Hypnobirthing Birth stories please

[joey123]

Hi. I am doing a hypnobirthing course in March and I would love to hear some birth stories from those who have done Hypnobirthing.

Thanks!!

[Nai]

I used Hypnobirthing with DD and got to 7cm dilated quite happily until DD went into foetal distress. We are using hypnobirthing this time around too with (hopefully) a VBAC.

This is the story from our original blog:

HypnoBirthing - Was it worth the effort?

To answer that question ... basically, yes it was. The effort was pretty much minimal and although the birth didn't necessarily go according to plan whilst I was in labour using the breathing techniques, things went very well. The breathing kept me focused and enabled me to get through the surges. It also enabled us to remain calm and rational when we knew we were going to have to have assistance in the birth. Given that Genevieve was posterior, the level of discomfort would have been much greater than if she was facing the correct way. Had I not been using the techniques I think I would have been calling for drugs pretty quickly.

From a pregnancy perspective the breathing practice kept me calm and taught me how to fully relax quickly and easily. Post partum this is turning out to be a blessing as I can drop off to sleep or have a deep relaxation session whilst Genevieve has her sleeps. Genevieve is also quite a calm baby and seems to have little trouble sleeping so far. From what other people have said, this seems to be a characteristic of babies born to mothers who have used the Hypnobirthing techniques. Cory also gained a lot from the experience, and definitely felt he took a very active role in the birth - certainly not just a bystander. I couldn't have remained focused without him. A good birthing companion is essential to the process (and no... you can't have mine).

So I would definitely recommend Hypnobirthing to anyone who is looking at ways to improve their birthing experience and wants to keep things as natural as possible. As a practitioner, we also highly recommend Kayte Walton.

[Ozziehoffy]

Hi joey, here's the link to my story with Oskar. I'm doing a refresher course in about 5 weeks so that it's all clear and fresh again for this bub in April. All the best

https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...g-journey.html

[deetor]

I was also looking into possibly attending hypnobirthing classes in melbourne north. Does anyone know one that they would reccommened for me to look further more into.
Im finding it really hard to convince myself that this is going to make the 'labour' a lot less painful and yet calmer.
Would love to hear some other stories apart from the ones that already have been posted
Thanks
I think i just need that little more convincing. To be honest i have never really been into hypnosis or meditation, and am worried that when it comes to the crunch this just wont work for me.
By the way is there a difference between Hypnobirthing and Calmbirth?

Cheers

[Nai]

deetor - my practitioner Kayte Walton is in Preston if that's close?

From what I have seen they are very similar and based on the same principles and use much of the same techniques and language.

[deetor]

deetor - my practitioner Kayte Walton is in Preston if that's close?

From what I have seen they are very similar and based on the same principles and use much of the same techniques and language.

Do you remember what you paid for these classes. Are they private or group classes. Do they teach you about 'what if it all goes wrong and not working for you'...
I just dont know.

[hovenhel]

Hi,

Here is my experience using hypnobirthing - explained in an email I sent to my hypnobirthing instructor - Diane Gardner (Melbourne) after the birth.

One warning I have now is that I mention using the Epi-No to stretch the perineum prior to the birth. I have since been told that there is some risk in using the Epi-No in that it has burst while in use (it is a balloon type object that you put inside your vagina to stretch and get used to the feeling of birth). You may want to research this for yourself.

I experienced surges from Monday night right through to the Thursday Emily was born. These would come on and off and were very irregular, but didn't bother me at all as I was able to breath through them and relax. I just went about visiting and socialising and doing my thing at home. I even went to a business meeting all day on Tuesday! I had a `show' on the Tuesday night walking around Myer. On Wednesday evening I was up until late thinking it was all happening and was even throwing up - not from pain, just how I felt. I called the hospital when contractions were 5 mins apart and they said I sounded too calm and that I should go to bed. I did and managed to sleep. My waters started to leak on Thursday morning just before I was due to make a call with the obstetrician regarding being induced. He sent me straight to the hospital.I got there at 12.30pm.

I was hoping that within a half hour I would be able to relax into having more regular surges. It didn't happen as they poked and prodded and `assessed' for 2 hours. By the time the obstetrician arrived my contractions were only 5 minutes apart. In that hospital with those midwives I had no chance of getting there on my own. He fully broke my waters and put the lowest dosage possible of sintocinon in an IV (I asked for it to stay at the lowest dose of `30'. That started it all. I went from 2cm to fully dilated within 4 hours - on the lowest dose as I refused to let them turn it up. The calmbirth and relaxation really helped.

I needed no pain relief and just took the surges one at a time. The baby's heart rate monitor did drive me crazy and reduced my options of moving around, but I did manage to get vertical a few times and it made a difference when I did. Emily was very calm throughout the whole birthing process so the heart rate monitor did keep me happy and driven to know that she was fine and that I was doing well. 2nd stage was fine as I used the breathing techniques.

Once the head was almost out Rob took over and delivered our baby. She went straight onto my chest and was very content and bright eyed. She suckled straight away and we spent a long time enjoying her before we cut the chord and delivered the placenta.

My recovery has been fantastic. I am so glad that I have not even needed to take a panadol before, during, or after the birth as I have had no pain to deal with. Most importantly, Emily is a very happy and healthy baby. The midwives were very impressed with the state I was in - especially as a first time mum. I kept telling them about calmbirth and they were all very interested. It is just sad that they have not heard of calmbirth or hypnobirthing. It is also sad that I have had the most `normal' of births, but have been treated as if it was abnormal.

What I learned from this experience is that the training and preparation I have put into this experience has been well worth the effort. I also felt extremely empowered and informed. It is clear now, as I talk to friends who were younger when they first became mothers (and there are others who weren't so young) that they have left a lot of their fate in the hands of the `experts' . For most of them this has meant a great deal of intervention and a long recovery. They had not realised how much say they could have had. I think it is also likely that some people don't know how to `train' their bodies in preparation for birthing. I think if they won't do it for themselves, they should do it for their baby.

I treated this like a marathon. You train for it, know it will take some work, but know there is an end point and a great sense of achievement after the event. As I have experienced elite sports and training in the past, I knew I was mentally strong and able to deal with whatever came.

You can do it - just make sure you learn about it, practice it, train and believe it.

[deetor]

Hi,

Here is my experience using hypnobirthing - explained in an email I sent to my hypnobirthing instructor - Diane Gardner (Melbourne) after the birth.

Great to hear a successful birthing story! Where did you do your calm birth course?
Also you mentioned the Epi-No would you reccommened or not? I dont know whether its worth it or i do the stretches myself......Hmmmm