Hypnobabies for a natural birth - is it worth the expense?

[mld]

I'll be having my first baby this coming October and I really want to have a natural birth. However, I'm having trouble relaxing just thinking about the birth and I tend to get anxiety anytime I am in a hospital. I want to prepare as best as I can to be relaxed to face labor and have been trying to research free resources to do so.

As I am researching my options for a natural birth, I keep coming back to hypnobabies. The study course is 150$ + Shipping (to Canada which is probably somewhere around 20$) and I am having trouble deciding if it would be worth it or if this is just an expense that is playing on my emotions towards birth and creating an unnecessary 'want'. I've tried to look for the product used but they are sold at the same price on ebay and such.

The thought of buying this product gives me the feeling of trying to throw money at the problem in order to deal with it which I hate, but the reviews on hypnobabies and how the course is structured just make it so appealing... but 150$ is a lot of money!

Otherwise I've looked at the books available at my local library and they are all pretty basic and not necessarily natural birth specific. Has any mustachian mom used the hypnobabies course? Do you recommend it despite the expense? Do you have any other recommendations of ways/resources to prepare for a natural birth?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

[DaKini]

My wife did the course for our second child which was a home birth.
In my opinion the course was ok but "not worth it" because we did not much new information we didnt posess before, but i also think giving birth not the first time is a huge experience advance.
I guess our wonderful birth experience at home would have been roughly the same without the course. But we had great "normal" courses also before hypnobirthing and also great  midwifes.

Hypnobirthing depends heavily on what personality but i think for the first baby you could give it a shot. You will learn at least techniquesto relax that are useful later in life also. At best you willbe able to relax so deeply you are in trance while giving birth. Most probably you will he in between.
An imortsnt aspect is that you should have your partner (or the one that will support you oncethe baby started its way out) deeply on board. What is his opinion on the matter?

Aside from HB i could support you heavily with the idea of a natural birth, possibly at home. Educate yourself with your body and your burth organs and dont work against your body. Let it flow and you will be fine - your body and midwifes will know what to do.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I only did self-study and never hypnobabies, so I can't comment on that. But for your question about resources, in my experience the best books to read for someone planning natural birth in the hospital are Your Best Birth by Ricki Lake (no, really) and Birthing from Within (birth art options :-). ) Maybe try to pick them up from the Amazon marketplace.

Or you might try looking around for a birth circle or La Leche League (often a hotbed of crunchy mamas :-) ) and someone might be able to loan you a helpful book!

Good luck--let us know how it goes!

[nora]

I bought it and feel it was worth it. I found the tracks very relaxing and helpful during my pregnancy. On the day of labour I only listened during the initial stages at home up until going to hospital. About nine hours, although didn't listen the whole time. I think it helped me stay at home longer, but I didn't have the confidence to use it in the hospital, and also not sure if I might have just found it an annoyance anyway. Baby was born after three hours in hospital so not too long.

I also used TENS and tried to stay active as much as I could. Contractions felt much better standing up. I can recommend an Australian book called Birth Skills by  JuJu Sundin.

[CNM]

My sister found hypnobabies used.  So that's an option.  Check local parenting groups and craigslist and stuff.

She reports to me that it was only so-so.  The program was long and much of it went out the window, according to her, once labor really started to get going. 

[dragoncar]

ALL GLORY TO THE HYPNOBABY

[imustachemystash]

I took the course and felt it was worth it.  I used it with both of my births.  One of them was 44 hours long with pitocin.  I still screamed my head off at the end but for the most part it kept me really calm.  Look for a used version.

[SomedayStache]

First birth was a natural drug free hospital birth.  The hubby and I did the Bradley courses.  Bradley prepared us VERY well for the mechanics of birth, but I felt 100% unprepared to cope with the physical reality.  I'm also someone who has trouble relaxing in general and am a very 'stressy' type A person.

For baby #2 I bought the Hypbnobabies homestudy course.  Listened religiously every night (well almost) and listened to the postivite affirmations daily during my commute.  The peace and calmness imbued by this daily listening seeped into all areas of my life.  My husband told me that in the 15+ years he's known me he had never seen me be so relaxed during my daily life.  Just due to this peace alone I decided I'd got my monies worth. As a bonus the actual birth was amazing.  Was it pain free? No-but then I never actually expected it to be.  I used the Hypnobabies home study as a method to learn real relaxation and for that it worked awesomely for me.  If you want nitty gritty details PM me and I'll email you my birth story.

