Hmmm... not too sure about Hypnobabies

Ceridwen21

I just got the home study course, and I don't know if this is my cup of tea.  I'll admit that I'm only just starting to read it, but...

No pain during labor? Really? That seems completely unrealistic to me.

Anyone else a skeptic? Please feel free to share your thoughts and experiences! I really love the idea of it, but I don't want to devote time to something that sets unrealistic expectations.

Hypnobabies lover and haters, please chime in.

iris427

I think zero pain is an unrealistic thing to promise.  I do believe that hypnosis and relaxation methods can reduce pain but I also think that you can have a drug-free birth without studying beforehand--I did and I know we have other posters who did too.

 

sschwege

I did Hypnobirthing which is similar and I was skeptical as well.  Our Hypnobirthing instructor was a wealth of information, she had been an L & D nurse for 20yrs, had 3 med-free births herself and supported many family members in having med-free births so she knew her stuff and here's what she told us: When you have surges you are going to feel something.  Your job is to reassign it in your mind, think of it as tightening, pressure, etc.  

This is exactly what I did before and during labor.  I refused to even let the word 'pain' enter my mind much less say the word (and everyone else was under strict orders not to use the word).  When it got really intense I remember thinking "loosen, loosen, loosen" because in my mind it wasn't pain but a very intense tightening of my abdomen.  The only part that I can say was painful was the last three pushes I felt the 'ring of fire' and then her shoulder briefly got stuck.  But that was a few minutes of my 17.5 hours of labor, not bad!

It was uncomfortable, intense and took all of my concentration but I can honestly say that it was not painful.  At my 6w postpartum visit my MW remembered my birth and asked me if I had felt anything, that's how 'in the zone' I was!

I understand your skepticism because I too was in your shoes a year ago, and I can only speak on my experience, but I can say that it is possible.  If you start to delve more into it and come to the conclusion that it really isn't your 'cup of tea' you might be more receptive to Bradley.  My understanding is that Bradley teaches you that it is pain with a purpose and teaches you effective ways of coping with it.  

Here is a link to a Hypnobirthing video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF-4j9B7QeQ&feature=related this is 20 minutes before her baby is born and you can see she is totally in control.

Anyway, I'm not saying Hypnobirthing/Babies is for everyone, but for some the concept does work.  Please feel free to PM me if you have anymore detailed questions (I won't be able to answer any questions about Hypnobabies specifically, but anything regarding my experience).  Best of luck to you! 

ChelsiAnn13

I think saying it will be pain free is unrealistic yes. What I feel they are trying to get across is if you tell yourself something is going to hurt or have that mindset, which is what happens from a young age, then you are going to tense up and it will hurt. I loved the concept although I don't think I will succeed in hypnotizing myself in the least but I feel it will help me relax and remember to breath. To tell myself it is pressure not pain, to keep myself in a positive mindset and to let my body do it's thing.

amanicen

I found the course really helpful during the earlier parts of labor at home but honestly forgot most of the relaxation techniques except for deep breathing by the last two hours. I do think it'll be really helpful if we try for baby #2. The unknown was really scary to me and became a big distraction and I think I expected too much from the course.

I can honestly say I was never in pain during any part of labor. It was uncomfortable and intense, especially after we broke my water & I could feel her elbows & knees, but it never hurt. I didn't expect that, even after doing Hypnobabies & reading a Hypnobirthing book. I even asked DH if I ever seemed like I was in pain (since I assumed hormones made me forget) and he said there was no point I seemed to be hurting. Going into it I expected there to be unbearable pain and didn't think I'd make it without meds, but it was far better that I expected.

I don't think it was just Hypnobabies, I honestly think childbirth isn't always painful and the course just made it a little less uncomfortable.

iris427

Hmm well my natural birth hurt like a ^%$%@# LOL

BrideNamedMeg

My first birth was low pain overall, the contractions were intense but not really painful.  Pushing was tough and the only really painful part was the ring of fire right at the end.

