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What
is it Hypnobirthing™? And How Does it Work?
by Kerry Tuschhoff
Mention Labor
and Delivery to an expectant mom in her last trimester, and chances
are good that her heart will begin to race, her mind floods with
concern and in some cases, panic. She knows that the day is coming
when a force much bigger than herself will take over and her body
will govern itself completely. For some women, this is a very
fearful event, but for hypnomoms, it is merely a challenge.
These wise
women use hypnosis to eliminate pain and fear from the birthing
experience. In the past, the word "hypnosis" conjured
up images of stage hypnotists re-creating Elvis, or mesmerizing
others into embarrassing situations. Now it is common for hypnosis
to be used therapeutically in many areas of medicine, dental anesthesia
and personal therapy sessions. Even so, there are many misconceptions
regarding hypnosis that can dissuade those contemplating this
powerful tool. Here are a few FACTS:
- All hypnosis
is self-hypnosis; the hypnotherapist is only the guide. A person
chooses to enter into a hypnotic state, stay in and come out
at will.
- Approximately
90-95% of the population can be hypnotized. Willingness, belief
and motivation have great influence over hypnotizability.
- During
hypnosis you are neither asleep nor unconscious, and will always
"come out" when you wish.
- Stronger-minded
and stronger-willed people are easier to hypnotize; not the
other way around as is usually assumed.
- You cannot
be made to divulge information or do anything against your will
while in hypnosis.
- Hypnosis
is not Satanic or religion-oriented at all, just a way to direct
your inner mind toward the positive.
What about
Hypnosis for Childbirth?
Hypnosis is
used in medical and dental hypnosis with great success by patients
who have life-threatening allergies to anesthetics, allowing them
to undergo surgeries with no drugs and no pain. We know therefore
that the mind can be trained to experience discomfort as only
pressure, and that is what is achieved in childbirth hypnosis
as well. In addition, with labor, the more relaxation the mother
experiences, the more comfort she will have, and the depth of
relaxation necessary can easily be achieved with hypnosis, as
physical relaxation is learned and practiced daily in preparation
for birth using guided visualizations followed by positive hypnotic
suggestions. When the critical conscious mind is by-passed with
hypnosis, the inner mind can literally be reprogrammed to believe
that birth will be comfortable, easy and joyous. Software for
your mind!
Fear and Expectation
In other cultures,
childbirth is regarded as a natural, normal event in a woman's
life. The birthing women are given support from other women, and
children are often present to witness the event. In this way,
birth is celebrated and honored. Young girls then grow up with
the belief system that birth is a positive event and their expectations
of childbirth reflect this attitude. As a result, their births
are similar to their predecessors; without pain and fear. They
have a positive expectation of childbirth. In our culture, it
is very much the opposite. For many generations we have been told
that delivering a baby is many hours of painfully agonizing work,
to be faced with fear and trepidation. We have heard stories from
well-meaning friends and family that send shivers up our spines,
and so the legacy continues. We experience pain in childbirth,
in part because we very much expect to!
When learning
about how the mind controls the body, the expectant couple is
taught to surround themselves with only positive people and messages,
to create a positive view of childbirth and the expectation that
their birthing with be the beautiful, peaceful experience that
they want. Fear Clearing Sessions are integral to this process,
as they allow each person to address fears they have, work through
possible solutions and then release them. Fear in labor can create
tension, which creates pain, then more fear, and the cycle continues.
Fear and anxiety can also create adrenaline production in the
body, causing the labor to become dysfunctional, a common reason
for Cesarean Section surgery. Freedom from fear can make a huge
difference in the birthing experience.
Hypnosis for
childbirth teaches a woman how to enter into self-hypnosis instantly,
and create her own natural anesthesia whenever and wherever she
needs it. This is important as any drugs taken by a laboring woman
can be dangerous for her, and especially her baby. She has total
control over her body, and is an active participant in her birth
process. As labor progresses, she relaxes even more, goes deeper
inside herself, trusting in her body's natural ability to give
birth with ease and comfort. Her mind is programmed to give her
exactly what she needs.
Too good to be true?
