Painfree birthing is a reality......

Quirkygirl

Hi folks, I wanted to share my story with you and I hope it can be a small step to changing the way we birth. I have had 2 babies in a midlands hospital over the past 3 years. When I was pregnant on baby no 1 I didnt want to use any pain relief as I had read that all of this passes through to the baby. and can cause difficulties in breastfeeding etc. and I thought if women have been having babies for thousands of years with no assistance from docs etc why is this not possible for me, it has t be a natural thing. But all I was hearing were horror stories from people about how terrible it was. I did a bit of research and found hypnobirthing or hypnosis for childbirth. Needless to say it has changed my life. I bought a book on the web by marie mongan, called hypnosis for childbirth, it is an amazing read. i practiced the techniques recommended. I have had two babies both 9lb 8 oz. i was completely relaxed and at peace throughout the labour, talking, eating, deep breathing, I only started to groan when the urge to push overcame me. I did not suffer pain/feel any pain, I felt a lot of pressure when the head was coming. I had only a small tear on both and needed a small amount of stitches. I have such wonderful memories of my births. The staff were so supportive and they were truly in awe. They just let me do my thing and did not interfere. I have since passed on the details of the book to about 10-15 women who have all without exception had the same birthing experience as me. It is worth a look ladies. I kept very positive and active and healthy throughout my pregnancies and I think it all helps. i have a sister who has had one baby with epidural and one hypno and she cannot praise it enough, she felt very removed from the first birth and out of control and she couldnt walk for a day after it, . her 2nd experience she was able to truly appreciate an amazing and peaceful birth. and walked to the shower 30 minutes after delivering.

wmpdd3

Its def worth a try, even just listening to the CDs get you so relaxed, it can be just what you need on a labour ward!

littlefriend

Is there a particular one you'd recommend?

Quirkygirl

littlefriend wrote: »

Is there a particular one you'd recommend?

Yes Marie mongans book I bought it on amazon I think 25 quid. It came with the free cd. On labour no 1 I listened to cd from time I got first contraction or surge as mongan calls it right until I delivered it was amazing whereas on no 2. I only needed cd a little it was all about the breathing exercises she gives you. Its called hypnobirthing- hypnosis for childbirth. She developed it in the USA after she had two v bad births. Followed by a hypnobirth. It works by relaxation and going with your body, most of us believe childbirth to be painful and so our fear creates pain. It works on getting rid of that.

How Strange

There's also GentleBirth by an Irish midwife and doula called Tracey Donegan. I didn't listen to the CDs (I will next time) but I read the book and one thing that stuck in my mind was she said a contraction or surge as she calls it peaks at 45 seconds. I kept that in mind during labour and it really helped me focus on my breathing. I think knowing that helped me avoid getting the epidural.

Cat Melodeon

I used the Gentlebirth program on both my pregnancies. I wouldn't say it gave me a pain-free birthing experience first time round, but it did transform me from a terrified first-timer calling for an epidural in the 8th month to someone who dealt calmly with an induced labour and a 9lb 6 baby using only gas and air. However the effects of Gentlebirth were pretty tremendous for my second baby (two weeks ago tonight!) - I wasn't allowed bring my ipod into the admissions ward but was able to totally focus my mind on the affirmations I learned using the CDs and could actually hear Tracy's voice when I concentrated. It kept me totally relaxed even though no pain relief was available. When I finally was allowed up to the labour ward, I was immediately ready to push and my baby was born 6 minutes later with no pain relief. It wasn't what I had planned (I'm quite fond of the gas and air!) but it was an immensely satisfying experience that was at worst uncomfortable and stingy rather than painful, and I totally accredit that to hypnobirthing.

lynski

another one here!! i used Gentlebirth for last 2 of my pregnancies and births. would not say pain free but manageable, very manageable. I did not tell the midwives i was using hypnobirthing on the 1st one and was able to use visualisation/calming techniques/affirmations to get through it.
On the last birth even better experience, and the midwives were so supportive and helpful, even got me a nice quiet room for labor. It was about 3 hrs in total and 5hrs from first pain to birth. i had the cds on mp3player and used it for the first hr in hospital - you know the 'walk the wards' hour. instead i popped on the mp3 player, relaxed so much dh thought i was asleep and we were going home. cds ended and bang - labor ward time. sorry i didn't try them again then.
All through the pregnancy the cds helped me sleep and relax and gain control, particularly as my first birth was a long induced labor ending in an emergency C-section.
Do it girls, do it. best money you will spend.

littlefriend

At what stage did you start using them? I'm actually 38w3days so probably too late. I had intended on getting into it but have been reallly busy and the last ten weeks have disappeared. I don't have an issue getting an epidural - its before that that I am worried about. I'm single and live on my own and worried about going in to labour and panicking. Its all a bit real now - eek!

lynski

if you take a look at tracy's website, i believe it is not too late. i sent you a pm.

Quirkygirl

Hi there don't worry about being 38 weeks, it's not too late but if you happy to get epi then do that. Epi affects babies natural ability to know when to turn to come out. If you happy to rake epi take epi you need nothing more. Best of luck xxx

Quirkygirl

What I will say is the CDs that came with the book were super to keep me relaxed and calm and to not panic. You are so focused on the breathing. I gave my book to a girl overdue by two days, she read it in one day practiced the opening blossom/ rose visualisation and she started two days later and had an amazing experience. I was going to do gentlebirth but I thought it was expensive. The book is amazing! Seriously!

SanFran07

For anyone buying Marie Mongan's book on Amazon - there are two versions.

