HypnoBirthing® UK

LittleB · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

Hi all,

I have just done a Hynobirthing course. It was really motivating and I really want to make the most of it. I am 29 weeks pregnant so I don't have all that long to get practiced at hypnosis. Does anyone have any suggestions on a daily or weekly routine? I reckon I can spare 40 minutes a day Monday to Friday.

I have been listening to the rainbow relaxation CD a few times, but I don't feel I am making progress. Her voice irritates me and the rainbow idea doesn't do much for me. Has anyone else found that?

Smile

ockysmith · Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 316 Location: Cambs/Essex/Herts

Hi there,

I'd suggest you get back in contact with your teacher, s/he can run through a schedule with you.

Ideally you'll be listening to the rainbow relaxation everyday but there are other methods used to train you to relax that you should have gone over in class, if you really don't like the lady's voice you could have your birth partner read you the script everyday instead (or record your own version).

Oh and 29wks leaves you with PLENTY of time to be fantastic at self hypnosis!

Good luck with your birth.

LittleB · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

Thanks. I have sent my teacheran e-mail, but I didn't get a reply. She is a lovely lady, but I think she has only just qualified so, while she had a beautiful relaxing voice I felt like she was just reading through her notes out loud. We didn't really talk about structuring practice time and it was only when I got home that I realised that I didn't know what else to do besides listening to the CDs.

At the moment I spend most of my hypnobirthing time re-reading the book and writing notes. I do listen to the rainbow relaxation most evenings, but I feel like I am not improving at relaxation. I will try re-recording it, but I need to make some other changes. I find some of the imagery in Hypnobirthing doesn't work for me - the coloured mist seems counter-intuitive because rainbows are about coloured light, not mist. Also the blue satin ribbons don't work for me, but I don't know why. I need to find a strategy for going deeper. Ideally I would then like to be able to do this while listening to music that I like, but I am not sure how to achieve this. Any suggestions?

LittleB · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

PS

I have been looking at a few other posts on here and I think that the main problem with my lack of confidence may be that I did the whole course in one weekend. I wonder if anyone else has had a similar experience of feeling confused after a weekend of hypnobirthing. It is quite intensive and I feel like I am missing pieces in a puzzle or that I have forgotten something crucial all the time.

ockysmith · Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 316 Location: Cambs/Essex/Herts

ockysmith · Joined: 05 Aug 2005 Posts: 316 Location: Cambs/Essex/Herts

LittleB · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

Thank you so much. All your advice is really helpful. I will do everything you have advised and let you know how things progress in a week or two.

Miss B · Joined: 29 Jun 2007 Posts: 1

Hello

I am 32 weeks pregnant and I did a 5 week course which finished a couple of weeks ago - I find it really helps if you practice the breathing techniques whilst listening to the Rainbow relaxation, I find myself in such a relaxed state when I combine both rather than trying to focus on what the woman is saying and lately I've been falling asleep! Other stuff that works for me is writing your perfect birth story and then reciting it and getting your partner to recite it when you are practising your relaxation.

Best of luck X

LittleB · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

I have been trying the breathing while listening lately too and I find it is better as it stops me from thinking so much. The ideal birth story sounds like a lovely idea. I will try that too. Thanks!

babyboos · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 28

we felt the same thing about the rainbow relaxation - needs a new acent to record it preferably scottish! Smile

LittleB · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

Hello everyone,

Many thanks for all your useful suggestions. I feel much more confident now. My husband and I listen to Mary Mongan's birth affirmation track every evening and I am making time to do a variety of the other things each day.

I have to admit though, I have ditched the Rainbow Relaxation in favour of Mary Mongan's relaxation. She may have an American accent, but at least it is 'motherly' and instils confidence. The UK version sounds too new age for me and she raises her intonation at the end of each sentence. I have bought the Steven Halpern music and try to do a rainbow-style relaxation without any commentary. It doesn't last as long, so I hope it is OK.

My next mission is to try and explain it all to my Mum properly because I want her to be around, but only if she is fully onside with how we want our birth to happen. So far she hasn't expressed any opinions overtly, but I think she thinks I am some kind of hippy. Its funny how people say 'Oh that sounds too [i]alternative[/i] for me' even though the importance of relaxation has come up at NCT classes and on a waterbirthing evening at the local hospital.

babyboos · Joined: 15 Jan 2007 Posts: 28

i got the stephen halpern album too and looped it on my ipod

LittleB · Joined: 19 Jun 2007 Posts: 10

Its fantastic isn't it. I really like listening to it on my ipod on the train.

He has made loads of different ones - I was looking on his website, which is called something like 'inner peace'. There is another one called 'Effortless Relaxation' that apparently has relaxation affirmations in it so that your subconscious picks them up even though you can't hear them. There is also another one for 'accelerated learning' that sounds great for getting kids to listen to when they are doing school work.