[mummy marja]

I'm in my 4th week already. Seems like I just started! This week I am supposed to get my birth partner more involved, and I finally managed that last night. He groaned when he saw me coming with the books though, but went for it anyway. I think the more he is involved and the more he knows about it the better it'll be--it's just his ignorance making him make fun of it. He's seen me give birth twice already, fairly easily and quickly--I guess he doesn't see the piont of all this work. How does your partner feel about it? Is he getting involved?<br><br>
So he started reading the script to me (the one about placing his hand gently on my forehead or firmly on my shoulder) and burst into laughter a few lines in. This made me laugh, and we laughed SO HARD for most of the script. He couldn't even read half the time, he was laughing so much. It's just not the way we normally talk to each other, you know? We'll have to do it more so that we get over the hilarity of it.<br><br>
Are you all remembering to practice your finger-drop technique? I do it, but rarely 5 times a day. I should put reminder notes up by my bed so that I remember to do it when I wake up and before I go to sleep.<br><br>
The whole thing felt a little overwhelming when I first started week 4. It just seemed like so much to do, so much to learn and practice. But I told myself that being stressed about it was the worst thing to be, and made myself relax and just be ok with whatever I was able to do. I feel good about it now.<br><br>
Last week I was listening to the Pregnancy Affirmations out loud during the day. I do that a lot, so the kids have heard the CD plenty of times but never said anything about it. I kind of wondered what they thought of it! This time, when the woman said, "My hypnosis keeps me completely relaxed and comfortable" Fiona replied, "Not <i>me</i>! It makes <i>me</i> feel weird." <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/orngbiggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="orange big grin">

 

[michellebelle]

I'm in week four, too. I'm glad to hear you were feeling a little overwhelmed because that's exactly how I have been feeling over the last week or so. I keep trying to remember to do my fingerdrop and then I'll forget to "test" myself before going to center, or start worrying because for a few days I haven't pictured my anesthesia at all, etc. It does seems like a lot to remember, but I've been reminding myself that I am only 31 weeks...so have a ton of time to practice. And yeah, just to relax...<br><br>
Ugh on getting my birth partner involved!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/eyesroll.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="roll"> DH is about as skeptical as you come (and thinks our last birth, a failed induction resulting in c-section, "went just fine"), has basically agreed to support ME in this, but having him read the scripts with me, listen to the CDs etc...no way. My mom is listening to the CDs and is going to be my hypnobabies support throughout labor instead.<br><br>
So, right now, I'm stressed. I'm looking forward to doing the fear cleansing track at some point and hoping that helps.

 

[Amynf1]

I'm not starting until 32 weeks (next week). I'm looking forward to it though!

 

[chattyprincess]

ugh....lets not even discuss it please? I ran into a 2ish weeks of dd staying up late and me being to tierd to do it! I just cannot do it when really tierd...I get RLS really bad and as soon as I start drifting to sleep when super tierd and doing it my leg jerks and im freaking out about flipping my switch to on again...lol. I am only in week 2...and it has taken me forever to get there!!! I am putting the screws on and getting it done though! I figure even if I cannot remember everything perfectly thats fine. The lady I bought mine used from slept through all hers and still had a fab birth...I figure im good...I really think I am getting the hang of the relaxed and limp thing which is great. Why is it though that every time I start the cd and the lady starts talking my baby goes like NUTSO, twirling punching and gerenerally freaking out...lol.

 

[michellebelle]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>chattyprincess</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15392049"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Why is it though that every time I start the cd and the lady starts talking my baby goes like NUTSO, twirling punching and gerenerally freaking out...lol.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
I'd LOVE to know this, too!!! My baby does the EXACT same thing...it's like she's turning cartwheels in there or something...

 

[Terrilein]

I just started week 3 and no, I have not been able to find time to practice the fnger drop method at all. I'm not even sure if it's working at all. I listen to the tracks at night since they do put me to sleep so that I CAN get some sleep. If I'm not particularly tired, then I can't get the light switch to work at all: I keep having to turn it back on because my feet hurt and I need to move them, something itches and needs scratching, I'm not lying as comfortable as I thought I was, etc. However, I did put the affirmation track on my mp3 player as the last track and I almost always wake up in the middle of that track. So I'm wondering, was I asleep or was that hypnosis? We'll see in the end, won't we!

