Hypnobirthing and other questions . . .

Nimak

Good Morning!

This is my first post and I am making the bold move as to say I have finally, at 24 weeks pregnant, decided on my birth plan. I want to go natural. I feel really good about this decision and I am sort of treating it like I would training for a triathlon. With that being said I have a couple questions:

1. I would like to study hypnobirthing, but I travel for work and am afraid I cannot make it to a class every week for 10 weeks, which makes me sad, because I would love the support of other moms to be, with that being said . . . what are your thoughts on a self study? I found one on amazon.

2. Any recommendations for readings? There is so much out there.

3. If you have had a natural child birth in the past, what do you feel mades your a success, i.e. exercise, reading, having a doula?

Thanks in advance for your feed back!

 

SeptemberBride'08

I just bought this book and CD. I'm hoping to start reading today

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0029PY4YM/ref=oh_o02_s00_i00_details

AmeliaMarie

I would say the thing that had the biggest impact on my successful birth was having a doula.  I did a ton of research and reading, along with the home study hypno, but without our doula we would have gone to the hospital 24 hours before we did.  With the help of our doula, I was able to labor at home and arrived at the hospital fully dialated.  They didn't have time to suggest interventions!

As far as books go, I would recommend Ina May's, Pushed, and a Bradley book.  I think knowing as much about the process going in makes a big difference in your comfort level.

kaeti_su

1. I used the Hypnobabies home study course, and I thought it was fantastic.

2. I liked Ina May's book and "Gentle Birth, Gentle Mothering" by Sarah Buckley. Both are pretty crunchy, and the Buckley book explains the author's experience with some very fringe practices (no ultrasounds or prenatal testing whatsoever, keeping the placenta and umbilical cord connected to the baby until it naturally falls off on its on, unassisted birth), but it has excellent explanations for why the author is concerned about medications and interventions used in birth.

3. Practice with Hypnobabies (both the affirmations and the hypnosis), Ina May's horselips technique, and honestly...some luck. There's a lot you can do to prepare, but I never forget to be thankful that the things I can't control completely went my way. That's not to downplay preparation, but I there are a lot of things that could have gotten in the way that I never had to face.

sschwege

1) I'm surprised there are so many classes typically there are only five.  I've read some wonderful birth stories of women who have used the Hypnobabies home-study course.  

2) I liked "Hypnobirthing The Mongan Method."  I found the Rainbow Relaxation CD, to be very helpful and  also the Comfort Zone CD.  This is not directly related to Hypnobirthing, but "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth" is an inspirational yet practical book.  

3) I think for me the key was practice.  I spent a lot of time learning the relaxation methods and practiced so much that it became second nature for me.  I also think it helped that I spent a lot of time researching ways of making labor more comfortable: music, exercise ball, warm rice sock, warm bath, counter pressure, etc.  

I did hypnobirthing and had a wonderful experience.  If you have any interest in reading my birth story feel free to PM me and I can give it to you.    

tinydancingqueen

I wasn't able to take a hypnobirthing class because I was on bedrest, but I did get the Hypnobirthing book by Mongan and I found some really great hypnobirthing MP3's online.  I listen to the mp3's at least once a day before I go to sleep and sometimes do the visualization/affirmations during the day when I feel anxious about birth.  I've been doing this for about 4 weeks now, and I can already feel the effects and have used the techniques during my preterm labor contractions. 

Here is the Mongan book with CD from walmart:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/3378497

Here are my favorite hypnobirthing mp3's - all free online:

https://www.archive.org/details/HypnoBirthing

https://www.free-hypnosisdownloads.com/downloads/health-health-health/natural-child-birth.html

https://members.kaiserpermanente.org/redirects/listen/

Good luck!!

 

 

LindseyJW

Nimak:

Good Morning!

This is my first post and I am making the bold move as to say I have finally, at 24 weeks pregnant, decided on my birth plan. I want to go natural. I feel really good about this decision and I am sort of treating it like I would training for a triathlon. With that being said I have a couple questions:

1. I would like to study hypnobirthing, but I travel for work and am afraid I cannot make it to a class every week for 10 weeks, which makes me sad, because I would love the support of other moms to be, with that being said . . . what are your thoughts on a self study? I found one on amazon.

Hypnobabies is 10 weeks. HypnoBirthing is only 5 weeks. Hbabies is most commonly learned through homestudy, though you can take an in-person course as well. If you want the feel of being in a room with other moms-to-be then maybe you want to consider HypnoBirthing. 

2. Any recommendations for readings? There is so much out there.

Check out the FAQ link in my siggie. there is a post on books! 

3. If you have had a natural child birth in the past, what do you feel mades your a success, i.e. exercise, reading, having a doula?

I've had two births, both planned homebirths. my first birth ended in transfer for surgical birth after 37 hours of labor at home. my second was a hwbac. i was mentally and emotionally prepared both times. i exercised and took much better care of my physical self the second time. i also had a doula the second time.

Thanks in advance for your feed back!