Hypnobirthing® Testimonial by Joanne and Mark Barley
While channel-hopping one day I came across a `Richard & Judy' article regarding the Hypnobirthing® approach to childbirth. Although I wasn't pregnant at the time, the experience of the woman shown was so clearly peaceful and easy that I knew I wanted to give birth just like that. About 18 months later I became pregnant and quickly sought out Hypnobirthing® practitioners. I found Steve `online' via the website and chose Sussex Natural Childbirth in preference to other practitioners (despite them being much closer in distance) because of an intuitive feeling.
The classes took me through every stage of pregnancy and labour; the classes were obviously excellent when I found I already knew (or had heard of) all of the questions and potential problems raised by the Midwives on our antenatal visits. In fact, it almost felt as though I was educating them! Indeed, one of the midwives showed real interest in our choices. The activities practiced seemed very relaxing at the time, but as I was to discover, they only really came into their own during labour itself.
There was no panic or rush when labour started; we had prepared for home birth, and so I could relax during the first stages of labour. The surges were increasingly frequent as labour progressed, and perhaps because I hadn't wasted any energy on fear and tension, I felt very little pain due to the surges, even when they intensified so much as to be non stop; however, I did experience some back pain which was related to the baby being `back to back' for a while, which was controlled with a hot compress until my baby decided to turn away from the heat. At no point did I feel out of control or in need of medical intervention. I knew what to expect, and I felt no surprise as labour progressed to pushing my baby out. Again, I felt no pain at all during the `second stage' of labour; I didn't tear (owing, I hope, to my extensive use of perineal massage). I only had some discomfort when my baby's head was delivered, which was after 7 hours of `established' labour. Otherwise, I was conscious and in control at all times during the birth, able to eat and drink, get up and walk around, and have normal conversations when not `surging'; I have no regrets, and my baby is healthy, calm and happy. I will certainly use Hypnobirthing® if I have any more children, though I will probably also try a water birth on the next occasion, as I found baths during labour to be very calming, and physically supportive. Jo Barley
As a new father, absolutely the best thing about Hypnobirthing® was the way that I knew very much what to expect during labour, and could take steps at all stages to help Jo control her relaxation and hence experience a calm, natural birth. There was none of the uncertainty so many men seem to experience, and I was fully involved in the whole process. I can't overstate how impressed I was by the efficacy of the exercises learned and used; the delight my wife had that she was in control during birth, rather than some medical procedural clockwatching checklist, was a real eye-opener too! I know I am closer to my new daughter as a result of my involvement in her birth, and hope that other men can overcome any skepticism they may feel to fully support their partners, in what has been an overwhelmingly positive experience for me. Mark Barley
HypnoBirthing Testimonial
From Rebecca Saraceno
I have to admit that I was probably a bit skeptical at first about
the benefits of Hypnobirthing, but after just the first session,
I was amazed at how easy it was to believe in the effectiveness
of hypnotherapy, and the power of the mind to over come fears and
problems relating to the body.
Everything Steve spoke about made perfect sense, and it was extremely
helpful to learn about the processes of labour and to understand
how deep relaxation would enable your body to naturally overcome
the pain and tension experienced through fear. Having an insight
into this new angle on labour was very encouraging, especially since
the medical world and many well-meaning friends had spoken so negatively
about labour.
The Hypnobirthing sessions taught both me and my partner
the techniques needed to work with your body and how to be positive
about the whole birthing experience. We came to realise how natural
and empowering the birth could be, so we lost our fears and anxieties.
The sessions also opened my eyes to the general benefits of hypnotherapy,
and how you can use the techniques of relaxation and visualization
for other aspects in your life, not just to help with birth.
I cannot recommend the Hypnobirthing classes enough. The atmosphere
is extremely relaxed and informal, so we instantly felt at ease
and after each session we left feeling self assured and excited
about the forthcoming event.
Emma and Chris
Smith (Letter to The Daily Mail) Emma did the HypnoBirthing course
with us.
I was
disappointed to read the opinions of Jennifer Selway on natural
childbirth ("Advice on birth? It's enough to make you
scream", January 14).
Eight
weeks ago I gave birth to my first child and it was brilliant. I
used hypnobirthing techniques, which use relaxation to reduce pain
drastically during childbirth. I had my baby at Crowborough Birthing
Centre where the midwives fully supported my chosen method of pain
relief, which was relaxation with the aid of a birth pool.
My baby boy was born without any screaming and without drugs. The
midwife said she had never seen anything like it.
It
makes me sad that thousands of women fear the birth of their baby
when I looked forward to mine so much. The experience was everything
I hoped it would be.
Emma Smith,
Haywards Heath , W Sussex
The
Birth of Abigail using the HypnoBirthing method
I
would like to tell you what a positive experience it was giving
birth to my daughter! After a long labour last time with my
son and every drug under the sun , I must admit I was sceptical
that labour could be anything but painful and scary, that is until
I used the skills I was taught in hypnobirthing.
