[Leha]

Sorry quick post as have to pick up the kids but in my opinion your midwife is 100% correct. It is absolutely worth every dollar. I believe that the reason I got my drug free birth is due to this course ( I did calmbirth). Mine was my second child so probably alt easier than a first birth but I felt in control the whole time and I think it helped speed up my labour time (6 hrs total).

I wish I had done the course before my first birth because I believe that it could have helped me avoid my c/sect which I thi k resulted due to the cascade of intervention.

[CubaLulu]

Thank you for all the replies so far. I really appreciate hearing actual testimony from people who've tried the techniques and found them helpful.

Spring Chickadee ~ Yes, my midwife has gone into detail about all that you mentioned re: the benefits of going drug free and the actual effects of the drugs themselves, both for me and baby. This is why I have (like you it sounds!) gone from wanting as much medical 'assistance' as possible, to wanting to try to achieve a natural birth. Both for me and baby.

Also, thank you very much for all the reading recommendations, Spring Chickadee and LouwithTwo; I'll definitely look into those books and do some more reading!

Reading all these positive recommendations is really encouraging. I'll give this thread to DH to read tonight and discuss further whether we should actually do the course. I'm enjoying the book, but feel I'd get more out of being taught in person... I'm a 'doer' if that makes sense, I learn actively much better than I do on paper.

[PurpleNess]

Yep a very successful Hypnobirther here - first child.

I don't mind saying that i had a perfect, amazing birth experience and would do it again tomorrow without question - yes it can happen if you prepare your mind & body.

We did a private course in our home over a series of weeks with a lovely practitioner who then became our Doula. We decided late in the picture to go for a water birth & also changed hospitals to a Birth Centre that supported our wishes.

I'd be happy to send you my birth story, as I think positive birthing stories should be shared because it is possible. I'll PM you.

My recovery was fantastic, I honestly didn't feel 'pain' except for maybe the last hr & even then it was manageable wiith the breathing techniques I learnt. Honestly I'm still blown away by the experience & swear that Hypnobirthing is what helped me have the birth I wanted.

DO IT :-)

[CubaLulu]

Once again, I can't thank you enough for sharing your story with me PurpleNess. It was absolutely beautiful x

[AvadaKedavra]

I did calmbirth before DS1 and thought it really useful. Despite induction, had a pretty easy 2.5 hour labour, and walked away saying 'well, that was underwhelming'. With DS2, he was big and posterior and it was NOT underwhelming at all! Pushed for two hours, excruciating pain... The only thing that got me through was knowing I had done it once before, and it was fine. If my number 2 labour has been number 1, not sure if the calmbirthing techniques would have been enough.

I find it just as repugnant that any care provider would refuse analgesia as I find it offensive when unwanted/unnecessary intervention is thrust upon people. I would seriously be considering changing midwives, or complaining, if that is her attitude.

Calmbirth gives you a set of skills to cope with the pain. It does not get rid of the pain. There are lots of good reasons to avoid analgesia, especially epidurals... But if you are looking to avoid fear during labour, the fear of not having an 'out' if you don't cope with the pain is pretty significant. You shouldn't be stressed about not having access to analgesia if you need it, as it will probably only increase your stress, and needing it! Every labour is different. After my first I thought smugly that I was a superwoman. My second labour humbled me - as my Ob had insisted the first time, I had just been lucky the first time. If you don't cope and need analgesia, it's not YOUR fault for not doing a calmbirth class, or not being calm enough, or tough enough, or whatever. You shouldn't be made to feel as if it is.

ETA - my summary (in case it wasn't clear) - do calmbirth, it was really useful. Don't expect calmbirth to guarantee you a drug free complication free birth. Using analgesia is not 'failing', it's just another form of 'coping'. But it's always best to attempt 'coping' with alternative methods than drugs/epidural first, and what calmbirth teaches is pretty good.

This post has been edited by MsN: 28/06/2012, 05:32 PM

[PleaseBeAdvised]

Another supportive of attending a Calmbirth class, despite the cost. I attended a session run by Peter Jackson.

My partner found the course invaluable. Prior to going in to the class my partner would be best described as a birth panic merchant and was highly anxious...the course taught him about how positive labour could be and completely changed his perspective about the whole thing. Fantastic.

As for me...Calmbirth and all the reading I did (particularly anything by Ina May Gaskin) reduced all the fear and I was extremely relaxed throughout the pregnancy and birth. I ended up having to be induced (gestational diabetes), however, this became an anxiety free experience due to my mindset. I strongly believe my mindset helped my body to be favourable for induction, despite being 38+4. Having said that, my labour came on very fast and strong and I was unable to implement the skills I had learned until I had the assistance of gas. After this I just let my body take over, and actually enjoyed the pushing stage, which I did drug free. 6 hours total.

Highly recommended.

[Penguin78]

Another calmbirth success story here. I did mine with Julie Clarke in Sydney.

I had a super quick first stage and went into panic mode, and if it wasn't for my husband repeating the visualisations and calm breathing weearnt, I would have been petrified.

