Hypnobabies - Is it too late?

jennifers1979

My first childbirth was medicated, and I decided about 20w this time to try for a natural childbirth (I only had a full epidural for about three hours of my first labor - the epi was turned off about 2 hours before DD was born...and I am afraid of epi-related complications after a friend's bad experience with her fourth L+D). Because DH is not super comfortable with the idea of labor coaching, I decided to try Hypnobirthing rather than a Brio/Bradley type method.  I am about an hour and a half away from the nearest class, so I am doing the self-study at home.  I've read the book and listened to the CD multiple times, but after doing so (and doing some other research - articles like this:  https://birthnaturally.org/hypnosis-for-childbirth-.html#hypnobirthing) I wonder if I should have tried HypnoBabies instead.  Is it too late to start?  Has anyone here tried both methods and preferred one vs the other?  Again, I would be doing the self-study, since the closest class is about an hour and a half away.

sschwege

If you are going to do self-study you should really do Hypnobabies, Hypnobirthing is not meant to be learned outside of a classroom.  The program is incomplete if you just read the book and listen to the CD.  

I don't know much about Hypnobabies though, so not sure when is the best time to start. I know I started Hypnobirthing at 30w and that was enough time for me.  

jennifers1979

Thanks!  One of the doulas with whom I met said she'd had clients who'd used Hypnobirthing as a home study, but the book and CD have just not seemed like enough!  Glad I didn't go with her as my doula.

momofmanyinthemitten

I started hypnobabies at 30 wks, now 33wks.They recommend you start no later than 27 wks, but I've found that I had no problem submitting to self-hypnosis from day one. Even if it's not enough time for it to work completely during my birthing time, I'm enjoying the daily 30 min of quiet relaxing hypnosis.

rooftop

I don't think it's too late if you're willing to really work on it. The techniques need to be familiar enough to where it's second nature. That is possible at this stage if you start immediately. GL         I loved Hypnobabies!

jennifers1979

Thanks everyone.  I should get the course early next week, and I can set aside time during DD's "nap" time daily to practice.  Hopefully I'll have the full nine or ten weeks of daily practice.

KNRH2

I tried hypnobirthing with my first and it didn't work out well for me (I ended up getting an epi) so hypnobabies is what I'm going to try with my 2nd. The home study package is pretty expensive for me though, it was $159 on amazon.