We did a hypno-birthing course when I was about 35 weeks! My hubby had been exposed to some of the relaxation and visulation techniques when he was at AIS and thought this would be the way to go for us. By then I was on insulin and we were aware that it was likely that I would be induced for this reason. So we did the course and some practice of the breathing and relaxation (and both of us started sleeping pretty well around that time!)

It was not a surprise that the Ob wanted to induce at 37+5 due to his holidays the following week. So we did the gel's one night, got a few hours sleep and ARM the next morning. This really started things up and I was mainly walking around the hospital with pretty easy surges that I could breath through easily. After lunch they hooked up the dreaded drip and I really had to use the breathing and light touch massage. I could not get comfortable on the ball or kneeling so I ended up on my side on the bed (naughty I know). After a while, and a couple of increments to the drip, I started to find it a bit hard so off to the shower we went continuing with the breathing and light touch massage etc. And no, it was not a 4 minute shower!! We stayed their comfortably until hubby's dinner came around and he started to feel a bit faint with the heat.

I did grab the gas around this time, but not for long as things started to feel different - and the Midwife did an internal and let me know that I was fully dilated. I had a lot of pushing to do, and "birthing breaths" went out the window. It didn't help that DS wanted to come out waving his hand in front of his face. DS was born 9.55pm - the Ob had offered the vaccum thingo, but we managed without.

So, the hypno birthing helped by keeping me calm which I am sure helped keep bub's calm, at no point was there any indication that he was distressed by any of the induction. Hubby had to be a part of it and was trained in what to do, (he was also told he would be coughing up for an eternity ring if I had a c-section - just to keep him motivated). Fortunatly the Midwife had also been trained so she could help me also. DS is also a pretty calm bub's as one of the other posters mentioned.

The things that you learn in the course come in handy in life - like during dentist appointments!

Good luck with your decision and for the birth of your bub's.