,

I have been using the Hypnobabies home study course and I really like it. I have been doing it now for about 10 weeks (maybe more?). I like Kerry's voice on the tape and that it is a complete course. I think that it has really helped me relax about pregnancy and labor. But of course we'll see how well it really works in about 6 weeks!

I looked at the hypnobirthing site when deciding what course. I thought the hypnobabies course was affordable and of course, Kerry is in my area and my midwife knows her so that's why I ultimately choose it. All in all I have been very happy with the course.

Ann
Mommy to Aine 3/5/01, ^i^Phoenix 11/8/02 and Baby Bee edd 8/20/03

[mamaley]

Hi Ecomommy--good to meet someone else who is doing they hypnobabies home study! I just did my second relaxation--special place--do you ever feel like you get so relaxed, almost like sleeping but not, that you don't hear what she's saying anymore? Is this ok? I know that she says being hypnotised is different for different people, and i'm trying not to be paranoid about not "doing it right"...

[3girlsmommy]

I took hypnobirthing with a local instructor and loved it. Even so I felt like I was left wanting more. I went to an ivillage board that is devoted to hypnosis and childbirth and kerry actual frequents that board. Anyway she was such a tremendous help! She sent me scripts for specific things that I needed. For me the combination really worked well. Also having all those extra scripts, that dh had to read to me, got him more involved in the process. Anyway I would recommend contacting Kerry for some additional scripts.
Sandi
p.s. Hi Tanya! It's neat to "see" familiar faces around here!

[ecomommy]

Hey Mamaley, I do often feel like I've slept during the hypnosis tapes. But I always wake up right at the end so I guess it's just a deep state of hypnosis. At least that's what I'd like to think!! After chasing after a 2-year old all day, I'm usually pretty tired. I try to lay down when she takes a nap and listen to the tape then but the same thing...I usually don't remember most of the tape. I've listened to all the tapes before I used them for hypnosis so I know what's on them. I think I remember reading in the Hypnobabies home study about being in such a deep state of hypnosis that you think you're asleep but you're really not. I figure if I do fall asleep while I'm listening to them that my subconscious mind is hearing everything that is being said.

Best of luck,
Ann
Mommy to AIne 3/5/01, ^i^Phoenix 11/8/02 and Baby Bee edd 8/20/03

[Spark]

Mamely, I think "falling asleep" during hypnosis is par for the course. I did HypnoBirthing during my last pregnancy and never did hear Marie get to the last two colors in the rainbow visual. It still worked for me! (I'm posted on Birth Stories here on MDC -- it says HypnoBirthing in the title)

Although after reading this post I may go for the supplement tapes this time around.

Best wishes! I think Hypnowatever is great!

[mamaley]

Ecomommy, that's interesting--the second time I did it, I didn't hear anything she said for probably the last half of it, but I did hear her say 3, and I got right up. Yesterday I didn't even hear her count at all, but woke up anyway (her voice had stopped). Two nights ago I did the special place script and was totally aware for all of it, yet extremely relaxed and it was really cool.

[hypatia]

hypnobirthing

I always wake up when I hear the click of the tape stopping! I try to stay awake, but I just can't.

I took a Hypnobirthing class, and was extremely disappointed with it. I still like the concept of hypnosis for childbirth, but I did not feel that my class helped me, and I wish I had just ordered Kerry's Hypnobabies self study kit instead.

I took the hypnobirthing class because I wanted to learn about hypnosis, but the class centered mostly on general childbirth stuff, like what are the stages of labor, and why you should do kegels, and what is proper nutrition, blah, blah, blah... My guess is that most people who are doing hypnobirthing have already done some reading and know that stuff. What I wanted was instruction on how to do hypnosis, techniques for relaxing and getting deeper, on overcoming mental blocks, etc. I wanted to practice the hypnosis techniques we would do in labor. But we never really did practice the hypnosis in class -- just did a couple guided hypnosis sessions with the instructor. There were many techniques in the book that were described only briefly, like the glove anesthesia, disappearing letters, etc., that I would have liked to practice, but we didn't. The result after the class is that hypnosis has still ended up being self-study for my husband and me.

The resource that I have really used has been Kerry's Hypnobabies yahoo group. She has lots of scripts there that you can use to practice, which have been really helpful to me. I like the Hypnobabies versions better than the Hypnobirthing versions because the style fits me better -- I like counting better than visualization, for example.

[elfinbaby]

I just wrapped up my hypnobirthing class, too, hypatia. I was disappointed as well. My teacher did the opposite of what your did. We literally chatted aobut birthing stuff and then did an exercise. Sometimes 2 per class but I still came away feeling very unprepared. The scripts she used in class weren't on our handouts - she was "winging it" since she is a certified hypnotist but I can't do that by myself. So I'm using Kerry's scripts to supplement. She also was not very informative in the CBE dept. I'm a Bradley teacher and it was very frustrating to sit in a class that was so lacking in preparing couples for birthing. Obviously, it's going to vary teacher by teacher.

