Has anyone used hypnobabies?

[grace's voice]

Just curious... I just read a birth story where it was used and kept thinking... this woman must have REALLY forgotten what her birth was like! Don't get me wrong, birth is wonderful, but to say it can be pain-free and 100% positive is a new concept to me. I'll always be a Bradley mom myself, but I have a lot of trouble with relaxation (I have panic disorders) and thought maybe the CDs or something might be able to help me with this, I just read everything on their website. I also have a pretty intense fear of pushing, more so now that I know what it feels like! Any suggestions for how to cope would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

[RiceMomma]

It really works. Here's my birth story- I can't say it was completely painless, but I wasn't faithful in practicing the exercises during pregnancy, but it was a lot less pain than my other babies. This is my fourth birth, third natural, so I know what I'm talking about when it comes to pain! I get very panicky when it comes to labor pains too. Hypnobabies was awesome!!! helped me stay relaxed and calm and it really lessened the pain tremendously. I was in control of myself and was able to make the pain go away. Your mind is incredibly strong!

http://www.homeschoolblogger.com/Manicmondaymomma/41978/

[nannymom]

It does really work. My birth was not pain free but my labor was. The only part that hurt was getting in the car to go to the birth center and the head coming out everything else was just a blurry dream. :wink

[rachiem]

I'm so glad to hear this! My first birth was medicated in a hospital and I'm going the birth center watertub route this time (if insurance will FINALLY permit) and I want to do hypnobirth.

I totally panicked when it came to the pains the first time and I don't want it to be like that!

Rachie, Mom to Ellie and preggo with #2 (2/06)

[Mariposa]

i am just starting to use the hypnobabies program. i really get relaxed when i listen to the cds and i think that it will help me a lot. i haven't been really consistent with listening yet because i am only 21 weeks, but i plan on getting full on into in a month or two. i like the lady's voice, not irritating or anything and i also like that i can do it pretty much on my own. DH doesn't have much time to be doing a class or program with me.

check back in with me after march to see how it worked. LOL.

[nannymom]

I wanted to add that it was during a session with my hypnobabies tapes that i first felt dd move and i was only at 17 weeks. It really made me feel coneccted to the baby inside of me. :throb

[Lizzo]

I too hynobirthing classes and was really into it- but I was induced. It's very difficult to get into it when you're at the hospital from the begining.... :(

[Red Sonja]

I used Hypnobabies with DS, it was great. I had back labor and let them break my water to get started (hurricane evacuation, didn't want to deliver by the road) and Hypnobabies was wonderful. It really helped me focus and relax through the contractions. Transition was still intense, but it was manageable. I did the home study course.

[happeeevraftr]

I am really encouraged by this as well.

Can someone tell me the difference between Hypnobirthing and Hypnobabies? Were they developed by different people but basically the same? Or is it the same thing and the words are just used interchangeably? I've heard of hypnobirthing mostly, and I know there are classes taught around here. But I've only heard of hypnobabies on here.

[EmmaJean]

Cathryn, you can go to the hypnobabies site for all the info (she had a good description of the differences), but here's my understanding of it:

--hypnobabies instructor was first trained in Hypnobirthing but found some things she wanted to change

--in HypnoBabies, you can move around and talk, be active while (theoretically) still having your lower half "turned off" pain-wise

--in HypnoBabies you are trained to turn it on and off, it's not a constant state and you are totally in control.

--HypnoBabies is an ENTIRE pregnancy and birth prep class. You go week-by-week learning about pregnancy and birth. It's a lot like Bradley in a lot of ways, but w/ this whole self-hypnosis element.

I know there are more, but that's the basics I remember

I LOVED the program, esp prenatally. It helped me really connect w/ Lily. She was my second, and usually you don't take the time to focus on your second preg. like you do your first. Lily's birth was so fast I didn't have time to really accept that I was in real labor until I was in transition. But having the CD was amazing for my focus and relaxation. And I really believe it helped my body be able to be more efficient. My body did all the pushing for me, I was just along for the ride! The last push though I did push on my own a little ahead of the urge coming, just like I learned in HypnoBabies, and it worked well.

You should see the birth video of me clinging for dear life to my headphones! At one point the sound went off and I reacted "strongly" to that! My midwife was relieved b/c it almost fell in the water (it was a waterbirth)! I don't know what I'd do w/o it. I wouldn't say Lily's birth was pain-free but that was b/c I wouldn't give in to birth, I was really resisting. But even through me resisting, it helped me so much.

