Who's doing hypnobabies? - Page 3

[namistenicole]

I was searching around in the MDC birth stories and found this great story and video about a Hypnobabies birth. http://www.mothering.com/discussions...d.php?t=911643

[grace's voice]

Got mine yesterday! Horray! :

I've only just begun reading the intro pages... I'm kind of curious about something...

See, she's saying that its bad to watch birthing shows on TV or have any negitive images of birth, but what about those of us who have DONE IT BEFORE and have negitive images from our OWN births that we've yet to recover from???

I'm really hoping this course will help me relax and have a less traumatizing birth, but honestly I cannot imagine how on earth labor and birth could be painless. My first was seriously intense and fast. My second was even more intense and fastER and I had a panic attack through the entire thing.

Is this addressed somewhere in the course, over comeing past traumas from labor?

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by namistenicole

After much deliberation I just ordered the self-study kit. I am very excited to get started. Has anyone started studying yet?

Me! I'm going to do each 'week' for 2 weeks to begin with and then if I have extra time after that I'll probably go back and keep doing my favorites. I love love love my affirmations so far, so calming!

Originally Posted by grace's voice

Got mine yesterday! Horray! :

I've only just begun reading the intro pages... I'm kind of curious about something...

See, she's saying that its bad to watch birthing shows on TV or have any negitive images of birth, but what about those of us who have DONE IT BEFORE and have negitive images from our OWN births that we've yet to recover from???

I'm really hoping this course will help me relax and have a less traumatizing birth, but honestly I cannot imagine how on earth labor and birth could be painless. My first was seriously intense and fast. My second was even more intense and fastER and I had a panic attack through the entire thing.

Is this addressed somewhere in the course, over comeing past traumas from labor?

I think she simply doesn't want new scary situations to be presented to you or for other people's traumas to spark fear for you. I think the course is suppose to help with the fear you already have, but they just don't want you adding to it.

It's hard for me because I work in the birth community.

I don't have anyone to read me my scripts. I'm trying to figure that one out!

[superflippy]

So now I'm wondering, if I'm doing Hypnobabies, and this is my second birth, and I'll be at a hospital, will I still need a doula?

I had a doula for my first birth, at a different hospital, and she was a huge help. But from looking over the Hypnobabies class descriptions, it sounds like I might not need the extra advice or moral support beyond my husband's presence.

What do y'all think?

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by superflippy

So now I'm wondering, if I'm doing Hypnobabies, and this is my second birth, and I'll be at a hospital, will I still need a doula?

I had a doula for my first birth, at a different hospital, and she was a huge help. But from looking over the Hypnobabies class descriptions, it sounds like I might not need the extra advice or moral support beyond my husband's presence.

What do y'all think?

I considered hiring a doula but only if she was experienced with hypnobabies or certified in hypnobabies- which there are some. I really wanted someone who could deepen my hypno experience but also be there to offer extras support.

My mw and I are very close and she's going to study some of the hypnobabies before the birth so she can provide that support and be 'in the loop'.

You might also be able to find a doula who wants to learn about hypnobabies and would be willing to do some studying so that is an option too.

[Funny Face]

So I'm working on #1 with the 'Special Place' cd and the 'Painless Childbirth'. I really don't like the special place one. It's just kind of strange and doesn't make sense to me why I'm visualizing some of the images but maybe it ties in later on?

I will say that so far I do not feel 'hypnotized' in any way and whenever they say to 'test' my eyelids to be sure they won't open I know fully well that I can open them! Maybe that comes with practice.

[namistenicole]

Originally Posted by moodyred01

So I'm working on #1 with the 'Special Place' cd and the 'Painless Childbirth'. I really don't like the special place one. It's just kind of strange and doesn't make sense to me why I'm visualizing some of the images but maybe it ties in later on?

I will say that so far I do not feel 'hypnotized' in any way and whenever they say to 'test' my eyelids to be sure they won't open I know fully well that I can open them! Maybe that comes with practice.

I am in the first week too. I'm assuming this first CD is just to kind of break us in and get used to the relaxation breathing, etc. I don't know what being hypnotized feels like, but my goal is to be relaxed and limp as possible. And turn off my brain, which is hard for me. Then whatever happens after that is out of my hands.

