A first, I was a little skeptical of hypnotherapy but figured it couldn't hurt to try it with my first birth.  I was quickly won over by Denise's down-to-earth teaching style and the relaxed learning environment she created.  My husband and I both learned a lot from the course materials and from the classes. I was looking for techniques to train my mind to get out of my body's way during birth and Hypnobabies really helped. My birthing time lasted eight hours but it felt like only a few hours had passed, thanks to the hypnosis scripts. I never felt like I needed medication and was able to stay at home for most of my birthing time.  Our 8 1/2 pound baby was born easily, with no complications, and she was wonderfully alert and relaxed from the start.  I would recommend Hypnobabies to anyone looking to gain confidence about their birthing experience! Mila The Hypnobabies program has served me well through two births- I was fortunate to find out about it for my first birth and have been blessed to have 2 beautiful birth experiences. They were both a bit different, but what was consistent was I was calm and focused on the task at hand. The program helped tremendously through pregnancy- relaxing my body and mind- learning how to split my focus or choose what to focus on in order to have a successful birth experience. The definition of success is different for everyone. For me, birth ends up being like plowing through a stack of bricks like some karate pro but I end up with beautiful babies, not rubble. The birth cd was a tremendous addition to my second birth experience. Denise will tell you that Saima crowned exactly when Kerry said it as a suggestion in the script. My midwife did not really believe me when I said I was ready to push or that she was actually coming so fast and that I crowned when I did- because I was so outwardly relaxed yet inside still very focused. Denise was a wonderful birth coach. If you have the option or pleasure of having her assist you in your birth you won't be disappointed. My husband was just content to let me do my thing and be present in a quiet way. Denise was present and attentive to everything I needed concerning Hypnobabies--she offered just the right cues, scripts from the subtle body language I exhibited, and listened to my needs while following her her intuitive thoughts. Laurie-Jean I was out with some friends tonight and we ended up talking about birth (somehow all new moms get on this subject I guess).  But it was so interesting, after I left the conversation I starting thinking about it. There were four of us talking, and out of that four, 3 had epidurals, 2 with complications and vacuums needed b/c of the epidurals, the other had to have 2 epidurals because the first didn't work. So one of them turns to me and said, "Didn't you do a natural birth? How did that go?" I enthusiastically said, "It was awesome! I rocked it!"  The other two looked at me stunned. I told them I did Hypnobabies, but I didn't say much else. It wasn't until I was driving home afterwards that I realized I was the only one who had sounded like the birth was a good experience. And I wasn't meaning to brag, or one-up anybody or anything like that. I was just honest. In fact I was a little embarrassed about how enthusiastic I sounded, but I couldn't help it. I really did have a wonderful experience, and I always want people to know. And it's not just in hindsight or anything like that, I had a happy birth! What a unique thing I guess. Well, anyway, I just wanted you to know that. Because you were a huge part of it. Thank you. I realize how different my experience was when I hear other mothers talking about their experiences with epidurals. Yay Hypnobabies! Gina