And DH swears that whenever he said "Relax" that my body melted! I was in laborland and don't remember, but hey, I believe it! :thumb

[ChasingPeace]

I planned to use Hypnobabies--listened to the tapes and faithfully practiced. However, once I was in labor, I had no desire to do it, and found listening to the tapes annoying. It was just not a good match for me. I felt I wanted to embrace the pain and go with it, and that's not what Hypnobabies is about.

[grace's voice]

I planned to use Hypnobabies--listened to the tapes and faithfully practiced. However, once I was in labor, I had no desire to do it, and found listening to the tapes annoying. It was just not a good match for me. I felt I wanted to embrace the pain and go with it, and that's not what Hypnobabies is about.


So here's a question I have too. I believe I mentioned that I'm a devout Bradley mom. So I thought that hypnobabies would just give me a little exra help in the relaxation dept., since I have a lot of trouble relaxing. Of course, Bradley is all about being "present" in your body during labor and birth. There are no distraction methods used, which I love about it, because if I didn't want to **be there** 100% I'd probably be having an epidural... KWIM? So, does hypnobabies teach distraction or presence?

[natashaccat]

I planned to use Hypnobabies--listened to the tapes and faithfully practiced. However, once I was in labor, I had no desire to do it, and found listening to the tapes annoying. It was just not a good match for me. I felt I wanted to embrace the pain and go with it, and that's not what Hypnobabies is about.

I used the "hypbirth" program and had this same experience. I was two wks post dates and was so excited to finally go into labor naturally (aside from 3 oz of castor oil) that I didn't want anything that would detract from the experience.

I'm sure glad I also had a doula there...

[crunchyconmomma]

i used hypnobirthing and it wasn't pain-free, but TOTALLY 'do-able' and i really enjoyed my birth experience. i also labored in a birth tub, that helped, immensely i am sure, but i pushed my 10lb, 15.5cm headed boy out without dying in the process - still here to tell that stuff, KWIM? you can do it, AND enjoy it, even if you don't manage the pain-free mindset.

[KateMary]

So here's a question I have too. I believe I mentioned that I'm a devout Bradley mom. So I thought that hypnobabies would just give me a little exra help in the relaxation dept., since I have a lot of trouble relaxing. Of course, Bradley is all about being "present" in your body during labor and birth. There are no distraction methods used, which I love about it, because if I didn't want to **be there** 100% I'd probably be having an epidural... KWIM? So, does hypnobabies teach distraction or presence?

I also loved the hypnobabies course prenatally and used the CD's in early labor but not later on. I think it gave me a good mindset going into labor that it would be easy and quick and my body could do its work as nature intended. My very best relaxation session was right in early labor, after my water broke, and I was so positve and relaxed, I was able to sleep well for several hours before contractions started.

I don't think it its really using distraction at all. One of the strongest visualizations I used throughout, even when I gave up on the CD's themselves, was the opening of the cervix during a contraction, coupled with waves of relaxation flowing over my whole middle part of my body. So I was very present in what was happening with each contraction but my mind was controlling how it was perceived so there was no fear and it felt like what I call "good pain". Certainly not pain-free but productive, natural, and necessary discomfort.

[2+twins]

So, does hypnobabies (and hynobirthing if you know) expect that you'll be using the cd's during labor or is it optional (i.e. does it supposedly work w/o the tapes guiding you)? Cuz I'm very interested in trying a hypno-something this time around but I've never been able to stand anyone talking (or touching me, etc.) during labor. Having to listen to cd's wouldn't help me - even if they're guided relaxation. So basically I think what I'm looking for is cd's that I can use prenatally, to get into the practice of relaxation, and then be able to draw on that knowledge on my own during labor. Any advice? I'd really like to get started sooner rather than later on this and I'm not at all interested in a method's birth-educational side (pertaining to the physiology of birth) since I'm already a childbirth educator and quite familiar (so that's not a prerequisite in my case).

[grace's voice]

hmm... so far sounds like everything my Bradley birth was. I was totally present, had a positive attitude, was envisioning the "opening", it hurt but was not excruciating by any means, I felt surrendered yet under control. I'm wondering if I'd get about as much out of any meditation tape? Cuz, see, we're taking Bradley classes this time too because this is dhs first experience with birth and he needs the basic info, I know we can't afford both classes, so I was just considering getting a CD or 2. Also, I wonder if I would even HEAR the CD during labor. I had music playing last time but was only aware of it once during one of those wonderful rests between pushing contractions. I really didn't notice much that was going on outside my body.

