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Attachment Parenting
Hypnobirthing?
Hello ladies, I'm going to cross post this in a few places, but I'm wondering if any of you took hypnobirthing classes before you gave birth. Also, did you have a hypnobirthing doula with you?
Any feedback on positive/negative experiences? Did you require pain intervention? DH and I would be taking 5 private classes with our doula and then she'd attend our birth. TIA.
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Re: Hypnobirthing?
I plan on doing it next time, mostly because of the positive experience my sister had.
She is 17, and did it with the help of her mom (we have different moms, same dad). I was amazed to hear her story of how "fabulous" labor and delivery were for her! 12 hours, no meds, and she was very satisfied with her experience. I'm very proud of her for doing that at such a young age!
I read the book and listened to the CD. I practiced the visualization on my own, but never took a class etc.
I was in labor for about 20 hours. I had a med-free, no intervention home birth successfully. It was an amazing experience. My husband, mom and midwife were all there most of the time.
I took HypnoBirthing and loved it. We didn't have a doula, but will this time for Baby2. I was in labor about 11 hours start to finish and didn't have any pain medication (even with a ton of back labor and what the nurses called a "difficult" labor). I did have a couple interventions: an IV (I was GBS positive and did get "fluid" from it too because I couldn't keep any liquid down) and an episiotome (because DD's heart rate kept dropping and they started threatening a C-section; basically, it was a negotiation). If you take classes with your doula (which I think is great!) I'd make sure she was certified to teach it. But all in all, I only have good things to say about HypnoBirthing! Congrats and good luck!
I had an amazing birth with hypnobirthing. DH and I took a series of 4 (private) classes. I was really dedicated to practicing also, and did the recommended exercises, kegels and perineal massage like the method suggests.
We also had a doula, but DS was 3 weeks early, and the doula was on vacation, since she wasn't supposed to be on call until 2 weeks before the due date.
I had a 12-hour labor, and wasn't even sure I was in labor for the first 6 hours. We got to the hospital at 9 cm. I never even considered pain medication, and we had no interventions, and happily, no tearing. It was one of the best experiences of my life, just wonderful. I cannot say enough about hypnobirthing.
Good luck!
I took the hypno birthing classes, well a private class for beginning and last as I got put on bed rest. ?But I faithfully practiced every day being bedridden and it really helped me stay relaxed. ?I also had contractions [birth waves] every day, all.... day. ?But I looked at them as practice, so that helped too.
I did most of my laboring at home, while sleeping actually and we got to hospital at 630am and he was born at 9:30am. ?I did it all natural, not even an IV. ?They did a hep-lock on me just in case, but when I did need it, I guess it wasn't working. ?So they just gave me juice and everything was good. ?
I tore in a couple places, but I made sure to tell them I wanted the perineal massage during birthing, which she did. ?Wouldn't say that was very pleasant at all, but knowing it would help me from tearing, I just looked past it. ?
My biggest regret is that I did not... have my doula there. ?We just couldn't afford her and thought "hey, we can do this on our own". ?That's probably my biggest regret. ?Would've been worth every... penny! ?Hubby didn't study it enough with me, and my Mom didn't remember anything either, so I was pretty much on my own. ?During all that you can't rely on yourself of course, b/c you just aren't prepared really for what goes on. ?I stayed most of way in hypnosis, but once we got to hospital things picked up speed after they told me I was at 4cm. ?It was very, very hard waves and intense. ?A nurse turned off my hypno music saying it wasn't working for me and then all concentration was gone. ?But honestly I had lost most of it prior to that. ?Thankfully at that point though I knew things had changed and I needed to push... he was out shortly after! ?:} ?with just 3 pushes....
But, if you have your doula there, you'll do great! ?She will keep you in line, and block out all other distractions. ?It's so much information to put into use during your birthing, that having them there will be a lot better. ?Next baby I am DEFINITELY having a doula. ?I had our son at Kaiser, [can't sing their praises any higher!!] and had a midwife. That was all a great experience.
Just keep in mind that it might not go exactly as you have planned. ?I am such a planner and have kicked myself over and over that I didn't stay all the way in hypnosis and didn't exactly have the "beautiful birthing experience" I had wanted. ?But with everything going on, my doula said it was obviously hard to. ?I am thrilled though that I made it w/out drugs. ?That was my goal and however I got there doesn't matter.
Hypnobabies is amazing... loove, looove it. ?Our son came out so alert and relaxed and is such an amazing little boy. ?No matter what you go through, it's all worth it. ?And having the Hynosis to fall back on, is so comforting. ?You realize it does work and you can... do it!!
?Good luck!! ?You'll do awesome!!?
I couldn't disagree with this more. Nobody- my mom, midwife or husband knew about the hypnobirthing, read the books or listened to the cd. I made the most progress while i was in the tub alone, practicing meditation/hypnosis. I was so relaxed that at one point my midwife came in and thought i was sleeping.
I think that during labor you MUST rely on yourself more than anybody else, after all- it is YOUR body!
I also had an incredible HB experience. I had an easy quick labour, probably around 5 hours that I count although I was having cx's for weeks ahead of the birth (regular consistent cx's, no less). It was difficult work, but it wasn't awful or painful or even negative in any way. The worst part of my labour was the rocefin shot in my arse because I was GBS+ (birth center, no IV).
I had no need or desire for any kind of pain relief beyond the birth tub, shower, and some hip massage one of the MW apprentices showed DH how to do. I did have some hip pain, because my hips didn't spread during PG. They waited until labour to do that, but the massage really helped.
I took a class, maybe 7 weeks? but I didn't practice very much. Mainly at night before bed and in the bath sometimes but not in distracting situations and stuff like they tell you to. I'm very good at focusing myself to start with though.
We did basically what you are doing: 6 private classes and then our teacher was our doula. I highly, highly recommend it! I ended up getting an epi after 45 hours of labor (and a c-section) so yes to your question about pain intervention...but I have to say that hypnobirthing got me through a LOT and actually made a very difficult labor an amazing experience. Seriously, I look back on that 45 hours with nostalgia, it was really very beautiful....I think that without the hypnobirthing practice and mind-set it would have been a very different experience. When I think about having another child, I don't look forward to the pregnancy bit (lots of MS), but I can't wait to go through labor again.
Good luck to you!!
I have to weigh in....during the most intense parts my husband and doula were invaluable. It ended up being really important for me to have had them on board helping me focus.
I totally agree that a support system is extremely important. My support system was incredible and I don't know if I couldn't have gotten through some very rough moments without them. That being said, I don't think it's fair to say that you "can't rely on yourself" as the pp said. I don't think that hypnobirthing necessarily requires someone's help is all I was trying to say!