HypnoBirthing® UK

[CRZ]

Hi,
I had a pretty hard and long birth with my first - and ended up with an epidural which i really did not want! I just found out about hypnobirthing and it sounds amazing and ireally wnat to learn more.
I will not be able to go to actual classes but I am very motivated to working on it at home. Can anyone recommend any books, videos etc. that i can use to learn about hypnobirthing?
Also, is the CD music or talking?

Thank you!

Chana

[BonnieL]

Hi, You will need the HypnoBirthing the Mongan Method book and also the Rainbow Relaxation cd with the affirmations on it as well. Don't listen to other peoples horror stories, try and watch/read/listen to positive ones and that is exactly what you will have. Happy birthing!x

[newmoon]

Hi - you can certainly learn a lot from the book and listening to the CDs but you would be well advised to do the classes also. You say you can't do them but many practitioners will work with you to find convenient times and dates and nothing can really substitute for having the sessions.

Take care
Linda

[tarabecon]

I agree. Nothing replaces the classes!
Tara

[maddy777]

I understand the classes are important but it miffs me slightly how much they are pushed especially when people have stated that they REALLY can't get to the classes for whatever reason.
Some people like myself either A. just really cannot afford them, because they are very expensive or B. physically cannot get to them and I feel sometimes after reading some of the replies that it won't 'work' because I haven't spent £400+ on a class.

I have been off work sick since the beginning of my pregnancy firstly due to terrible morning sickness, then due to heavy bleeding and hospitalization and now I am having to use crutches and a wheelchair due to SPD (symphysis pubis dysfunction).

So not only can I not afford the class (apart from the fact the woman listed for my town never replied to any emails) I can't get there as I am disabled.
It doesn't need to be repeated in nearly ever thread by more than one person that the classes are recommended.

[Danielle]

Hi
I'm nowhere near you so I can't help, but I quite often go to other peoples houses to teach and have taught for the person just covering the cost of my expenses in the past.
I don't know who you conatcted but maybe you could try emailing a few other people in your area.
Sorry I can't be more help
Danielle

[ockysmith]

Hi, I can only echo what the other practitioners have said. There really is no substitute for doing the full course - for a number of reasons including the fact that your birth partner will be there too (that's the biggie IMO - the outcomes of my parent's birth experiences has a HUGE correlation with the beliefs/understanding and commitment of the birthing mother's companion - whether it be her boyfriend, husband, sister, mother, friend, doula etc..is largely irrelevant), you get to ask unlimited questions about the method, they help to build your complete belief that birth is normal and comfortable (we show lots of very positive births on DVD, go through hypnosis sessions with you that are extra to the book etc...) etc..

Of course it's absolutely possible to "do" HypnoBirthing with just the book (it's actually possible to do it with NOTHING - not even the book or the CD (which is talking over music BTW) that's the beauty of HypnoBirthing, it doesn't require any more than what you were born with naturally - just sadly the majority of us have lost faith in birth and our abilities as wonderful women to birth our babies with comfort and ease!!) , that's what I did for my last labour and I had an 11lb baby at home with no pain relief, but now teaching myself I can absolutely appreciate how much more classes would have added for me - not least my partner (at the time there was nobody within about 1.5hrs travelling distance from me which is why I didn't do them).

With regards to DVDs, please don't watch ANYTHING relating to birth on mainstream TV (including satellite/cable) and avoid speaking to anybody who hasn't had a 100% positive birth experience themselves - don't go on any internet parenting/pregnancy websites (unless it's this or the US HypnoBirthing site! or those with a very similar ethos) - you can buy some great DVDs from:

http://www.birthinternational.co.uk

I would particularly recommend "Birth into Being" & "Birth Day" also - you will have to google for suppliers, but "Birth as we know it", and "Psalm and Zoya" and this DVD: http://www.whatbabieswant.com/ I show all of the above in my classes as well as a DVD of HypnoBirths which unfortunately you will not be able to buy.

With regards to extra reading, it would also be worth you buying "Childbirth Without Fear" by Grantly Dick Read, "Birth Reborn" by Michel Odent, "Birth Without Violence" by Frederick Leboyer, "Prenatal Parenting" by Frederick Worth (also check out www.prenatalparenting.com) and "Birth from Within" by England and Horrowitz.

Also, buying some relaxaing Alpha Music to relax with before the birth from http://www.innerpeacemusic.com/

Finally, look into what you can do to improve your birthing environment as much as possible (from the actual choosing of place of birth - you may want to visit www.homebirth.org.uk even if the idea of a homebirth doesn't immediately appeal - through to things like birth balls/waterbirth/aromatherapy etc..) and make sure you have a GREAT birth plan that your partner understands 100% (and PRACTICE, practice, practice it all - breathing, massage, birth plans etc..with your partner as much as possible!)- also make sure you have some information to hand to give out to the midwives attending you re. HypnoBirthing. (again this is something covered in class much, much more than in just the book).

Also, it would be worth you booking a place with a birth afterthoughts counsellor at the hospital you delivered your last baby in - to make sure you understand everything that happened in your last birth (i.e: you have NO doubts at all about your body's ability to birth based upon a negative first experience). Finally work on the positioning of your baby as much as possible - some simple yoga poses (a couple are in the book, the classes cover more - but you will still cover these at any antenatal yoga class) plus have a look at www.spinningbabies.com and google for "Jean Sutton" and "optimum foetal positioning". Plus make sure you are VERY sure of your official due date (this is covered in the book but I can't highlight how important this is and to avoid an induction unless in a medical emergency or extremely well indicated (google for the "NICE" or National Institute of Clinical Excellence" guidelines on post term pregnancies).

