Tell me what worked in Hypnobirthing

[gretelmom]

Hi everyone. I've been reading Bradley books and now I'm reading Hypnobirthing.

I am going to try my best to get into a Hypnobirthing class, but other than that, what helped those of you who had hypnobirths the most? Lots of practice, the right mindset, a history of hypnosis?

Have people generally found hypnobirthing to be the miracle it sounds like? I know lots of people find Bradley to rigid, but I sort of think Hypnobirthing (Mongan method) seems pretty rigid too!

What you guys think? I am going to really put my faith in Hypnobirthing, as well as learning as much as I can from Bradley, and then following what MY birth will end up being like, as each birth really is different. I'd just like osme advice about the best way to prepare.

I have a 2.5 yo which makes practice harder but I'm committed as best I can!

j

[Veritaserum]

Hi there! I've used hypnosis for my last three births and have taught to different hypnosis methods (HypnoBirthing and now Hypnobabies). There are three main aspects to success using hypnosis:

1) Releasing fears about birth. With HypnoBirthing this is done as a script in class. Hypnobabies students get a recording so that they can listen to a fear release as often as they want to or need to. It's really great to listen to in early labor as well.

2) Reprogramming your beliefs about birth. We are taught from a very young age that birth is dangerous, scary, excruciatingly painful, etc. Hypnotic childbirth scripts and recordings give suggestions for fast, easy, comfortable birth. While a positive attitude regarding birth certainly is something you need, you also need to take care of your innermost beliefs, which are housed in the subconscious. If those inner beliefs still hold on to "yeah, but birth hurts really bad" then that's how it will be experienced. In order to experience a comfortable birth you have to believe, at your core, that it's a real possibility. Daily practice is essential so that your mind is constantly getting reinforcement for the new beliefs regarding fast, easy, comfortable birth. The mind is lazy and will revert back to its old way of thinking if we don't constantly feed it positive food for thought. Once you start your hypnotic childbirth studies you will find the most success if you commit to practicing every day until the baby is born.

3) Deep physical relaxation. The first two items take care of the mental aspects, for the most part. For the physical, you need to know how to deeply relax instantly, especially all around your uterus. HypnoBirthing leaves it at that--relaxation. Hypnobabies goes further and teaches you how to create and direct your body's natural anesthesia (endorphins) with very powerful hypno-anesthesia techniques. Hypnobabies also teaches Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis, which allows Hypnobabies moms to be much more active while staying comfortable and relaxed. Movement helps the baby rotate and descend into the pelvis and helps you to dilate more evenly and quickly. Again, daily practice is essential for maximal benefit so that you really know what your body feels like when it is totally relaxed and comfortable and you can reach that deep relaxation instantly.

I have four kids so I know it can be difficult to find the time to practice. I also knew that my baby was coming whether or not I did and I wanted to be prepared. The practice is simple and very enjoyable. I found that I could get the older ones occupied with an activity or movie and then practice during my younger one's nap time or I would wait until my husband got home from work. During my last pregnancy my then-2-yo enjoyed listening with me (and would fall asleep).

I personally recommend Hypnobabies over HypnoBirthing if you're looking for the most comfortable drug-free birth possible. Hypnobabies is taught as a live class (scroll down to your state) or you can order a complete Hypnobabies home study course. Hypnobabies was created by a former Bradley instructor of 10 years so I'm sure some of the great elements found in a Bradley class are in there.

HypnoBirthing is not set up to study alone at home and is only taught as a live class.

Here are over 100 birth stories of moms using hypnosis:

http://www.pregnancybirthandbabies.c...th_stories.htm

ETA: There other books out there such as Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones. His book is helpful if you want to know how to write your own scripts and he gives a variety of techniques. After you write your scripts you could have your partner record them so you can listen to them or have him read to you every day (if he's willing).

[gretelmom]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

Hi there! I've used hypnosis for my last three births and have taught to different hypnosis methods (HypnoBirthing and now Hypnobabies). There are three main aspects to success using hypnosis:

1) Releasing fears about birth. With HypnoBirthing this is done as a script in class. Hypnobabies students get a recording so that they can listen to a fear release as often as they want to or need to. It's really great to listen to in early labor as well.

2) Reprogramming your beliefs about birth. We are taught from a very young age that birth is dangerous, scary, excruciatingly painful, etc. Hypnotic childbirth scripts and recordings give suggestions for fast, easy, comfortable birth. While a positive attitude regarding birth certainly is something you need, you also need to take care of your innermost beliefs, which are housed in the subconscious. If those inner beliefs still hold on to "yeah, but birth hurts really bad" then that's how it will be experienced. In order to experience a comfortable birth you have to believe, at your core, that it's a real possibility. Daily practice is essential so that your mind is constantly getting reinforcement for the new beliefs regarding fast, easy, comfortable birth. The mind is lazy and will revert back to its old way of thinking if we don't constantly feed it positive food for thought. Once you start your hypnotic childbirth studies you will find the most success if you commit to practicing every day until the baby is born.

