[Fay]

Has anyone tried hypnosis for their VBAC experience? If so, which method did you use? Did you find hypnosis CDs helpful?

Right now I feel fearful about the possibility of another labor induction (I'm due in January). I feel OK about a natural birth or even scheduling a repeat c-section if necessary, but all the interventions, especially the Pitocin, still frighten me more than 5 years after my first baby. I've had 2 miscarriages, so I'm not afraid of natural labor pains. My DH is even more afraid of labor induction than I am -- he was the one watching me fade in and out of consciousness with an oxygen mask on my face while the baby went into distress back in 2001.

:

I'm looking for natural ways to get my labor going at home...visualization techniques, nipple stimulation, acupuncture, whatever keeps me out of the hospital. Yes, I am also hiring a doula this time. I recently learned that my nipples are flat -- one of the many reasons I had so much difficulty bfing DS -- so I bought a nipple everter from LLL that I plan to use as my due date approaches -- the instructions actually say that using this item may start up labor! What else can I do to birth this baby naturally? Please share your wisdom!

 

[Mynn]

 

[ndakkitten]

I haven't had my VBAC yet, but I used alot of relaxation techniques during my first two labors. Good first step in hiring a doula. They can be a godsend. Hypnosis CD's can help. I have had friends who used them successfully in their labors. I had a Hypnobirthing tape, but my 1.5 yr old son ripped it to pieces after I only listened to it twice!!

So I have used Enya CD's and lavender aromatherapy to relax me during labor.

I would recommend reading "Natural Childbirth after a Cesarean" by Crawford and Walters. Its full of good suggestions. I actually found a copy in my local library.

 

[oregonbound]

I did the hypnobabies home study hypnosis program and it comes with a lot of information on natural childbirth and medical interventions which I found extremely helpful. I also found the hypnosis tapes to be really helpful for keeping me positive and giving me self-confidence. They also have a yahoo support group for people who are doing the program. You can buy it at hypnobabies.com. I have also seen a guided relaxation CD specific to VBAC preparation which might be helpful. I have friends that have used these CDs and found them to be helpful (although I haven't heard any feedback specifically about the VBAC CD). Here's the link where I found that

 

[Fay]

Thank you. You are all the best!

 

[Fay]

I just realized that I know one of the authors of the book "Natural Childbirth after a Cesarean." She brought me dinner after I had DS years ago!

 

[pinuchkin]

You asked about natural induction. I took EPO for a week vaginally & orally, had a very warm bath, used a pump to do nipple stimulation for 10 min on 10 min off over an hour, sat on a heating pad on a rocking chair for a while, had sex, and my water broke 3 hrs later. Looking back that sucked b/c I was strep + & got pushed into antibiotics at the hospital which put me on their 18 hr timeclock (hence c/s) ... but it sure seemed to work.

 

[AmaLari]

I prepared for my VBAC with a program like that - New Way Childbirth, I think it was called. I have to say that it really helped. I ended up being induced with Pitocin at 42wks, but I did not have an epidural. When I slipped out of my focused, meditative state, it was really painful with close contractions, but I was able to quickly refocus and it wasn't bad at all.

On an interesting (to me!) side note, at one point the dr told me that he thought he'd have to do another c-section because I wasn't dilating. I channelled all of my energies into birthing and an hour later she was born. It could be a coincidence, but ... maybe not.

I found it more helpful to focus completely on what was happening rather than disassociating myself from the process.

 

[julie128]

I used HypnoBirthing techniques for my vbac, and it worked great! That second birth was waaaaaaaaaaaay better than the first. At 7 cm, our teacher (we hired her as a doula, which was very helpful) and I were playing hangman. I was able to get close to sleeping. I highly recommend it.