What is hypnobirthing?
If you are pregnant and looking for a way to have a more positive and comfortable birthing experience or you know someone who is expecting, you may have heard of hypnobirthing.
Well, the name in itself is quite misleading indeed.
Some people may have a positive first impression when hearing about hypnobirthing, as it sounds like a natural and gentle way to give birth. Others may have a negative or sceptical first impression, as they are unsure about what the name means or may think that hypnosis is not effective, safe or realistic for childbirth.
In fact, hypnobirthing is an antenatal education method that uses hypnosis, visualization and relaxation techniques to help you stay calm and cope with labour & birth. But what exactly is hypnobirthing, and how does it work?
Hypnobirthing is based on the idea that fear and tension can make labour more difficult, and that by eliminating these negative emotions, you can have a more positive and gentle birth. Hypnobirthing teaches you how to use self-hypnosis, which is a state of focused awareness and relaxation, to calm your mind and body during labour. You also learn how to use positive affirmations, guided imagery and breathing exercises to enhance your hypnosis and create a soothing environment for yourself and your baby.
Hypnobirthing is usually associated with having an unmedicated birth, but in fact it is absolutely compatible with any type of birth.
Hypnobirthing can be practiced at home, in a birthing centre or in a hospital, depending on your preferences and circumstances.
It is so great to see that is becoming more and more popular amongst parents-to-be and many of them are choosing this amazing way to change their approach and achieve a more positive experience on that truly special day!
What are the benefits?
Hypnobirthing has many potential benefits for you and your baby, such as:
🌸Reducing fear and anxiety.
🌸Increasing confidence and empowerment, which can help you make informed decisions and communicate your needs and wishes to your birth team.
🌸Shortening the duration of labour.
🌸Decreasing the need for medical interventions.
🌸Improving the bonding and breastfeeding experience, as hypnobirthing can help you and your baby stay calm and alert after birth, and facilitate skin-to-skin contact and early feeding.
🌸Promoting a faster and easier recovery.
Birth partners
One of my favourite topics when it comes to hypnobirthing is discovering the benefits and power of having a positive, well equipped birth partner or birth partners.
There is no doubt that their role is more than just important. Studies have shown connection between birth partners and positive birth experiences.
By the way, did you know that having a female relative present, for instance your mother or sister is highly beneficial as well? Doulas and independent midwives are also great way to build your birthing team. It is of course very personal how many people and who we want to surround us by.
I remember for my first labour, which took days and I was really lucky to know both my mom and my husband on my side.
We were not that equipped at the first time without hypnobirthing on our side but having both of them meant I am not just getting additional support from another very special person , but they could support each others too, to make sure that they are able to support me on the best possible way. Despite it was very challenging, I felt very supported and happy that we had the chance to share this very special experience together.
The downside was more about that my husband felt not so great to see me "suffering" and he felt stressed that he couldn't "help".
Obviously it was very important for both of us to do every possible steps to ensure he feels positive, useful and most importantly have tools to help me for our second baby's birth. This is really key that you both have a positive mindset!
Your chances to stay positive and inspired are much greater if you are on the same page and they know how to give you hand because they know exactly what is going on in the birthing process and what your preferences are.
I have to say without any exaggeration, after we attended the course with a lovely teacher, and put our times and efforts into practising, we not just felt ready, but so excited and really looked together for the day to come with much more confidence.
We both had an absolute transformation in mindset regarding childbirth and the incredible experience just proved it further.
It was a blessing to prepare together and also a lovely way for bonding even further as a couple too.
Hypnobirthing is just amazing!
Okay, but let's see what a birth partner is doing actually?
First of all, he/she is your advocate!
Make sure they are equipped and do not think about birth negatively like "birth is hard or birth is equal to suffering always" because that will affect you too.
Birth without special circumstances is a normal and natural event.
Beside the practical support they provide, such as getting you snacks and drinks they give you emotional support as well, ensuring the environment is as perfect as it can be and communicating with the medical team.
It is very important to spend time during your pregnancy and work out together what is important for you, so it will be clear for everyone how to support you on the best possible manner in any time or scenario.
During my courses we have a huge focus on birth partner's role,
ensuring they are calm, supportive, positive and excited just as much as you will be !
Longing for a positive birth? Take action!
I always love to motivate others, especially when it comes to being pregnant, giving birth.. I think these are the most magical periods of a women's and couple's life.
So the questions are:
Why do everything that you can towards the birth that you want and not just hope for fortune and a good birth?
Is that really counts at the end? - cause no one knows what will happen anyway... you may even encourage yourself by saying "there are many moms who had great births and they didn't do anything special to prepare .."
Of course there are.
What I believe in : "Do whatever you can, and don't leave it to chance".
The reality is that you won't have a second chance!
I am not saying that you will have exactly what you will plan on the day you will have your baby because you prepared, but your chances to stay resilience and feel in control, calm & positive whatever you face on that day or days can be increased greatly if you taking real steps and not just waiting to get a better outcome.
It is especially important if you have had a previous negative experience, because in that case you also have emotions to deal with. Please do not underestimate their effect as if you try to just heal from such an experience without any help & support on your own, and without quality preparation, they can often impact your future births.
I know this well from my own story but also many women who choose to educate themselves with hypnobirthing claim they had an absolute different and empowering birth afterwards.
I am confident to say that if I have had the knowledge when I was first pregnant I could have had a much different outcome, because now I can reflect on what happened at the first time and how much my change in mindset, thanks to the hypnobirthing programme that I used empowered, helped me and made our second story sooo wonderful.
Once I became aware of that there is actually very much I can do that I didn't know before, it wasn't a question that I will!
Yes, you can have a good experience, do not get me wrong. BUT by ensuring you're not just hoping and longing for it and taking active steps towards your dream will definitely pay off. There is a huge contrast between "getting through your birth " or feeling "oh my goodness! These were the best moments of my life! I want to do it again and again “ and there is also a big difference between being blindly positive or consciously positive.
Remember, it doesn't mean things cannot or will not change on the path!
They certainly can! Almost everyone is getting surprises or challenges on the day and yes, there are special circumstances, but those percentages are so very low!
Much lower than how often we are actually induced and offered interventions! But this is a different topic.
The way you are dealing when you face these challenges, the way you deal with your emotions, how you participate in the whole decision making process, the knowledge about what is actually going on in your body, plus the bag of techniques that they do not teach you on traditional antenatal classes and the confidence that all these give you is priceless and matters at the end of the day!
It is YOUR birth and YOU shape it in many aspects!
Be conscious about your preparation and don't leave it to chance!
This is key!
Also ensure your birth partner is equipped too with tools to help you!
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