MoodyRed, I can't remember if you have other kids? But my experience with this so far is very similar to any other birthing relaxation technique, EXCEPT that it gives me something to think about while I'm breathing and relaxing. So hopefully I'll be able to relax my mind while I relax my body. From my last natural birth experience, that will come in handy.

I have to admit that I get kind of stressed about doing this "right" and relaxing fully, and etc. So I try to remember that she said (in the book I think) to not focus on doing it right, but focus on relaxing and the suggestions will do their work. So... I'll do my best.

But so far I'm really excited about the program. I really like the idea of using positive thought to affect the outcome of the birth. I love visualizing a very positive, beautiful birth and my new baby. Makes me a little weepy!

[alexsam]

Yeah- I'm on the first week and the bit about feeling and talking to my baby in my special place... A bit strange.... I feel a bit akward "doing" it. Anyone else think so or also feel a bit strange with the baby in the special place and all? I was anticipating that we would be creating some sort of "safe space", but I kinda feel strange "taking my baby there". Also, I have an older child, so whenever she says "your baby" I imagine my son (when he was a baby), so I am having a hard time imagining THIS baby . And I think as a second time mom you kind of realize that everything you imagine your baby will be is not what the reality is. How can I look at and touch this baby and bring him to a special place if I have not yet seen him? It is just an imaginary baby, not MY baby and I don't like "making up a baby"... Maybe I'm over-analysing... But it made me all antsy the two times I've done this script to try and imagine my baby in detail, as I knew it was this image I was creating, not the real person he will be... Maybe I'll just make my nice space and leave the baby out. Is that against the rules? Will she keep talking about the baby in the special place?

The second one seemed a bit better ("Painless Chirldbirth"). It just requires me to relax and be open (not to imagine the baby and talk to it and stuff) and that was much better. I actually did that one last night and after had a nice childbirth dream . So, that is probably sinking in...

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by alexsam

Yeah- I'm on the first week and the bit about feeling and talking to my baby in my special place... A bit strange.... I feel a bit akward "doing" it. Anyone else think so or also feel a bit strange with the baby in the special place and all? I was anticipating that we would be creating some sort of "safe space", but I kinda feel strange "taking my baby there". Also, I have an older child, so whenever she says "your baby" I imagine my son (when he was a baby), so I am having a hard time imagining THIS baby . And I think as a second time mom you kind of realize that everything you imagine your baby will be is not what the reality is. How can I look at and touch this baby and bring him to a special place if I have not yet seen him? It is just an imaginary baby, not MY baby and I don't like "making up a baby"... Maybe I'm over-analysing... But it made me all antsy the two times I've done this script to try and imagine my baby in detail, as I knew it was this image I was creating, not the real person he will be... Maybe I'll just make my nice space and leave the baby out. Is that against the rules? Will she keep talking about the baby in the special place?

The second one seemed a bit better ("Painless Childbirth"). It just requires me to relax and be open (not to imagine the baby and talk to it and stuff) and that was much better. I actually did that one last night and after had a nice childbirth dream . So, that is probably sinking in...

Yeah, special place was not my favorite. I couldn't figure out if we were visualizing a baby outside the womb or talking to the baby still inside my womb. I think we do over-analyze! I also kept changing my special place because I couldn't really think of a place I don't feel safe (except maybe the hospital ). Painless childbirth was much more relaxing.

I'm on the second week now and we'll see how that goes! I still forget I'm suppose to be unable to move my muscles, I keep shifting and scratching and rolling over. Practice makes perfect!

[ChesapeakeBorn]

Can I ask kind of a silly question? I was going to order hypnobabies, but then I got to thinking: would it work for me if I ALWAYS fall asleep meditating? Whether I am sitting or lying down. It happened during my meditation class in the past, and every time I listen to my 2 pregnancy guided meditation CDs. I'm not narcoleptic or anything, I guess I just get so relaxed that I fall asleep (funny, because usually I can only fall asleep in a bed). So how will I stay awake for the hypnobabies CDs?