My second birth was 100% different from my first, the contractions still weren't bad, but pushing was extremely painful and towards the end the pain didn't stop with the end of the contraction which was hard to deal with - there were just no breaks.  DS was much bigger than DD and he was posterior so that probably made a big difference. 

I don't think you should go into labor fearing pain, but I don't think you can pretend it doesn't happen either.  If I'd only had my son's birth, a program like hypnobabies would probably make me feel like I had done something wrong when it was really out of my control. 

Bradley was the method I went with for both my kids and I thought it was great.  It really prepares you to deal with whatever your specific labor throws you so you can get through no matter what. 

ridesbuttons

I think setting someone up with an expectation of 'no pain' during labour/delivery is setting them up to fail, or feel as though they have failed.

Almost universally though it is accepted that the pain of childbirth is forgotten very quickly.  My personal experience is that I remember thinking that I was in an unreasonable amount of pain, but for the life of me, I cannot remember what the pain was like.  I can conjure up the pain of breaking my leg 20 years ago easily.  But remembering the sensation of labour....no.  It's gone.  I remember it more as a noise in my head than the intense whole body experience it was.

Ceridwen21

Thank you very much for all of the thoughtful responses!

smilelari

I am also skeptical, but hopeful

I didn't use any particular method last time but I read up on a lot of different ones and I find the whole hypnobirthing concept to be pretty fascinating.  The goal is completely different.  Instead of trying to manage pain, you try to learn to think about what you are feeling differently so that you don't experience it as pain.  Honestly, I definitely felt pain last time, but I think that not focusing on that aspect helped a lot (I could even sleep between contractions) which is why I'm hopeful about hypnobabies.

I am a bit worried about avoiding a pain focus at the hospital.  Last time I asked them not to ask about my pain (because I didn't want to think about pain) and they told me that the HAD to do the thing where they ask about your pain level on a scale from 1 to 10.  Maybe we could just come up with alternate wording?  Like if I could describe the intensity on a scale from 1 to 10?

iris427

smilelari:

I am also skeptical, but hopeful

I didn't use any particular method last time but I read up on a lot of different ones and I find the whole hypnobirthing concept to be pretty fascinating.  The goal is completely different.  Instead of trying to manage pain, you try to learn to think about what you are feeling differently so that you don't experience it as pain.  Honestly, I definitely felt pain last time, but I think that not focusing on that aspect helped a lot (I could even sleep between contractions) which is why I'm hopeful about hypnobabies.

I am a bit worried about avoiding a pain focus at the hospital.  Last time I asked them not to ask about my pain (because I didn't want to think about pain) and they told me that the HAD to do the thing where they ask about your pain level on a scale from 1 to 10.  Maybe we could just come up with alternate wording?  Like if I could describe the intensity on a scale from 1 to 10?

This is a good example of the problems with taking hospital policies designed for sick and injured people and applying them to childbirth. 

Ruggerkitty

I used HB and had a med-free, vitually painless birth. For me, it worked! I'm planning on doing it again this time. My "birthing time" was at least 12 hours, and I'd say 7 of that was active. I stayed home as long as possible, was only at the hospital for 1.5 hours before DS was born. I was talking, watching tv, drinking water, walking around, and I walked into the hospital. I would describe it as having gas/period cramps all night and then pooping a huge poop. LOL sorry if that's way TMI but seriously it never once felt like something that needed medication for the pain. DS was big too. I say trust the program and try not to stress about it. Your body knows how to do this!  

FyshWyfe

So I've been practicing Hypnobabies since I was about 20 weeks along.  Not every night, but, say, 3-4 times a week. And every night nowadays.  When I first started flipping through the book I thought, "BS," but then I decided not to half-ass it.  I figure if I'm going to spend the time on it, I'm going to buy it hook, line, and sinker.  I'm going to convince myself that it's pressure, not pain, and believe it. 

