Hypnobirthing

Does it really work? I'm reading the book now and they have some incredible stories about these peaceful painfree births. But is it for real?

I'd love to hear from BTDT moms that have tried it (I noticed a few on the epi thread).

I want to try to go natural, but ONLY if its a pleasant experience. I just wonder if that a totally naive idea.

If the pain is bad, I'm all for an epi, but if I can relax and enjoy the experience without tensing up and causing pain, that sounds great. My midwife said she's found women doing hypobirthing to be more successful than those doing bradley or lamaze (less medical intervention and they had more coping tools)

So, what were your experiences? Share it all - I'm not afraid to hear the stories (good and bad). Did you take a class? read the book?

any recommendations?
Thanks

Re: Hypnobirthing

I took it with a wonderful woman named Caroline Brenner. My husband and I took a class in her home in Rockville Center. She provides the book and the tapes for you to listen to. I think we went to about 5 (1hr) classes/
I actually got the epidural and kind of feel like a failure but I still recommend it to anyone. I wasn't scared about delivering and went pretty fast. I got to the hospital at 8am and had my son at 1:25. I pushed for about 3 contractions and that was it.
I didn't get a chance to use it though since at Winthrop they never really put me in a bed and had me walk and had me on the exam table twice. I only had the epidural in for about an hour I think and when my doctor walked in I was already completely dilated. She was in and out in about 2 hours!

I was very anti-epidural but back labor was quite painful. I will try to use the techniques if I have another baby. Maybe I could go epidural free with the next!

Re: Hypnobirthing

you're not a failure at all! Thanks for sharing your experience.

Re: Hypnobirthing

There is a place in Pt. Jeff that has the classes. I think you need the class, not just the book. It is amazing..the whole experience of taking the class. I was actually looking forward to childbirth and totally unafraid of it.