 

[expat-mama]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>chattyprincess</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15392049"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">The lady I bought mine used from slept through all hers and still had a fab birth.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
That'd be cool if it DOES work if you just sleep through it all. That lady's voice is like valium to me. Maybe I'm just too tired, but every single time I try to listen I'm out within the first 4-5 minutes. Seriously...I have a vague recollection of her talking about some kind of light switch or something, but I have no idea what it is. I figure if it's something that you have to practice, and you learn how to practice while actively listening to the recording, it's not gonna work for me! If it's something that you practice, unconsciously, while listening to the recording then I might be ok. I'm focusing on Bradley methods anyway, but if the hypnobabies does anything at all, I'll be happy I guess.<br><br>
Mummy marja- I kind of agree with your daughter- it makes ME feel weird too!<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/lol.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="lol">

 

[chattyprincess]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>Terrilein</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15393418"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">. <b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">If I'm not particularly tired, then I can't get the light switch to work at all: I keep having to turn it back on because my feet hurt and I need to move them, something itches and needs scratching, I'm not lying as comfortable as I thought I was, etc.</span></b> However, I did put the affirmation track on my mp3 player as the last track and I almost always wake up in the middle of that track. So I'm wondering, was I asleep or was that hypnosis? We'll see in the end, won't we!</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Ummm..yeah whats this about???? I am like always turning myself off and on and off and on and starting the cd over etc...its very annoying and then when im super tierd I can't fall asleep and I start with the restless leg crap...oy vey.<br><div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>expat-mama</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15393477"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;"><b><span style="text-decoration:underline;">That'd be cool if it DOES work if you just sleep through it all</span></b>.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Yup, 2 amazing hypnobirths to this ladies credit and she slept through all the cds...another lady on the hypnobabies yahoo group (or somewhere..this is a second hand story) supposedly would have her hubby put the cd/headphones on her after she fell asleep because the womens voice bothered her so much.<br><br>
I am 2 weeks in and so far I just really hope learning all the deep relaxation and having a cd with instructions for birth does the trick.

 

[Terrilein]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>chattyprincess</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15394001"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Ummm..yeah whats this about???? I am like always turning myself off and on and off and on and starting the cd over etc...its very annoying and then when im super tierd I can't fall asleep and I start with the restless leg crap...oy vey.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
And it's exactly this need to turn the light switch on and off constantly that has me worried. If I can't drift into hypnosis with a bit of foot pain now then what am I going to do when I go into labor?!?!? <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/yikes.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="EEK!">

 

[Kikibell]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>chattyprincess</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15392049"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">.I get RLS really bad and as soon as I start drifting to sleep when super tierd and doing it my leg jerks and im freaking out about flipping my switch to on again...lol.</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
Me too!! My RLS is the nemesis to Hypnobabies.<br><br>
I'm on week 5 but I honestly haven;t practiced much outside listening to the tracks. I do that 4-5 nights a week and inevitably fall asleep after 15-20m min. But I put them on my ipod and made a playlist of them all, so a lot of nights I listen to the whole gamut. I have my fingers crossed that that's enough....<br><br>
When we did labor practice in our Bradley class I have to say I was surprised how easy it was for me to get relaxed in all the weird positions we tried, so maybe? I have high hopes!! For all of us!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="/img/vbsmilies/smilies/joy.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="joy">

 

[michellebelle]

Has anyone actually listened to tracks on the birth ball like they suggest in the book? I haven't tried it yet, but am wondering how you turn your lightswitch off while on the ball? Wouldn't you just kind of roll/slither off?

 

[chattyprincess]

Michelle, I think it recommends to be sitting on the birth ball but supporting yourself by leaning on a bed/sofa...I think...off to check!