[natashaccat]

hmm... so far sounds like everything my Bradley birth was. I was totally present, had a positive attitude, was envisioning the "opening", it hurt but was not excruciating by any means, I felt surrendered yet under control. I'm wondering if I'd get about as much out of any meditation tape? Cuz, see, we're taking Bradley classes this time too because this is dhs first experience with birth and he needs the basic info, I know we can't afford both classes, so I was just considering getting a CD or 2. Also, I wonder if I would even HEAR the CD during labor. I had music playing last time but was only aware of it once during one of those wonderful rests between pushing contractions. I really didn't notice much that was going on outside my body.

Ya know, since you are happy with your Bradley births and really wanting something for your DH I would say just go for a nice meditation tape. The two methods aren't supposed to be used together because the msg of hypnobirthing is that the pain does not exhist, so the two methods really can't be used together.

[RiceMomma]

I think the great thing about Hypnobabies is that you can use it however you want. You learn a number of different tools to use. The study guide tells you a number of things you can do during labor. You can listen to the tapes or you can use techniques- whatever you feel you need to do. The tapes (or CD's) are designed to help during labor, though, I did find them very soothing.

YOu can use it as a distraction by going to your "special" place that you create during the sessions. I personally found the recordings to be so relaxing, they always put me to sleep, so I was able to listen and sleep through 3 hours of early labor, so you might consider that distraction too. I think that if a woman wants to use distraction for help ease her pain, that's definitely preferable to an epidural. I think there are lots of reasons to avoid an epidural, and it's kind of insulting to insinuate that someone should just get an epidural instead of doing all she can to do it naturally because she doesn't want to be in a pain. This is where mainstream people get their feathers ruffled when it comes to natural birth and start saying you don't get a medal for doing it natural. A more painful birth doesn't make you a better woman.

Back to hypnobabies, after those first 3 hours, I woke up and I was totally there in the moment during birth. I could feel the contraction start, but was able to "turn the pain off," if that makes sense. You learn techniques to create an anesthetic effect where you want it, but you still feel pressure and other sensations, But you are able to control the pain. And to relax so deeply. Every time I felt a contraction starting, I would turn the pain off, breath deeply, feel my baby moving down. I don't think I would have been able to feel so many of the other things I felt during labor if I had been concentrating on the pain, or just in pain. I definitely would not have been in control of myself and would have been panicking and rushing to the hospital.

Also, these techniques are things you can use for the rest of your life, not just during labor. They are especially useful for vaginal exams or any other procedure that might be painful or that requires you to be relaxed.

You're encouraged to do just what feels most comfortable for you. Some women look like their sleeping through the whole thing. Others, like myself, move around alot. Everyone is different in their needs.

I really needed Hypnobabies, and I'm so glad I discovered this program. I knew I wanted to do it natural, but that i needed help, not just during the birth, but during the pregnancy. I was in so much anxiety when I found out I was pregnant: the stress of being pregnant, the fact that pain is waiting for me at the end- hypnobabies took all the away and really made this pregnancy and birth so much more of a pleasant empowering experience.

But, like a pp said, if you've been pretty happy with what you've done so far, why fix something that isn't broken?

[KateMary]

Ya know, since you are happy with your Bradley births and really wanting something for your DH I would say just go for a nice meditation tape. The two methods aren't supposed to be used together because the msg of hypnobirthing is that the pain does not exhist, so the two methods really can't be used together.


I don't think hypnobirthing claims that the pain does not exist. Quite the contrary in fact. It teaches you to use the power of your mind to create anesthesia to deal with the discomfort of labor. More importantly, it teaches you to enter the experience free of the fear of pain, which is really the enemy of a successful birth. Pain and discomfort will be there either way, but if you perceive it without fear, you will be much more successful in achieving a natural birth. Really, any birth program that claims that "pain doesn't exist" would not be based on the realities of biology.

[EmmaJean]

KM, DITTO!!!! I'm loving this thread! :love I love HBabies. (like I said before).

