Hypnobirthing with HypBirth

For MommyThink’s first ever product review, I decided to choose a product that I love and am very familiar with. I used the HypBirth hypnobirthing program 9 months ago for the home birth of my third son. Hypnobirthing programs use hypnosis techniques to achieve natural pain control for childbirth. I am one of those women who, if you ask me about my birth story, will only have positive things to tell you. If you want to feel excited and confident about your upcoming natural birth, talk to me. No horror stories here! Hypnobirthing with HypBirth was no small part of the process for me.

At the time I used the program, I had a small retail store selling breastfeeding and natural family products. I figured I’d give it a try and if it worked, I could recommend it for my customers. I had a friend who used another hypnobirthing program successfully, but I decided on HypBirth because I really enjoy the Earth Mama Angel Baby products that the producer, Lori Dorman, is also involved with. Choosing this program was one of the best decisions I made for my birth!

The program advises that you start at 32 weeks. It was hard for me to wait on getting started, but I spent my time up until then getting my body ready for the birth with regular yoga practice and good nutrition. You start the program by watching the introductory section on the accompanying VHS tape and then the section that specifically introduces the first practice CD. There are four practice CDs and you move through them at a pace of one every 7 to 9 days. There is a section on the videotape to introduce each new CD. The CDs consist of relaxation sessions, practice of specific tools for labor, visualizations for labor and positive affirmations.

My first practice session was amazing. I felt relaxed and confident with a deep sense of well-being. I came to look forward to my practice sessions not only because they were moving me toward the birth, but because the deep relaxation helped to relieve the discomforts of a pregnant body at the end of a long day. After my first session, I was sure I had chosen the right program.

A surprising and rapid effect of the HypBirth program for me was an increasing confidence in my body and my ability to give birth. My previous two births had been traumatic for me for a number of reasons. I had always believed in the benefits of natural childbirth, but the program helped me to believe that I could do it, that I would do it. The confidence that I gained helped me to decide on having a home birth, something I had always wanted, but something that up until late in my pregnancy I wasn’t sure was the right thing for me. I decided to take control of my pregnancy and my birth and to do what I felt was the right thing for me and for my baby. Now, I’m not saying that everyone who does this hypnobirthing program will or should have a homebirth, but I am saying that this program will help you with self-confidence and eliminating fear. You will feel in charge of the process, as it should be.

Visualizations were an integral part of the program and I believe were responsible for my sense of self-confidence. I did need to change some of the guided imagery because of my Catholic faith. Some Christians may find that parts of the program have too many “new age” references. But that is the beauty of the HypBirth program; you can change what you need to and really make it your own.

The main advice I would give for anyone considering this hypnobirthing program is that you must make a commitment to practice. I have heard and read various reviews of hynobirthing programs that range from “it didn’t do much” to “it eliminated all pain”. I believe the benefits you reap from the program are in direct proportion to the amount of time you practice. I did find the practice time consuming. I was running a retail business and taking care of two other children, so time was a scarce commodity for me. I made the time. If you purchase the program and don’t put in the recommended amount of practice time, you can’t expect magical results.

Speaking of magical results, let’s talk about pain. I have read about women who have had pain free births. I believe it can happen. I’m not going to tell you that mine was pain free, but I will tell you that the discomfort I experienced was completely manageable. My labor was fun. I spent a good deal of my labor laughing and generally having a good time. I won’t recount my entire birth story now, because you can read my HypBirth home VBAC birth story here. It wasn’t until transition that I would describe my labor as painful. I’ll be honest; transition hurt. But I managed and I had the energy to get through it because of how well controlled my labor had been up until that point. Pushing was intense, but it was over in nine minutes. The pay off was amazing!

Needless to say, my little hands on product test turned out very well. If you are excited about using hypnobirthing methods for your childbirth and wish to order the HypBirth product, you may order the HypBirth program here. It became my favorite product in the store to recommend. And it is the first product that I’ll recommend for my series of product reviews! Please join my newsletter list if you wish to be notified of when the next review is published.