 

[Kikibell]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>michellebelle</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15395365"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Wouldn't you just kind of roll/slither off?</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<br>
Heehee...slither. I don't think I could accomplish any move that graceful at this point.<img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/winky.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Wink">

 

[Childbirth_Fanatic]

You have reminded me to be more diligent. I have listened to the birth fears cd and fell asleep. Probably a good thing? Ill listen tonight even if I fall asleep its the same, eh?

 

[ledzepplon]

Glad to know I'm not the only one who can't seem to stay awake while listening to the CDs. The only time I have to listen to them is at night when my three little ones are asleep, so by then I'm exhausted as well!

 

[WildinTheory]

I'm starting to not be able to fall asleep during them, which is bothering me even more than the falling asleep did. The restless leg thing is driving me crazy.<br><br>
And what about swallowing? Does that count as moving? It seems silly move my switch to center to swallow but doing it while "off" feels wrong too. I practiced the eyes open childbirth yesterday (I've been really bad about it) and I think I could actually do it. My hope is despite the fact that it doesn't always feel like it, the important parts are sinking in.

 

[mummy marja]

She kieeps saying htat it doesn't matter how you feel, it just matters that you listen to the CDs. Your unconcious mind is listening and remembering it all! Although they also say it's important to practice.<br><br>
It was really bothering me that I wasn't supposed to move with the lightswitch off. I had a cold for a while and I couldn't stop coughing. I was wondering about swallowing too! Sometimes I visualize that my lightswitch automatically moves to centre whenever I happen to move, and then back to off on my next exhalation. My sis said that when she was in labour she was constantly over-riding her lightswitch, which is supposed to be a big no-no.<br><br>
If I listen at night, I immediatly fall asleep. If I listen during the day, my kids almost always interrupt me. I figure that it's good real-life practice for the real birthing time though, because there'll definitely be many distractions then.<br><br>
Have you visualized your birth? Want to share how you want it to go? Maybe that should be a whole new thread!

 

[expat-mama]

<div style="margin:20px;margin-top:5px;">
<div class="smallfont" style="margin-bottom:2px;">Quote:</div>
<table border="0" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="0" width="99%"><tr><td class="alt2" style="border:1px inset;">
<div>Originally Posted by <strong>mummy marja</strong> <a href="/community/forum/post/15398951"><img alt="View Post" class="inlineimg" src="/community/img/forum/go_quote.gif" style="border:0px solid;"></a></div>
<div style="font-style:italic;">Have you visualized your birth? Want to share how you want it to go? Maybe that should be a whole new thread!</div>
</td>
</tr></table></div>
<b>I'd love to see a thread with birth visualizations.</b> I keep trying to do positive visualizations of my birth, but I just can't. Maybe it's because I've never done it before- I'm not really sure what I should be...visualizing. But I'd love to read other people's visualizations- maybe it would help with mine.

 

[Terrilein]

Everybody still at it? I had to take a break for a week while my dd was at home. I just started again yesterday but I'm having major problems. It must just be the pregnancy, but I can NOT get comfortable at all. And when I'm supposed to turn my light switch off, all my body parts become super sensitive - they itch, they hurt, they want moving, etc. as if on cue. What's up with that??? I'm still in the middle of week 3 and listen to the creating amnesia and deepening tracks back to back. I end up stopping in the middle of the deepening track because it feels like torture. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.mothering.com/discussions/images/smilies/greensad.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="greensad">

 

[mummy marja]

Terrilein, I think you should just keep going with it and try not to have an expectation of how it should be. I remember going through a week or so where my body just WOULD NOT turn 'off'. So put your lightwsitch in the centre. Did you get to that part yet? If you haven't, do it soon because that makes it so much easier.<br><br>
I think one of the biggest things I've learned with hypnobabies is to just calm down and be ok with what I am able to do in each moment. And to not worry about whether or not I am doing it right, but just doing it.<br><br>
I am doing the maintenence program now. I listen to it every night and fall asleep (or go into a state of hypnotic amnesia, whatever!) immediatly. One thing about it is that I absolutely love the nights. I wake up in the middle of the night to pee, and just feel so happy and wonderful.