Can women
give birth without experiencing pain? They can, but there are
many variables in labor and birth that can affect the outcome,
and couples need to have a positive but realistic view of hypnosis
for childbirth. Each pregnant woman and her partner must take
responsibility for the choices they make while in labor and how
they can affect the dynamics and outcome. Many a wonderful birth
has been thwarted by not realizing how to make positive, informed
choices, and yet these issues are easily addressed and learned
in a good consumer oriented childbirth class, or by doing research.
Without a doubt, women using hypnosis are much calmer and more
relaxed during labor, which automatically creates more comfort,
as well as having *powerful* post-hypnotic suggestions to actually
eliminate pain and fear. How effective is this? Statistics will
vary by the program and method chosen, depending on the length
and number of hypnosis sessions, the materials used in each, and
the skill of the hypnotherapist or teacher, as well as the dedication
and compliance to the program of each birthing couple. Ideally,
hypnosis for childbirth instructors will have backgrounds in both
hypnotherapy and childbirth education, and be able to address
each woman's personal needs. With adequate preparation and trust
in the natural process of birth, most women can have much more
relaxed and comfortable births, with many actually free of pain.
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The
Hypnobirthing™ Childbirth Advantage
By Marlo Robinson, Adapted
from Marie Mongan with permission
Hypnobirthing™
is as much a philosophy as it is a technique. It is a rewarding,
relaxing, stress-free method of birthing physically, mentally,
and spiritually. You can experience the joy of birthing your baby
in an easier, more comfortable, and often even pain free, manner.
Hypnobirthing™ returns to women the art of birthing in a
way that allows you to summon your natural birthing instincts.
Hypnobirthing™ is based on the belief that severe discomfort
does not need to be a natural accompaniment of labor.
-
Eliminates
the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome before, during and after birthing.
- Reduces
the need for chemical anesthesia.
- Eliminates
fatigue during labor, leaving the mother fresh, awake, and with
the energy needed to bring
her baby into the world.
- Shortens
the first stage of labor by several hours and often eliminates
the need to push to bring the baby
to the crowning stage.
- Brings
together the mother, the baby, and the birthing companion in
a wonderful prenatal and perinatal
bonding experience.
- The birthing
companion is an integral part of the birthing, not an onlooker.
- Postnatal
recovery is rapid and easier.
- Babies
are better adjusted and happier.
- Mothers
don’t run the risk of hyperventilating from shallow breathing.
- Birthing
is returned to the beautiful, peaceful experience that nature
intended.
This class will teach you how the birthing muscles work in perfect
harmony; the way that nature intended, when your body is sufficiently
relaxed. You will also learn how to achieve this kind of relaxation,
free of the resistance that the fear-tension-pain cycle creates.
You will learn to use your natural birthing instincts for a calm,
serene and comfortable birth.
When you birth baby using the Hypnobirthing™ technique, you
will not be in a trance or asleep. You will experience a sensation
similar to daydreaming or the focusing that occurs when you are
engrossed in a good movie, driving a familiar route or are staring
at a fire. Realize that each time you go to sleep, you experience
a deep state of relaxation or hypnosis. Sleep is the deepest state
of hypnosis.
Hypnobirthing™ will allow you to be conversant and energized
both during and following the birth. You will be totally relaxed
and focused. Awake throughout, you will be aware as your uterus
surges to help birth your baby. Because you practice the different
relaxation techniques throughout your pregnancy, you will achieve
complete relaxation and will decide before your birth what sensation
you will feel with each surge. The sensation that you feel WILL
NOT be pain. You will experience birthing in an atmosphere of
calm relaxation, free of the fear and tension that prevents the
muscles of your body from functioning as nature intended them
to work. In this calm, relaxed state, your body’s
production of endorphins, the body’s natural anesthesia which
is 200 times more potent than morphine, will be released to give
you a feeling of euphoria and calmness. Endorphins also restrict
the body’s production of catecholamines which are produced
in response to fear and the “fight or flight” syndrome.
Trained Hypnobirthing™ childbirth educators are working throughout
the United States, the Virgin Islands, Australia, Brazil, Canada,
Finland, France, Germany, Holland, Mexico and New Zealand to teach
women how to birth their babies the way that nature intended.
You too, can birth your baby in a safer, easier and more serene
manner. Birth does not have to be painful. Trust hundreds and
thousands of years of successful childbirths and trust your body!
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