3) Deep physical relaxation. The first two items take care of the mental aspects, for the most part. For the physical, you need to know how to deeply relax instantly, especially all around your uterus. HypnoBirthing leaves it at that--relaxation. Hypnobabies goes further and teaches you how to create and direct your body's natural anesthesia (endorphins) with very powerful hypno-anesthesia techniques. Hypnobabies also teaches Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis, which allows Hypnobabies moms to be much more active while staying comfortable and relaxed. Movement helps the baby rotate and descend into the pelvis and helps you to dilate more evenly and quickly. Again, daily practice is essential for maximal benefit so that you really know what your body feels like when it is totally relaxed and comfortable and you can reach that deep relaxation instantly.

I have four kids so I know it can be difficult to find the time to practice. I also knew that my baby was coming whether or not I did and I wanted to be prepared. The practice is simple and very enjoyable. I found that I could get the older ones occupied with an activity or movie and then practice during my younger one's nap time or I would wait until my husband got home from work. During my last pregnancy my then-2-yo enjoyed listening with me (and would fall asleep).

I personally recommend Hypnobabies over HypnoBirthing if you're looking for the most comfortable drug-free birth possible. Hypnobabies is taught as a live class (scroll down to your state) or you can order a complete Hypnobabies home study course. Hypnobabies was created by a former Bradley instructor of 10 years so I'm sure some of the great elements found in a Bradley class are in there.

HypnoBirthing is not set up to study alone at home and is only taught as a live class.

Here are over 100 birth stories of moms using hypnosis:

http://www.pregnancybirthandbabies.c...th_stories.htm

ETA: There other books out there such as Mind Over Labor by Carl Jones. His book is helpful if you want to know how to write your own scripts and he gives a variety of techniques. After you write your scripts you could have your partner record them so you can listen to them or have him read to you every day (if he's willing).

That's the best advice! Thanks so much for such a caring, thought-out response. I really, really appreciate it.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by gretelmom

That's the best advice! Thanks so much for such a caring, thought-out response. I really, really appreciate it.

You're welcome!

[lotus.blossom]

I'm on the other side of the coin. I had a wonderful experience practising with Hypnobabies BUT I never used it during my labor. I had a very slow labor which kept stalling out so I was constantly using nipple stim, walking, and was never able to use any of the relaxation techniques because the nurses were making me feel like my labor needed to speed up. When it got really intense I had no desire to consentrate on the scripts or anything. I felt like I would have been better off with some kind of course that helped me manage the pain rather than drift off and ignore the pain.

Just my experience! :

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

I felt like I would have been better off with some kind of course that helped me manage the pain rather than drift off and ignore the pain.

While hypnosis of any sort isn't for everyone (and pain-coping may be a better choice for some) I have to point out that Hypnobabies is not at all about ignoring pain or drifting off. It's about being very focused and very present. I was intensely connected to what was happening in my body and what I needed to do at each moment, whether that was walking, listening to a script, chanting affirmations or birth prompts to myself, etc. I had to actively choose to call upon my hypnosis conditioning and let it work for me. This was somewhat difficult during my last birth, which was 24 hours long and very putsy (things would slow down if I stopped moving). I was glad I could use my hypnosis on the move.

[lotus.blossom]

That was probably my first problem, I never practised on the move. In fact I fell asleep during every session. It was extremely relaxing, but when it came time for the main event I had absolutely no interest!

I'll just chalk it up to experience and approach labor another way for the second one. I'm by no means dissing the Hypnobabeis course! Just saying that it wasn't the right path for my labor!

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

I'll just chalk it up to experience and approach labor another way for the second one. I'm by no means dissing the Hypnobabeis course! Just saying that it wasn't the right path for my labor!

Oh, I understand. Different strokes for different folks.

[gretelmom]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

That was probably my first problem, I never practised on the move. In fact I fell asleep during every session. It was extremely relaxing, but when it came time for the main event I had absolutely no interest!

I'll just chalk it up to experience and approach labor another way for the second one. I'm by no means dissing the Hypnobabeis course! Just saying that it wasn't the right path for my labor!

So what courses deal with pain management?? I'm a bit worried that the hospital is going to totally ruin my birth experience. I am confident about my abilities, but with my son everyone bullied me. I know it won't happen that way again, but I am curious about the pain management side...

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by gretelmom

So what courses deal with pain management?? I'm a bit worried that the hospital is going to totally ruin my birth experience. I am confident about my abilities, but with my son everyone bullied me. I know it won't happen that way again, but I am curious about the pain management side...