The UK version doesn't come with a CD (there is a yoga Mum on the front) you have to get the American version with the baby on the front.

lounakin

I just bought one on amazon, it says CD on the description of the advert so if I don't get it, I'll definitely complain! I should get it next week.
All I'm hoping for is a 'manageable' pain, like someone described above! Something I can control... It's such a simple idea yet widely unpracticed. In hospital they mainly want you to shut up and let them take the baby out of you at any cost.

MaxCharlie

Does anybody with the book and cd want to sell on to me ? If so pm me your details.

jw297

I read the Marie Mongan book (found it for 2 euro in a charity shop!) and really liked it as a lot of it confirmed what I already thought. Women have been doing this naturally for so long and only recently so much intervention has become common, so I was sure that it didn't have to be the terrifying painful experience that birth is often made out to be. However, I ended up getting the Natal Hypnotherapy CDs by Maggie Howell, as I preferred her voice and accent (British) over the American one. The idea behind it is the same though, and even though I only started listening to the CDs quite late (34 weeks) and haven't managed to listen to them every day, they are very relaxing and have given me great confidence in my own body. This is my first and I'm not due until next week so can't say how well this will work as I've no previous experience to compare with, but I definitely think the (approx) 50 euro for the full set of CDs was already money well spent considering how much more relaxed I have been during the last few weeks. I've also been able to use the relaxation techniques to deal with other stressful situations.

lynski

just saw this gentle birth mp3s reduced

lounakin

Hello all!
I got the Mongan book and while everything made sense I found it widely unhelpful to just read about it. Instead I opted for a prenatal yoga class with a teacher specialising in natural birth and birth techniques. I find when you spend hours with a teacher, repeating the movements and the breathing techniques, things sink in more naturally.

Quirkygirl

Hi folks I am bumping this up so people can spread the word on this amazing new way to birth. !!!!!

Kash

I started listening to the Gentle Birth CDs yesterday - just the 30 minute hypnosis style one so far.

I'm 23 weeks and a bit, with my first child, and don't want to psyche myself out with tales of horror before delivery, so i'm avoiding all birth stories like the plague.

So far, so good - I hope this calmness lasts right through the birth of my child

Quirkygirl

Kash I hear the gentle birth is really good. You are right to avoid horror stories. I had heard them all before, this method is all about conditioning and practice getting focussed and relaxed. The calmer and more relaxed youare the easier your birth will be. As your body just takes over and births. I truly had two wonderful births, as have so many others using this method. The power of positive thinking is also really important- if you visualise the birth you want, ( i was always visualising peace love painfree relaxed calm birth) this will happen affirmations are also very helpful. Best of luck you will have a wonderful experience

LauraLoo

I found both books similar in content but preferred the gentle birth cd with Irish accent a bit easier to get into relaxed state quicker. Unfortunately I ended up with an emergency csection but despite that found myself very relaxed for the initial stages of labour and feel confident that I could have managed the labour with just gas and air. Would use the vbac the next time.

I have the mongan method book & cd and also gentlebirth for sale if anyone would like send me pm.

Walls

I used pain relief during the delivery and was able to breastfeed a few hours later with no problems. If folks do go ahead with pain relief, the problems they encounter can be small or none at all. I really really respect anyone that can do it without pain relief, they are to be congratulated!

littlemissfixit

I used the gentle birth cd self-hypnosis, just listening to it a few times a week. I had my daughter without any pain relief apart from tens machine, although I did try the gas, but I was so focused on my hypnosis that I was forgetting to use it so I just left it.
I am not saying it was painfree, but it was really manageable and from the time I got to the hospital I gave birth less than 5 hours later, from which about only 1 hr was more intense, and the midwives couldn't believe how calm I was, in fact I couldn't believe it myself.

I couldn't recommend it enough, your body was built to do this but your mind has been conditioned to such an extent that its creating obstacles for your body, the cds help you recondition your mind to work in sinc with your body's natural habilities.

Using it again this time around, due in 6 wks!!!

Quirkygirl

Littlemissfixit the very best of luck with baby no. 2. I found it all much faster on my 2nd baby but still well able to use the hypnosis to stay focussed on calmness and the safe arrival of baby. All will go great for you!!

Kash

For those of you that listened to the gentle Birth CDs, can I ask which tracks you listened to, and how often?

At the moment, 100 days to go, I am only listening to track 3 on CD 1 a few times a week. I found the listening instructions a bit vague, so just wondering what other people did/are doing.

Squiggler

Kash wrote: »

For those of you that listened to the gentle Birth CDs, can I ask which tracks you listened to, and how often?

At the moment, 100 days to go, I am only listening to track 3 on CD 1 a few times a week. I found the listening instructions a bit vague, so just wondering what other people did/are doing.

Snap! Doing the same for now. Occasionally tracks 2 and 3, but mostly just track 3. I'm only 15 weeks though so it will probably be a month or two before I start listening to the other CDs

DeeRottie

Such an interesting thread, I used hypnosis when I suffered badly with depression so obv hypnobirthing will be something I want to look into if/when I get pregnant. Glad not everyone out there thinks hypnosis is nonsense, although I admit even I did in the past

SanFran07

DeeRottie wrote: »

Glad not everyone out there thinks hypnosis is nonsense, although I admit even I did in the past

A lot of people think of swinging watches and pet leprechauns when they think of hypnosis ;)but there is quite a good bit of evidence supportive of hypnosis for pain management. But in the event you did decide to have an epidural on the day you'll have enjoyed your pregnancy a lot more without all the fear of 'D' day.

Quirkygirl

Howdy folks, just popping up the pain free childbirth thread again! Since My last post two more friends of mine have had pain free births with no pain relief and extremely happy contented babies too!