When I tell people, I used HypnoBirthing for my son’s labour and birth, I tend to get odd looks. There are so many misconceptions to what it is and what is involved. To this day, I am still taken back by the amount of people who don’t educate themselves on birth or do any research into their birthing options. Most accept it’s not going to be a nice experience and happy enough to rock up at the hospital and hope for the best. However, HypnoBirthing is not a hippy method of birth, which it is so often perceived as. You do not need to opt for a home or water birth to achieve one. HypnoBirthing techniques can be adapted to all surroundings and even applied to caesareans births. HypnoBirthing programmes teach deep relaxation, self-hypnosis, special breathing techniques, visualisation, affirmations and birth education. When you are properly prepared for birth physically, and mentally, it means you’re able to birth in ease, comfort and most importantly without fear. The advantages are endless, but here are a few I personally feel are important: · Reduces and often eliminates the need for interventions · Eliminates Fear-Tension-Pain syndrome before, during and after birth · Lessens fatigue during labour, leaving you feeling fresh and energised · Can shorten the thinning and opening phase of labour · Reduces risk to pelvic floor damage by breathing the baby down as opposed to forced pushing Having knowledge gives you confidence to embrace, enjoy, and relax into birth, which ultimately leads to a positive outcome. An important part of the HypnoBirthing programme is releasing all limiting thoughts to ensure a calm birth. Whether that’s a previous birth trauma, concerns over finance, relationships or simply the act of birth itself. Currently, I’m trying to release my own stress and fears in preparation for birth. I have 3 concerns now which are causing me a bit of worry; 1. Feeling unprepared for baby, having yet to still decorate the nursery and buy all the new-born essentials. 2. Breech/Transverse presentation. My midwife has informed me that my plan for a home birth will go out the window should the baby not be head down at 36 weeks. 3. Retained placenta. I experienced this last time, which resulted in getting out the birth pool 45mins after birth, to have a midwife manually remove my placenta by tugged on the umbilical cord. It was the only negative experience of my birth. I’m hoping to catch up soon with a fellow HypnoBirthing teacher to talk though my concerns. Hopefully we get the chance to go through some hypnosis fear releasing scripts to help put issues 2 and 3 to rest. I will have to nag the husband to clear my number one concern though. Each day I have been setting aside 20minutes to practice deep relaxation. During this time, I have been listen to the HypnoBirthing rainbow relaxation CD, trying to achieve that deep relaxed feeling, in a shorter space of time. This means when my labour advances I can quickly get my body into a state of ultimate deep relaxation. You don’t need to necessarily have a birthing partner for HypnoBirthing. For my first born, I had my sister as my HypnoBirthing partner, who came to the lessons with me. However, she didn’t do any of the homework, didn’t read much of the hypnobirthing book and did zero practice with me prior to the birth. I was very much in it alone, which was completely fine as I had put a lot of practice into deep relaxation and visualisations, I was confident in all the breathing techniques and had been taking prenatal yoga which really helped with labour and birthing positions. I went on to have a fantastic birth and id go as far to say it was enjoyable. This time round, I can’t see my husband being interested in learning or having an active role in my birth again. I’m fully prepared to ride the labour and birth solo, with him simply being a spectator, frequently passing me water. To be honest, from my previous experience, I’m better off zoning out, having no one fuss over me or do any of the duties a hypnobirthing partner takes on. I know my body and I feel I’m best to go within myself and block everyone else out. Talking annoys me, I vaguely remember telling my husband and sister off for chatting throughout one of my uterine surges (contractions) last time. There’s a point to mention, in HypnoBirthing the language used is completely changed from standard medical terminology into a non-threatening logical word. For example, the word ‘pain’ is not used and instead replaced by the words ‘pressure, sensation, and tightening’. ‘Complications’ is changed to ‘special circumstances’, and the likes of ‘mucous plug’ is swapped out for ‘uterine seal’. All vocabulary is swapped to a gentler non-threatening word that evokes comfortable emotions, rather than fear and confusion. It’s important that your care providers are aware you are having a HypnoBirth and use the correct vocabulary around you throughout. I fully recommend anyone who is pregnant to consider HypnoBirthing lessons. Even just reading the book can change your perceptions on birth and build confidence in your body’s ability. I’m currently not taking on any HypnoBirthing clients throughout my pregnancy, but if you are interested in signing up for lessons then please do get in touch and I can give you contact details of practitioners living in your area. Useful Links: HypnoBirthing – The Mongan Method (4th edition) https://wordery.com/hypnobirthing-marie-f-mongan-9780757318375?cTrk=NTQwNjM4NzZ8NTk1YWM0ZTUxMGE4ZjoxOjM6OjUxZDI2MmY3 HypnoBirthing Institute Website https://us.hypnobirthing.com/
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September 2017
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