https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 16 May 2026 08:50:29 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2641612 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 19:41:45 +0000 ModernDayJibarita 2641612@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did an 8 week hypnobirthing course based on "The Mongan Method". I started listening to the tapes afor 30 min a day around 30 weeks. I has a fantastic med-free labor and delivery. I labored at home for 3 hours, arrived athe hospital at 5cm, labored for 3 hrs in the shower (on all 4s with hot water hitting my sacrum and the remaining 3 walking around my room (with my husband doing counter pressure during contractions). It was 12 hr hour labor and it was a wonderful experience. I listened to the tracks in the tub and while walking.</p> <p>The things that most resonated with me and were most helpful during labor:</p> <p>- Labor is not painful. Getting burned alive and getting skin grafts is more painful. Labor pain is a sign your body trying to expel your baby from your body. It's your muscles and your body working to do what you want them to do. </p> <p>- Your body knows what to do, your mind had no place in childbirth. The science of fear, cortisol and fight/flight response. </p> <p>- You can do anything for 30sec/1min/2min/3min. This I actually learned from Beachbody but it helped tremendously. I countdown to every contraction and knowing that it was almost halfway through kept my head safe. I also chanted "Im not gonna die" I knew the pain was not gonna kill me so chanting that help push out any fear I could have had.</p> <p>I think all the prep helped. I was super excited and happy about going/being into labor and didn't feel any fear and coped really well until transition (from 9-10 cm). Those 30 min were rough and it was really hard to focus on breathing/chanting/affirmations, Pushing was a breeze after transition </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2641556 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 16:24:20 +0000 MrsSRS 2641556@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rescuemom10: Yeah. I went into labor Friday and had DS Monday. I did have a dose of narcotics Saturday night and a dose Sunday night.<br /> DD was a nice 8 hour labor though, so no drugs needed. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2641262 Mon, 24 Oct 2016 10:37:39 +0000 Rescuemom10 2641262@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@sarac: Agree natural hurts. I went Natural for my first, but went to C-section for other reason. But after many, many hours of labor, it wears on you. So just looking for other ideas and possible resources to cope better. Although I hope to not go 35 hrs or more again. LOL :grin: </p> <p>@Iced Tea: Wow! That's amazing about your friend. :shocked: </p> <p>@Corduroy: Yeah I do NOT like how that is phrased at all.</p> <p> I was very open with an incredibly basic birth plan. I knew having never had a child before my last kiddo to not expect a detailed labor plan to go a certain way. I didn't want to be "let down" so I remained very open to see how my body handled things. Even so, I had a far from ideal birth. It was pretty rough, and I had a lot of complications. I tell myself to be thankful because LO and I got very sick and modern medicine saved both of us, and at the end of a week stay at the hospital we both got to go home. So I should be thankful. But it hurts. It was a terrible delivery. I don't remember anything really. They had to knock me completely out during surgery, I was so drugged for the next 24 + hrs I remember so little. So yeah......I have my baby, but def not a "deserved" birth. </p> <p>@Amorini: That is awesome. Thank you for the insight on your experience. Stuff like this... :heart: </p> <p>@WinterBee: Woohooo! Fingers crossed for the both of us. I have heard of that book. Will look into that one as well thank you!</p> <p>@MrsSRS: 3 DAAAAAAYS? My gosh! I went 35 hrs last time and was EXHAUSTED!!!! That's why I am thinking I need something to help me more this time in the event I go a long time. The long labor was not the reason I went to c-section but man who knows how much longer she would have made us wait. I mean gosh I thought 35 hrs was long! :shocked:<br /> Good to know! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640489 Sat, 22 Oct 2016 11:47:40 +0000 MrsSRS 2640489@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>FWIW I read the Bradley book and practiced it at home and it got me through a three day labor. No way I could have kept going without the relaxation practice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640481 Sat, 22 Oct 2016 09:50:15 +0000 WinterBee 2640481@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Rescuemom10: I'm in the same boat as you! I have about 9 weeks until my due date, I'm interested in hypnobirthing as well.<br /> I also live in a rural area with no classes around. I've told my midwife about my intentions and she's really exciting about using it.<br /> I have a friend who did it and she had two amazing birth experiences. She recommended I get 'The Mongan Method' hypnobirthing book. It comes with a CD as well. I just started reading it and listening to the CD. She also lived in a rural area and didn't attend any classes either. She did it all on her own using online material, I feel confidant that will be sufficient, and I'll be reserving the right to use medical interventions if necessary.<br /> I've also listened to a ton of podcasts and am doing prenatal yoga to help with focusing and breathing exercises. </p> [attach=6058/16/ofgejr.401x600.hypnobirthing.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640476 Sat, 22 Oct 2016 08:59:02 +0000 Amorini 2640476@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Corduroy: Sending :heart: . What you wrote resonated with the recent birth of my DS. </p> <p>@Rescuemom10: Like others, I downloaded the home study book on audible and used it in the 3rd tri and also during labor. The one track that turned out to be most apt was the one that starts with "change of plans" since pretty much nothing went according to my birth preference plan. I think the preparation for that eventuality allowed me to stay calm and focused when things changed. I also think that I had an awareness of when it was time to change plans, if that makes sense. Oh and I did have a doula and that definitely helped me since it was my first birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640437 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 22:18:27 +0000 Corduroy 2640437@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I downloaded the hypnobabies tracks (no book or class). I found them really helpful for insomnia in 3rd trimester and relaxing. I had a doula and ended up with a 51 hour labor. I made it, unmedicated but it wasn't a positive experience. </p> <p>I tried listening to the tracks before LO2 was born but there's one line about "I will have the birth I deserve." It made me feel really crappy about birth number one and I couldn't continue. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640385 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 17:02:11 +0000 Iced Tea 2640385@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have started the home course for my second birth. My friend gave me the tracks, and I appreciate the fear release track a lot so far. </p> <p>Btw, my friend had an awesome experience using it with her second birth. She said it changed the quality of the pain so much that she became a labor denier. Her doula and husband dragged her to the hospital, and she barely made it in the door before giving birth; she was denying that it was "the real thing"! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640384 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 17:01:31 +0000 sarac 2640384@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did it, and I would say Meh. It was not overly helpful. Natural birth hurts. You do it and you cope and if you can't, you get an epidural. More important, IMHO, are being with providers and a partner who will support your birth plans, not push you either way, who will remind you of what you wanted during labor, and who will support you in whatever choices you make. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640332 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 15:01:53 +0000 Rescuemom10 2640332@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: @sapphire: @JenGirl: @Cole: @Cherrybee:<br /> You ladies are wonderful. Thanks so much. </p> <p>I am very excited the hospital I am using this time has a tub. For my first birth there was not one.<br /> I labored for over a day with my DD and was pretty good for the first 24 hrs without pain meds. We ended up having other medical issues that warranted a C-section. But I do recall towards the end I was so exhausted and NOT handling the contractions as well so I wanted to look into other options and "tools" to help me this round in the event I labor long again. </p> <p>Its reassuring knowing others did the at home study and found it beneficial. </p> <p>I have talked to my doula about my plans and direction I want to take. I def know better than to do too detailed of a plan because I have experienced things going far off the desired direction of birthing. I was very open to things the first birth, but I don't think I was prepared enough and def want more tools this time around with aiding towards a natural Child birth. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640323 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 14:51:42 +0000 Cole 2640323@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I just read through other people's comments and I wanted to add that I did not hire a doula which ended up working out fine for us. I was very specific about where I planned to give birth though and the birthing center was extremely open to hypnobabies and hypnobirthing. Our orientation there actually suggested we do that in lieu of the standard hospital class. This definitely made a difference. I thought it was interesting that when my nurse called the midwife she emphasized that I was using it and told her to hurry because the hypno babies tended to come faster. My midwife kind of sucked but my nurses were amazing.</p> <p>If you decide to do it definitely turn it on immediately when you go into labor. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640321 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 14:49:57 +0000 Cherrybee 2640321@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I read a book about hypnobirthing when I was expecting my first. I ended up being induced and, yeah, it didn't go to plan..... I announced that hypnobirthing was ridiculous etc etc. </p> <p>Then, when I was in labour with my second, it all came back somehow.... I remembered everything I had read. And it really, really helped. I loved every second of my second labour, did it all without pain relief. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640319 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 14:46:17 +0000 Cole 2640319@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I used hypnobabies and LOVED it. I did the home study and it really helped my anxiety. When I went into labor I was a mess, I was ready to go straight to the closest hospital for an epidural despite having planned to go to a birthing center further away. I didn't want to put the tracks on because I was trying to "save" them for active labor. As soon as my husband overruled me and turned it on it was like I turned into a different human being. I genuinely only remember my labor as being intense from there on out whereas it was excruciating until then. He kept telling people about it because he was so impressed, it was like I was able to just relax and go with it as opposed to fighting it and being terrified of the next contraction. </p> <p>Now mind you, my labor was 6.5 hours, first baby, I was in transition 45 minutes after my first contraction and pushing although not productively before we even left the house for the 40 minute drive. I do recall that pushing hurt and was not terribly pleasant, but once I was actively pushing it didn't take long.</p> <p>I actually am looking forward to giving birth again. It was truly an awesome experience. </p> <p>If you have any specific questions let me know, I could talk your ear off about it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640285 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 13:29:22 +0000 sapphire 2640285@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@JenGirl: the jetted tub at my hospital was key too. I don't think I could have gotten through labor without it. I used the sound of the jets as a focal point to my breathing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640250 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:57:34 +0000 JenGirl 2640250@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I didn't do any classes, but I did read the Hypnobirth book as well as the Bradley Method book, Ina May's book and a general Lamaze class and a specialized natural birth class. And I had a doula. Geez, I'm an overprepared nerd! But I'm glad that I pulled from a lot of resources because it really helped. </p> <p>I found some of the thought excercises from Hypnobirthing were really nice. I liked the relaxing from head to toe, the silver glove thing and the rainbow cloud thing. I will say that parts of the book gave me major cases of the eye rolls. But