Hypnobabies/hypnobirthing check in

araecasey · March 2016

Hey hypno moms! How's practice going? What part of your practice are you really into recently? Anyone out there dabbling in birth hypnosis who has questions?

TheThornBird · March 2016

It's going awesome! The only thing I'm struggling with is falling asleep during the longer sessions. I know it's okay to, but I'd like to make it through a few without dozing off.

I feel terrible for saying this, but I just can't get into the scripts that MH reads. He tries so hard, but he reads them very quickly and with too much added drama. But I let him read to
me anyway since it makes him happy and he likes being involved in birth preparation, then I listen to the track on my own

I also really, really don't like the daily pregnancy affirmations. I don't know why but they bug me. I get that it's important and still it, but.....I just really hate it.

gemini2005 · March 2016

I will be following this thread...I haven't even started practicing but have been skimming the book. I feel like a slacker!

araecasey · March 2016

@TheThornBird Are you positive you're really sleeping through them? I thought I was but noticed I'd wake up at the end of most tracks, even if I listen to them at night when I'm sleepiest. It is good to do some practice "consciously," so you might try some tracks leaning over your birth ball or sitting in a supported position. Also do you have the newer pregnancy affirmations or are ya still listening to the old version? I like the verbiage in the new one a lot better; old would say "My hemoglobin is high," new one says "My hemoglobin is healthy." Those statements used to bug the crap out of me because we can't just will our hemoglobin upwards.

@gemini2005 Now's a great time to start practicing!

TheThornBird · March 2016

I do wake up before the end of each one, which I know could mean I'm just in deep hypnosis.....but it also sucks waking up flailing and yelling "omg how long have I been asleep?! Did I miss work?!" I do some
on my birthing ball, but I am so lazy I usually do them on our giant, comfy Lovesac

I also have a long list of birthing positions and movements I've been experimenting with, and at some point I want to start practicing them while doing hypnosis. I figure it's a good idea to practice them while under hypnosis before actually giving birth.

How has your hypnobabies been going?

kami09 · March 2016

I am having such a hard time finding the time to actually do them! DS takes one nap which sometimes lasts 45 min and by the time I do laundry and dishes, he's up. I always tell myself I'm going to do them once he's asleep...but I'm so dang tired, I just go to bed!!! I probably do every other day. I really need to get on it.

MsIan · March 2016

I try to listen to the rainbow relaxation at least once a day. I don't do the scripts. I also fall asleep while listening to them no matter what time of the day it is.

Any tips from moms taking the classes? I'm just reading the book and following the CD.

littlebb22 · March 2016

MsIan said:

I try to listen to the rainbow relaxation at least once a day. I don't do the scripts. I also fall asleep while listening to them no matter what time of the day it is.

Any tips from moms taking the classes? I'm just reading the book and following the CD.

Ditto on all of this! DH and I also learned an exercise in our childbirth class (not hypnobirthing) where we practice contractions and I have been incorporating the different breathing techniques during them. It's pretty cool- when I am having a "contraction" I hold a bag of ice for the length of it (which is actually pretty darn uncomfortable!) and DH supports me in one of many positions, such as squatting or on an exercise ball, while applying counter pressure or giving gentle massage. I can also work on my visualization exercises during the contractions. Though obviously a bag of ice is nowhere as uncomfortable as a contraction I have found it very helpful! It has also helped DH to feel more confident about his role during labor.

Knottie64278661 · March 2016

So grateful I found this thread! I just ordered Hypnobabies and expecting it to arrive by next Wednesday and starting immediately with DH. I'll post soon with my thoughts.

Question, when I told my midwife I was going to practice Hypnobabies she said that's fine but that I need to make sure others refrain from speaking to me during labor. Is this necessarily true? I would still like DH to be involved in my labor as support/coach. Are you able to still do this while successfully using Hypnobabies technique?

littlebb22 · March 2016

@Knottie64278661 No. Hypnobirthing is about finding the right space for you. That may include absolute silence or it may be that having DH repeat soothing or encouraging statements during contractions helps you to relax more deeply and focus more fully on your visualizations. With any of these methods (hypno, Bradley method, Lamaze) you should take what works for you and not feel pressured to follow things that don't IMO.

araecasey · March 2016

Knottie64278661 said:

So grateful I found this thread! I just ordered Hypnobabies and expecting it to arrive by next Wednesday and starting immediately with DH. I'll post soon with my thoughts.

Question, when I told my midwife I was going to practice Hypnobabies she said that's fine but that I need to make sure others refrain from speaking to me during labor. Is this necessarily true? I would still like DH to be involved in my labor as support/coach. Are you able to still do this while successfully using Hypnobabies technique?