I wished I had gone ahead and ordered Hypnobabies program. I feel like some of the stuff in the book (like that chapter on the curse of Eve) was total crap and coupled with my uninformed teacher, it didn't do much for my faith in the Hypnobirthing program. After reading Childbirth Without Fear I feel like my confidence has grown tremendously. But I don't think I'd feel this way if I didn't have the supplemental materials from the yahoo group.


I wake up to the click of the tape most of the time, too, and don't remember a thing. Yesterday we did open-eyed hypnosis with glove anesthesia and I missed the whole thing. My teacher told me that I didn't move my hand to my face and I was clueless. I have not been sleeping well and am really tired so she said I probably just went down into deep theta and my body took advantage I came out when everyone else did so I know I wasn't asleep just deeply relaxed.

[hypatia]

i agree

Originally posted by elfinbaby
The scripts she used in class weren't on our handouts - she was "winging it" since she is a certified hypnotist but I can't do that by myself.

Elfinbaby: That's how our exercises were, too. Just my teacher leading us in a hypnosis session, but never her teaching us how to do it ourselves. I felt like, why bother making my husband come to this shit if there's no role for him in it at all?

[elfinbaby]

Re: i agree

Originally posted by hypatia
I felt like, why bother making my husband come to this shit if there's no role for him in it at all?

LOL! Since I already have 2 kids and no babysitter, dh only got to come to 1 class. Before I went to class I really wanted him to be able to go but, then I realized it was pointless to have him there. He went to the one class that was supposed to be geared towards the birth partner but there was no information given about what his role should be. I'm still trying to sort through how I see his role if I'm doing hypnosis in labor. Actually, there was very little practical info given period. It's like an introductory course that you can try out but have to come up with your own program.

[hypatia]

Re: Re: i agree

Originally posted by elfinbaby
It's like an introductory course that you can try out but have to come up with your own program.

Yes, and the thing that is frustrating is, it's not the hypnosis idea I have a problem with. I think hypnosis sounds great. I just that it's going to be very self-guided.

The other topic I'm still confused about is hypnosis and changing positions a lot in childbirth. Hypnosis emphasizes being as relaxed as possible. Bradley, BFW, etc. emphasize that you should labor in lots of positions as your body dictates, and that the positions that you choose will be those that are best for getting the baby out. The problem for me is reconciling those two approaches. It seems to me that it would be hard to stay totally relaxed while moving around a lot and squatting, etc. So, what exactly are you supposed to do? Should you practice getting relaxed while squatting or sitting on a birth ball? It just sounds impossible to me to stay relaxed while squatting.

Or, when you're in labor with hynosis, if you're lying down and you feel fine, should you just keep on lying down and not worry about moving around? And if so, is that on the theory that the hypnobirthing makes you so relaxed that you have no need to rely on gravity, like they tell you to in Bradley, etc.? It's all very puzzling to me.

Also, in the videos, people seem to be able to relax deeply during surges, and then become alert in between. Are you going to practice switching back and forth like that? I haven't practiced that yet, but it's occurring to me that maybe I should.

[Spark]

I think the success of the classes really depend on the instructor! My HyB instructor was wonderful. She also teaches other birthing classes and like HyB the best. She combines some of her other favorite things with it though. My husband felt very much a part of the class. She had us go home and he would lead me in hypnosis. She even had us write some of our own scripts. You can always do that to involve your husband. Put on some music, lie on the ground or bed and have him read a script or make one up for you. I thought it was very helpful. Then have him do some perenial massage. That's what my instructor suggested and it was GREAT!

hypatia -- I think different women use HyB differently in labor. I don't know anyone who layed down like the HyB video women who were in hospitals tied to machines. I didn't even listen to verbal tapes during labor, but I did listen to music that my husband and I did HyB practice to. I was talking, laughing, singing and having a good time. During surges I'd vocalize "oooooh". And then when it was over I'd return to my husband and my conversation. It was great.

Another successful HyB I know does not like to involve her husband at all. She listens to the affirmation tape during her labors over and over again and has never had pain using them until she pushes. But, as she said, That's only 5-20 minutes! (She's had 4 kids).

So, the more you practice Hypnosis before the birth, the more it sinks into your mind. You don't have to try to stay in ga-ga state, the work has already been done.

[Tanibani]

Re: Re: Re: i agree

Originally posted by hypatia
The other topic I'm still confused about is hypnosis and changing positions a lot in childbirth. Hypnosis emphasizes being as relaxed as possible. Bradley, BFW, etc. emphasize that you should labor in lots of positions as your body dictates, and that the positions that you choose will be those that are best for getting the baby out. The problem for me is reconciling those two approaches. It seems to me that it would be hard to stay totally relaxed while moving around a lot and squatting, etc. So, what exactly are you supposed to do? Should you practice getting relaxed while squatting or sitting on a birth ball? It just sounds impossible to me to stay relaxed while squatting.