Baby #3 was a planned home birth.  I only intermittently listented to the Hypnobabies CDs and the birth was not nearly so peaceful as with #2.  I wish I had listened more religiously.

I sold my hybnobabies materials on Ebay.  If that vasectomy spontaenously reverses and we get pregnant again I'll order the course and listen more regularly.  For me it was worth it. 

Also get a doula!!!

[SisterX]

I took the course and felt it was worth it.  I used it with both of my births.  One of them was 44 hours long with pitocin.  I still screamed my head off at the end but for the most part it kept me really calm.  Look for a used version.

Ok, how did you do 44 hours?  Mine was 24 hours (after about 5 hours of sleep the night before) and I finally got the epidural at 21 hours just so my husband and I could get some sleep.  He'd only had about 3 hours of sleep before it all started, so when I asked for the epidural I was in the tub, dozing between contractions as best I could, and he had fallen asleep on the cold tile floor next to me, holding my hand.  So, how the hell did you do 44 hours?!

[imustachemystash]

My water broke and I had really mild contractions. After a day and a half they had to give me pitocin otherwise my baby could get an infection. The labor was a breeze until they cranked up the pitocin at the very end. I really think hypnobabies and having a doula made it bearable.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

[SisterX]

My water broke and I had really mild contractions. After a day and a half they had to give me pitocin otherwise my baby could get an infection. The labor was a breeze until they cranked up the pitocin at the very end. I really think hypnobabies and having a doula made it bearable.

Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk

Ah.  I need to keep reminding myself that I had back labor, so the contractions were shooting up and down my spine as well and most women don't have that. 

[Christiana]

Hospitals make me very anxious--one of the reasons I decided to homebirth.  Otherwise, I'd be tempted to try to have the baby in the car before I get there.  It turned out that I had relatively easy births at home, and I'm sure that it helped a lot to be on my own turf.

I found this idea helpful (from Grantly Dick-Read, one of the doctors pioneering the return to natural childbirth):  Fear in childbirth leads to tension, and tension leads to pain.  Contractions are much less effective when you're tense and resisting them.

Also:  Ina May Gaskin's Sphincter Law:  Sphincter muscles open by relaxing, and relaxing your mouth and jaw can actually help your cervix relax and open.  Add in some moaning during active labor, which helps you relax, and also helps to nonverbally communicate your level of relaxation versus labor effort to your birth attendants.     

Finally, have some simple, affirming thought to mentally hold on during labor, to stay centered.

[Rebecca Stapler]

This is my second and I'm just about ready to look into my options for the course. From what I know, the value in the CDs (as opposed to self-study from library books) is that it helps you practice, which is the key to having it "work" well for you.

After my first birth experience, I'm not completely interested in a drug-free birth this time. But, I would like to have the option because I'm in the right state of mind. From what I know from other moms who have had med-free births, practicing -- whether it's Hypnobabies or the Bradley Method -- is very important.

[Juniper18]

I used the course religiously for the last 10 weeks of my pregnancy and it worked well for the first 12 hours or so of labor, but after that the back labor and tiredness caught up to me and it was very difficult to stay in the right mindset.  The book actually says that if you have back labor it will most likely not work well.  That said, I will probably give it another try for my next pregnancy as it was very calming to practice and did work for part of labor.  As previously mentioned, see if you can get it used.  I've seen it on ebay for $80-100 and if you live in an area with a lot of craigslist activity you might be able to find it even cheaper.

[prosaic]

Totally worth it.

I have, since taking the Hypnobirthing course (in person) in 2001, used the techniques through 2 births (both drug free) and countless times through other painful/stressful situations, like dental work or painful accidents.

VERY good techniques to learn.

[mld]

Thank you so much for all the great informative answers :).

Considering that I still have 14 weeks before my due date, I've decided that I would start with reading a few different books on natural childbirth first and inform myself as best as I can before deciding if I want the hypnobabies home study. I got some books from the library which I started reading and also found 2 books that weren't available at the library but which I thought would be useful to have for a total of 15$ on kijiji, these include Ina May's guide to childbirth.

