Mindful Hypnobirthing: Hypnosis and Mindfulness Techniques for a Calm and Confident Birth

I read this at the start of my pregnancy and used the tracks throughout. I planned for a home and water birth with as little medical intervention and drugs as possible. Unfortunately, this didn't go to plan. I went into hospital to be monitored because I was having some cramping and backache, which turned out to be contractions, at which point they noticed that my baby's heart rate was slowing down, indicating she was in distress. This led onto multiple medical interventions, I had to have a sweep, my waters broken, hooked up to monitors and was even told at one point that I was going to have to have an emergency C-section. My contractions were coming on very strong and fast, I felt as though I was losing all control and was angry that the labour that I had hoped for was not going to happen. When I finally reached 5cm dilated I had a moment where I completely changed my attitude, I realised that even though my labour was different to what I had planned, I could still stay in control. My midwives tried aromatherapy in the room and I focused on the breathing techniques that I had learnt, with the help of some gas and air. During this time, I went from 5 to 9 cm dilated in 25 minutes, the people in the room with me were amazed and later told me that it was as though I was in some sort of trance. I pushed for 2 hours, but wasn't having any luck, so I had to have a forcep delivery. Once my baby was born I was taken to theatre for an epidural to be stitched up. I also lost a lot of blood and so had to have a blood transfusion. I stayed in hospital for a further 2 nights to be monitored. Even though people have been telling me that I had a "traumatic" labour, I can't agree with them. I believe the reason I was so calm throughout my pregnancy, labour and recovery, was all down to the positive attitude this book enforces. I can't recommend this book enough. Just buy it and try it, you have nothing to lose.

The author experienced two radically different types of birth: the first stressful and disorientating, which ultimately led to postnatal depression, the second calm and empowering, enabling her to bond immediately with her son.I was eager to read this book because, like the author, I had experienced very different births and I really wanted to know why, especially as I have daughters. All of my births were painful but the second two were definitely better. I thought it might have something to do with staying calm, having a nice environment, being allowed to choose my birthing position and focusing my thoughts on to my favorite beach rather than on the gas masks hanging on the wall but I wasn't sure.Can women have control over the quality of their birth experiences? This book says yes - absolutely!Here are the tools and techniques you need to give yourself the best birth experience possible, plus the opportunity of a complete or at least a significant reduction in pain limiting the need/risks associated with medical interventions.Part 1 focusses on pregnancy: the techniques such as visualization, relaxation and mindful practices essential for a positive mindful hypno birth.Part 2 is all about labour: learning how to take the techniques practiced in part 1 and apply them to the birth.Part 3 deals with the often tricky first few weeks after the birth.As well as containing helpful case studies and tips from other parents who have used the techniques, Mindful Hypno Birthing is very well written: complex material is explained in an easy to understand way and it is structured in small sections, most 1-2 pages, so that you can read it in a series of tea breaks.If you want to find out more, the author has helpfully included free hypnosis and relaxation tracks to accompany the book for you to try at:[...]I think the techniques in this book are useful far beyond pregnancy and birth, ultimately helping you to become a calmer parent.If you want to guarantee the best birth experience possible, or like me just want to make sense of your birth experiences and be equipped to give the best advise to your daughters - I strongly recommend this book.

Pleased with this book however read this far too late in pregnancy!!! And didn’t even get through half the book!! Read this ASAP so you can have all the techniques down before labour. I had a very quick birth and this helped me in the initial stages, my contractions started very quick and very strong but managed to control these until I could have gas and air because of the book. My husband commented on how he was surprised I managed through the stage I did with nothing and thought it was the techniques I used that was the cause, he was even shocked when I managed to get up from the bed and go to the toilet mid contractions whilst being sick!! I feel it would have certainly helped in the later stages if I had read this and applied the techniques. Do not hesitate to buy as I would have loved to have been able to apply this technique of birthing to the whole of my labour! P.S I am a first time mum, my waters broke at 3pm and I gave birth 4am the next day. I remember thinking about the techniques I learnt during labour even when I was on gas and air and was in and out of what was happening.

Reading this book is really helping me to mentally prepare for childbirth. I’ve downloaded the meditation tracks that go along and they lull me to sleep, very relaxing. I love the emphasis on perceiving and embracing childbirth with a good mindset and not one of fear. Very positive energy and affirmations in here that any pregnant woman could benefit from!

Bonne lecture! Ce livre m'a aidé à avoir moins peur de l'accouchement, à vouloir travailler avec la douleur plutôt que contre et à la voir d'un autre oeil :)

Wonderfully educational book, written in a delicate, soft and non-stressful way. A good accompanying hand that I would definitely recommend or offer as a gift to future mums.

A simply fantastic book - it contains not only comprehensive techniques for hypnosis and mindfulness in preparing for birth and actually labouring but also the practical and biological information needed to back up your convictions and support your hypnobirthing practice. This book is pure information - very little fluff and nothing ‘hippy’ or wishy washy at all. It was the only book (and free mp3s) I needed to prepare for my first birth in 2016, and it’s just as relevant second time around.

Thank you for passing on this info and educating me in childbirth. I always wonder whether this was a mission almost impossible, but I was very glad to read that it can even be painless. I'm looking forward to birthing my girl with love, passion and empowerment.