Has anyone gone through hypnobirthing…?

I used hypnobirthing in my first pregnancy and it definately worked for me. I plan to use it this time round too. I’ve read and re-read loads of texts from different books and websites about both conventional, cultural and complementary approaches to coping and managing your labour, or “birthing” as it is referred to in Hypnobirthing.

Myself and partner paid privately for our course and we both found it incredibly useful and practical and applicable in lots of other areas in life. The course was informal and relaxing, well paced and very practical. It has often been said that men don’t really know what to do in a labour situation or how to cope witnessing the events of a birth and their partners distress. However, hypnobirthing gives partners a role as they facilitate your relaxation using tried and tested methods of hypnosis and suggestion and gently lead you into a calmer state. (Tension and pain are inextricably linked, scientifically/medically and it is well proven that if you are relaxed you will not experience pain in the same way)

Hypnobirthing definately helped me cope with the uncertainty of what was ahead – a little entenox helped too! My birthing experience was great. Midwifes commented on how relaxed I was – I appeared to sleep during some contractions, (actually using self-hypnosis). Personally, I enjoy using complementary approaches on top of more conventional ones and so my hospital bag consisted of aromatherapy oils and a plug in burner, meditation CD’s, my birthing ball, tens machine, acu points listed on a sheet for my partner to hold, reflexology points for my legs and feet and massage instructions for my sacral area plus arnica to start taking after the birth to help with bruising. Looking back on it now, it’s really quite funny

If anything at all, you can buy the book online and check it out without committing yourself to a course with an instructor. However, in my estimation, it was worth every penny and I know the techniques and skill I learnt supported me through the first few days of breastfeeding, when things can be slightly uncomfortable. In fact, they start to become integral with your life when you feel the stresses or strains mounting.

Up to you! Good luck.