I'll also look into different calming / meditative methods as well and try and practice on my own. I know the hospital has no problem with listening your own music and such so I will try and create calming playlist and start practicing being centered and calm with that music. I also believe the prenatal yoga video I have as a whole section on positions to practice during labor so I will look into that as well.

My BF will be getting The Birth Partner book and go through that in the next month as well.

If after the next month of educating ourselves I still feel stressed and unprepared, I will order hypnobabies used and it will still give me plenty of time to practice the program.

[brycedoula]

Yes yes yes! The Birth Partner is an excellent book! I'm a birth doula & I promise that this is the best book on how to support labouring mums. Lots of great suggestions for drug-free births, but also has a great section that lists medications & side effects if that's what you want.

[historienne]

I bought the hypnobabies homestudy course on ebay for about $70 and currently have it listed on my local craigslist for $60 - send me a PM if you want to buy mine, but mostly I'm posting this to say that if you are good about following through to sell it, I think the expense can be minimized.

I am glad that I used it.  I won't say that my birth experience was peaceful or pain free, but it helped me not to freak out both during birth and in the last month or so of pregnancy.

Birth Partner was also a great book.

[Frugal Father]

First birth was a natural drug free hospital birth.  The hubby and I did the Bradley courses.  Bradley prepared us VERY well for the mechanics of birth, but I felt 100% unprepared to cope with the physical reality.  I'm also someone who has trouble relaxing in general and am a very 'stressy' type A person.

This is exactly how my wife felt after reading Bradley's book, so she decided to get the Hypnobabies materials. And remember that if you have multiple children, you can use it again and again.

Thank you so much for all the great informative answers :).

Considering that I still have 14 weeks before my due date, I've decided that I would start with reading a few different books on natural childbirth first and inform myself as best as I can before deciding if I want the hypnobabies home study. I got some books from the library which I started reading and also found 2 books that weren't available at the library but which I thought would be useful to have for a total of 15$ on kijiji, these include Ina May's guide to childbirth.

I'll also look into different calming / meditative methods as well and try and practice on my own. I know the hospital has no problem with listening your own music and such so I will try and create calming playlist and start practicing being centered and calm with that music. I also believe the prenatal yoga video I have as a whole section on positions to practice during labor so I will look into that as well.

My BF will be getting The Birth Partner book and go through that in the next month as well.

If after the next month of educating ourselves I still feel stressed and unprepared, I will order hypnobabies used and it will still give me plenty of time to practice the program.

Other than constant practice with whichever method you choose, having your bf's support will be key in helping you to relax during labor.

[KBlynx]

I never did hypnosis related birth stuffs, but I did do all natural and took a "natural" trademark free birthing class from a local midwife. Hospitals give me the heebies so I had my daughter at a birthing center that was more like a cute little hotel with tubs and such. In the end I didn't really use any of the knowledge I learned but found that reciting mantras and swearing helped, plus the jacuzzi tub was lovely. Also, I kept thinking about how much money I was saving with my midwife/birthing center rather than hosptial/dr/drugs so that kept me going. I think different techniques only add to your arsenal for the big day, so learn away!

[marty998]

I never did hypnosis related birth stuffs, but I did do all natural and took a "natural" trademark free birthing class from a local midwife. Hospitals give me the heebies so I had my daughter at a birthing center that was more like a cute little hotel with tubs and such. In the end I didn't really use any of the knowledge I learned but found that reciting mantras and swearing helped, plus the jacuzzi tub was lovely. Also, I kept thinking about how much money I was saving with my midwife/birthing center rather than hosptial/dr/drugs so that kept me going. I think different techniques only add to your arsenal for the big day, so learn away!

Come on now, be honest. The mantra was oh shit oh shit oh shit oh faaaaaaaaarrrrk!!!!

[KBlynx]

I never did hypnosis related birth stuffs, but I did do all natural and took a "natural" trademark free birthing class from a local midwife. Hospitals give me the heebies so I had my daughter at a birthing center that was more like a cute little hotel with tubs and such. In the end I didn't really use any of the knowledge I learned but found that reciting mantras and swearing helped, plus the jacuzzi tub was lovely. Also, I kept thinking about how much money I was saving with my midwife/birthing center rather than hosptial/dr/drugs so that kept me going. I think different techniques only add to your arsenal for the big day, so learn away!

