Having a pain-free labor sounds like a dream to a pregnant mother. With so many options to reduce pain during labor, it’s hard to know where to start your research. With Hypnobabies, I achieved my goal of natural unmedicated births for all three of my children, including my home birth. Find out if Hypnobabies might be right for you!
Please read: This information is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. We encourage you to make your own healthcare decisions in partnership with a qualified healthcare professional.
This post contains affiliate links, which means at no extra cost to you, we make a commission from sales.
For most of us, labor is that scary thing that happens at the end of a pregnancy.
It happens just like it does in the movies. Lots of panicked screaming, emergent situations, and a mother fighting against the waves of unbearable pain as her beautiful bundle enters the world. Sounds like bliss…right?
Let’s face it, there are not many depictions of positive labor and delivery in pop culture and media. And for many women, these are the only images or references they have. Even in our personal lives, the negative stories seem to outweigh the positive.
I was fortunate enough to be present at the birth of my younger sister when I was 10 years old. Watching my mother give birth was nothing like what I’d seen on TV. She’d previously given birth to me and my brother naturally.
Seeing her deliver my sister (though this time with an epidural) was magical. She was totally calm the entire time – completely in control.
From then on, I looked at the depictions of labor and delivery on the screen as fantastical.
When hubby and I were pregnant with our firstborn, even with the beautiful memory of my sister’s birth, I was slightly terrified. Like my super mom had, I was determined to have a natural unmedicated birth. But, I had now come to understand the variety of birthing experiences that exist and I was trying to prepare myself for anything.
For millennia women have been giving birth naturally. I wanted to feel everything that came with the miracle of pregnancy. I’m a self-proclaimed lightweight crunchy mom, and in all my research, natural births gave the best entrance into this crazy world.
Why I Chose Hypnobabies?
As I worked with Hubby to develop our birth plan, I wanted to emphasize that I wanted a natural unmedicated labor and delivery. It didn’t take long to gather our thoughts, concerns, and goals to devise a plan we felt great about.
So, now with the birth plan all set up, all I had to do was wait until the time came and just do it… right?
Easier said than done!
I started Googling “natural pain relief during labor” and posting similar questions in mommy forums. I came across hypnobirthing for mamas who wanted to give it a go without an epidural.
There are two popular hypnobirthing programs available – Hypnobirthing – the Mongan Method and Hypnobabies.
The Mongan Method was a little too involved for me. You either buy the book, take classes, see a private hypnotherapist or employ a trained Hypno doula. Whew!
There were no options nearby for me to try the Hypnobirthing classes, so I chose the Hypnobabies home study course. The self-study program also fit into my work schedule, so I was excited to try it out.
What is Hypnobabies?
Before I go any further, let’s talk more about Hypnobabies. For those who are unfamiliar, here is the description according to Hypnobabies:
“Hypnobabies is a very successful 6 week, 3-hours per week, complete childbirth education course that was adapted with permission from Master Hypnotherapist Gerald Kein’s “Painless Childbirth Program” techniques (medical grade, somnambulistic hypnosis). This allows our Hypnobabies students to enjoy “eyes-open childbirth hypnosis”, easily remaining deeply in hypnosis while walking, talking and changing positions; being as mobile as they would like to be during childbirth. Hypnobabies is well-known for helping people create much shorter, easier and more comfortable labors, making childbirth the joyful experience it was meant to be.”
Hypnobabies, in my opinion, is a complete prenatal education program. Each course includes not only your guide to achieving self-hypnosis but also information on many topics important to pregnant mothers like:
- Nutrition
- Exercise
- Avoiding Complications
- Back Labor
- Removing Fear During Pregnancy and Childbirth
- Creating birth plans
- Consumer Issues
- Postpartum Preparation
- Newborn Care
- Breastfeeding
It really provides a wealth of information. This childbirth education course emphasizes natural, physiological birth, and how when it is left alone to progress naturally, without fear, the pain is significantly less, or totally non-existent.
What Hypnobabies is NOT
So, the idea of hypnosis kind of freaked Hubby out, at first.
Because it conjures images of people being told to bark like a dog or do some other humiliating trick while under hypnosis.
I was able to reassure him that there was no risk of me interrupting a meeting at work and starting to quack like a duck when I heard the phone ring.
Here are a few FACTS:
- All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; the hypnotherapist is only a guide. A person chooses to enter into a hypnotic state, remain in hypnosis, and come out of hypnosis at will.
- Hypnosis works on approximately 90-95% of the population. Willingness, belief, and motivation have great influence over hypnotizability.
- During hypnosis, you are neither asleep nor unconscious, and will always “come out” whenever you wish. You are always in complete control.
- Stronger-minded and stronger-willed people are easier to hypnotize; not the other way around as is usually assumed.
- You cannot be made to divulge information or do anything against your will while in hypnosis.
- Hypnosis is not Satanic or religion-oriented at all, just a way to direct your inner mind toward the positive for great personal benefit.
- We are all in states of hypnosis many times a day already!
Hypnobabies Course Offerings
Hypnobabies provides a number of ways to complete the program. All you have to do if find which suits your lifestyle the best. Hypnobabies is designed to be a 6-week program, so they urge you to start the program by 7 months, to get the full benefit of the program.
