Berkeley Parents Network: Hypnobirthing

Berkeley Parents Network

Hypnobirthing

Berkeley Parents Network > Reviews > Classes & Lessons > Hypnobirthing

hypnosis for childbirth? (Sept 2005)
Instructor for Hypnobabies / Hypnobirthing (May 2005)
I'm considering hypno birthing (Nov 2003)
Seeking info about hypnobirthing (June 2003)
Doula for Hypnobirthing (Apr 2004)
Hypnotherapists

hypnosis for childbirth?

Sept 2005

Does anyone have any experience with hypnosis for childbirth? I'm having my first baby this year, and I'm wondering what experiences, if any, anyone in this community has had with Hypbirth or any other programs. Any input would be appreciated. Thanks! Dari

I had a great experience with hypnobirthing (ask me about my drug-free 2.5-hour first-baby labor!). It doesn't work for everyone, but if you are already confident that your body was designed for birth and that there's a ''better way'' than Lamaze, etc., hypno can give you the tools to achieve your goal. Definitely check it out and see if it ''clicks'' with you and your philosophy. I've even used the visualization techniques for pain management and healing in other (non-birthing) aspects of my health care. I took my hypno class from Deborah Saliby of Berkeley. anon

Instructor for Hypnobabies / Hypnobirthing

May 2005

I am seeking information on the wherabouts of my excellent hygienist from Nate Kaufman's office. Her name is Beth Davie. The practice was sold and the new owners took over her patients. Her skills, both personally and professionally are great. I (and several other patients) want to find out where she went. Does any one have any information? We would like to follow her to her new location. mww

Kristin Nemzer is great. she offers classes in SF.

(415) 902-0550
info AT hypnobirthingsf.com
http://www.deepinsighthypnosis.com/

Virginia

So happy to have a chance to recommend my hypnobirthing coach and doula, Betsy Appell. You can check out her extensive qualifications at http://www.berkeleydoula.com . She includes the option of a free hypnobirthing class when you sign her up as your doula, or you can just take the class. We went the first route, and it was fantastic. I had a very long labor - 38+ hours, and used hypnobirthing techniques throughout. The first night, my husband coached me as Betsy had taught him at home, and when he fell asleep I continued her techniques on my own. We were able to labor for more than 24 hours at home quite comfortably, and thanks to Betsy's training I knew exactly when to go to the hospital, arriving at 5cm. Because the baby was in an imperfect position (arm wrapped around head) it took me 8 hours to go from 7 cm to 10 cm, which my books had told me was the most painful part of labor. With Betsy's help, I was able to breathe through the contractions and relax my body so deeply that I almost didn't feel the pain. I spent over an hour at 9 cm, while Betsy guided me through relaxation and visualization, so calm that without a monitor no one would have known I was having contractions at all. She's WONDERFUL. Down to earth, caring, knowledgeable, so excited about helping her clients have a positive birth experience. I had exactly the birth I hoped for, and I couldn't have done it without her. rebecca

Betsy Appell is an experienced, caring doula specializing in hypnosis. She was with me for the birth of my first child in 2004 and was fantastic. Her website is berkeleydoula.com. Beatrice

I took Deborah Saliby's hynobirthing class in 2003 and had a very successful and satisfying hypnobirth. While I don't have any experience with other instructors to compare her to, I found Deborah very compassionate and open. She didn't feel there was just one ''right'' kind of birth, and wasn't just advocating natural childbirth as the only route, but instead showing how hypno can help in many situations. (She herself had a difficult, high-intervention birth before she discovered hypno, so she speaks from experience.) She's also a prenatal yoga instructor and brought some yoga into her teachings as well. I would recommend her. JP

I highly recommend doing hypnosis in preparation for and during a birth. My husband and I worked with a terrific doula -- Betsy Appell (http://www.berkeleydoula.com) -- for the birth of my first child in October 2004. She trained us in hypnobirthing techniques during our pre-natal visits with her, and gave us great materials -- meditations on CD, relaxation excercises, readings, etc. -- to use leading up to the birth. These hypnobirhing techniques made me much more relaxed about going into the birth, and directly contributed to being able to have a natural childbirth, even after being induced and having to discard many other aspects of our birth plan. I will definitely work with Betsy and use hypnobirthing for my next birth. Lori

Betsy Appell (http://berkeleydoula.com/) is a doula who practices hypnobirthing and also leads hypnobirthing seminars in an intimate setting. My husband & I found the techniques we learned in her class quite helpful. She is an experienced doula who is knowledgeable and easy to be around. Tracey

I'm considering hypno birthing

Nov 2003

Has anyone tried hypno birthing? Hypnosis to deal with pain in labor? Private classes, Birthways classes, etc??? If so, I'd love to hear about your experiences, advice, suggestions. I'm considering it...

