HypnoBirthing

[DumboPrincess]

Hi everyone! It looks like there are many new mommies and those trying to concieve on these boards. I was wondering if anyone besides me had used Hypnobirthing as a labor method? Tell me your stories! Here's mine: (btw, DD #1 was an 11 hour, 2 week late induced labor. I got the epi 8 hours in).

Our baby was due July 9 and I had a scheduled induction for July 18, but was really hoping to go into labor on my own this time. Those last few weeks I would leave work every day thinking, tonight the baby will come. But then the "signs" would fade away.

My last day at work before FMLA was July 15 (yes, I worked retail until the very end!), and it was a Saturday night, closing shift (leave at 10pm). I figured I'd have a few days off with my DD before having this new baby (sex was a surprise). My stomach felt a little funny, and the other manager clsoing with me even said, "Do you think it'll be tonight?" I said, Yeah, right, if I say it'll be tonight, then it won't, because I've felt this way several times over the last few weeks. And all my Dr. appts I (the last 4 wks worth) was only 1 to 1 1/2 cm dilated. So I figured, no big deal.

I got home, ate oatmeal cookies and milk and headed for bed. I told DH my stomach felt funny, but it was kind of like gas pains.

(I had read Marie Mongan's book, Hypnobirthing, a couple times, and practiced the breathing and visualisation. I had also listened to the CD, which hubby jokingly said "must work" because I fell asleep every time I listened to it! )

I tossed and turned, but did get some sleep. At 2:39am I woke up with a sense of urgency. I went to the bathroom and there was my mucus plug! I knew things were moving along now. I told DH (but he had not gone to bed until 1am ) that things were happening. I told him to try and get some rest, because in a few hours we would probably need to go. My contractions immediatly started coming 5 minutes apart, and I would sway with each one, just breathing through it. I actually sang the Sound of Music song through some of them "My Favorite Things" because one of the visualisations is imagining your uterine muscles are like blue satin ribbons, smooth and silky. I made sure all our things were packed between surges (contractions) and cleaned house a little. I also took a shower and put on make-up (Hey, if you'd seen my pics after my last labor, you'd put on makeup, too). Finally, around 5am we took DD to my parents house to stay while we went to the hospital.

I called my best friend on the way to let her know, because she was supposed to be there (she is a doula, btw). She thought I sounded to upbeat and happy for someon in active labor so she said, "Don't be disappointed if you aren't even 4cm yet. The won't send you home anyway, since you are 1 week overdue." I told her the surges were 5 minutes apart, but she (having witnessed many births that took hours of labor) said call me back after they check you and tell me how dilated you are. Okay...

So, at the hospital they take their time checking me in because I am very calm, and only had one surge that was obvious to them...several nurse came in and out asking me all the standard questions, etc. Finally, one of the nurses was ready to check me. She said, "Have you dialted any already?" I said, "Yes, 1 1/2 cm" She rolls her eyes and says, "Which doctor told you that?" I said, "All of them for the last 3-4 weeks!" (3 docs) So she says, "Well, we know you are at least 1 1/2 cm, then." This is btw 6 and 7am, and she checks me. "Well, you are definately more than 1 1/2 cm!" she said. I was 6 cm!

I called my BF and she almost chocked on her coffee and said "I'm coming NOW!" Good thing, too...

I put on my HypnoBirthing CD and listened and breathed all the way through labor. The only time I felt discomfort was when I took off the CD to try to socialize. My hubby said he could see a big difference between my surges on the monitor when I was listening to the CD and when I wasn't. I turned on my side at one point, and BF and DH swear I said "I need to POOP!" That's when the nurse said, "Get the Dr. in here NOW!" The could see the baby's head from my side lying position. My headphones were off now. The Dr. said with the next contraction he wanted be to roll on my back and then we would push. With hypnobirthing you breath the baby down. But I rolled on my back, and took a breath (no pushing) and there she was. Before I even knew the sex I just saw that little face and it was identical to our older daughter!

Abby weighed 8lbs 4 oz and was 21 3/4 inches long. She was born at 8:50am , so 6 hours of labor and no medication. I got to nurse her right away, and because there were no meds in her system, I got to keep her for 2 hours before they took her to be weighed, etc. Also (this was important to me) I got to walk over to see her get her first bath! All the nurses were just looking at me going, "Didn't you JUST have a baby?" And they insisted I sit down . The hospital I had her at is VERY conservative, and had never seen a hypnobirth labor before. The next day my Dr. told me he thought I must have "a special talent" for having babies because most women don't have labors that quickly or easily!

All women can, I believe. The hypnobirth experience is all about releasing fear and embracing what your body was designed to do. Your uterus is a muscle designed to deliver babies, so why should it hurt? Your heart doesn't hurt when it beats, and your lungs don't hurt when you breath. I just loved my experience, as you can see. I'd be happy to answer any questions for anyone considering trying hypnobirthing! I wish there had been classes in my area, but as you can see YOU can do it even with just a book and CD! My doula (BF) said I was the most beautiful woman she had seen in labor, and that I even still had my lipstick on! So that's my story...tell me yours...

