Hypnobirthing Birth stories please

[joey123]

The course we are doing is at Bribie Island. It is on 7 & 21 March. It is an all day course with an hour or so for lunch I think and its $320. My DH and doula are coming for that one price.

Here are the details:

NATURAL CHILDBIRTH EDUCATION CLASSES FOR THE MOTHER-TO-BE AND HER BIRTHING COMPANION

Childbirth Classes of HypnoBirthing?

A Celebration of Life

Safe, easier, more comfortable birthing in the way that most mirrors nature



Learn Relaxation Techniques to Eliminate Fear, Tension, and Pain

Achieve birth fulfillment--awake and alert--in a totally relaxed state of mind and body.





Childbirth Education Class Outline

UNIT #1 Building A Positive Expectancy
Introduction - HypnoBirthing? Stories Video - Marie Mongan
HypnoBirthing? Beginnings
Rationale/Muscle Comparison
How the Uterus Works
Articles of Birth Affirmation
Uterus During Surge Illustration
What?s Wrong with Labor?
How Fear Affects Labor
Origin of Pain Concept/Curse of Eve
Hypnosis and Deep Relaxation/Creating Positive Birth Outcomes
Psycho-Physical Exercise
Pen Dropping
Sleep Breathing Introduction/Demonstration
Lemon Cutting Script
Light Arm/Heavy Arm
HypnoBirthing? Stories # 1 and #2
UNIT #2 Falling in Love With Your Baby/Preparing Mind & Body
HypnoBirthing? Stories -- #3 and #4
Prenatal Bonding Techniques
Bonding Exercise
Father?s Script
Mother?s Conversation with Her Unborn Child
Parent?s Prayer
Relaxation and Breathing
Routine
Positions
Facial Relaxation
Sleep Breathing Reviewed
Slow Breathing
Birth Breathing
Progressive, Instant, and Deepening Techniques
Progressive Relaxation
Disappearing Letters
Birth Companion?s Deepening Script
Hypnotic Relaxation and Visualizations
Rainbow Script
Opening Blossom
Blue Satin Ribbons
Arm-Wrist Test
Depthometer/Glove Relaxation/Sensory Gate Valve
Time Distortion
Releasing Limiting Thoughts Assignment
Preparing the Body for Birthing
Light touch Massage
Stretching the Inner Thigh Muscles
The Leaping Frog/squatting/Semi-squatting
Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegels)
Perineal Massage
Nutrition?Its importance in growing healthy, happy babies
UNIT #3 Getting Ready to Welcome your Baby
Birth Stories Videos #5 and #6
Daddy?s Promise
Birth Preferences
Hospital Records and Pre-Admission Registration
Breech Presentation
When Baby is Ready
Looking at Your Due Date
Special Circumstances That Require The Attention of A Caregiver
Avoiding Artificial Induction of Labor
Achieving A Natural Start of Labor
Prelude to Labor
Your Body Working for You And with You
Releasing Negative Emotions, Fears and Limiting Thoughts
UNIT #4 Overview of Childbirth?A Labor of Love
Birth Stories Video #7
Onset of Labor?Thinning and Opening Phase
Arriving at The Hospital
As Labor Moves along
Birth Companion?s Role
Birth Companion?s Birth Guide
If Labor Stalls or Slows
Review of Misconceptions
Natural Measures to Restart Labor
Important Questions for Birth Companions to Protect Natural Birthing Experience
As Birthing advances?Nearing Completion
Birth Rehearsal Imagery
UNIT #5 Birthing?Breathing Love, Bringing Life
Show Birthing Video?Birth Into Being or Other appropriate video
Hallmarks of Labor
Mother Nears Completion?thinning and opening phase ends
Birthing Phase?Breathing Baby Down
Positioning and Repositioning
Birth?The Final Act
Forest Fantasy Metaphor
Miscellaneous Scripts and Illustrations
NLP Projection Room Emotion Release
Balloon Trip Release
Pelvic Station
Birth Explained Simply
Recommended Reading List
Visualization for Optimal Birth

[Petals]

Deetor, we did our course at Tunstall Square - Doncaster East. Google will bring it up.

[AndiE]

I'm a hypnobirthing (Mongan method) convert and I can't recommend it more highly.

DH and I did the course in Brissie when I was approx 33 wks pregnant. After my waters broke a few days before my due date, I got to 7cm dilated at home in less than five hours. I used the hypno techniques to concentrate on my breathing, and to relax as much as I could. I turned the lights off, burned candles, and popped my hypno CD of affirmations in the stereo. I also threw up a few times and moaned and groaned a little bit .

Once in the delivery room I soon found myself hooked up to a monitor, plus a foetal monitor on bub's head due to his increased heartbeat during surges (if you weren't aware, you have "surges" ... not contractions!). While I didn't find it ideal to birth on my back or have a monitor on bub's head, it didn't really impact me like I probably thought (pre-labour) that it would. I progressed very quickly to 10cm, and pushed for approx 30 mins to birth DS (I pushed as opposed to "breathed the baby down" which is what hypnobirthing promotes - but pushing was my choice at the time as pushing seemed 'right'). I had no other intervention (other than blasted monitors) and no drugs - just what I'd planned for. I was a very happy chicky ! Birthing might not be a walk in the park, but I believed to my core that I was doing what nature intended and that all the sensations I was feeling were bringing me closer to meeting my baby. Yes, it was hard yakka - but with a beautiful outcome.

