HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing (3rd Edition) by Marie F. Mongan Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing (3rd Edition)
Book Review: Hypnobirthing is the best!
Summary: 5 Stars
Since I was a small girl and all the way through my early 20's I had a phobia about giving birth. I would have nightmares and wake up upset that I would never have children. Flash forward to a couple of years ago. My hubby and I planned a pregnancy and I decided I would just go for it and hope for the best. I decided to take a class in Hypnobirthing and it changed everything for me. This is a book that empowers and comforts the pregnant mom. You'll learn that your body is designed to birth and if you get out of your own way and let it do it's work, you'll have a positive birth expereice. I went from being terrified of birth, to delivering my little girl in a joyful, calm, and drug free way. I simply didn't need any pain medication. In my birth video I look like I'm asleep between the pushes, I'm so relaxed! I still can't believe it! Read the book, take a class if you can, listen to the CD, and trust your body. Self doubt is the only thing that stands in your way. Even if complications arise in your baby's birth, the techniques you'll learn will keep you calm, relaxed, and confident. Happy Birthing!
P.S. - This course is not about choosing to go "Anti-Epidural". You can learn these incredible techniques and still make any pain management decisions you wish. Don't worry. Just study the techniques and see how it helps you. I didn't need an epidural because my relaxation was so deep, I didn't have a painful experience (LOTS of pressure but not pain), but you can do what you wish while still having the techniques to keep you relaxed and positive no matter what you choose. It's not one way or the other. - I do have to say that it's important that you have a doctor and partner who is supportive of your ability to birth with no intervention. The doubt of your medical professional, partner, mother, or anyone else in the room can really sabatoge your positive attitude. If you were running a marathon, would you want someone driving along beside you saying, "You'll never do this on your own. It's going to be terrible and painful!" You MUST have people around you who believe in your ability to birth.
Book Review: Desperately Over-Hyped
Summary: 2 Stars
I have read this and over a dozen other books as part of my labor doula training. Now, as an expectant mother, I've discussed this curriculum with several doulas, midwives, and midwife assistants. I also audited the class last year.
Bottom line: If you want to learn about childbirth preparation, there are better books (Complete Book of Pregnancy and Childbirth, Kitzinger). If you want to learn about overly interventionist hospital policies and practices, there are better books (Missed Conceptions, Wolfe; Ina May Gaskin, etc.). If you want an emotionally and spiritually connected approach to birthing, Birthing from Within is great. If you want to develop relaxation techniques that work specifically for you, paying a few bucks for the book won't hurt, but the class is over $400, for that money you could meet one-on-one with a licensed hypnotherapist who could tailor techniques just for you.
Mongan's basic principle, that a relaxed woman will labor more effectively, is something I believe whole-heartedly. I'm even planning a homebirth. But the idea that it *shouldn't* hurt if I'm doing the exercises right is overstated and, frankly, I think abusive to women. As if barfing during transition is a sign of a character flaw. The section on pushing the baby out is particularly misleading and wildly unrealistic.
I like that they're encouraging people to demand more compassionate care in labor and delivery. But this movement seems more invested in making a brand for itself than in thoughtful, well-reasoned, well-researched approaches to improving maternity care.
Book Review: Hypnobirthing
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a book that every pregnant woman and all those working with birthing should study well! Birthing is actually the most natural thing a woman can experience without fear, pain or discomfort. With hypnobirthing birthing becames a beautiful experience! I warmly recommend this to open-minded people who are ready to experience the wonder of truly natural birth. Your money won't go to waste!Book Review: OUTSTANDING!
Summary: 5 Stars
I have a VERY high level anxiety when I have to get blood drawn so I had NO CLUE how I was going to go through labor. I was in complete panic as the months went by. I bought this book in my 8th monthe and read in in 2 days. I listed to the cd every night. I ended up having a c-section and the whole time I was in a beautiful, happy place! I had hypotised myself into that place and therefore have a beautiful story of my birthing experience. GREAT BUY!!!Book Review: One of the Best Birthing Books
Summary: 5 Stars
Marie Mongan's book is essential for those considering natural childbirth. Inspired by the work of Grantly Dick-Read, M.D., author of Childbirth without Fear: The Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth, HypnoBirthing provides a comprehensive investigation of the history of childbirth, the psychology of a natural birth, hypnosis techniques, as well as a variety of tools that can be used to create a calm and gentle birth.
As a HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator, I'm often asked, "Does hypnosis really help with childbirth?" To answer, I frequently refer to the results of a large study published in 1993 by M.W. Jenkins and M.H. Pritchard in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology which found that women who used hypnosis during childbirth had shorter labor and used less pain medication.
Here are some of the results from the study:
1. First-time moms: average first stage of labor with hypnosis 6.4 hours compared to 9.3 hours without hypnosis
2. Moms who had given birth before: average first stage of labor with hypnosis 5.3 hours compared to 6.2 hours without hypnosis
3. Pain medication: both groups of hypnosis moms used significantly less pain medication than the non-hypnosis moms
Hypnosis can have a significant positive impact on birthing. That being said, I have always thought that the name, HypnoBirthing, tends to sell this book short. While hypnosis certainly plays a central role in the program, mothers and their birth companions also learn visualization, massage, breathing and other techniques to assist them in having a calm and gentle birth.