Here are my thoughts as a Hypnobabies instructor and as a Hypno-Doula of over 30 of my students:
My first response is No! But I think in reality:
It depends on how you define success!
I say something like this in the first class:
- The purpose of Hypnobabies is not to have a pain free birth
- It is to have the best and most comfortable birth possible
- Each birth is different and you and your baby together will create your experience
- the birth location you choose, your baby’s positioning, different interventions – there are so many things that work together in creating your birth experience
- You will learn the information you need to make the best choices for YOU and your baby
- You will learn and develop tools to help you every step of the way.
If a mom takes this attitude and is flexible and makes the best choices for her during her birth and is supported in those choices she will hopefully feel successful.
A different definition of success:
However, there are some moms who get hung up on the comfort part.
I think it may be possible that some moms search out Hypnobabies because they are so afraid of the pain and that becomes their main focus, birth being comfortable. Which I know it CAN be, but moms would benefit to focus on the bigger picture. Because birth has so many facets to it, it is very limiting to focus on only one part.
These Moms may feel they have failed if they have discomfort. I try to reassure them, there is NO WAY to fail, but they have their own perceptions and create their reality.
Moms need to start asking these questions,
- Did Hypnobabies help you during your pregnancy?
- Did Hypnobabies help you during your birth?
If the answer is yes, then you were successful with it! 🙂
I will have 2 follow up posts with Moms and their insights about being successful with Hypnobabies during their births.
Once I beat my infertility problems I can’t wait to do hypnobabies! I love these posts! 🙂
I really really want to try hypnobabies next time. I read the Hypnobirthing book-I know totally NOT the same-for my last birth and it really pumped me up. It prepared my mind to not fear the pain. I didn’t practice anything, but I think just making me not fear the pain helped so much. So I want to try Hypnobabies for three reasons. 1. I like how it is an actual childbirth preparation class. 2. Hypno “stuff” really appeals to me. I really think it’s cool. 3. I want to be a childbirth educator one day and Hypnobabies is my favorite one so far out of all the ones I’ve researched.
Great post! With my Hypnobabies birth, I was a little disappointed that I had discomfort at the very end of transition (I had a cervical lip) and during pushing, but when I later thought about how much Hypnobabies really helped me, I know it was a success.
Kristi, I could have written your exact comment after my first birth. I am getting trained to be a Hypnobabies instructor in July 🙂
I have never given birth, but when I do get pregnant, I so want to do Hypnobabies.
Oh, and funny story:
I have heard about the “peace” cue, and used it yesterday when my husband was rubbing a particularly hard knot in my foot. I kept saying, “Peace” in as relaxed a way as possible to make sure I didn’t scream. My husband found it amusing, but said it worked.
I love that you are using it even now! :O)
I hope you do become an instructor one day! 🙂
Good luck with TTC.
I am currently doing hypnobabies with my first pregnancy and I already feel that it is a success because 1) if nothing else, it helps me fall asleep when nothing else will. Her voice is just so darn soothing! 🙂 and 2) it has removed a lot of my fears and anxieties about birth. I am actually really looking FORWARD to childbirth now. Not just the baby (though I cannot WAIT to hold her in my arms), but the whole process as well. I never thought I would feel this way.
Thanks for sharing your experience! I so agree, there are so many benefits. 🙂