Prepare for a cesarean

Here are some stories of women who had to have a planned c-section and how the natal hypnotherapy CDs helped them

Kate, Newcastle, Australia

 found out on an ultrasound at 19 weeks that the placenta was completely covering my cervix. It stayed this way for the remainder of my pregnancy and I was devastated that I would need to have a caesarean. I am a midwife and would never have chosen to have a caesarean unless absolutely necessary. A friend and fellow midwife told me about the preparation for caesarean CD and I listened to it through the remainder of my pregnancy. I found it relaxing but continued to feel extremely disappointed about my situation. I had bleeding at 37 weeks which required me to have an emergency caesarean earlier than planned.

It was the most fantastic experience. I felt calm, happy and excited to be meeting my baby. I feel 100% connected to him. I have surprised everyone that I know in saying how fantastic his birth was and how I no longer feel any disappointment. I only have positive memory's and can not recall any thing negative about the caesarean. I absolutely believe that it was listening to the CD that turned my experience from one of pure devastation to one of the most positive things that has happened to me. Thank you I will be forever grateful for this.

Lisa, St Helier Hospital

I had severe pre eclampsia 14 yrs ago resulting in me having a fit and my baby born 2 months early. This time I listened to cds and stayed relaxed, healthy, calm, and had excellent blood pressure. I got to 39 weeks for the planned c section which was fab. The cds were brilliant - I listened to them every day to relax and again at bedtime, i really think that they helped me through the pregnancy. I lsten to them still whilst feeding my 8 week old baby and if I'm not getting much sleep I listen to the to help me nod off when I am over tired and finding it hard to relax and fall asleep, I wake feeling refreshed and lots better, thank you x x x

Jan Perry, Hereford

This was my third caesarean and thanks to the CD it was amazing. I started listening to the Cd from 32 weeks and was really looking forward to the birth. There was no doubt in my mind that it was the right thing to do and I felt no guilt. My previous sections had been awful and I was terrified. The recovery from both were long and agonising but this time I breathed through the initial pain and was up on my feet a lot sooner, I even did the school run with baby in a sling 5 days after the section.

This CD really helped me through having the spinal and I just felt blissed out throughout and afterwards. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone having a caesarean. I am currently 30 weeks pregnant and will soon be listening to my CD again.

Helen C, Warwick

My daughter Annie (now nearly 3) was born by emergency Caesarean section following a prolonged labour, and the whole experience was extremely traumatic - the short version is that we both nearly died, and I don't remember most of it. I suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result (Google "Birth Trauma Association" for more on this) and didn't get out of therapy until well after her first birthday. I knew I wanted another child and eventually found the courage to become pregnant again, but spent the whole 9 months back in therapy as I was so scared of going through another traumatic birth.

Your CDs were suggested by a friend and have been just amazing - really one of the key things in keeping me as calm as possible during the pregnancy and birth. I had an elective section this time around, basically to avoid repeating anything from Annie's birth, and it worked - it was still a hugely anxious time for me, but completely different, so once they lifted Ben out and he was ok, it was all over and the cloud lifted at last. I'm still using the post natal recovery CD now and have ordered the general relaxation one for when I eventually feel I'm not post natal any more! Your CDs are the best I've ever found and I've tried Paul McKenna %26 seen two hypnotherapists in person so I really am very impressed - thank you! I've told everyone about them as I just think they're amazing and would benefit anyone, even if they hadn't had a previous traumatic experience to stress them out like I did.

Kate, Derby city

Needed a c-section because of crohn's disease. Was an elective. CD seemed to help, as I was worried a natural labour would have increased the likelihood of a flare up, and tearing etc, which would impact on the disease. I particularly enjoyed the suggestions for bonding with your baby before birth. Helped to overcome the fear of impending motherhood. I have nothing negative to say about the experience.

Claire, London

I had twins by caesarean at 34 weeks, having developed severe pre-eclampsia. The techniques I learned on the IVF companion CD for relaxation and management of pain and discomfort were really useful, both in trying to relax the night before the caesarean, knowing that the babies were to be delivered prematurely the next day, and in staying calm during the operation itself. I think a caesarean can be quite terrifying, especially if you are not expecting to have one, and being able to relax a little into the experience enables you to enjoy what is a very precious moment.

Marie-Therese, East Surrey

With my fourth child I originally had a homebirth planned, as I had three previous homebirths. Unfortunately I had placenta previa and had to have a caesarian. I had two weeks to prepare for my delivery and found your CD very helpful. Going from one extreme of homebirth to another such as caesarian was very difficult for me. I felt dissapointed and scared. However, your CD reassured, relaxed and gave me comfort that a caesarian delivery was just a different type of birth. Your CD's have given me a positive and relaxed pregnancy, a positive birth experience and my postnatal recovery has been positive as well............. If you could sell a CD that helps babies sleep through the night, that would be great! :) Many thanks from a slightly sleep deprived mother.

Yvonne, Germany

A Cesarian was the worst case scenario for me, but since my baby was breech and the level of amniotic fluid was too low for him to turn, there was no other option. The CD for the Cesarian (which I ordered the moment it was clear that I wouldn't have a normal birth) helped me very much.

I don't know how I would have done without this CD! I was very surprised, how relaxed I was before the operation. During it, my blood pressure still was higher than ususal, but I was a lot calmer that expected. Everything went fine and I now have a healthy baby boy - the cutest in the whole world (for sure!) Thanks a lot again!

