HypnoBirthing
– Childbirth Preparation Classes

HypnoBirthing – Article by Kristin Nemzer

• Giving birth is inherently painful.
• Pregnancy and birth are solely physical experiences.
• Normal birthing requires medical intervention.
• All medical interventions are safe and in the best interest of the child.

You may be interested to find out that none of these commonly-held beliefs is fact. In fact, using hypnosis during the birthing process is allowing more and more women to give birth with less discomfort and less medical intervention than with any other method.

Here's the scene:

A woman is using her breath to stay relaxed. Her partner is stroking her arm and whispering in her ear. Her eyes are closed. Soft music is playing in the background. There is a sense of calm all around her.

What are you watching? A woman who is in the process of giving birth.

This scene describes what is becoming a more and more common occurrence in our culture as women embrace the philosophy and techniques of HypnoBirthing. Those of us who are already practiced in altered state work know how much our mind and our body are connected and we know the degree to which the mind can influence what happens in the body. This understanding is being applied to labor.

Building on Grantly Dick-Read's writings that there is a "Fear-Tension-Pain syndrome,” meaning that fear causes tension which causes pain, Marie Mongan developed HypnoBirthing. In our culture women do not know what to expect during childbirth and most women have been conditioned to be afraid of pain. HypnoBirthing focuses on eliminating the fear that a woman has about giving birth in order for her to experience less tension and pain and, therefore, have a more comfortable birthing experience that is free of unnecessary interventions. In HypnoBirthing the laboring woman uses positive affirmations, suggestions, and visualizations to relax her body, guide her thoughts, and control her breathing. With the aid of hypnosis, a woman can bring her body into a state of deep relaxation in which the body's muscles can work the way they're meant to during childbirth. The philosophy behind HypnoBirthing is that when a woman is properly prepared for childbirth mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally, labor and delivery can be easier and more comfortable.

As a hypnotherapist I was excited to apply what I knew about hypnosis to my own birth experiences. I took a HypnoBirthing class before my first son's birth and I thought the techniques would probably be helpful to me in labor. After his birth I wanted to share these techniques with every pregnant woman. Both of my sons were born at home in a loving, peaceful, trusting environment where I had the support to let my body relax and open up to birth my babies. The HypnoBirthing techniques allowed me to believe that I could give birth naturally. My husband's joint use of the techniques with me led to a beautiful collaboration of effort where I felt completely supported and relaxed.

I realized after the birth of my sons that birth is a rite of passage for a woman that often gets overlooked as a medical procedure. There is no medical basis for there to be a c-section rate in our country that is approaching 30% and there is no medical basis for there to be an epidural rate of over 80%. These percentages come from fear...whether it is a fear of being sued for malpractice or a fear of pain. I believe that HypnoBirthing can help each woman who gives birth to have a meaningful passage into being a mother where she feels empowered, supported, and nurtured as she trusts her body to know how to give birth. This trust and empowerment can be applied to so many areas in her life...long after her birth experiences are over.

I teach these techniques to couples in a class setting approximately every two months. I also teach these techniques in a more customized setting to couples in my private practice. These private sessions can also be used to address issues that arise as a woman prepares to transition from being "woman" to "pregnant woman" to "mother." Each step of the way can evoke both joy and trepidation within a woman, and addressing her fears can help each woman to fully embrace her pregnancy, birth experience, and newborn baby. My wish is that all couples can face the birth of their baby with joy and readiness.