Self-Study Options
The most popular option is the Home Self-Study Study Course. Hypnobabies Home-Study Course is an advanced Hypnosis for Childbirth course, using MP3 audio tracks and our Hypnobabies written materials or online materials to prepare for a much easier and more comfortable birth experience. With this option, moms can complete the program in the comfort of their own homes.
The Self-Study Course can be completed using either the Online Home Study Course or using the Classic Hard-Copy Home Study Course.
Hard-Copy Home Study Course
The Classic Hard-Copy Home Study Course is the option that I used for my three pregnancies. I liked the idea of having a physical product. I highlighted the course books and took notes. It was really nice to have the CDs to pop into the radio of my car when I listened during my lunch breaks (ahem…naps) at work.
Online Home Study Course
The Online Home Study Course is a great option for moms who want to go through the course quickly or would like to save money on the program. This would definitely be the option I would try if I were just trying it out for the first time. I wish was available when I was pregnant with my oldest.
Instructor-Led Course
If you are in the area of a Hypnobabies Class, consider if this might be the option for you. There are many benefits to the in-person classes that might make it a better fit.
Hypnobabies (now updated, Edition 8) is a very successful 6-week, 3-hours per week, complete childbirth education course that was adapted with permission from Gerald Kein’s “Painless Childbirth Program” techniques rather than using simple relaxation, breathing, or guided imagery like other hypnobirthing programs.
This allows our Hypnobabies Students to enjoy “eyes-open childbirth hypnosis”, easily remaining deeply in hypnosis while walking, talking, and changing positions; being as mobile as they would like to be during childbirth. Hypnobabies is well-known for helping to create much shorter, easier, and more comfortable labors, making childbirth the joyful experience it was meant to be.
Hypnobabies Worked For Me
So, did Hypnobabies work for me? ABSOLUTELY!!!
How I Used Hypnobabies
With my oldest child, I started the program at almost exactly 7 months. I diligently, read the course work and listened to the CDs every day. At the time, I had the luxury of being a first-time mom. I was able to come home after work and use that 30-45 minutes to decompress from the day, really build up my special place, and practice the techniques.
It was a beautiful experience – being able to focus on my body and baby daily. I always felt positive and energized after a session.
I will say that is probably because the recordings put me to sleep – most of the time. And that’s not a bad thing! Hypnobabies explains that your subconscious will receive the information, even when you are sleeping.
The schedule starts with an overview of the foundational hypnosis recordings followed by maintenance weeks, where you will review the recordings in s specified order.
You will also listen to the Joyful Pregnancy Affirmations recording each day. This track really helps to tear down any negative thoughts you may have toward your pregnancy and builds up your trust in your ability to carry your child. I listened as I fell asleep each night.
My favorite track was the Special Place recording. This track helps you develop your special place where you will mentally journey to during your labor and delivery.
I chose a beautiful beach oasis, imagining the sounds of waves crashing moving me into deep relaxation. I envisioned my husband and new baby (later the whole family) by my side as the breeze and warmth comforted me. It’s been two years and can still quickly imagine the scene.
The only thing I only partially listened to were the birthing day recordings (Easy First Stage and Pushing Baby Out), which can be played during your labor and delivery.
I started to listen to Easy First Stage, but I decided that listening to Hubby’s music selections would help me relax even more.
My First Labor and Delivery with Hypnobabies
I powered through a majority of the labor, even taking a solo trip to the grocery store that afternoon.
When the birthing waves (Hypnobabies more positive word for contractions) started to get stronger, I found myself sitting on the couch with my eyes closed. I used the finger drop technique to quickly get into hypnosis while Hubby closed up the house and go us ready to leave.
When he urged me to leave for the hospital based on the timing of the waves, my response was, “Are you sure?”
That’s literally how relaxed I was. Was it completely pain-free? No, but the deep relaxation I achieved was so powerful, that I made it through most of my labor at home.
When we arrived at the hospital, I was already 7.5cm dilated and our daughter was born within an hour of our arrival to the hospital.
Our first experience was an absolute success.
Second and Third Times Using Hypnobabies
With my second and third children, my diligence wavered a bit, and I mostly resorted to listening to the recordings in my car at work during my lunch breaks. It was, however, really easy to get back into the techniques and I found myself getting into self-hypnosis pretty quickly each time.
With our second pregnancy, copy and past my first experience. I labored at home for most of the day and arrived ~7.5cm dilated and delivered about an hour later.
We did a home birth (water birth) with our youngest, which changed the process, but not the experience. I felt even more relaxed this time around being at home.
Even this time Hubby had to urge me when to get into the birthing pool. Our little one was born after only a few hours of labor and it turned out to be my best birthing experience of the three.
Overall Review of Hypnobabies
I can’t say enough good things about the Hypnobabies Program. I enjoyed taking a moment out of each day to review materials and listen to the CDs (or MP3s). The Program taught me to go into deep relaxation using “the finger drop” technique and to reduce my level of pain.
Hypnobabies Discount!
Think Hypnobabies might be the perfect way to reduce pain during your natural labor? Here’s a link for 15% off your Hypnobabies Course and/or products. We hope you like it as much as we did!
Hypnobabies is currently offering 10% off *all products in their web store, including the Hypnobabies Home Study Courses, with code Hypno4Me, so check it out: *Hypnobabies Discount* (*Excludes gift certificates)
Have you ever tried self-hypnosis for labor and delivery? Share your experience below!!
Thanks for hanging out!