I think Birthing from Within is probably at the forefront there. http://www.birthingfromwithin.com

Here's a Childbirth Preparation Options Guide that may help you figure out which path best suits you:

http://www.birthnaturally.org/childb...tionsguide.pdf

Quiz format:

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

I knew Birthing from Within was not for me when I chucked it across the room. I'm soooo not about being a birth warrior or pain as a good thing that I can embrace, etc. The good news for me is that Hypnobabies covers traditional techniques in a hypno-friendly way (movement, massage, optimal positioning of the baby, moaning, swaying, birth ball, rocking, water, etc.)

For hospital birthers I think doulas are pretty nearly essential for most mamas to provide a buffer and support in the face of opposition.

[xelakann]

Ugh, why do hypnobabies people always put down hypnobirthing? Hypnosis for childbirth is a wonderful, why can't the two parties get along. I almost hate reading hypnosis threads because it always seems like a hypnobabies instructor chimes in to comment on why their method is the best. (sorry please don't think this a personal attack...you did provide A LOT of really good information about hypnosis for birth, very useful in answering the original posters question)

I just finished hypnobirth childbirth classes and I love it. I saw approx 10 hypnobirths and by my own research I saw 3 hypnobabies birth... they looked the same (aside from the use of different lingo). Calm and beautiful.

In some of the early hypnobirth videos the ladies seemed more apt to just lay there and relax, but in a lot of the newer videos you see women moving around and chatty... then when it get closer to birth, BOTH groups of women naturally turned more inward and focused.

The night of my last hypnobirthing class a fellow student went into labor, she emailed me her story... she had a wonderful experience. She even had pitocin and still didn't need pain meds. She and her DH talked with nurses and did laps around the hospital wing.

Our instructor encouraged us to move around, eat, talk, and do whatever else we felt we needed to do. In fact she strongly discourage us from staying in just one position.

So I am still weeks from my due date, but the benefits I have gained from hypnosis have already been so helpful. Not only for me but for my DH too, he now has an active role in the whole process. I am so confident in my ability to birth this baby naturally that I switched from a hospital to a birth center.

Again, sorry to hijack your thread and not answer your question, but I just had to chime in.

Good luck! I vote for hypnosis regardless of which method you chose.

[Veritaserum]

Originally Posted by xelakann

Ugh, why do hypnobabies people always put down hypnobirthing? Hypnosis for childbirth is a wonderful, why can't the two parties get along. I almost hate reading hypnosis threads because it always seems like a hypnobabies instructor chimes in to comment on why their method is the best. (sorry please don't think this a personal attack...you did provide A LOT of really good information about hypnosis for birth, very useful in answering the original posters question)

Hmm.... I'm sorry you feel this way. I didn't feel like I was putting down HypnoBirthing. I was simply sharing my personal experiences of both taking the class as a pregnant mom and teaching it for two years. They are very different programs and can certainly co-exist since they offer different things. I thought I made it clear that there's no one right way and that each mom needs to decide what she wants and how she's most likely to reach that goal.

Originally Posted by xelakann

Our instructor encouraged us to move around, eat, talk, and do whatever else we felt we needed to do. In fact she strongly discourage us from staying in just one position.

Unless the program has been revised since 2006 (when I was still teaching) movement wasn't emphasized. Many instructors (myself included when I was teaching HypnoBirthing) have chosen to add things to the course that isn't official HypnoBirthing (like encouraging movement). I know that makes it confusing for moms out there trying to figure out what course to take. Choosing an instructor who has additional training and experience in birth helps as they tend to mention helpful tips that aren't written into the curriculum itself.

I hope you have a lovely birth!

[JillChristina]

My dh and I took a Hypnobirthing class. I was into it, he wasn't but went and was supportive for me. But I did not practice as much as I should have. However, I found the classes helpful in learning about deep relaxation and feeling more at peace with my birth.

I had my second dd in a hospital with a CNM. I was very firm in what I wanted/did not want. I knew my dh would back me up if needed. I listened to the Hypnobirthing Birth Affirmations CD throughout my labor and birth and feel that really helped me. I had a fabulous labor and birth, just what I wanted. So while I may not have followed Hypnobirthing to a T, I do think it helped.

Congratulations and good luck!!

Jill

[veganone]

I had a very stressful birth as dd was 5 weeks early and it all got very medical very fast. I did end up with an epidural after the pitocin got to be way too much for me, but hypnobirthing was very helpful in staying calm and in control the whole time. The breathing also really does help with nausea.

I sincerely wish that the program had included more on how to deal with the unexpected. It is only designed for people who have an uneventful birth and if you don't - too bad.