You may find this video interesting as well - this relates to the basis of most hypnosis:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1279084763732767570&q=the+secret

plus this is a HypnoBirth:

http://www.thepittsburghchannel.com/health/2175503/detail.html

With regards to the previous post about cost, it's well worth phoning around, I myself don't charge anywhere near £400 - I don't think many practitioners do? also it's worth discussing cost (and timings and travel - I also travel to client's own houses) too as many practitioners are just eager to spread the HypnoBirthing word, I would hate to think that a couple who genuinely could not afford HypnoBirthing would miss out, that's why many of us offer payment plans by installements and discounted (and often free) places. Did you try phoning your practitioner? it takes a while for our contact details to be updated if we change our email addresses (I know mine was incorrect for a month or so when mine changed).

I do hope that my post has helped you to understand somewhat exactly what the classes cover that the book doesn't (there is more too) and why we, as practitioners (and indeed Marie Mongan) are so keen that parents come to classes?

Anyway, good luck with your birth - I hope those suggestions have helped!

[eleanorcopp]

the thing about doing the course not in your own home environment is that you are more alert and attentive to what is being taught and not so aware of home stuff , be it the stress of the day or children asleep upstairs who could wake up , or dogs who beg to be let out ! this absence provides couples with a different emphasis and space to talk, and they have reported to me that this opportunity has brought them closer because they feel able to be more honest with each other . for that reason going to the session outside youre home is a benefit.
i am negotiable with money if someone is in dire straights.i would think most people would be , however paying fees is also respecting the practitioner and their training and skills and when you do that the the money is well spent, so check out the practitioner to remove this concern . if we want something enough we prioritise the money in my experience .
as a midwife i find hypnobirthing a brilliant course and philosophy and as well as teaching couples during pregnancy , do use some techniques when i meet people for the 1st time in labour with amazing results. its always supportive in every situation , so i think well done for checking this site out !

[babyboos]

my hospital provides hypnosis for childbirth classes only 3 hours but it really helps plus the NCT classes i attend give us some instruction and they are available free to those in certain financial circumstances, plus they let us borrow natal hypnotherapy Cd's for free. the local library could get these Cd's for you for a couple of pounds loan fee, and the books used as references in the main hypnobirthing book. i have learned so much more than what is in the book from my hypnotherapist, she isn't cheap no but then babies aren't and she lets me pay in installments. i saw some classes half the price of ours but they were booked and further away so added transport costs etc... ours are one to one so as to allow my partner to attend, classes from as little as 20 pounds are offered by some practitioners in scotland where a maximum of 6 couples are taught at a time, there are full weekend residential courses too - see baby-mooning - and most of the hypnotherapists and practitioners i approached were willing to negotiate location of classes, many offering to come to me and others willing to condense the whole course into a weekend if i did have to travel any appreciable distance. i am not a practitioner i am a participant and i fully believe it is not the same just Reading the book i did this for many weeks before actually going to my classes, i stressed long and hard over the cost - and basically i have no nursery furniture or drawers full of maternity clothes i have these classes behind me - it is so different after going to the classes i cannot really recommend highly enough trying to get at least one session with a professional - any good hypnotherapist (not necessarily a trained hypnobirthing practitioner) could teach you deepening techniques/local anesthetic (glove anesthesia) etc and do some fear release with you - this has been a major plus point for me. i was also able to get further scripts and Cd's from my practitioner which you will miss out on as well. it is commendable to attempt to just use the book and i do hope it goes well i just wish there was someway you could try to get some trained help also, it really is worth it. maybe one day someone will do it via web cam - virtual hypnobirthing classes - surprised it isn't currently available in US where they really have a huge geographic area to cover.

[amylou]

There's no way I would otherwise afford the classes if it weren't for my Sure Start Maternity Grant, which can be looked into at the jobcentre or DWP websites.
Some people have voiced their views that this money is for our baby, but I see this money as being used for us as a family, and what better start to give our child, than a loving, happy and relaxed environment to be born into, where his Mum & Dad are focused on the beautiful, natural event that is unfolding, just beginning

Best Wishes CRZ and anyone else wanting the classes

[babyboos]

absolutely perfect idea amylou, that is great i sadly am working just enough to miss out but i was still able to get help from my ILA (individual learning account) for the course only pays part of it but every little helps.
and you are right it is sure start - highly appropriate when you think of the benefits of hypnobirthing.
nowhere does hypnobirthing claim to be what is isn't a home study course and i truly feel a bit of struggle at this side of the baby will be well worth it especially when you read how much happier and healthier hypnobirthing babies are and for many months after they come into the world too.
it may only boil down to one day in the end but anything i can do to make this one of the best days of my baby, my partner and my life i will do - able to get up and about almost immediately truly bond and breastfeed a non drugged up wee one who has not been traumatized on entry with a potentially dislocated shoulder, cone head etc. share very intimately this amazing event with my partner, and the sense of completeness the bonding helps us achieve i wouldn't have done this any different, no other course available in UK offers these benefits that i have been able to find, and i sought long and hard.