[AustGirl]

I thought I'd start this thread to see if there are any other Calmbirthers/Hypnobirthers out there.

I've been attending Calmbirth classes for the past few weeks, but have only really recently started to focus on practising (supposed to be practising every day). I have 5 weeks till EDD, and would love some other forumites to help motivate me.

Also, I'd love to hear your experiences if you've had a birth using these techniques.

Cross-posted in I'm Pregnant, but I'd love to know of anyone in our DDC!

 

[mamayarn]

I am using the Hypnobabies home study program.

 

[Mama Rana]

I've been doing the HB home study course. Well, listening to it at least. I think it'll be useful, but every time I try to actually DO one of the hypnosis sessions, I break out in the itchies, so I've just been listening. I need to do more practice, but even at the "skill" level I'm at now, I think I'll benefit from the relaxation.

I've never heard of Calmbirth; what's it like?

 

[AustGirl]

I think Calmbirth's more the Australian equivalent. I haven't heard of Hypnobirth/babies over here, only on the net. But they seem to be the same or very similar - mind over matter to control the fear-tension-pain syndrome. Lots of breathing exercises, visualisation, etc.

 

[nukedwifey]

I'm doing hypnobirthing. My MWs think it's fabulous. They've had many successful mamas who used it. My sister did birthing from within which seems similar in practice. Her birth was so serene. She just sort of was in her own place and then there was a baby there! I have a friend who practices hypnosis on herself. She had a breast augmentation done using it. No pain and no drugs!

 

[Amydoula]

I did hypnobirthing with my first and LOVED it. I would not have made it through the 30 hour ordeal without my hypnobirthing techniques. I got the hypnobabies CD's for this baby so hopefully it will be nice and peaceful again.

 

[Sadie Lake]

I'm doing hypnobabies and love it! You can just google it if you want to know more about it. Although the names are very similar, Hypnobabies and Hypnobirthing are pretty different programs from each other.

There was an awesome thread in the main pregnancy board a while back. You might just search "hypnobabies hypnobirthing" because it had both names in the title of the thread.

I had the Calmbirth cd with my last pregnancy, and unfortunately for me, I don't think it helped me at all. I needed something A LOT more structured. With Hypnobabies I have to practice "scripts" every day as well as listen to about 40 minutes worth of "Affirmations". Its a committment, but I think that's what I needed in order to make it worth it or effective.

Sadie

 

[Sadie Lake]

Amydoula, you better get going girl! You're coming down the home stretch!

Have you started your Hypnobabies program at all yet?

SAdie

 

[AustGirl]

That's my only worry with Calmbirth - that it's not structured enough. It gives you the 'tools' you need to access your inner resources, but seems to be lacking something, you know?

But the calmbirth practitioner is joining my midwife team in a couple of weeks, which is awesome, because it means she might actually be at my birth which would be very helpful.

 

[Punchy Kaby]

I did hypnobirthing last time and it was not for me. I think being still/hypnosis, controlled breathing (which always felt un-natural) did not work with me. I wish we would have had more 'techniques' ready for the labor, not just hypnosis. DH was totally overwhelmed as was I. I also believed that I would have no pain if I did everything 'correctly' and felt like a failure when things got painful, they felt out of control. The course (which we took privately) taught us nothing about different positions, things to do if the baby wasn't in a great place. I feel like this time we have an arsenal of things to try during labor instead of just one thing. I had a large baby and there was no way he was going to be 'breathed' down through my pelvis. I could have really used the pelvic press technique, in hindsight.

 

[mamayarn]

I used the Hypnobabies home study course (same one

) with my first birth. While I was in labor I realized that it was not going to do it for me then, but that it would be far better for me during a second birth. So I'm giving it another go. I was way too excited about the first birth and during the contractions (ahem... birthing waves) that I could concentrate through I did not feel pain. But most of the time I could not focus. I'd done all of my practice lying in bed and a good portion of it occurred while I was asleep with headphones on for the script to play. Hypnotic amnesia and being dead asleep are not the same thing.

This go around I have taken another birthing class earlier in the pregnancy, but scare tactics sort of go right past me now.

The instructor was very NCB friendly and had attended some hypnobirths but didn't know a lot about it. So I have more stuff to try, I know to have it written down instead of trying to remember in the moment or relying on my DH to remember, I am doing my practice in more varied locations, and I am making an effort to remain awake during the scripts!

So, learn from my mistakes.

I *know* it will work if I can focus, because it did work before, so oddly I feel very confident in the program despite having pain medication with my first labor (no other interventions though).

 

[PTmorgan]

We did the Bradley method for my first pregnancy. This time I'm doing the Hypnobabies home study course. I've been very diligent about listening to the CDs every day during the day. I think I'm asleep for most of them, but then I wake up at the end when they count you back to awareness. Maybe that really is hypnotic amnesia. I hope so! However, I've been very lax about practicing the finger drop technique so far.

I've used the Hypnobabies anesthesia idea on a couple of pains that I've had. I had a rib pulled out of place that was really painful until I saw a chiropractor, and I had an episode of round ligament pain that took my breath away. In both instances I was able to "breathe the anesthesia" to the area and the pain went away. I had to refresh the anesthesia about every 5 minutes. I'm so excited! It actually worked, and on real pain!

I'm hoping to use the Hypnobabies during labor and birth, and use my knowledge from Bradley as well for position changes, stages, etc. Hypnobabies teaches this stuff as well, although not in as much depth. I also have a TENS unit that I may use as well. I used it last time and it worked really well for early labor.

 

[Mama Rana]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nolansmum I did hypnobirthing last time and it was not for me. I think being still/hypnosis, controlled breathing (which always felt un-natural) did not work with me. I wish we would have had more 'techniques' ready for the labor, not just hypnosis. DH was totally overwhelmed as was I. I also believed that I would have no pain if I did everything 'correctly' and felt like a failure when things got painful, they felt out of control. The course (which we took privately) taught us nothing about different positions, things to do if the baby wasn't in a great place. I feel like this time we have an arsenal of things to try during labor instead of just one thing. I had a large baby and there was no way he was going to be 'breathed' down through my pelvis. I could have really used the pelvic press technique, in hindsight.

One of the reasons I chose Hypnobabies over Hypnobirthing was that it teaches "eyes open hypnosis" and encourages movement while still deeply relaxed. [Now if only I could remember to actually practice!]

ETA: I started writing this last night, but was interrupted. Ooops

 

[SunCB]

I have been practicing a variety of self hypnosis CDs people have given or lent to me. I probably should be practicing a little more with all the stress with switching careproviders especially since I will not be in my ideal birthing place (can tell by my jaw there is major stress) but with all that has been going (lots of activities for my boys before the summer) on I just have not had time to dedicate more to it.

There is a hypnosis speaker coming to my local hospital though it seems like his focus is other things but mentions pain management (we have an elderly population so I guess it has to do more with non-labor pain management) and I thought I would go hear what he had to say.

I think I did pretty good last time even completely on my own at home and at the hospital without doing any of self hypnosis stuff so I am hoping this will be even better plus having a doula should help.