Very
early one morning I was getting tightenings across my abdomen which
were uncomfortable enough to keep me awake, so I went downstairs
and listened to my rainbow relaxation cd and the one produced by
my hypnobirthing tutor. These died off and I put them down
to another false alarm! I went all day with nothing until
8 or 9 that evening when I had a show. I was checked out at
hospital as they were concerned about the way id described it.I
was examined and the baby monitored, all the while my husband and
I joked with the midwife. After about 2 hrs I was sent home
having been told these contractions at hospital were braxton hicks
and the show was normal but id nicked the cervix lining. On
arriving home my husband took the sofa knowing the baby could arrive
soon so he'd at least have a little sleep! Well 2 hrs is all
he got if that, All that time I was getting contractions and these
were definitely the real thing! I did my birth breathing during
each surge giving the baby room to move down and sleep breathing
in between as taught. They were 5 minutes apart and
I was really losing faith in myself and woke my husband. I
sat down whilst he rang the hospital and reluctantly they agreed
for me to go in. We were convinced I was being a wimp and
that we were in for a long night, how wrong! Once in the delivery
room the midwife( a different one from earlier) went through my
birth plan, very casually, she too was rather shocked when
I needed to push within 5-10 mins. Shed just suggested maybe
examining me to see how far dilated I was, we saved her the job.
My daughter was born within 21 minutes of me being admitted,using
just entonox during stage 2. I'm so proud of myself and grateful
to my hypnobirthing tutor Steve and of course the support of my
husband during pregnancy and birth.
I
listened to affirmations every day which gave me a positive attitude
towards childbirth and during the event just concentrated on my
relaxation breathing and helping my daughter have a calm,easy entrance
into the world. She seems to have a calm temperament which
I also put down to being so relaxed during pregnancy.
Thank
you Marie Mongan for teaching the world how natural and beautiful
birth should be, if only women would chill a little and believe
they are capable of this!
Debbie
Sneesby
Lucy and the Birth of Matilda with HypnoBirthing
When I fell pregnant with my little girl I must admit that I had certain reservations with regards to the birth and decided to look into various classes. I wanted, as far as possible, to have a ‘natural’ birth with as little intervention as possible. A couple of friends of mine had mentioned that they had attended a course in ‘hypno birthing’ and had really benefited from the experience and after investigation I discovered this course in Brighton. So myself and my husband trotted off each Wednesday evening and met with Gill and Steve and after each session came out feeling relaxed and very positive. Even the baby seemed to respond to these sessions. A few weeks before the birth I listened to the CDs provided and practiced the various breathing techniques from the course which always sent me into a very relaxed state and by the time came I felt completely ready. The birth itself was incredible and only took 4.5 hours in total and we only just made it to the hospital in time for Matilda Rose to make her appearance. Throughout the birth my body just took over and it just seemed to know exactly what it was doing so I just let everything happen naturally. So I had the most fantastic birth and now I have the most fantastic little girl.
Second Nature CD Testimonials
Liz O’Rourke’s experience with the Second Nature
Birth Programme
Thank
you so much for sending me your CDs. I had my son Finley James on
the 13th Julyat the Queen’s Hospital Burton on Trent.
I received the CDs approximately 8 weeks before my EDD and listened
to the first CD almost immediately. I found it was really very useful
and made me realise why it is important to stay relaxed during labour
and the changes that happen to our bodies. I practised the 7/11
breathing almost every day and it made me so relaxed that I dropped
off every time!
This breathing did become second nature and was therefore easy
to use when I first went into early labour. I woke up with back
and period type pains on the morning of the 12th July and I didn’t
really realise that this was labour as I was breathing through all
the pains (which were quite mild).By the end of the early evening
the pains had increased but I found I could help myself by laying
down and closing my eyes while listening to the third script on
CD3.
By the time I realised it was time to go to hospital (12.00), it
was too late to use any pain relief other than gas and air and my
breathing. There was no time to get the CD payer out as I only had
to push for 20 minutes before Finley was born! So even though my
plan to use the CDs during my stay in hospital failed, I still firmly
believe that the preparation I had done using all of the CDs played
an important part in the quick and relaxed birth and labour I experienced.
I would definitely prepare next time in the same way and have shared
the ideas behind the CDs with many of my friends.
In essence the CDs made me understand that childbirth is something
I can have control over and help myself to have a positive relaxed
experience.
Thank you again,
Liz O’Rourke.
It made a huge difference I have to say, I would
thoroughly recommend it to anyone.
Abigail
It was the perfect
birth, we can’t thank you enough.
Rachael
It was wonderful and Steve and Jill were great.
Lisa
Thank
you so much for sending me your CDs. I had my son Finley James on
the 13th Julyat the Queen’s Hospital Burton on Trent.