Hypnobirthing updates

Hi Joscia,

I've recently had a friend's wife who gave birth to a 9 pound baby girl with hypnobirthing techniques. Apparently she had a beautiful and calm experience, and no tearing!!!

In fact that's how I heard about this hypnobirthing thing.

I will be "investigating" this too, but so far DH and I are pretty convinced that we'll give this a go.

Hi Joscia, I started the course but felt too silly (maybe it was the practitioner, she was pretty airy fairy, I don't know) so stopped doing it after one session. That said, I found the book really really helpful and I'm absolutely positive there is something to this Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome.

Next time I'll give it more of a chance I think. One thing I thought I was going to do was, the book suggested you ask not to be told how dilated you are and in hindsight that would have really helped me - I did ask for that but I caved and asked how far along I was right near the beginning. (Next time I'll tell my midwife to refuse to tell me unless I ask 3 times in a row or something!)

ETA: I gave the book and CDs to my midwife, but if you wanted to have a look I could borrow them back off her...

Edited by weegee

Thanks for the replies!

It sounds really promising - like you guys say - if it takes away the fear and nothing else it's probably still worth it!

I figure it's better to go into the whole thing feeling prepared and having some coping strategies lined up, then to pretend it's not happening and completely freak out when the time comes...

I think we'll give it a go

Coldfish - I think our course was about $400. That was 5 evening sessions each lasting about 2.5 hours. You also get given the book and relaxation CDs. You have unlimited e-mail (and I think) telephone support from your practitioner. The groups are usually very small too - we only had 4 couples in ours.

For me it was $400 well spent. Well worth every single cent.

I can't remember the website address - but google 'hypnobirthing NZ' and you should be able to find some contact info (as well as the main website for it)

I wonder if there is still time for me to do a course... I found this website http://www.hypnobirthingwellington.co.nz/ (can someone look at it and tell me if it looks like gibberish to you too? Maybe it's just my work computer making it come up with symbols instead of words!)
I've just been watching hypnobirthing videos on youtube so far

Hi ladies, I'm starting a hypnobirthing class in a few weeks. I've had the book and relaxationg CD's since before christmas and have found them to be really good (even though I put them on and 9 times out of 10 fall asleep, but apparently that's ok too).

I'm doing it through http://www.hypnobirthing.co.nz/

I don't recall how much it costs but it was around $350. I've already paid about $70 booking fee which is when they send out the CD's & book to you so you can get started.

Good luck Marlow (and Ella and Spirals)! I'll be hanging out for an update!

Well, it turns out that update I promised is still not ready! My waters broke in the early hours of last Thursday and nothing has happened since. Due to that and the fact that I'm now 15 days overdue, we are being induced tonight at 7pm.

I've had three sessions of acupuncture, a visit with the homeopath, ostepathy and a host of other "natural" remedies to try to get this baby out! I think bubs will take after my husband's side and will forever be late to everything, and he thinks bubs will be stubborn like it's mum!

My mw did a speculum to confirm my waters were actually broken, I've been taking my temp four hourly and we've been going to the hospital (45 min drive) each day for CTG monitoring. And I'll be needing IV antibiotics once labour starts.

Must say I have been grieving a bit - our beautifully planned natural homebirth has turned into a hospital birth starting with an intervention. It's a bit hard to get your head around at this stage and I feel guilty that I'm doing this to my baby. On the other hand I am excited that I'll finally get to meet my baby this weekend. Ah, the ups and downs are so very up and down!

I do feel better prepared having done the hypnobirthing course but it's still going to be different from what we planned. One of the affirmations I've been practising is "I am prepared to calmly meet whatever turn my birthing may take" so I'll be repeating that over and over!

Wish me luck for tonight!

That is such a good quote, and definitely one for you to remember today. It may not be as planned but really, when are things ever?!?!? It will still be such an incredible experience for you, and with that prize ahead of you at the end you just go for it and treasure every moment. Thoughts with you, good luck!!!!!

Good luck Marlow! Hope everything went well; and can't wait to hear updates from you!