[Swandira]

Yes, according to the homestudy coordinator, it will work anyway. Lots of people have fallen asleep regularly listening to the CDs and still had easy, pain-free deliveries.

Nealy
mama to T, 5; L, 2; and EDD 12/20/08

[Funny Face]

Originally Posted by ChesapeakeBorn

Can I ask kind of a silly question? I was going to order hypnobabies, but then I got to thinking: would it work for me if I ALWAYS fall asleep meditating? Whether I am sitting or lying down. It happened during my meditation class in the past, and every time I listen to my 2 pregnancy guided meditation CDs. I'm not narcoleptic or anything, I guess I just get so relaxed that I fall asleep (funny, because usually I can only fall asleep in a bed). So how will I stay awake for the hypnobabies CDs?

In hypnobabies she says that falling asleep is okay and that sometimes when you think you were asleep you might be in a state called hypnotic amnesia in which you are so deeply relaxed and hypnotized that you don't remember.

I have always fallen asleep but since I'm doing each 'week' of work over two weeks there are plenty of times where I don't fall asleep and plenty of times when I do!

[grace's voice]

I've been falling asleep to the affirmations. I haven't even gotten to listen to the hypnosis CDs yet at all because I've been working on reading the 1st chapter for like a week now and still haven't finished it. I just don't have time to read, and I'm a slow reader and when I read at night after everyone is asleep I fall asleep... I'm SO frustrated!!!!

Am I the only one who finds the affirmations annoying?

[Funny Face]

Here's another great hypnobirth video!

[Vespertina]

I plan to do the study again like I did last time, but I don't know if I'll actually end up using the hypnoanesthesia since I didn't use it last time. I was prepared to had I felt I needed to. It was pain-free without it. I absolutely loved using the program, though.

[ThatLinGirl]

I did it last time and will be repeating with this pregnancy.

[ThatLinGirl]

Originally Posted by grace's voice

I've been falling asleep to the affirmations. I haven't even gotten to listen to the hypnosis CDs yet at all because I've been working on reading the 1st chapter for like a week now and still haven't finished it. I just don't have time to read, and I'm a slow reader and when I read at night after everyone is asleep I fall asleep... I'm SO frustrated!!!!

Am I the only one who finds the affirmations annoying?

I did find them kind of annoying, but I do think hearing it over and over was a positive thing for me in the end. I'd try to stick it out. Falling asleep while listening is just fine.

[grace's voice]

Originally Posted by Semper Gumby

I plan to do the study again like I did last time, but I don't know if I'll actually end up using the hypnoanesthesia since I didn't use it last time. I was prepared to had I felt I needed to. It was pain-free without it. I absolutely loved using the program, though.

I see that 2 of you have used it previously... so it really CAN be pain free?!!

I'm having such a hard time believing this after 2 very fast intense (and VERY painful) labors. Help!

Really, my hope is that I'll just not have a panic attack during labor again.

[namistenicole]

I did the first week 2 CD last night ("learning self hypnosis") and I have to say it was kind of amazing. I stayed awake but felt like I was in another place entirely. I can totally believe now how this might work during "my birthing time" . I actually enjoyed the feeling of hypnosis - a lot.

[ThatLinGirl]

Originally Posted by grace's voice

I see that 2 of you have used it previously... so it really CAN be pain free?!!

I'm having such a hard time believing this after 2 very fast intense (and VERY painful) labors. Help!

Really, my hope is that I'll just not have a panic attack during labor again.

I don't know if I should be answering this or just letting it go, since I can't provide the 100% positive answer, but I'll be truthful. I had pain. A good amount of pain. The most difficult thing I've done in my life. However, I will say that I never found it unbearable. I never hit that wall. I didn't enjoy transition, and the intensity scared me, but the most overwhelming sensation I had was PRESSURE, not the pain -- though as I said, there was definitely pain, the pressure was overwhelming to me. Pressure is what hypnobabies asks you to turn the pain into, so I think that did happen.. I never felt like I wasn't going to be able to do it. I think it decreased my pain dramatically, and I think it ABSOLUTELY COULD have been pain free had I really allowed myself to think it could be -- which I never really fully let my mind accept. This time I'm going to read more pain free stories and I know it is possible.