I've often wondered what my experience w/ it would've been if I'd have had a long labor like w/ James. I think I would've listened to the tapes for a while and then just enjoyed being w/ dh and mw, turning "off" when each surge came. It's just an excellent way to relax and not get into the fear-adrenaline-pain cycle (just like Bradley teaches). I never at all felt detached from my body or in some "other realm" during Lily's birth (when I used HBabies). It was more like I was more aware of my body and just letting it do its thing. If I wouldn't have had the CD to listen to and ground me during my last 1.5 hr of labor (Lily's was just 3 hrs and we spent the first half cleaning and ignoring things!) I would've given in to the pain and fear of the intensity. I wouldn't be able to stay grounded and in control, and NOT AFRAID!!! I was super scared and in complete denial that I was in labor, let alone transition! 20min into the cd (if that) I worked through all those feelings, remembered all the things I'd been practicing, empowering phrases and imagery, it was really amazing.

I love to talk about this! The creator of the program used to post on MDC now and again. I'll have to check if she's been around lately. She's awesome!!

ETA: here's her name on MDC: hypno-teacher although she hasn't posted in a couple years!! I guess she was on just when I needed her. :)

[grace's voice]

So if I were to buy just one of the CDs, which one would you recommend? Cash is tight right now, but I would like something to just help me relax. I was on anxiety meds (much needed) for several months before I got pg, and have been way too anxious lately. I'm really afraid it will come to a point where I may have to take the meds while pg. I'm willing to try anything to keep that from happening. Also, I'm having trouble conjuring up a positive attitude towards bith and I know that if I don't get that straightened out it will be a very unpleasant experience, which I know it doesn't have to be because my last one was good.

[KateMary]

I think you have to buy the whole set of 6 CD's that are in the home study course for about $120 (hypnobabies). They are a course in teaching you to put yourself into self-hypnosis so you need to do each CD in order over time. I think they sell some specific CD's for controlling morning sickness and one for specific fear of needles but those are used once you already know the basics of self-hypnosis. Check out ebay. It sounds like it would really help your anxiety.

[happeeevraftr]

I don't think hypnobirthing claims that the pain does not exist. Quite the contrary in fact. It teaches you to use the power of your mind to create anesthesia to deal with the discomfort of labor. More importantly, it teaches you to enter the experience free of the fear of pain, which is really the enemy of a successful birth. Pain and discomfort will be there either way, but if you perceive it without fear, you will be much more successful in achieving a natural birth.
Wait a minute... I read some of the hypnobirthing book and they did seem to be making the claim that it doesn't have to be painful. I was under the understanding that the pain exists for those who are expecting it to exist, and for those who are afraid, but that if you are knowledgeable about the way your body is working, and able to relax completely, you will not feel pain. It will be hard work, like working out or running a marathon is hard work, but it won't be painful. And I've talked to women who used hypnobirthing and truly felt no pain.
Really, any birth program that claims that "pain doesn't exist" would not be based on the realities of biology.
What biological reality is there that states labor has to be painful? I thought the 2 groups of muscles in your uterus are supposed to work together, and as long as you are relaxed, they are able to do that. It is only when you cannot relax because of fear (or annoying hospital nurses :lol ), that the muscle groups cannot work together properly and so it creates pain.

Not trying to be argumentative here at all... I just understood it a little differently, from my limited knowledge of the subject.

[Dreaming]

I just received my HypnoBabies package in the mail today. I did a lot of research and the program (IMO) was favored over other hypnosis programs.

Anyway, to clear up the Bradley (embrace the pain) vs. HypnoBabies (use hypnosis to decrease or completely make pain disappear) debate:

The creator of the HypnoBabies program was trained in Bradley and taught that for 10 years. She said that it is NOT recommended that a person studies both HypnoBabies and Bradley for the same birth because they are conflicting philosophies with regard to views on pain (as I stated above).
Not all women are able to make the pain totally "go away" but many can.
Frankly, I'm all for a pain free birth (and really really really aiming for one).

Oh, and the program recommends avoiding negative (i.e. painful birth experience stories) and T.V. shows like "A Baby Story" because they feed the subconscious with negative ideas about birth. Stick to postive reading and watching (like "A Thinking Womans Guide to a Better Birth" by Henci Goer and etc).

[grace's voice]

See, what I get out of Bradley is that the more you are able to relax, the less pain you will feel. And we were told in class that some women, who are able to fully relax, do have painless births. Which is why I was thinking the 2 would work together... I was never told to embrace pain, but to realx and surrender to the journey of birth. We were never told to expect pain, we were told contractions were powerful, and interesting, and that there was an intense momentum to birth... but never a mention of "pain." Pain is how you percieve it, and we were taught that. If you go into labor and relate a "pain" to being an alert that something is wrong (like if you're injured), then you will tense. If you feel a contraction and have the attitude that this is a good, positive, essential sensation and you just let go and let it happen, then could it really be considered "pain"? I don't know if maybe I just got a unique Bradley class or something, I suppose I'll find out when I take my next one with a new teacher here in a few months!