that's okay. With everything I took an attitiude of using when I found helpful and not worrying about the stuff that I didn't find helpful. </p> <p>I got through 21 hours of labor without meds, which I doubt I could have done without the prep and my doula. During actual labor, I used a combination of different techniques. Early and late in labor I was moving around, which doesn't work well with Hypnobirthing. But, I spent most of the middle of labor laying in the jetted tub at my hospital using guided imagery and I think the Hypnobirth training really helped during that part. The tub was the biggest help in the whole labor process. I loved that tub! </p> <p>So I think it's worth the class, but maybe look at some other techniques as well. And, ultimately, realize that labor doesn't always go the way that we have planned and THAT IS OKAY. I find that women that get their hearts set on one particular kind of birth are often disappointed when things don't go as planned. But if you go into things with an open mind and lots of tools you can use to get you through, then you've got a better chance of having a "good" birth, whatever that looks like. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640222 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:32:49 +0000 sapphire 2640222@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>It was more useful to me leading up to birth- I liked the relaxation exercises. I didn't really use it during birth- I just didn't want to to be listening to mp3s during labor and I just didn't have the confidence to go through the program in front of nurses, my family, etc. but I also wasn't super commmited to a natural labor. I knoe others who have had good luck with it. I'm actually looking to sell my copy- I walled you the details in case you are interested. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640219 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:30:18 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2640219@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I attended Hypno classes and hired a doula that was familiar with it. I had a C Section, but my Hypno studies still came in handy.</p> <p>First, I would create a birth plan/ birth preferences and start communicating your desires with your health professional. One of my doctors asked me three times in a row if the no pain meds on my plan meant no epidural. One thing Hypno teaches is visualizing your birth. Writing out the birth plan may help you do just that.</p> <p>Second, start listening to the Rainbow relaxation tape and Birth Affirmations. If you have the time, I would aim to do them twice a day. Honestly, just thinking about them made me calm. My doctor's marveled at my low blood pressure throughout my pregnancy. I listened to them even during my c-section.</p> <p>Third, start practicing the Hypno techniques. You may need to look on You Tube to see the breathing techniques done in action correctly. The Hypno book is full of relaxation exercises. I would suggest doing those with your doula unless you and your partner can keep a straight face. Same goes for any visualization scripts you Google. </p> <p>Based on the class that I took, what you will miss out on is direct instruction on how your partner can physically assist you during birth and the breathing/ visualization techniques. We also viewed beautiful, calm births each class, which for many in the room were aha moments.</p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640216 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:28:30 +0000 Rescuemom10 2640216@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catlady: That is helpful thank you! I labored naturally with my first for a long time then ran into too many complications and went to C-section. after 24 hrs I just was not handling the contractions well anymore. So I want something to help me with that more this time.<br /> Good to hear you did find the home study helpful in some aspects. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640210 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 12:24:26 +0000 catlady 2640210@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I did the Hypnobabies home study course with my first pregnancy. I also took a (non-hypno) natural birthing course with DH and read several books about natural child birth. The Hypnobabies was nice because I had quite a bit of anxiety during my pregnancy and I felt that it really helped calm me down to listen to the affirmations every day. I also tended to listen at night and it helped me fall asleep easier (they say you can just fall asleep while listening and still get the benefits...who know if that's true though). I started it at 30 weeks so I got 9 full weeks of it.</p> <p>After all that, I felt ready for a natural birth, but of course things didn't go as planned. My water broke and contractions started really quickly and painfully (no slow build up, as all my courses and reading had taught me to deal with), plus I got stuck in triage for 4 hrs because there were no rooms available in L&amp;D and everytime I started to get into my Hypnobabies, something would beep or someone would come in and need me to do something. They also wouldn't let me get up from the bed or move around at all. So I ended up in too much pain and too distracted to get into the Hypnobabies like I had planned. As soon as I got a room in L&amp;D, I asked for an epidural and I have no regrets. I did get a vaginal birth, so that was good. </p> <p>My understanding is that if you want a natural birth, hiring a doula is really the best thing you can do. The Hypnobabies was really nice for my pregnancy but didn't help me at all during actual labor. For this baby, I am going to plan on the epidural from the beginning, even though I may still start listening to some of the Hypnobabies stuff again now that I am getting towards the end since it is soothing. Not sure if that is helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/hypnobirthinghypnobabies-insight-please#post-2640194 Fri, 21 Oct 2016 11:52:58 +0000 Rescuemom10 2640194@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Would love to hear some success stories and experiences with using either.<br /> I live in a rural area and there are no Hypno classes in the area. No doulas where I am delivering who are experienced in it either. I have hired a doula who has seen it once before, and who is experienced in VBAC (Which I am having). </p> <p>My other big question is has anyone used the at home study material and found it helpful.</p> <p>I am looking at ordering the Hypnobabies at home study set but would love to hear from other moms who have used it.<br /> I have about 10 weeks until my EDD so I should probably get started on something. :grin: </p> <p>Thanks </p>