For those interested, here is a link to the book and cd (which was my pregnancy bible!)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Gentle-Birth.../dp/0007176848
M..
I swear by Hypnobirthing! I felt like I was having an out-of-body experience. I was really in control and my labour was very short and straightforward. My contractions started at 6:00am in just under 3 hours, my daughter was born. I had no painkillers (don't get me wrong, I am a wuss by definition with a very low pain threshold) but the hypnobirthing techniques really kicked in and I was able to go the full hog with no intervention.
Honestly I was in such horrible pain that an Epidural was completely painless!
Thanks to all of you for your inputs. So what I could understand is that some do have gas and air but in one hospital which is in Zurich and it is pretty new.
Nothing to say for those around Basel?
Thanks!
Perhaps a little too late and not directly answering OP's question with regards to hospitals in Basel.
I gave birth two weeks ago in Triemli hospital, Zurich. I specifically asked them when I was admitted if they had gas and air and they said 'yes' and I could try that if I wanted. I ended up with an epidural so did not use the gas and air but just thought other people might be interested to know that it iss available.
Further I was offered a warm bath and was in there for over 2.5 hours (before the epidural)- the most relaxing and pain free I had been in for about 4 days so highly recommend if you get the opportunity.
best of luck
We went for a viewing of the facilities at Im Park in Zürich a few months ago. They mentioned the Epidural but also a new method where you have an injection but it's not in the spine and you control it yourself. I think they called it PDC (and the epidural PDA). They said that although it was not new worldwide they were the first offerring it in Switzerland, mostly due to the UK & American expats coming here and wanting it. I think a few other hospitals are also now offerring it.
I'm another advocate of Hypnobirthing for managing labour. It's all about staying relaxed and in control of yourself and the situation.
I opted to stay with my Mum and have my LO in the states where they are more friendly to pain management. I am a wuss. I agree that the epidural was completely painless, as they give it to you during a contraction, and you don't really notice!! My friend had her daughter here, and said they offered her TEA for the pain!! LOL My husband was asking me about the second one, and I said I didn't want to be away from him again, but after reading this thread, I might reconsider... haha good thing I have a while to make up my mind! Good luck Nil!
Hi,
At least you are finding this out now!!!!
I went in to have my 2nd waving my epidural form. They told me I was too far along (7cm). I then asked for Gas and had one of those moments where I realized noone in the room had a clue what I was talking about. My swiss husband thought I wanted natural gas and was saying helpful stuff like "its not that bad darling" and the midwife thought I wanted a C-section and was saying stuff like...its too late....she cant etc.
Thankfully I had done hypnobirthing (I was covering all bets - hypnobirthing with epidural) nad that did get me through.
I spoke to my doctor afterwards about it and he said that GAS is being phased out of all hospitals in CH due to the environment. (Good thing they didnt tell me that 7/8 cm).
He was fascinated that we still use it in Ireland....it was like I told him that chimpanzees can speak swiss-german in Ireland.
But I want to end on a cheesy note. My 2 births were very different in both length, pain management and hospital/staff experiences but both were unequivocally the happiest days of my life and I know if I were offered at the end of days to relive any experiences it would be those....
.....damn....I think Im broody
I too will vouch for hypnobirthing. Did it with #2. Having #1 was not a very positive experience - the epidural kept not working on one side so by the time we got it working on both sides (after 3 doses) I was completely 'dead' below the waist. She ended up being pushed out of my belly by the doctor who was also using a vacuum. I was totally in the way of the process, or so I felt.
Did hypnobirthing with #2 and it was a very serene and positive birth. No meds. Even my husband, who felt the whole hypnobirthing thing was hogwash, was impressed. Granted, my body new a little better what it was doing the second time around, but still...
#3 arrived so quickly he ended up being born on the sofa at home with the paramedics barely making it thru the door. They wouldn't come in the house because of our german shephard until my husband arrived. Would not recommend going about giving birth this way!
For those of you recommending hypnobirthing - do you have any recommendations regarding books, CDs, etc. that you have used aside from the Dr. Gowri book already mentioned above? Also, how soon does one need to start "training" (I'm interested but suspect I may have missed the boat as I am due in 4.5 weeks)? Thanks!
Very interesting to hear about all the hypnobirthing recommendations as my wife's just got the book and CD and is studying it intensely. Still got 6 months to go so it sounds like it could really help. She didn't like the gas and air last time (although I found it very pleasant when the midwives weren't around ) but do they use Pethidine here? That seemed to help a bit as it allowed her to sleep between contractions.
I know that Tramadol is used here which is a variant of pethidine. I strongly recommend asking what options are available at your chosen place of birth before you commit to it, or at the very least before you go into labour so you don't have any nasty surprises.
Hypnobirthing is actually a trademark for the type of hypnotherapy for birth advocates by Marie Mongan and her book is the bible on it. Hypnobirthing.com has listings of practitioners worldwide and they are obliged to provide a specific antenatal course which takes around 12 hours if they want to use the name. The earlier the better as to really learn the techniques takes time and practice, but you can always pick up some useful tips from the book, cd or any other hypnotherapy for birth materials (try amazon) at any time.
Personally I found the Mongan approach a bit much (harping on about pain free birth which is possible for some but for me the hupno was about being in control of the birth, dealing with any fears and reducing any pain through relaxation techniques. I knew I was capable of getting into a 'zone' and managing discomfort as I did a lot of endurance running and triathlon. I had a shorter block of sessions with a practitioner in the uk who I think also does dowloadable mp3s www.tums2mums.com and I also has another hypno cd from amazon. It sounds dippy but it's not crazy to think that if you are scared and panicking you will have a much worse experience than if you are totally calm and chilled out!
When I utilized the hypnobirthing we were living in Germany and it was a 'few' years ago! (9 1/2 to be exact!). I ordered something off the internet from the US (I suspect it was the hypnobirthing website referenced above). The package consisted of a book detailing the history of childbirth and how explaining how hypnobirthing can help, a CD to help teach you how to get into the zone and a video showing some women experiencing childbirth while using the method. If I recall correctly, I was rather far along in the pregnancy - maybe 7 months - when I started the materials. I never personally met or spoke with anyone - only used the materials sent in the mail. I found the book to be very interesting and an easy read, would listen to the CD about every day as I would dose off for an afternoon nap, and the video was great. As a matter of fact, my then 17 mo daughter was entranced by it. I left all the material in Germany with the American Women's Club when we left so that someone else might benefit from it.