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I didn't with any of my kids, at least not on purpose. My first baby was a very long labor--24 hours and I'm surprised that I had another one. I have 4 kids, BTW...all natural childbirths w/o drugs. Two were born in a hospital and 2 in a freestanding birthing center. I probably would have gone for medication with my last 2, but it wasn't a option and still be at the birthing center.

Anyway, with my 2nd baby the labor was short compared to the first--12 hours. I was being filmed by the Cesarean Prevention Movement--the whole labor and delivery was on film, which was pretty cool. The really neat thing about the labor, though, was that I went into a trance-like state for every contraction. It's not that it didn't hurt, but it was totally manageable. It was amazing to watch the video afterwards. It wasn't anything that I was trained for, though.

 

[LoveBWVVBR]

I wanted to do hypnobirthing with DD, and I might try it with #2. I didn't think that labor was bad with DD, but they gave me an epidural anyways because I got preeclampsia that last day that I was pregnant. Apparently it was either an epidural or magnesium sulfate. Luckily the epidural took care of the blood pressure problem well enough that I didn't end up having to have the magnesium sulfate. It was all for nothing, though, because when I started pushing DD was in the wrong position and they ended up giving me a C-section anyways

 

[princesspumpkin]

Congratulations! I'm very happy that you had the type of birth that you planned

Just for the record, muscles hurt when you are using them in a different way than you normally use them everyday (so yes, you can have heart pains if you use it more strenuously than usual) and you can overwork your lungs. That being said, since the uterus doesn't normally contract every three minutes on any given day, it isn't abnormal to have pain while you're contracting. Also, in theory, everyone should be able to do everything the same way. In reality, people are made differently and react differently. I have had patients that jump out of bed a few hours after their c-section (one actually took her catheter and IV with her to get a cheesesteak ). While i have to practically pull some of my Va-J-J deliveries out of the bed. Different folks......

Anyhoo, how was did your first delivery go? Was it exactly the same as this one?

 

[grlpwrd]

I used the exact method of hypnobirthing for baby #3 as you did . I tried to use it with baby #4, but I ended up getting a c section.

It's definitely worth it, but it doesn't mean it will work out for everyone. GL to those who choose do try it...

 

[laurajetter]

Hi! I used the Bradley Method but my doula later told me that I was so focused during labor that she said it looked like I was hynobirthing! Giving birth, though a lot of hard work and concentration, was the single most fulfilling and wonderful experience I've had in my life. I knew other people had given birth naturally without medication or unneccesary medical intervention, but I was a bit doubtful I could; I mean, all you hear from tv, movies and people are horror stories and how you feel like you are going to die. Well I learned how to ride out each contraction, relax my muscles and let my body do what it was meant to do. Yes, to me the contractions were painful, but manageable.

Here's my birth story:

I had been gradually losing my mucus plug over the weekend and one night I went to bed with what felt like very mild menstrual cramps. I woke up around midnight when the cramps worsened enough that I couldn't sleep. I didn't wake hubby; I knew I needed him to be well rested to help me later during active labor!

I labored around the house, basically using the different relaxation techniques learned in my Bradley class. I moved around quite a bit, kneeling in front of the couch, at the top of the stairs (with dog licking my face ), on the toilet, walking around holding a pillow, etc. Around 5am they tapered slightly and I was able to catch a few zzz's.

Next morning, wake up with feeling of mild to moderate cramps; I decided to go to work. DH and I worked together so we could leave together if necessary. All day the contractions grew stronger until I couldn't comfortably sit down anymore. This was near the end of the day, so we went home to labor there. I layed down in the back seat and we timed contractions.

Got home and spent the rest of the day laboring together. DH was an integral part in my laboring, and he was such a help! That evening we called my doula and she left her mini-vacation to drive home! She got home around 11pm and we decided it would be best for her to get some sleep too and for her to come around in the morning.

Next morning... I'm really getting heavy into the contractions and starting to tune out my surroundings. Our doula arrived and she and DH coached me through every step of the way; they were awesome!

We wanted to labor at home as much as humanly possible before going to the hospital, but it was about that time. We met my midwife at the hospital at 6pm, they did their required 20 minute fetal monitoring, and found out I was 9 cm... woo hoo! Then I hopped into the birthing tub. Oooohhhh did that ever feel good! Less than a minute after getting in, I got the strangest sensation; my body started pushing of its own volition! Very weird. Now I understand why sometimes you hear doctors/nurses tell a woman giving birth to stop pushing and she screams back "I CAN'T STOP!!!"

So I start pushing with each contraction, and let me tell you, it actually felt good to push. Initially, the contraction would hurt but the second I began pushing with it the pain went away and I was just concentrating on what I needed to do.

DH jumped in the tub with me to support me during this part. It was great having him there! Finally, after 1 hour 20 minutes of pushing (SERIOUSLY, it felt like 20-30 minutes to me), little Jacob was born! It was 35 hours of labor in total, 11 of those were hard, active labor. It was a wonderful experience!

