Hypnotherapy for labour

Jo_R_2

Hi all

I am pregnant with my fourth baby, due at the start of October.

With my last, I used a hypnobirthing CD in preparation for the birth. Very relaxing during pregnancy, and helped me to cope during labour.

This time, I am considering taking the next step and actually seeing a hypnotherapist before the birth. Although I have quite short labours, I don't seem to have any gradual build up in contractions, I go straight into the serious stuff and I won't lie, I've been dreading it since I got pregnant:(

So I was wondering if anyone has sought the help of a hypnotherapist, either for childbirth or even for other things, and could tell me a little about how they found theirs and what sort of cost it was?

xmaslolly76

Hi Jo-R i looked into this but just couldnt afford it so im using the discs. This is the site that was recommended to me though if you want to take a look http://www.hypnobirthing.co.uk/

Jo_R_2

Hiya!

Just to clarify - are you using the disc for the course through the link you posted, or is it a different course?

I actually can't remember which CD I used last time so need to do a bit of searching!

xmaslolly76

Hypnobirthing is an american trade mark and they dont do a diy courses you have to go to them and see a practioner. As i said above i couldnt afford it at between £200-£450 for the course.

The discs i am using are the natal hypnotherapy set my Maggie Howell. I havent put any of it into practise yet though so cant say how effective they will be when it comes to the birth but they do really relax me and i am very positive and confident about having this baby the way i want to. This is the set i have you will probably find them cheaper on amazon or ebay :-)

lauren_1

I tried to have a hypnobirth with number 2 and yes in theory it can work however i had a very annoying partner and midwife doubled with a noisy ward that kept breaking my concentration, in the end i got very aggitated and didnt feel any relief from it.

Make your plans known vocally that you would like it to be as quite as possible, minimal body contact and ideally low lights, often i find midwife's tend not to read birth plans. Hypnobirthing relies heavily on a focused mind and a relaxed atmosphere, you can reach a trance like state if in the right environment.

Jo_R_2

lauren_1, I did use the self-hypnosis in my last labour. Luckily the things you mention, the midwives were really good about it. DS was three weeks late and counting, I'd booked for induction the day after I went into labour and the MWs were really nice and interested because of the fact I'd gone into labour naturally after three weeks over and because of reasons related to this they'd said they'd prefer me to birth in hospital rather than have the HB I booked for:(

I was left alone a lot which I wanted, it was very quiet with the blinds drawn, they were very attentive when I did want something and the only things that did annoy me were the ruddy foetal monitoring [the monitor kept slipping down as I was kneeling forward leaning against the back of the bed and they wanted to put trace one on the baby's scalp which I declined!] and a couple of times when strange MWs came in - it breaks your concentration.

I don't have doubts about having the baby the way I want to [whether it be at home or ends up in hospital], it's more being able to feel in control of what is happening, and lose the 'fear' IYSWIM? I'd love to be one of these ladies who only feels 'pressure' - does that really happen?!

feclmum

i used hypnotherapy for childbirth with my 2nd and it was fantastic, i did my research and found that one of the anaesthetist consultants who ran a pain clinic at the local hospital was also qualified in hypnotherapy,( he usually used it for patients in pain clinic).I got the GP and also my Consultant at hospital to refer me and i cant recommend enough.The earlier you get refered the better!!

Jo_R_2

feclmum wrote: »

i used hypnotherapy for childbirth with my 2nd and it was fantastic, i did my research and found that one of the anaesthetist consultants who ran a pain clinic at the local hospital was also qualified in hypnotherapy,( he usually used it for patients in pain clinic).I got the GP and also my Consultant at hospital to refer me and i cant recommend enough.The earlier you get refered the better!!

Interesting alternative approach - will def. see if there's anyone similar where I am, I have a vague memory of reading something about one or more of the hospital MWs starting to study hypnotherapy for labour so will start from there!

LilacPixie

Interesting. I fancy trying Hypnobirthing or something similar. I am on my 3rd and TBH I can't remember 'pain' as such with any of mine until pretty much the end. I seems to naturally disappear into my own little world and only spoke to say i needed to push and could i get some gas. I would love to get thru it without even gas and air. Jo how did you find your 3rd labour/birth compared to your 1st two?

Jo_R_2

Lilacpixie

I'll explain a little bit about my third just so you get the gist

DS was booked to be a home birth. DD1 was a hospital birth, DD2 was booked to be a home birth but being three weeks late and no signs of her budging at all, I reluctantly went in for induction. The gel did not much but had my waters broken and after two hours of incredibly intense contractions DD2 was born.

With DS I was determined he was going to be the home birth I didn't have with DD2. I was anxious throughout because of the trouble I had with DD2 being so late (consultants don't like it when you refuse induction for three weeks) so I started using a hypnobirthing CD somewhere in the third trimester.

I found practicing the techniques reeeeeally relaxing:D Lovely.

DS ended up going over his due date, again by three weeks. As with DD2, there were a couple of worries, and I again reluctantly booked for induction. The day before, I woke up to find myself having contractions, sort of irregular but tbh I was so excited to have started to labour naturally I found them very easy to manage.

However when the midwife came round to examine me and said although I was free to have baby at home, the team would much prefer for me to go into hospital given their particular worries, I was gutted. I think that for me was what killed the mood, if you like. I feel myself dread going to hospital, I just tense up and awful as it sounds, it was no longer an experience that I was finding enjoyable. It's the interventions, examinations, and all that that I can't bear, and sure enough the consultant wanted to break my waters again.

I knew once that happened that contractions would kick in with a vengeance, and it's then that I start to struggle really I think being honest though, the hypnobirthing did make it easier for me (in comnparison to my previous births) to hold on to that feeling of being in control, to keep thinking that this was a positive thing, to not fight the pain but go with it and deal with what was happening now rather than dreading what was coming up.

Have to say it didn't lessen the pain at all though:( Ironically once I've got through transition then the pain goes completely - pushing the baby out is the incredibly easy bit, my body just seems to take over and it doesn't hurt at all - that bit has been the same in each birth.

Sorry that was a bit epic wasn't it!

Susanwest

I had quite a traumatic first child birth so with the second one on the way decided I would be proactive to see if I could have a better experience. I have bought some CD's which have been very relaxing but have taken the plunge and booked onto a course. I know it may look expensive but after the last time I am ready to try anything!