[xelakann]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

Many instructors (myself included when I was teaching HypnoBirthing) have chosen to add things to the course that isn't official HypnoBirthing (like encouraging movement). I know that makes it confusing for moms out there trying to figure out what course to take. Choosing an instructor who has additional training and experience in birth helps as they tend to mention helpful tips that aren't written into the curriculum itself.

I think this might have been the case. She is also a labor and delivery nurse at a local hospital and a licensed hypnotherapist (prior to becoming a hypnobirth instructor). I gather she uses a lot of personal experiences from her "day job"... but yea, when I saw videos about hypnobabies and hypnobirthing, they did seem very similar, but maybe our instructor showed us non-curriculum videos. Anyway thanks for not getting upset with me, I wasn't trying to be mean. I should feel lucky I had a great instructor!

BTW for the original poster... if you go to youtube and do a search for hypnobabies there is a great video. Again it seemed similar to the hypnobirth videos I saw. Her commentary is good. There is also an old nbc dateline video floating around that has hypnosis births on it. Very good too!

[lotus.blossom]

Originally Posted by veganone

I sincerely wish that the program had included more on how to deal with the unexpected. It is only designed for people who have an uneventful birth and if you don't - too bad.

ITA! I felt 100% confident that I would have a normal natural birth (as they said in the affirmations) but sometimes things just don't happen that way. I don't mean to trod an anyones confidence, but I felt blindsided by the fact that I ended up with an emergency c/s. It WASN'T going to happen to me. :

[dlm194]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

Unless the program has been revised since 2006 (when I was still teaching) movement wasn't emphasized. Many instructors (myself included when I was teaching HypnoBirthing) have chosen to add things to the course that isn't official HypnoBirthing (like encouraging movement). I know that makes it confusing for moms out there trying to figure out what course to take. Choosing an instructor who has additional training and experience in birth helps as they tend to mention helpful tips that aren't written into the curriculum itself.

Oh! Well, that's interesting. I looked into Hynopbirthing and Hypnobabies. Unfortunately, there was no hypnobabies course near me and I really wanted live instruction. Although I was a little skeptical of a hospital course, the RN teaching my Hypobirthing course is really wonderful. She is so in to natural birth and lectured us on moving around during labor and different positions to birth in. She admitted to being a bit disappointed that a lot of Hypnobirthing birth videos just show the mom laying there. I was wondering about the movement thing since I read that as a critic of Hypnobirthing vs Hypnobabies. Sounds like I have a good instructor.

[veganone]

Originally Posted by lotus.blossom

ITA! I felt 100% confident that I would have a normal natural birth (as they said in the affirmations) but sometimes things just don't happen that way. I don't mean to trod an anyones confidence, but I felt blindsided by the fact that I ended up with an emergency c/s. It WASN'T going to happen to me. :

Yep - I was all prepared for a "normal birth". But, having my water break at 35 weeks and ending up with a very medical birth was so not something I was at all prepared for. It's great to expect the best, but it would have been nice to be a bit prepared for the unexpected. Even my OB wasn't around, who I'm super comfortable with. I ended up with residents and a rather creepy on-call OB. Had an AWESOME RN, though, who made it all as good as it could have been.

[Maluhia]

In my Hypnobabies home study CDs there was a CD for being able to deal with unexpected changes and I certainly used it.

I loved using hypnobabies but I was over-dependent on the CDs which is why I think I'd also practice the knowledge with music or silence of my own choosing.

Part of my in-person hypnobabies course went over how the founder used to to Bradley, etc. and my teacher had done two hypnobirthing and one hynobabies and felt like it was a development along the same trail. I can see how that would feel like hypnobabies feel they are "better" than hypnobirthing mamas but the truth is they both work and have helped lots of moms have the births they want and thats all that matters to me.

[gretelmom]

Originally Posted by Veritaserum

I think Birthing from Within is probably at the forefront there. http://www.birthingfromwithin.com

Here's a Childbirth Preparation Options Guide that may help you figure out which path best suits you:

http://www.birthnaturally.org/childb...tionsguide.pdf

Quiz format:

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

Neither of the bottom two links worked for me... Maybe the site's down, but I did call the phone number for the main office of hypnobabies you told me on the other thread I started, thanks so much! I left a message for them. I'm really getting excited about my birth classes, I wish I could just FIND ONE!

I find if I'm not constantly sort of reading up about unmedicated birth, I quitely slip into worrying about the birth being medicated. My biggest hurdle is the GBS+ result. I'm afraid I'm going to worry so much about testing positive that I'm going to give that so much energy that I'll sort of "create" that situation thru stress or whatever. I need to give energy instead to thinking about having healthy flora, etc down there!

I need to get myself into thinking that if I DO have to have an IV that I can still have an unmedicated birth otherwise so I don't landslide into believing I can't!!