Having a hard time with Hypnobabies...

LiluBee

Is anyone else trying this?  I'm repeating week 1 since I only got to listen a few times but my biggest problem is I'm not finding the time.  I have an almost 4 year old at home that doesn't nap and it's actually a lot more difficult than I thought to find 30 mins to myself.  Even when DH gets home it's non-stop until he's asleep and then I'm exhausted and want to relax with DH for awhile (which means watch TV with him!)  When I have been able to listen, I fall asleep.  

 But I'm determined to see it through, that S was expensive!  I truly want to make it work...with my previous labor I started closing my eyes and deep breathing on instinct without knowing any methods so I feel like this should be good for me...Any insights or experiences to share?  

PS...I almost posted this on Natural Birth but I feel like you can relate more to my determination with the VBAC.

drakee

When I went through the Hypnobabies training, I almost always fell asleep during my tracks.  I preferred listening to them early in the evening, but I sometimes listened to them before I fell asleep for the night as well.  Regardless of when I listened to my tracks, I still felt that I was getting the right messages. 

However, I wasn't that happy with my birth experience with Hypnobabies.  I experienced horrible back labor and hypnosis did not help me at all with that pain.  I found out after the fact that Hypnobabies recommends that you read the book Back Labor No More as part of the Hypnobabies training.  I really wish I would have known that ahead of time!  I would still recommend trying Hypnobabies though, because it did help me with everything else (e.g. internals, needles, the epidural, etc.)    

lorryfach

drakee:

I found out after the fact that Hypnobabies recommends that you read the book Back Labor No More as part of the Hypnobabies training.  I really wish I would have known that ahead of time!

Wha?! I had no idea about this either. Hrmpf. My HypnoBabies labor was pure suck, tbh. That was my c/s baby. I didn't listen to it again for my VBAC. 

Sudonk

Don't worry about finding time to practice during the day.  It is fine to fall asleep to it at night if that is the only time you get to do it.  You should make a point of listening to each script once when you are not in hypnosis, so you know what it is teaching you.  You can put it on while doing something to keep yourself active enough to stay alert - folding clothes worked for me, but even playing with your older child is fine!  You can fast forward through the relaxation part in the beginning and then listen to the rest.  Once you've done that, you are fine to sleep through it every time!

I did almost all my practice in my sleep, whether I meant to or not!  The second time I did Hypnobabies I was chasing 2 toddlers around when I wasn't working one of my three jobs or taking care of my husband who was ill at the time.  I definitely didn't have any extra time for anything!  But I was so glad I made the effort.  My Hypnobabies births were nothing short of amazing.  I did experience complications the first time, including intense back labor and a uterine spasm which meant dealing with a single birthing wave that didn't go away for over 3 hours.  But you know what?  Hypnobabies kept me calm, comfortable and happy through it all.  Despite all that, one of the first things that went through my mind as I pulled my baby to my chest was, "Wow, that's it?  That was easy!"  In fact when I first arrived to have my baby, the midwives almost sent me home because I was "too calm to be in labor".  When they checked me and discovered I was fully dilated, they decided I should stay!  LOL!

With my second Hypnobabies birth, I had a very fast birth, which tends to be more intense.  But I still stayed calm and focused and surprisingly comfortable.  Unlike my first Hypnobabies birth, I didn't find myself looking forward to the birthing waves and enjoying them, but they were just crampy and a bit unpleasant, nothing painful or scary.  Certainly nothing I couldn't handle easily.  In fact, the video of me during that birth looks like I'm calmly waking up from a nap to push out a baby.  And I only pushed for 25 seconds.  (I timed it on the video.)  In other words, keep it up!  You're doing better than you realize, and sleeping through the scripts is getting you the skills you will need to have a great birth.

Enjoybirth

I fell asleep almost every time I listened.  It still worked great for me.

Here is a link which may help.  

www.enjoybirth.com/faq-sleeping.html

I have had 2 VBACs and Hypnobabies helped me so much!  You are going to do great!  

 Sheridan

userdeleted

I had a hard time finding the time too. I had to really force myself to do it during the day. Does your older child have a tv show they like? Maybe you could do like 30 min of quiet time each morning, where the 4 yr old gets to watch a favorite show and you sit in the same room practicing your Hypnobabies.

GL! I felt like it really helped me a lot. I didn't have a painless labor (and did eventually get an epidural), but I felt incredibly calm and focused - and I'm usually a total basketcase in stressful situations

DoulaMomma

First off, congrats on your VBAC. I used Hypnobabies to prepare for my second birth, had a C/S with my first. I LOVED the VBAC Success cd, did you get that one?

As for your struggles. I know how it was to do hypnobabies while chasing a toddler. What I did was listen to the CDs out loud while making dinner, so I knew what was on them.  Then, I would put them in before bed. (At least during the week, on the weekend I had more time) This helped a ton!!! I was able to get the scripts in,a nd typically I actually was in hypnosis not sleeping while I listened. This was pretty much the only way I could get my practice in. I was extremely diligent about practicing my finger drop/eyes open hypnosis during the day and listening to my affirmations. I would also listen to the different CDs through that day as well. This way I was getting the suggestions a lot.

It worked so beautifully during my birthing time. I was able to stay home for 2 days while birthing and I was completely comfortable and able to sleep at night. My husband and my doulas were totally amazed how well it worked for me. (especially considering how my first birth went) My midwife loved it so much that she tells all her other moms about it.

The biggest thing is to stay positive, and get those scripts in as best as you can.

Hope this helps!!

Marinda