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!!
Printable View
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!!
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.
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 :D
https://www.bellybelly.com.au/forums...g-journey.html
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.:doh:
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.:wall:
By the way is there a difference between Hypnobirthing and Calmbirth?
Cheers
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.
We had a private session but she runs group classes. I think the private sessions were around $400 but I can't be sure. You can always give her a call and ask questions - she's very open and forthcoming with information.
Thanks for all your help.:
Would love to hear all about your Hypnobirth labour. Not long for you to go.
Let me know how it all goes for you. I need a little more convicing that hypnobirthing is the way to go!
Cheers
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.
I did a calmbirth course over the weekend and I really do think I can make this work for me. Im not sure the exact difference between calmbirth and hypno birthing, just that calm birth is based on hypno birthing but some things have been changed as it was thought they were more suited to Australia.
deetor - we also saw parts of a DVD on ecstatic/orgasmic birth, very inspiring to see women birth and look like they're having a good time.
Studies have been done that have showed as many as 21% of women O during the birthing process
I dont think thats my end objective(but hey i wouldnt knock it back) but the main thing I got out of it was that I can be in control of my birth, how I interpret my waves/contractions and that by practicing the relaxation and brething techniques they will become second nature and my subconsious can kick in and help me through anything.
they do show situations where unexpected things have happened (placental abruption, c/s etc) and how people have still used calmbirth and believe it has enhance their experience.
If your in melbourne can you tell me where you did the classes?:
I did mine in narre warren, but there are a few on different sides of melbourne. mine was run by a doula, but if you hav PHI and can get to one run by a midwife sometimes you can claim some of the cost under antenatal extras cover.
Joey, DH and I have just decided to look further into hypno birthing! Where are you going to do the course? We have some info from our doula but would love to learn more. Hope you like the course and it helps you for your VBAC.
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
Deetor, we did our course at Tunstall Square - Doncaster East. Google will bring it up.
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 :D. 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
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.
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'. :pray::
Will let you know then whether it was worthwhile for me...:dance:
Take Care
:)