Admittedly my birthing experience was pretty quick (less than 7 hours in total), so I didn't utilise the bibs n bobs of hypnobirthing in the delivery room (lights weren't exactly dim, no oils burning, no massages ...) - there just wasn't any time, I was only there 90 mins before DS was born. But it was all OK . For the most part I used the breathing techniques, the self-affirmations and was focused on relaxing my lower body. And DH and I worked as a team, despite the fact I couldn't deal with him attempting to massage my back, shoulders etc. I discovered that I prefer to birth without too much touching ... hey, it was a revelation to me, I thought I'd want DH to be very hands on!!

Speaking of DH, hypnobirthing is great for partners, as it also gives them the self-confidence to speak up on your behalf if medical staff start trying to hurry you along etc The ante-natal classes at the hospital were good to some degree, but I was very disappointed that there was not a lot of information for those of us wanting to birth drug free, intervention free. That's probably why I found hypnobirthing invaluable.

One point I'd cautiously raise, is to keep in the back of your mind that you may have to adapt your birth plan. Definitely plan and prepare to hypnobirth - prepare yourself mentally - but don't get "fixated" on having a drug-free, intervention-free birth. You may find when it happens that you really do want pain-relief ... and this would be OK as it's YOUR choice - no one elses! Hypnobirthing gives you the information and tools to decide what YOU want for your birth, and if it means adapting your plans dependent on your birth and how you feel at the time, then that's cool cos you've weighed up your options and made an informed decision. Hope you see what I'm trying to say here .

Good luck with it all - apology if I've rambled. Bottom line is that I'm sure you'll gain valuable information from your course.

Andie

[deetor]

I'm a hypnobirthing (Mongan method) convert and I can't recommend it more highly.

Good luck with it all - apology if I've rambled. Bottom line is that I'm sure you'll gain valuable information from your course.

Andie

Thank you for giving my the push to book my first 'Calmbirth/Hypnobirth' class. Yes they are costly but i beleive will be very worthwhile. Speaking to my ob, he definately recommends it. So i will be looking forward to the classes and then putting it into action on 'The Day'.
Will let you know then whether it was worthwhile for me...

Take Care

[AndiE]

Hi Deetor, just wanted to say good for you - I've no doubt you'll gain great value from your hypnobirthing course. Good luck!

Hovenhel - congratulations - sounds like your birthing experience was incredibly beautiful. I can't agree with you more regarding women who effectively hand over their births to the "experts", and then suffer all kinds of intervention. Sure, some of it is definitely necessary, but I imagine some of it isn't. I think that's why calmbirthing/hypnobirthing is so good - it really does empower the mother-to-be to take control of her birth. And your experience shows that you could call the shots regarding your induction - I imagine many experts would have cranked up the synto very early on! Congrats again.

Joey123 - have you started your course yet? How are you finding it?

Cheers, Andie

[AndiE]

oops accidental double post ...

[Ozziehoffy]

Joey, how did you enjoy your first day yesterday?? Are you doing the course with Leanne Jackson?? I think you are as she is now on Bribie - well Beachmere. We just did our refresher with her last weekend. Gotta love her, rambles a little at times but a lovely lady

Rayray, there is actually no difference between calmbirthing and hypnobirthing. I asked our practitioner the other day. She said it was just a difference of opinion with the guy who started the calmbirthing in Australia and the lady from USA who brought the course out here and the guy from Aust wanting it to be less "Americanised" and so they went their separate ways....so the only real difference is yes, less American and the name.

[joey123]

Hi. Yes, our course was really good. I actually left the place excited about giving birth and I now have an "I can't wait" attitude to going into labour. We have our second and final day next Saturday, so really looking forward to it. Most days when I get home from work, I just drop everything and go straight to my room, lie down, and put on the rainbow relaxation cd. most of the time it puts me to sleep for about an hour and then I feel refreshed and able to make it through to bedtime!!

I really hope that this course will help me get the natural and drug free birth that I am after.

[deetor]

Thats great Joey!!!
Can't wait to hear whther the hypnobirthing classes pay off on the day of your labour. I start mine in 2 weeks.... Looking forward to it!

[Chamberry]

Hi all

Ive never heard of hypnobirthing but after looking into it a bit more I find that I used alot of its techniques during my labour which resulted in a relaxed and controlled birth. I found it to be very effective.

[deetor]

I have booked my hypnobirthing classes with Diane Garner... she sounded very sweet yet reasuring over the phone. Only thing i am worried about is that i wont begin the classes till end of april- which will make me approx 31weeks. Hope its not too late!!!
Did anyone attend Diane Gadners classes? Would love to hear from you!!!!