Any negative hypnobirthing experiences????

[Leonie P]

From what I know the father is just as involved in the course as the mother.
I personally think it is one of those things were it's better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it.
I have also heard it can help shorten the labour.

[Megan]

Originally Posted by Leonie P

Talk to your midwife as I have heard there are natural ways to turn a breech baby ie kneeling down with your head on the floor and bum stuck up in the air; so you might get your chance afterall

Tried all that, acupuncture, moxibustion, visualisations and numerous positions to get him to turn with no luck. Calmbirth has helped me to relax and come to terms with the c/s, so I'm ok with it now.

[ryatha]

Megan - sorry to hear that you have tried everything but bubs still wants to stay in the wrong position! I am also hoping for a VBAC but if we "HAVE" to have another c-section it will help me cope with the dissapointment.

Leonie - The course is designed for mum and dad to attend but my DH doesn't want to so my student midwife is going with me and the other lady going is by herself. The hypnotherapist will be giving us cheat sheets for the hubbies to use in labour as he said that the hubbies often don't want to go. Also we get a follow up appointment at about 36 weeks where DH will be at (whether he likes it or not!) just to check about any underlying issues that could affect the birthing experience.

I was reading the book last night that we were given and it seems to make a lot of sense about the fear that we assiciate with child birth which translates into tension and pain. If nothing else it helps us understand how birthing used to be achieved so easily and how we make it so hard for ourselves these days. When I have the next course and read more material I'll let you know how we can make our birth experiences easier with the breathing etc.

HTH

[Leonie P]

Originally Posted by AJP

sez id seriously look into calmbirth, ididnt do the course but was shown some breathing techniques and found that they got me through the labour and birth! highly recommend it

I looked into the calm birthing course and it is 4x the cost at nearly 2 grand as opposed to $500ish and the course seems to be very similar from what I can see.
Just a thought...

[olive]

you sure! its only $480 at the bellybelly centre per couple for the calmbirth course

[Leonie P]

Originally Posted by ryatha

Megan - sorry to hear that you have tried everything but bubs still wants to stay in the wrong position! I am also hoping for a VBAC but if we "HAVE" to have another c-section it will help me cope with the dissapointment.

Leonie - The course is designed for mum and dad to attend but my DH doesn't want to so my student midwife is going with me and the other lady going is by herself. The hypnotherapist will be giving us cheat sheets for the hubbies to use in labour as he said that the hubbies often don't want to go. Also we get a follow up appointment at about 36 weeks where DH will be at (whether he likes it or not!) just to check about any underlying issues that could affect the birthing experience.

I was reading the book last night that we were given and it seems to make a lot of sense about the fear that we assiciate with child birth which translates into tension and pain. If nothing else it helps us understand how birthing used to be achieved so easily and how we make it so hard for ourselves these days. When I have the next course and read more material I'll let you know how we can make our birth experiences easier with the breathing etc.

HTH

Too true, the first lady I was going to arrange classes with only had Sundays available and DH works so she suggested I do the class alone then take the info back.
My DH isn't too keen on the whole "HyppieBirthing" idea either but he's going to be supportive if it kills me.
I totally agree with the fear factor,I think that is partly to blame for my failed first delivery(ended in C/S)
I will be picking up my book either Sun or mid next wk, can't wait to start reading it.

[ryatha]

Exactly with the fear leading to a c-section - I think that is also why I had mine... But no fear, no regrets about last time and just looking with fresh eyes this time and a very positive attitude!

and yes my DH refers to it as hyppiebirthing as well!!!! He was quite impressed that he gets cue cards and little reminders - seems to have been designed with the reluctant husband in mind.

[Clare Bear]

Hi there,

calmbirth classes cost around $400 - $500 per couple. I think the $2000 you might be refering to is the cost of the course to become a practitioner.

[Janie]

Yes, the course I have looked into is $490 from memory. I would certainly draw the line at 2K .

I am 99% sure my DH will attend (through his own choice) as he likes to be involved with all things pg and baby, never misses an Ob appt or ultrasound etc. I have been hoping that the course would involve dads alot, as he would hate anything that left him out, he considers that he is very important to me during the birthing process (which he is ). As I said earlier he was the best support ever, and through 14 hours of labour he seriously left my side for about 1 minute. And he didn't just sit by me, he massaged my back through every single contraction, he applied heat packs whenever I wanted them (and he got to know pretty quickly when that would be, so I didn't have to tell him), he gave me very regular sips of water and juice, he spoon fed me jelly while I was in the bath, he moved me around when I had to take my boot off (couldn't walk with a broken foot). I've always maintained that he was probably more tired than I at the end of it LOL! At least I had hormones, adrenaline to keep me going, he had to stay awake all through the night looking after me! It was such a beautiful experience for both of us, the midwife left us alone for most of it as she could see we were doing so great without her. We both have really fond memories of those hours.

Anyway, my point is, is that it is really important for both of us that he is very involved in any techniques we use. So I'm pleased to hear that it is a course that involves dads! I will definitely talk about it to the practitioner I plan on using too.

Thanks ladies

[Megan]

I paid $400 for the calmbirth course all up.

[tenar]

I think we paid $440 for the Calmbirth course.

