My OB and Thoughts on Hypno-birthing

At my last appointment I was able to bring Jared along to meet my new OB.  As we’ve been studying the hypno-babies program together he has gotten more and more excited about various aspects of the birth which is kind of funny to me since this is round two in our parenting experience.  I guess because we’ve been through this there are things that he remembers that happened a certain way that he doesn’t want to repeat and things that he liked (it’s the same with me but I never thought he’d be quite so opinionated when he’s usually so laid back).

I never wrote a birth-plan last time because I just didn’t know what I wanted to have happen.  I think I’ll write one this time though just to at least think-out my preferences this time before I’m not  in the mood to discuss how I really feel about things.

Last time I had fetinal (sp?) because the nurse kept asking me if I wanted to try something and I really felt loopy until I came out of it and quite out of control—it was like being on a pain roller-coaster.  One minute I was dopey and loopy and falling asleep though I wasn’t really comfortable and the next I was in the middle of a contraction hardly able to think about anything but “what’s going on?”.  Once that wore off completely I actually felt sooo much better because I could breathe and pace myself.  I guess I never thought about it but you can actually request that the nurses not even ask you if you’d like drugs….if you want them, you’ll ask for them.  Which seems like a no-brainer but that is definitely something I’m going to add this time.

Anyhow…back to my appointment.  So the doctor did an ultra-sound.  The babies head is still down (pray it stays that way!) and is measuring for a January 3rd due date.  I’m considering that I probably just make long babies (Christian was 21.5 inches) and my OB got extra brownie points from me by saying “Let’s keep the baby’s due date on January 7th, that way if she comes on the 21st it won’t seem quite as long”. (More about that in my other blog that has random thoughts on having two children.)

I told him that I read my grandma’s history and all but one of her eight children were late and so I expect to have this one “late”.  He didn’t seem too worried or concerned about that so I’m encouraged.  Another thing was that Jared went into a long (and almost funny-to-me) synopsis about why we’d rather not be induced—unless of course there is a real medical reason such as fetal distress.  The OB was very understanding which got him some more points from me.

I asked him if he had had any other patients try hypnosis for childbirth and he said “no” which really surprised me.  Not that I think it’s for everyone, but I actually have quite a few friends and family members that have tried or are interested in hypnobirthing in some form or another.

I’m really loving my hypno-babies course, I sleep deeper, I feel better about myself and my pregnancy, overall, I have a much more positive attitude about a lot of things.  It is a bit of a time commitment though—you’re supposed to listen to your “assigned” track once a day and the “Joyful Pregnancy Affirmations” track every single day.  Each track takes about half an hour.  There are also some articles and information to read for each week in the “workbook”.  It’s not really a big deal for me because you can listen to the “Affirmations” CD while you’re working around the house or driving in the car since it’s not a self-hypnosis CD.  The other track you need to listen to in a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed and in a fully-supported position (usually I listen to these before I take a nap or go to bed).  The reading part is fine with me as well, since usually I am always reading in all of my spare moments anyway.

Since I am in a situation where it is important for me to have my baby natural, I’m really excited about this program right now.  We watched “Nature” the other day and it was one on “Birthing babies” where it showed various animals giving birth.  As I was watching I was thinking about the way most animals hold still and allow their babies to be born (except for the hypo who births in the water and once her baby’s head pops out she just turns and goes under water and the baby is able to swim out).  I’m honestly sure that all animals must feel some pain but I wonder if they feel pain in childbirth or at what level.  I am very hopeful that this program will help me have a beautiful birthing for my baby because if it works, I might just try for another again someday.