 

[Jenn Lynn]

I didn't use hypnobirthing, but I was pretty zoned out during both of my labors. I had DD at a freestanding birth center and DS at home. DD was a water birth. DS I didn't find the water relaxing at all. I just wanted to sit on the toilet (and when I did my water broke) and then I wanted to lay in bed. With DS I had an 11 minute second station. He came quite fast.

 

[ilovejack02]

When I read thread title all i could think is why do we care about Hippos giving birth?? LOL! I think forgot how to read today

PS I think you ladies that can do the hypno birthing rock!!!
Im such a weenie lol.

 

[DumboPrincess]

Congratulations! I'm very happy that you had the type of birth that you planned

Just for the record, muscles hurt when you are using them in a different way than you normally use them everyday (so yes, you can have heart pains if you use it more strenuously than usual) and you can overwork your lungs. That being said, since the uterus doesn't normally contract every three minutes on any given day, it isn't abnormal to have pain while you're contracting. Also, in theory, everyone should be able to do everything the same way. In reality, people are made differently and react differently. I have had patients that jump out of bed a few hours after their c-section (one actually took her catheter and IV with her to get a cheesesteak ). While i have to practically pull some of my Va-J-J deliveries out of the bed. Different folks......

Anyhoo, how was did your first delivery go? Was it exactly the same as this one?

Absolutely, it isn't abnormal to have pain of some sort when using your muscles in a non-everyday sense (does that make sense? I am agreeing with you!) I am just so excited that the mind over matter worked for me! And anyone who's considering trying it for themselves I thought a postive outcome would be encouraging

BTW, are you an OB, doula or OB nurse? Just curious b/c of your experience!

I'll put my birth story for DD #1 in tonight while hubby watches Superbowl.

Thanks for the responses!

 

[DumboPrincess]

Okay, sorry I didn't post during the Superbowl, as planned, but here is DD#1 birth story...


The baby (surprise sex) was due Feb. 11. The day came and went, and I had NO DIALATION! They scheduled an induction for Feb. 23.

Feb. 23 we go to the hospital at about 6 am and check in. They check me and say, did you know you're already contracting? Ummm, no...

I was about 1cm at check in. They decided to start the Pitocin around 8 am. I'm doing fine and rolling with each contraction. Meanwhile my mom, sis (twin) and MIL all show up and are in the room with us (me and DH).

My plan for this birth (we had only taken the childbirth class the hosp. offered) was to see how far I could go with no meds. But, I was not (and am still not) opposed to an epidural if needed.

So...around 12 noon, MIL decides she wants lunch and wants (my) DH with
her. Some mom/son bonding time, I guess. (BTW, we (MIL and I ) have had some issues...she likes to tell us how to live our lives and I like to live my own life ) Well, DH asks me if this is ok, and (trying to be nice) I said ok, but just go and come RIGHT BACK. He says no prob. IMO MIL should not have even asked, she should have gone to eat herself and BROUGHT DH food back, because the day was not about her...but whatever, I said yes. Well, the reason I even mention this is because in the short time DH was gone I decided I needed the epi...must be physcological, I'm sure.

Well, the anestesiologist (sp) took forever to get to me...It was between 3
and 4 before I got the epi...And I was so mad because I could only have ice chips every 8 hours! WTH? At another hospital in town (where BF had her baby) the midwives were giving her popsicles and grape juice whenever she wanted. Well, my ice melted because I was trying to ration it and I was ready for it. The nurse went to get it and poured it out, saying I couldn't have water and would have to wait 8 hours for more ice!
I went off! I told her how at the other hospital you could have popsicles, etc. and that it was so ridiculous! Hello, the ice would melt in my stomach anyway...why did it matter! She had the nerve to ask me if I had had a baby at the other hosp. and how did I know? I said I was there for BF child! I saw it!

So around 4:45pm, I asked to be checked b/c I felt like things were happening. I was a 7-8. Okay, so other best friend calls me on the phone and I tell her how I'm 7-8 and over the course of the conversation I just can't concentrate, so I tell her I'm going to go, I'm feeling a lot more pressure, and she says they will come on up to the hospital. I ask to be checked again (this is 10-15 minutes later) and the nurse humors me, because she didn't believe me...well, her eyes got so big and she said I'll be right back. I ask her if I'm at ten, and she says she wants a second opinion (she was an apprentice nurse). She comes back with another nurse who checks me and says yup, you're ready, let's get the Dr. ( and I kicked out everyone except DH)

So, she gets the Dr. and we start pushing at 5:15pm, and push until 5:25, when he says he needs to check on his patient next door and will be back. "Just cross your legs and don't push!" Well, our baby had other ideas and kept working her way down with no pushing on my part. The nurse kept seeing the head and told me to stop pushing, and I said I'm Not! Well, the doc finally gets back around 6:30 (he had to do emergency C-section) and DD was born at 6:50pm after about 2-3 pushes. It was a GIRL! 7 lbs, 11 oz. and 21 1/4 inches long.

I nursed her right away and she did great on my right side. I then put her on my left and didn't relize her latch had slipped. She sucked so hard on the side of my ****** I got a purple, painful blood blister that made breastfeeding very difficult the first few weeks. But I stuck with it!