I took a wonderful hypnobirthing class at Natural Resources, a natural childbirth education center in San Francisco (www.naturalresourcesonline.com). They meet once a week for five weeks, if I remember correctly (evening class). I planned to give birth at a non-hospital facility. I went into labor a week late and labored at home for 12 hours with absolutely zero problems and very little pain (somewhat like mild cramps you might have with a period). Unfortunately for me, my OB and the midwives who practiced with him, who did not use ultrasound prior to my due date, didn't know that my baby was breech, with one leg crossed horizontally over my cervix. Vaginal delivery wasn't a possibility, despite full dialation. I ended up having ! an emergency c-section after the midwives at the birth facility saw the baby presenting a single foot instead of a head. So, although I can't speak to the full birth experience with hypnobirthing, I moved to full dialation and some pushing and didn't find the experience particularly painful at all. That said, I did have some difficulty when I felt the urge to push so early (common with breech delivery) and was still a long drive from the birth facility. Things got pretty dicy when we moved to the hospital from the birth facility for the c-section. In my opinion, fear had a lot to do with the difficult parts of my delivery, because once I got frightened (both of the process and for my baby), I had a very difficult time practicing the relaxation techniques that had allowed me to progress so far in labor without pain. Personally, if I have a second child, I will definitely opt for a VBAC and wor! k with a hypnotherapist and the hypnobirthing method again. It really seems possible to me (from my experience) to have a natural delivery with a minimum amount of pain and distress. And, as a HUGE bonus, your baby will not be exposed to drugs in utero. Further information about the course taught at Natural Resources is available at www.hypnobirthing.com. I'd really recommend the course. Even if you choose a more medically oriented delivery the hypnobirthing course is great preparation. Also, my doula was a fabulous resource. I strongly recommend you have one (I'd recommend her, but she's not practicing right now due to family obligations of her own.) I'm no doctor, but if you'd like to talk to me directly about my experience feel free to contact me. Best of luck! Catherine

I STRONGLY recommend hypnobirthing. I didn't do it myself, but I will for my next pregnancy! My friend used hypnobirthing for her 2nd pregnancy and said it was *amazing.* After giving birth to a healthy baby boy, she felt as if she'd had 12 hours of sleep instead of 12 hours of labor. After a 3 hour nap, she was ready to go home. While the hypnobirthing won't releive pain *completely,* it makes it possible for you to relax into it and let your body's natural endorphins kick in and make it bearable. I have anothe friend who is due at the end of this month who will be doing hypnobirthing, also. Check it out! Pro-hypnobirthing

Seeking info about hypnobirthing

June 2003

I am pregnant with my first child and I am just overwhelmed with information on different kinds of birthing classes (methods). One that seems particularly interesting is hypnobirthing. Does any one have personal experience with this method? I would love to hear your experiences and recommendations on the method itself and on hypnobirthing educators. Thanks! Marcia

Deborah Saliby teaches hypnobirthing seminars and one-day workshops. We went to a one-day workshop, which was very nice, and even my super-skeptical husband felt pretty comfortable with it. Her seminars have gotten a lot of local and worldwide media attention, of late, so they may fill up fast. Her number is 510-644-1395. Does hypnobirthing work? I can't say: I ended up having a very complicated, very early delivery, which was highly medicalized, as they say (a situation I'm not lamenting: my baby and I would be dead if it weren't for much maligned Western medicine). However, as things got scarier, I did find it very useful to fall back on some of the self-hypnosis and calming breathing techniques we practiced in the one-day workshop. anon

Try Deborah Saliby 644-1395, she offers a one-day workshop or a series. We did the 1 day workshop, it was very good at helping me trust my body to do its job; birth is not done w/ the intellect! Also her pre-natal classes are great and the breathing I learned (and practiced each night) turned out to be what I used during labor to dissolve the pain and move along (no meds, most labor at home, a great birth experience). Kristine

Try Makini Duewa, a doula certified in hypnobirthing. She'll be able to tell you more about it and give you classes if you're interested. Phone is (510) 625-1395. Brightstar

Hi- Try Carolyn Schaffer in Berkeley. I found her voice to be very soothing and her technique really helped me to relax on my own.

Does it work? Well, I ended up with a c-section due to a breech discovered at the last minute. However, I can quote something that Carolyn said when I expressed my fears of what could potentially go wrong, not allowing me to get to natural birth process. ''No matter WHAT happens, the more relaxed you remain, the easier the whole process will be.'' While this may sound like plain old common sense, it really hit home with me. She was right. I used the hypnotherapy during my external version procedure and it did help me to relax. I also used it during breastfeeding.

My girlfriend also practiced hypnotherapy (she lives out of the area, so I can't recommend her teacher) Anyhow, her first birth couldn't have gone much better. She labored and pushed for a total of 4 hours and went home that evening. Her second one was also very fast however, it was an emergency c-section due to fetal distress. In both cases, she used hypnotherapy to remain calm.

So, my final thought is that pain manifests differently in everyone. Using relaxation techniques of any kind are proven to aid in pain management for most people. It's important to find what works for YOU, whether it be hypnotherapy, lamaze, or any other type of relaxation technique. In the end, just because you practice the art of hypnotherapy or any other relaxation technique, it doesn't mean you will have an uncomplicated birth, however, if it helps you to relax just when you need to most, it will be well worth the effort. I will definitely try hypnotherapy with Carolyn for my second birth.

Hope this helps! Tiffany

This is a response to Alesia asking about hypnosis: I am an RN & Marriage and Family Therapist and include hypnosis and guided imagery in my private practice. I do groups and work individually with women using hypnosis and imagery for child birth. I would be happy to answer any questions and can be reached at sonja AT imageryworks DOT net

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