I did Bradley with DD's birth, and was successful at keeping my body relaxed and never tensing up until transition when I kind of lost it a little.  This time I plan on doing the same, but focusing on feeling pressure and staying out of my body's way. 

I feel like it's unfair to criticize it b/c it sells pain-free birth.   Like the first responder wrote, you are going to feel childbirth, but it's up to you and your brain how you register those sensations.  Your body is able to integrate vast spectrums of sensations, and how you cope is up to you.  If you clench up, white-knuckle the bed rails, and scream, your memory is going to be of agonizing pain.  If you go limp, breathe, and hum, your experience is going to be much more peaceful.  

StacieJane

I will say this ... do not underestimate the mind/body connection.

maggie515

Loved, loved, loved my HB experience. I too thought it was a bit hokey with the whole "light switch" thing but it made a world of difference for me in DS#2  birth. The nurse thought I had at least another 2 hrs left to go judging by the way I was acting, and when she went to check me his head was right there and my body went in to pushing on its own. The dr happened to be walking down my hall and that is the only reason the nurse didnt "catch" my baby. All the attendants complimented me on how quiet  I was during it all and i really think that HB made it a peaceful birth experience. Yes, as all the ladies before have said, you will feel the contraction, but you have to train your mind to not give in to the fear tension pain cycle. that is really what hypno birthing is about i believe. Give it all you've got and I think you will be successful and enjoy your experience.  Good Luck!!

bluerevolution9

I am on week for of the hypnobabies course.  (I do one class for two weeks, so I have been doing it for about two months now).  I love it.  There are certainly a lot of things that I don't always feel 100%, but I am at the stage now where I practice the mini-script for release and relax with my husband every other night, and I know that it is really helping. Even if it is just able to help me relax and fall asleep when I am stressed and anxious and uncomfortable, then its been worth it!  I don't fantasize that giving birth will be "pain free" but I do think there is tremendous connection between how we word things and how we view them.  I have been working as a doula for two years, and in that time I have attended about 20 births.  I know that they women who faced birth with confidence and feeling good about themselves and their ability had much better times than the women who went into it scared and feeling unsure of themselves.  I think the HB does a wonderful job helping a woman to feel good about her body, and her ability to give birth to her baby.  Its such an important message that sadly society doesn't really give women these days.  Especially in the hospital, they tend to tell women things that make them feel like the can't do it.  If someone tells you "you NEED an epidural" or that its going to be too painful to get through it, then you will start to believe them.  The same goes for listening to a track every day that tells you that you CAN do it!  Thats what Im taking from the HB and I wish more women got that kind of positive reinforcement in pregnancy. 

Enjoybirth

It is possible to have a comfortable birth with Hypnobabies.  I did. 

https://www.youtube.com/enjoybirth

There are moms who use Hypnobabies and are comfortable, some have some manageable discomfort, there are some who are not comfortable. 

The hypnosis tools and other information they learn with Hypnobabies help all these moms.  I am a hypno-doula and have doulad for moms in all of these situations and everyone was grateful for the tools they had!  

 So if you do Hypnobabies to prepare for your birth, it will help you have the best possible birth. 

 You can read over 250 Hypnobabies birth stories at www.pregnancybirthandbabies.com  

Enjoybirth

The point of Hypnobabies is NOT a painfree birth.  It is to give moms tools and education to have the best possible birth. 

 https://enjoybirth.com/blog/2011/05/25/hypnobabies-can-you-fail-at-using-it/

 

kaeti_su

I had a Hypnobabies birth. Personally, I LOVED the program. Even though some of the language sounds corny (hubs and I still laugh and say to each other, "And especially your skin, feels so nice and comfortable"), like a PP, I decided to give it my all and not be critical of it.

I won't say that I had a pain-free birth. I will say that my during my baby's birth I never once needed to vocalize any pain. I groaned through pushing, but that was a result of the intensity of my body pushing, not any sort of excruciating pain. I will also say that I wasn't scared of giving birth, and I especially credit the daily affirmations for that.