DH was sceptical, but turned into a real convert. Funny stuff!

I have yet to find out how it helps (or not) with labour. I know of one person who did it who had a pain-free birth, and another who said it really helped, but birth wasn't pain free. I'm not expecting pain-free, personally, but do think that having done the course will help both of us a lot.

[BabyQ]

A Positive Recommendation!
(And no i haven't heard of any negative experiences from others myself)

After a couple of people suggested the Calmbirth classes I decided to look into it (all the while thinking "what's this hippy crap") and I have to say, if it weren't for me taking the class my birth story could really have turned bad as I had very unexpected bleeding at 39 weeks. However due to my new education, I used techniques learned to stay calm/focused and trust my body and not be deterred by obstetricians trying to scare me into too many interventions (thus dropping my whole "birth plan/wish-list"). I would completely encourage all partners to attend as well b/c
1. a great team effort makes it much easier on the big day
2. personally i realised i needed my hubby more than i thought i might for physical/emotional and mental support
3. if your partner is in sync with you in those ways, they can be your voice to hosp staff if need be- allowing you to focus on helping your body birth your baby.
4. as a result of my DH being involved in class he found permission to be assertive and fight for me (in class it was referred to as his "silverback gorilla" protective side) if it became necessary- and it was needed in the end when when a nasty obstetrician tried to scare me (as if i wasn't already concerned enough) into many interventions to get the baby out on her shift.

Anyway the experience resulted in me relaxing as i could trust him utterly and completely which improved many aspects of our relationship afterwards.

I did have a hard time replacing the word "pain" with "surges" in the late stages of labour but definately was good because the feelings weren't SCARY anymore (thus no screaming- just concentrating and breathing) because i knew what my body was doing.

Oh and one thing that made me convert from the whole judgemental "hippy crap" mindframe was that there was scientific education about the natural process of birthing and there is a good reason for everything they covered.

Additionally, one thing that made DH convert was that the breathing/visualisation strategies helped him quit smoking (extra unexpected benefit)! So, useful in many situations. good value for money at $400!

[Sophia73]

I did a hypnobirthing class prior to DD's birth and here are the positives and negatives of my experience:

Positives:

-Fantastic psychological preparation for birth especially if you are a person who tends to get a bit anxious. I found my the end of my pg when people asked me "Aren't you nervous about the birth?" I could confidently say "not at all". I felt really well prepared.

-I loved that our course had a focus on the actual physiology of labour - I really understood how the muscles in contractions work and lost a lot of my fear because of this.

-Met some great people in the course. Continued to meet with them after DDs birth.

Negatives:

-It does need to be emphasised that sometimes no matter how much you prepare birth can take unexpected twists. There can be a feeling in this course that as long as you learn the techniques you will have a natural, positive birth experience. When this doesn't happen I think some women can feel they failed or worse...I didn't feel that our course prepared us for the reasonably high chance that intervention of some kind may be needed in birth.

-My DH attended and is STILL angry at the course practitioner for what he perceives as giving misleading info about birth. However, he loved the pre-natal yoga classes we did which taught him practical strategies such as massage and labour positions...he did a great job in my labour with these!

-I never masted the "hypno" part of the technique...but as I said the relaxation and preparation was great.

[deetor]

I have also booked for my first hypnobirthing classes starting in 2 weeks.

I am a little sceptical and very scared and i hope these classes can teach me to better deal with the fear and also the breathing techniques.
This is my first child and all i have ever heard are horror stories... So i just dont know what to expect.
I am nearly into my 3rd trim-mester and have started to feel anxiety already

Will let you know what i think after my first class. I beleive first impressions do count....

My Ob is very big on this too and highly reccomends it aswell

Fingers Crossed

[Leonie P]

Ahh Deetor, there are also loads of beautiful birthing stories out there too.
I share your hope that these classes will help alieviate my fears surrounding labour and help me to embrace the process. I also hope it will give my DH more insite to what is going to happen because right now he's scared @#%*less as I am trying for a vba2c.
Well looks like we will all have stories to tell soon...

[Leonie P]

Heeheehee, I picked up my book yesterday I am almost a third of the way through it already. What an amazing concept. I can't wait to start my clesses on Wednesday

[ryatha]

I have my second class tomorrow night, so i've been practicing my breathing and reading the rest of the book. I agree with going though the physiology of birthing is a great idea, it makes it much easier to visualise. DH still isn't keen on going but is happy just to be told what to do - I wish he thought that about everything!

[Leonie P]

I had my first class today, I love the idea behind this philosophy.
The whole idea of using positive thinking, breathing and relaxation to assist my body to do what it is designed to do.
My teachers views are a bit extreme but like DH said you'd lind of want her to strongly believe in what she is teaching.
I have found some of the things a bit over the top ie replacing some terms with "HypnoBirthing language"Having said that, some of the terms are nicer ie 'uterine surge' instead of 'contraction' and 'sensation' instead of 'pain' and 'near completion' instead of transition' as I relate the original terms to pain which will result in fear.
DH is still a little scepticle, he really likes the concept of the positive thinking though and like yours Ryatha is willing to do what he's told.

Now I just need to practice all the breathing excercises and listen to the affirmation cd's.Will report more next week.