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