I had this problem too. After I took my (awesome) HypnoBirthing class, I thought, "GREAT! I don't have to do all that Bradley-encouraged walking-squatting-moving during labor." WRONG. WRONG WRONG I stayed in bed most of the time, just getting up to pee. I thought since those HypnoBirthing moms were in bed most of the time, I did not have to move.

Well, I think my labor was 18 hours long because I didn't move as much as I should have. (The other reason was psychological. I was sad the pregnancy would be over. Also, I was TERRIFIED of pushing. I wasn't looking forward to it. All that contributed to my long labor.)

Next time I will not stay in bed the whole time, and move (be upright, sitting up and relaxing) as much as possible.

Originally posted by hypatia
Or, when you're in labor with hynosis, if you're lying down and you feel fine, should you just keep on lying down and not worry about moving around? And if so, is that on the theory that the hypnobirthing makes you so relaxed that you have no need to rely on gravity, like they tell you to in Bradley, etc.? It's all very puzzling to me.

Hypatia, move (or rather, stay upright, relaxing) as much as you can.

Originally posted by hypatia
Also, in the videos, people seem to be able to relax deeply during surges, and then become alert in between. Are you going to practice switching back and forth like that? I haven't practiced that yet, but it's occurring to me that maybe I should.

Even in a state of alertness, you are relaxed. It's just that during a surge, I was turning inward and focusing on relaxing and after the surge I could focus on something outside of myself. Easy peasy. No need to practice that. The important thing is to remain relaxed.

Also, it's really not that difficult to be upright, sitting on a birth ball, leaning over on something, in a deeply relaxed state. At 9cm, I was up, calmly brushing my teeth in the hospital bathroom. Anytime I felt a surge, I stopped brushing my teeth, leaned over the sink and focused on relaxing all my muscles. When the surge was over, back to brushing my teeth. No pain.

BTW, because after 18 hours, I had no energy to push (and my contractions stopped - I was exhausted. I was hungry and asking to eat, but DH said no. He wanted to be "safe" and follow hospital protocol. ) My OB was hinting that I'd end up with a Csec if I didn't progress. We (stupidly) asked for Pitocin to avoid the Csec. I was on Pit for 2 hours (we made sure the dose was low) and I was flat on my back, with a monitor for those 2 hours. The Pitocin didn't hurt me at all... I was still in a relaxed state. But I don't think Pitocin is healthy at all. I wish I had remembered natural nipple stimulation.

Originally posted by Sparklin
I think the success of the classes really depend on the instructor!

ITA. My instructor was great. She was a Master Hypnotist, so I felt I got a great course. The biggest thing that she contributed were numerous success stories from her own clients. That, with the videos, gave me lots of confidence. I didn't care for all/most of the hypnosis scripts we went through. Instead of stressing about it, I just focused on what worked, the Rainbow Relaxation and Birthing Affirmations tapes.


Hi 2girlsmommy!

[rootsaloo]

Hey Thanks everyone for replying, I've been enjoying this thread. I still haven't heard much about hypbirth. I did talk with the woman who created it. I asked her what made her program different from the others but after the conversation I was still confused. In her program you turn on the CD when the surge starts and turn it off when its done. It was interesting to watch some of the video clips on her website. The CD goes on and the women immediately slump over (deeply relaxed I guess). I wish I had the cash to try them all and find the best fit. Anyhow, I've ordered the hypnobabies student set and look forward to trying it out. I also joined the hypnobabies yahoogroup. Have any of you checked out the hypbirth.com web site? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Ruth

[hypatia]

hypnosis

Thanks, everyone, for all the advice. I can picture being upright or sitting while relaxed a lot more clearly than I can picture being relaxed in some of the more vigourous positions. I'm going to start practice trying to relax in different positions.

Rootsaloo: To be honest, I'd never heard of HypBirth until you'd mentioned it, just HypnoBabies and HypnoBirthing. My guess is that it's a smaller program, so fewer people have done it who can comment. It sounds interesting, though.

[elfinbaby]

I think alot of the experience in class depends on your instructor, too. Mine was a certified hypnotist but obviously had no training in CBE. I don't consider HB a CBE class at all in fact. Neither the book nor my class gave enough information to couples who are relying on the class as CBE.

As a Bradley teacher I was frustrated, too, by the videos of moms lying in bed for hours. Especially the one when the moms contractions slowed down (which is no big deal) and they accepted Pit with no questions asked. Then she went into shock from a reaction to it!

Our teacher kept telling us that we would be able to walk, move around, or whatever under hypnosis. And we did do the open eyed hypnosis in our last class but once isn't enough and we don't have a freakin' script! I have Kerry's though We're doing a refresher in the fall since the other mom and I aren't due until then and she said we would practice being led around the house in a hypnotic state.