Cat, West Midlands

I was recommended the Natal Hypnotherapy CD by my antenatal yoga teacher and planned to use it as part of a birth plan that kept everything as natural as possible. I bought the version birth preparation for hospital and began listening to it every other day or so. At first I found that I would come out of the session feeling angry or agitated and was troubled by this. My yoga teacher pointed out that the hypnotherapy may be releasing inner tension that would possibly get in the way of a natural birth, so to carry on. This I did and found that the agitation soon gave way to a sort of peaceful confidence (that was a relief - I thought I might escalate into the axe throwing pregnant woman!). I found it helpful to practice visualizing a dial to help me turn down the pain and intensity that I might expect during labour, and thinking of my body's muscles forming a soft, resistance free passage for the path of the labour helped me understand that my body would know what to do and would let me know what was right or wrong for me.

As the big day got closer it became evident that things were not going to go my way - my low lying placenta refused to shift out of the way and before I knew it I was in hospital for observation. If the placenta stayed put, I would have to have a caesarean and my natural birth would be off the cards completely! I then ordered a copy of the preparation CD for a caesarean birth. I had the chance to listen to it only once before I went into labour and was rushed in to the operating theatre! How dramatic! There is no way that something like that is not going to be utterly terrifying. However the hospital staff were comforting and sympathetic, explained every step of the process as it was happening, and (although I'm no expert in these matters) did an astounding job in no time at all. I wish I had had the chance to listen to the caesarean preparation CD a few times at least because I think it would have helped me control my fear of the operation.

Even though I did not get my natural birth, or indeed a chance to use my caesarean CD much, I feel that the yoga coupled with the birth preparation CD made my experience the most positive it could have been. Because of these things I believed in my body and its ability to cope with whatever came its way. Throughout my time in hospital, when all and sundry were convinced that I was heading for an almighty bleed, my body told me it was fine, and I knew we would be alright. Whether you bleed or not is, of course, the luck of the draw but to be able to remain relaxed with the threat of such a thing in the offing was a true godsend and I put that down to the CD and the yoga. I never did have a big bleed, even in surgery. I am glad that my body went into labour so that I could feel at least one part of the natural process. The contractions or tightenings became strong and regular and I used the techniques I had learnt to cope with them. They were certainly an experience but never became unbearable and although that may well be because I knew I would never be allowed to get too far into labour, I'm hopeful that next time I will be able to cope just as well.

The birth prep CD really came into its own for me during recovery. I was concerned that I would be in a great deal of pain. The other ladies on the ward who were trying to get up and move about seemed to find it very uncomfortable, and I wasn't looking forward to getting the feeling back in my body. I used the image of the dial to assess the amount of pain I thought I was in, and then to adjust it. I can honestly say that I felt hardly any discomfort at all. I wasn't up for running a marathon (like I would be anyway!!) but it seemed reasonably easy to stand up and walk. My scar and abdomen didn't feel particularly tender and I was more than happy to have baby Arthur on my tummy from the start.

My recovery and return to work has been quick and simple. I believe that four things made such a speedy recovery possible: 1) Being active and moderately fit during pregnancy 2) Yoga - for its breathing techniques, balancing calming effects, and for the sense of camaraderie the class engendered 3) Fantastic medical care 4) Relaxation and pain relief techniques from my Natal Hypnotherapy CD. I will keep the pain dial in my mind for any other occasion when it might come in handy! And I'll definitely recommend the Natal Hypnotherapy range to any of my pregnant friends! In the end, despite the temptation to be disappointed by having a caesarean, I came to realize that I had carried my baby happily and healthily for nine months. So I needed some help at the last minute - who doesn't?

Diane, Liverpool

I used the natal hypnotherapy cd's in preparation for the birth of my first child John Francis and found them extremley useful as I was informed I would be induced at 38 wks, following a history of miscarriages. Things did not go to plan and after 26 hrs I had to have an emergency C section. Up until the need for the section I had used the techniques on the cd's and from pre natal yoga.I actually found the breathing and visualisation techniques more effective than the gas and air!

After being advised to have an elective C section for the birth of my second child Meredith (17 months later) I hurriedly made a purchase of preparing for ceaserean. I am convinced that this contributed to a totally different experience and recovery. Things were obviously more relaxed and not so panicky but the cd's helped not only to make me feel less of a 'failure' for having the second c sec but to embrace this procedure as an equally miraculous experience as giving birth naturally. I believe that my mental outlook aided by the use of the cd's by contributed to my phyisical recovery. The experience of the birth of both my children is something which is crystal clear for all the good reasons and the postive outlook continues to aid me in their upbringing so far.

Elena, High Wycombe

First child was a home birth and I wanted to repeat that experience with my second. I thought that the CDs could make it even easier than the previous one. Therefore I bought the pregnancy relaxation and home birth cds. Used relaxation CD a lot and found it really calming. Had started to use home birth cd but then started bleeding at 7 months due to placenta previa (previously I was told that placenta was low but should rise in time for birth). I was admitted to hospital. As I was early, they wanted to keep baby inside me as long as possible, so I had to stay in hospital (1 month in all in the end). I kept bleeding around every 3 days, each time being threatened with emergency c-section under general anaesthetic, but luckily each time the bleeding stopped. I ordered the c-section cd as I was really stressed by the whole situation and the last thing I wanted was a c-section.

The CD really helped calm me - I listened to it every day during my hospital stay, and in the end I had an elective section at 37 weeks, as by that point my placenta was completely blocking the birth canal. I also listened to the birthing music CD in hospital as a way of relaxing me and drowning out all the noise around me (I was staying on the postnatal ward)!! The operation was calm and went well, and given how stressed I had been previously I think the CDs were really helped. I still felt a sense of loss at not being able to have a natural birth, but I came to an acceptance that c-section was the safest (and in fact only) option with the help of the CDs. I would definitely recommend the CDs even though I didn't get the chance to compare coping with the pain with my previous birth experience (during which I had used acupressure and found that brilliant) - that would have been the real test for me of how good they were.