[hypatia]

So if I were to buy just one of the CDs, which one would you recommend? Cash is tight right now, but I would like something to just help me relax.

Good news: You can go to the Hypnobabies yahoo group and get the scripts that go with the CDs for FREE. You can record yourself or your husband reading them.

[grace's voice]

ooooh! Thank you!

[Tanibani]

Can someone tell me the difference between Hypnobirthing and Hypnobabies? Were they developed by different people but basically the same? Or is it the same thing and the words are just used interchangeably? I've heard of hypnobirthing mostly, and I know there are classes taught around here. But I've only heard of hypnobabies on here.

I took the HypnoBirthing class in 2000 (first baby) with an amazing local instructor and succeeded in having a painFREE 18-20 hospital labor and birth. :banana

My birth story is on MDC somewhere (no time to look for it right now.) If you want to read it, let me know and I'll post the link.

I believe the HypnoBirthing class is simply a class (it's best to take it as a class).

The HypnoBabies is really a study at home kit, that seems to be waaaaay more comprehensive :thumb than the study at home kit sold by HypnoBirthing. The HypnoBirthing founder never meant for her particular program to be sold as a study-at-home kit. It's best if you can take the class with a great teacher (but that can be hit or miss. What if the teacher is a too "green" or a dud? I was very lucky to have an amazing teacher.)

PAIN

If there is ANY tension in the body (if the woman is tensing her muscles anywhere) there will be degrees of pain (depending how how bad the tensing is).

First baby - I went limp like a rag doll completely... and felt no pain. When I took a shower in the hospital, it allowed me to relax even more deeply and I even felt ENDORPHINS during the shower and my labor!!!! I never felt transition as horrible. I was brushing my teeth during transition.. and just leaned over the sink during the surges (contractions) and relaxed and breathed deeply. Then back to brushing. Even my HypnoBirthing practioner was amazed. (I had her there because I didn't know what to expect. I did not need her or my husband "coaching" me during the surges. I was able to relax on my own because I had the CD script memorized in my head. :thumb)

Second baby - homebirth
I was a bit of a nervous wreck about it. I never had a homebirth before, what would it be like, yada, yada, yada... this time I did feel some tingling of discomfort. I needed to be in the bathtub to help me relax through it. (First time I didn't need the water.) The discomfort was close to being pain, but I was OK through it. Somehow, I couldn't relax at home. :duh I guess I found it difficult to tune out my home environment (whereas, for me, at the hospital, it was easy. Weird!)

[KateMary]

Wait a minute... I read some of the hypnobirthing book and they did seem to be making the claim that it doesn't have to be painful. I was under the understanding that the pain exists for those who are expecting it to exist, and for those who are afraid, but that if you are knowledgeable about the way your body is working, and able to relax completely, you will not feel pain. It will be hard work, like working out or running a marathon is hard work, but it won't be painful. And I've talked to women who used hypnobirthing and truly felt no pain.

What biological reality is there that states labor has to be painful? I thought the 2 groups of muscles in your uterus are supposed to work together, and as long as you are relaxed, they are able to do that. It is only when you cannot relax because of fear (or annoying hospital nurses :lol ), that the muscle groups cannot work together properly and so it creates pain.

Not trying to be argumentative here at all... I just understood it a little differently, from my limited knowledge of the subject.

I think we are both thinking the same thing. I agree, birth does not have to be painful. When I talked about the realitites of biology, I mean that the muscles are working hard to get a job done and most women are going to feel them working. When the body is working really really hard, some people define that as pain. I agree it is like a huge workout or running a marathon (personally I'd rather give birth anyday than run a marathon, that actually sounds more painful!) But its all in how you perceive it. I just don't think that hypnobabies claims that you won't feel anything, you might not feel pain, but you will feel pressure, tightening, etc. They describe it in a lot of different ways on the CD sessions, but its clear that you're not just going to feel nothing at all (like you would with an epidural).

[BeachBum]

The creator of the HypnoBabies program was trained in Bradley and taught that for 10 years. She said that it is NOT recommended that a person studies both HypnoBabies and Bradley for the same birth because they are conflicting philosophies with regard to views on pain (as I stated above).

I didn't do Hypnobabies, but did do hypnobirthing (class) and Bradley. I thought they worked well together. But I'll admit that I would just pick and choose what worked for me.