I also think as PP said that they are good techniques to manage the contractions, rather then taking away pain all together. Also, remember if u r in a hospital, a epi is a short ward room away if you need it.

I think plan for a drug free natural labour, but be open in your heart to ask for pain relief if u need it. I didnt need one -actually too far gone by the time I got to hospital - but labour is so different for everyone.

Another girl in my calmbirth class had to be induced, was a long labour and had an epi, but the midwoves told her that if she hadn't done so much initial qork in the beginning drug free, she would have needed forceps.

[Lokum]

I find it just as repugnant that any care provider would refuse analgesia as I find it offensive when unwanted/unnecessary intervention is thrust upon people. I would seriously be considering changing midwives, or complaining, if that is her attitude.
...

ETA - my summary (in case it wasn't clear) - do calmbirth, it was really useful. Don't expect calmbirth to guarantee you a drug free complication free birth. Using analgesia is not 'failing', it's just another form of 'coping'. But it's always best to attempt 'coping' with alternative methods than drugs/epidural first, and what calmbirth teaches is pretty good.

I went to post, deleted, came back, and now I want to agree. Calmbirth and Hypnobirth do seem to have a correlation with women reporting drug-free births, which they are satisfied with.

If they help you cope with the pain, and you feel like you have skills and you can keep fear at bay, they are bloody brilliant. I am aiming to keep my fear under control this time around, because it was disastrous last time. However, don't have unrealistic expectations.

I think some people have different pain thresholds, some labours don't follow the typical course, etc. If you find it's just way more than you expected or you can cope with... that's life. Not everything is within our control, and it DOES NOT mean you are doing it wrong. Have someone there to calm and reassure you and support you...

but a midwife as anti-intervention and anti-analgesia as yours doesn't sound like she'd be supportive if you end up struggling.

She sounds like she'd be aiming for the birth SHE wants you to have. Encouraging you to keep trying is one thing, being a cow and withholding pain relief is unnecessary and offensive. Make sure that if gas/epidural are in your birth plan as last resorts - that she knows, accepts and is on board with this before you go in.

Make sure your DH has his balls with him on the day too - you won't be in a position to argue, and begging for help is not an acceptable position to be put in at this special time.

I wish you a calm, peaceful and safe birth.

[CubaLulu]

Thank you again for all your replies.

Lokum and MsN ~ I totally understand what you are saying regarding my midwife. I was a bit taken aback by her when I last met with her and told her about my friend's recent birth experience (one word: horrific) which ended up with an epidural. She had a lot to say about how it was probably unnecessary and had my friend NOT been told she would probably be in for another 3 hours of labour, then she would have been able to manage the pain contraction to contraction. But because she was told how long she had to go (in the nurses' opinion) she 'shut down' and let fear take over.

I had a chat to my DH about it all afterwards, and he said that he feels we are lucky to have her on our side, she is VERY well known for supporting and encouraging Calm Birth and natural birth choices, and that can be hard to come by in our highly medicalised birth culture. However, he has promised that if I give him the word, no matter what, he will ensure I get the medical support I need as soon as I need it. He's more than happy to go straight over my midwife's head and grab another hospital staff member and tell them I need help. I'm giving birth in a very well respected maternity hospital in Brisbane, so I don't feel worried that they wouldn't step in and help me.

As for doing the class; after all these wonderful recommendations (and PurpleNess's birth story) my DH and I have decided we'll definitely book in ASAP. We are under no illusions that Hypnobirthing is going to result in a perfect, pain-free experience, but we do hope it will give me the tools I need to do my best at getting through it all intervention free. And if I don't make it all the way, then so be it, but I'd like to be able to trust in my body and give it my best shot! I'm not afraid or adverse to using pain relief if I have to... I'd just like to have to tools to see if I can do it without.

Thanks again, I'll update to let everyone know how it all went in about 13 weeks!

[louiseos]

Yep a very successful Hypnobirther here - first child.

I don't mind saying that i had a perfect, amazing birth experience and would do it again tomorrow without question - yes it can happen if you prepare your mind & body.

We did a private course in our home over a series of weeks with a lovely practitioner who then became our Doula. We decided late in the picture to go for a water birth & also changed hospitals to a Birth Centre that supported our wishes.

I'd be happy to send you my birth story, as I think positive birthing stories should be shared because it is possible. I'll PM you.

My recovery was fantastic, I honestly didn't feel 'pain' except for maybe the last hr & even then it was manageable wiith the breathing techniques I learnt. Honestly I'm still blown away by the experience & swear that Hypnobirthing is what helped me have the birth I wanted.

DO IT :-)

I'm also seriously considering either calm birth or hypnobirthing. I'm currently reading the hypnobirthing book, but feel I'd probably learn more from a class. Hubby is concerned about the cost - as you know, it's not cheap, especially as we're getting so close to bub's arrival.

Purpleness - would you mind sharing your birth story with me so I can have a read and perhaps share with my hubby?

Thanks x