HypnoBirthing® UK

[MrsW]

Hi, am planning to give birth at Edgware Birth Centre, London.
Went to see the midwives and asked them if they heard of hypnobirthing.
They said that they certainly had, and that it works well during the first stage and they looked after many women who used the method. However, they said that at second stage the method doesn't work and they had cases when women were expected to push but they didn't since they were convinced they will get the baby out with the help of J-breath. One midwife said that 'hypnobirthing is really great for the 1st stage but absolutely dire for the 2nd one!' Apparently those women who didn't want to push ended up pushing anyway but 2nd stage took much longer and they nearly ended up being transferred to hospital... So did anyone hear of anything like that? I was quite surprised by what the midwives said. Grateful for any opinions/experiences/advice. Thanks!!

[Danielle]

Hi,
I don't know if I used j-breathing or pushing or what, but I was very relaxed, it felt like I had taken some really good drugs! I wasn't in pain.

I explained it to an anesthesiologist once, I was teaching hypnobirthing to him and his wife and he was amazed, he said the j-breathing made so much more sense, and asked why midwives didn't teach it. Have you explained to the midwives how j-breathing is supposed to work?

My community midwife loves hypnobirthing, she said that she has only been to 2 hypnobirths (both homebirths) and both myself and the other person had babies over 9lbs, completely naturally.

My first baby was born in hospital, second at home and it was much easier at home. I used hypnobirthing for both.

Anyway I'm getting away from the point, if you listen to the midwives then you will end up pushing, possibly tearing etc. Don't listen to them and do what feels right on the day. Don't let what they have experienced affect you, maybe you can show them a better way! We don't know what has happened in the other births they have attended, there could have been other issues... Maybe the midwives just wanted to go home and rushed the birth or it was really busy.

It would be nice to hear from someone who has had a baby at that hospital and here experience.

I hope this helps,
Danielle

[MrsW]

Thanks a lot Danielle for your reply.
I think because the midwives 'know of' hypnobirthing and they think they understand how J-breath works, they are not convinced every woman can 'breath the baby out' and it's safer to push, but unless they actually train in hypnobirthing I think they are not going to change their opinion of the 2nd stage and the necessity to push. Mind you, this is a place where they support only natural births, they have no epidural, they don't do cesarians and 80% of their births are water births. I guess i just have to wait and see what happend when I give birth. It would be nice to get their support with the 2nd stage though.

[Danielle]

Hi again, you have posted something under the birth stories bit under the birth of my first baby, about the head crowning. With Josh I did have gas and air, which took the edge off that bit, with Jacob (7 weeks old, homebirth) I had nothing, what really helped was my partner reminding me to breathe and stay calm, I felt it but it wasn't pain.

Ask the midwives if they had read any of Shelia Kitzingers books, I just flipped through one and its says that so long as mum and baby are not distressed then it doesn't matter whether the 2nd stage takes 3 minutes or 3 hours.

Take care
Danielle

[tarabecon]

When my daughter in law recently gave birth (had HB class in New York), the midwife basically left her to do her thing for the first stage, and then said she HAD to push in the second. Unfortunately I was not there, but I know they followed the midwife's advice. If I had been there, could I have opposed the midwife?
Any suggestions what the partner could do/say in these cases?
Thanks, Tara

[ockysmith]

Ask them if they have heard of Michel Odent's work on the foetal ejection reflex

http://www.wombecology.com/fetusejection.html

I had my last child at home using HypnoBirthing. He was 11lbs 3oz. I has no intervention and no pain relief. His head was born with no conscious effort from me (apart from a lot of primeval "mooing" ) THAT is how nature intended "second stage" to be!!!!! admittedly I didn't use "J" breathing, I went "within" my body and my natural instincts ruled - as they do with HypnoBirthing mums - we work "with" our bodies not "against" them.

I would ask your midwives to re-read Odent's work and call a HypnoBirthing Practitioner for a chat!

Sarah

Certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner & Classical Homoeopath
Essex/Cambs
http://www.birthfriendly.co.uk

[MrsW]

[quote="Danielle"]Hi again, you have posted something under the birth stories bit under the birth of my first baby, about the head crowning. With Josh I did have gas and air, which took the edge off that bit, with Jacob (7 weeks old, homebirth) I had nothing, what really helped was my partner reminding me to breathe and stay calm, I felt it but it wasn't pain.

Ask the midwives if they had read any of Shelia Kitzingers books, I just flipped through one and its says that so long as mum and baby are not distressed then it doesn't matter whether the 2nd stage takes 3 minutes or 3 hours.

Take care
Danielle[/quote]

Hi, thanks a lot, but it wasn't me who posted that question... it was MrsR This is my first baby.
But it was useful to read about your experience, thank you.
I don't know the midwives have read those books - i'm actually going to look them up myself - and don't quite believe they will read them before I go there to give birth. Am just going to try and do my breathing, listen to M.Mongan's tapes as well as Justina's, and hope it will all go as smoothly as possible...

[Danielle]

Hi again, sorry I didn't realise there was a Mrs R and a Mrs W
Sorry!
Danielle

[Kieren]

Hi

Research does not prove that pushing in the 2nd stage of labour is any more effective than non-directive pusing. Naturally there is the Ferguson's reflex which is the urge to push by women when the fetal head presses against the pelvic floor, this is the body's own natural way of help a woman push her baby - the valsalva maneuver (when you hold your breath and push) just causes vaso-congestion and can lead to fetal distress. Many midwives do believe that pushing is the correct method - to those I would direct them to the research in place and the Royal College of Midwives article on non-directive pushing.

http://www.rcmnormalbirth.org.uk/defaul ... 9658235109

Unfortunately since the medical profession have got involved in delivering babies - especially in the hospital a time limit is placed on the maximum length of time a woman can be given in the second stage of labour before assistance is required (a good midwife will read the situation and diagnose the second stage much later than it actually occurs to prevent the gung ho attitude of the obs team. Some women just need to take longer - and therefore need to remain relaxed and comfortable - positioning is more important than pushing though for a speedier delivery.

My wife is going to study the hypnobirthing course and I will be helping her out with her classes in my Midwifery role, so I am very much FOR J-Breathing.

[Rachel]

Hi all, this is my first post so you won't know me but I wanted to add a comment to this post!

I had my second child using HB and am a complete convert however I most definitely DID push during 2nd stage. I wasn't planning to but it felt right for me to, in fact it's not that it felt right but that I had no choice! The midwives were totally supportive, although they weren't aware I was using HB (was mostly at home during 1st stage) they never once asked me to do anything in terms of pushing or not. My body just told me I needed to push so I did. All I would say is don't worry too much about what you should or shouldn't do, your body will tell you what it needs you to do. I didn't really use the J breathing because the pushing was very active I basically forgot about it. I will say though that 2nd stage didn't hurt at all and I didn't tear - although I would describe it as very hard work!

Nice to finally feel ready to post!
Rachel