Definitely not! Hypnobabies teaches you how to do "eyes open" hypnosis, which means you'll be fully aware and able to interact with people and your environment while remaining in hypnosis. It's my understanding that this is one of the big differences between Hypnobabies and Hypnobirthing. I was cracking jokes with the people in my room while I was in transition. Hypnobabies is alllllllllll about dads being birth partners. Your vision is very doable with Hypnobabies!

araecasey · March 2016

kami09 said:

I am having such a hard time finding the time to actually do them! DS takes one nap which sometimes lasts 45 min and by the time I do laundry and dishes, he's up. I always tell myself I'm going to do them once he's asleep...but I'm so dang tired, I just go to bed!!! I probably do every other day. I really need to get on it.

For this home stretch leading up to birth, I'm doing HB practice during nap, even if it's cut short. And I do chores while DD is up. Which of course means that sometimes it doesn't get done or doesn't get done well. It's a small season of reprioritizing, but the payoff is worth it in my opinion.

araecasey · March 2016

TheThornBird said:

I do wake up before the end of each one, which I know could mean I'm just in deep hypnosis.....but it also sucks waking up flailing and yelling "omg how long have I been asleep?! Did I miss work?!" I do some
on my birthing ball, but I am so lazy I usually do them on our giant, comfy Lovesac

I also have a long list of birthing positions and movements I've been experimenting with, and at some point I want to start practicing them while doing hypnosis. I figure it's a good idea to practice them while under hypnosis before actually giving birth.

How has your hypnobabies been going?

Yes yes yes! Do it! Since you've only got my materials, you probably don't know that Class 6 is called "Birth Rehearsal" where the instructor does exactly this. She leads us through several different positions and has us practice our techniques, including practicing pushing positions. I've done the class twice now, and the positions she really emphasizes that we practice are sitting on or leaning over the birth ball (both excellent for positioning and opening the pelvis) and the Abdominal Lift and Tuck.

I took last week off from HB practice because... lazy. Now I wish I hadn't. And I stink at getting my exercises in with my actual hypnosis practice, I need to set reminders on my phone. Last pregnancy it was super easy to remember to do them because I was in pain from my SI joint, which reminded me to do my pelvic tilts every morning and night. This pregnancy has been so much more comfortable, so I just don't remember to do them. Hope that doesn't bite me in the rear coming birthing time!

Knottie64278661 · March 2016

Thank you for the replies! Very helpful. I started my first session last night and it went well. I'm a little confused as to how much reading I should be doing for each day. Instructions said to read session 1 and listen to disc 1. I think I ended up reading the entire weeks worth for class 1.

Anyways, I am enjoying Hypnobabies so far but DH is not really into the meditations. He finds her voice annoying. I actually find it soothing. I was hoping he would be but I guess it makes sense since I am the one with the baby inside of me. Should I still have him read the scripts to me or does anyone do the entire thing by themselves?

I'm ripping the material from the CDs to mp3 so I can have on my phone and listen to whenever I want. Makes it much easier than listing over the DVD player. I didnt even realize till I got the package that our laptop doesnt have a CD-rom drive haha. Luckily I have a desktop computer at work and was able to transfer it that way :-)

araecasey · March 2016

@Knottie64278661 Not sure about your assigned readings because your course materials look different than mine since you have the home study. My class text isn't split into sessions, just 6 classes. I feel like it's probably not a big deal if you accidentally read ahead.

As for DH, we had the same issue last pregnancy, so he stopped doing practice with me and I did all of my hypnosis practice by myself. Worked well for us! This time around, I'm asking him to practice using the birth partner's guide to read me mini scripts, and so far our practice with that has been positive.

And re: ripping to mp3s, very smart! You don't wanna haul around a CD player on your birthing day. A phone or ipod is way more practical.

Knottie64278661 · March 2016

araecasey Thank you for the feedback. I'm going to try my hardest to get DH to practice the birth partner's guide with me because I want him to be in tune with what I'll be doing during labor and how he can best assist me. I told him how I felt last night and that seemed to help. I think he is mostly nervous about reading out loud. He is shy about it but I assured him it is supposed to be down slowly so it should be perfect for him :-)

Good luck to you and your DH!

barbieq101 · April 2016

I am really appreciating how the hypnobirthing class and excercises have helped me deal with my "scrappy" pregnancy personality. As I sit here waiting for an appointment that was scheduled for an hour ago, and did the same for a different appointment yesterday, I'm thinking that hypnobirthing is one of the best decisions I have made for my own wellbeing and the wellbeing of those around me.

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