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What birthing techniques have you heard of or tried?
Have you ever used any alternative techniques?
I used hypnobirthing when I had DD but I was told that I had to be induced as I was almost 3 weeks overdue, so I felt that my body really wasn't my own as the contractions were one on top of another - once they came and DD moved into posterior postition so very very painful.
I tried to use the techniques suggested but I couldn't keep it up.
Has anyone successfully used any alternative therapies to birth?

I don't know if I qualify as alternative, but I firmly believe in the woman's body amazing power to birth. It is what 99% of us were designed to do. I had completely natural drug free births with both boys. I basically meditated through both births visualising my body opening up and delivering my child.

I really wanted a water birth with no pain relief.....Ive heard that its a very effective way of relieving the pain. But I was induced because my waters had been ruptured for 2 days with no contractions so wasnt allowed......although the only pain relief I had was gas and air.....so I got half what I wanted. I agree with induction being v painful Hannah.....it was awful.

Even though I would have loved to be prepared to do meditation etc with Maree, I was highly stressed at the time, so ended up having everything under the sun and a 12hr labour.

This time I started prepping my mind and body early and focused on:
• I had done done some focusing on the bodies naturak abillity to give birth
• that baby will come when he needs to
• that I wasnt going to use medical intervention
• I wanted a Waterbirth (which didnt eventuate)
• taking Homeopathics to support my body
• Visualisation of him coming out

I think the main thing was that I remained relaxed nearer the end/closer to my EDD. I used Rescue Remedy and also Birth Aid (Naturopharm) which I think was a MAJOR help in it all. I listened to my body, and that helped and the other thing was I used anger (as in OUT YOU COME lol) and worked with that energy to help him out - part of that was visualising what was happening and aiding his arrival through that visualisation

and I ended up with a 3/4hr labour, with the build up prior being mild contractions which I was able to breathe through easily.

So the 2nd birth was WAY much better than the first for me

We'd planned a natural home water birth - it didn't quite go to plan and we had to transfer to hospital, but the water was just amazing for managing contractions :) I had used Artemis Pregnancy Tea right through my pregnancy, practiced yoga, and my homeopath made me up a pre birth spray which I used during the last few weeks...

We had to transfer because my wee guy's heart rate went up, unfortunately it all went a bit pear shaped from there. Something I really wish I'd done was mentally prepare for having to go to hospital- I got there, freaked out, got totally exhausted & ended up with a ventouse delivery. I only used a bit of gas & air, so at least I managed to stay almost drug free, but maybe if I hadn't panicked so much we might have managed without the extra help?? Anyhow, I have a wonderful happy healthy little guy now!

I had a hospital water birth, with a little bit of gas. Gas did not reduce the pain in my opinion, even though at the time, my midwife and partner were insisting it was - which frustrated me - because it wasn't working and they wouldn't listen!

I had a planned home birth for my 1st and had planned a 2nd homebirth but the universe conspired against that and ended up going to the maternity unit which was ok in the end. I had no pain relief for either - 100% natural :) No time for a water birth 2nd time round, they started filling the pool but bubs wasn't waiting for that!