Come on now, be honest. The mantra was oh shit oh shit oh shit oh faaaaaaaaarrrrk!!!!

Oh it was much worse than that, I sounded like a drunk sailor on shore leave.

[dilinger]

My wife bought hypnobabies used, but didn't like it.

We also took a hypnobirthing course, which she loved.  She used the techniques through a 35-hr labor (it was lengthy because the baby was turned sideways, w/ his head pushing on her spine), and made it through without needing drugs. She's a trooper.

[FIRE Realtor]

I'm due in Oct. also!  Second baby though. 

I had a natural birth in the hospital with baby #1, but never looked into hypnobirthing.  We took some natural childbirth classes through a local place called the Childbirth Collective which were very helpful in explaining the realities of labor, how your levels of oxytocin rise naturally to help with pain (and how fear or tension can cause adrenaline to counteract this!) 

I'm wary of hospitals too, but we toured a couple and picked one that had a good midwife program.  Write a birth plan and hire a doula.  Yes, they can be expensive, but I thought completely worth it to have a personal assistant and possible advocate during this experience! 

[mollyjade]

Considering that I still have 14 weeks before my due date, I've decided that I would start with reading a few different books on natural childbirth first and inform myself as best as I can before deciding if I want the hypnobabies home study. I got some books from the library which I started reading and also found 2 books that weren't available at the library but which I thought would be useful to have for a total of 15$ on kijiji, these include Ina May's guide to childbirth.

The course takes five or six weeks to complete, so keep that, shipping time, plus the possibility of an early baby in mind and give yourself enough time.

I did hypnobabies, but ended up having a planned c-section. However, I got all the way through to transition before the doctor could get to the hospital (long story). I felt like hypnobabies really helped for the earlier stage, but by the time we got to transition it wasn't much use for me. However, I didn't end up using the cds toward the end of my pregnancy since I had a scheduled c-section, so I might not have really mastered the technique.

Looking at the cost of in-person classes helped me justify the expense. They were all two to three times as expensive.

[julez916]

I just wanted to jump in on this because I'm halfway through my first pregnancy (due in Jan) and starting to consider which route to go with childbirth education. We're having a home birth, so I think we're probably going to do an in-person class focused on home birth specifically with a local midwife. I live in Boulder, though, so there are lots of options around. I've already got a doula picked out, and she actually loaned me a hypnobirthing book and CDs... I think it was the hypnobabies home study course, actually, but I'm at work and can't double check. I haven't dug into it yet.

I saw someone above mentioned La Leche League as a good resource for connecting with other moms, and I wanted to chime in on that, too. I think the biggest thing that has helped me to have a mostly mustachian pregnancy has been my involvement in the local birth community. I teach prenatal yoga, so I have ties with a lot of new moms, I know a lot of doulas, and I get a lot of recommendations on all of the options that are out there. Through all of these connections, I've hardly had to spend any money on anything but my midwife and diagnostics. What money I have spent has been at thrift and consignment stores, and I'm feeling really optimistic about the amount of waste (both material and financial) that we're going to be avoiding because of the amazing community around here. I definitely intend to pay it forward. So, my big recommendation for mustachian pregnancy and birth is to get involved-- La Leche League, childbirth education, whatever you can find! And I would definitely recommend some sort of childbirth education outside of the hospital, even if you are having a hospital birth. The baby's going to get here eventually regardless, but any preparation you have will only help you to better deal with whatever comes up when you go into labor. If you can save money in another areas, I think spending on a childbirth ed course that really fits your personality is a solid investment.

[step-through]

I don't know about Hypnobabies specifically, but definitely take a good childbirth class. A lot of my friends and coworkers have had babies recently. At least anecdotally, it seems like taking some kind of class is the difference between who has a 'natural' (not necessarily drug free) birth and who ends up with an unplanned c-section. So think of it as a couple hundred dollars that will prevent the much higher cost of surgical procedure, recovery time, potential complications, and greater risks in future pregnancies - it's a great investment!