HypnoBirthing FAQs

There are many questions to consider when you are choosing a class or a method for birthing. Please read below and see if your question is answered. If not, contact me with your question and I'll make sure to add it to the list of questions in order to benefit all!

What is HypnoBirthing?

HypnoBirthing is a method of childbirth preparation that teaches pregnant couples techniques of hypnosis, guided imagery, visualization, and special breathing in order to have a safer, shorter, and more manageable birthing experience. HypnoBirthing helps women to prepare for birthing physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. ^top

What will I learn in a HypnoBirthing class?

You will learn techniques for safer, shorter, and more manageable experience of birthing through hypnosis, guided imagery, visualization, and special breathing. We will practice relaxation through self-hypnosis techniques to eliminate the fear and tension that cause long labor and discomfort, replacing it with confidence and calm. You will tap into the body-mind connection in order to influence your body positively with relaxation. You will learn how to work with your birth companion to create harmony with your body, mind, and spirit throughout labor. You will also gain a deeper understanding of the body's natural process during labor in order to work with your body instead of against it. ^top

How will HypnoBirthing Childbirth Preparation benefit me?

HypnoBirthing teaches you to eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain syndrome before, during & after birthing, which reduces the need for chemical anesthesia. HypnoBirthing has been shown to shorten the first stage of labor by several hours and reduce fatigue during labor. HypnoBirthing invites the birthing companion to be an integral part of the birthing, not an onlooker or a coach. With HypnoBirthing, birthing is returned to the beautiful & peaceful experience that nature intended without all of the fear that our culture has placed on it. ^top

Why would I want to aim for a natural childbirth rather than planning to get an epidural or planning a scheduled cesarean section?

There are many reasons to set your sights on having an intervention-free, vaginal birth. The two main reasons are that you ensure that you and your baby do not have any negative reactions to drugs by declining their use, and recovery from childbirth tends to be easier and more rapid after natural childbirth. The best book I have found on the topic is Ina May Gaskin's Guide to Childbirth, by Ina May Gaskin (2003). I suggest reading Part 2 first and then reading Part 1. ^top

Will I be able to handle natural childbirth?

YES!! Remember that although this experience is new to you, women have been birthing outside of hospitals and without drugs for thousands of years! Your body already knows how to birth your baby – you just have to believe it to do it. There are physical reasons why a vaginal birth is sometimes impossible, but these cases tend to be quite rare. In my experience every woman has fears about whether she will be able to handle the intensity of birth. The HypnoBirthing techniques really help to make birthing much more manageable. ^top

Can I read birth stories from some of your past students?

Yes. There are birth stories on my web site from past students who were happy to share their birth stories with the world. Click here to find them! ^top

What are your qualifications and why do you teach these classes?

On a professional level, I am a Certified HypnoBirthing Practitioner through the HypnoBirthing Institute. I have a master's degree in Counseling Psychology, with a specialization in couples and family counseling, from John F. Kennedy University. I am also a Certified Hypnotherapist with the Professional Board of Hypnotherapy and I have an active private practice in Santa Cruz & San Francisco.

On a personal level, I have taught HypnoBirthing to hundreds of couples because I am passionate about the techniques. I personally used HypnoBirthing techniques to birth all three of my babies at home. I was certified to teach HypnoBirthing before my first son was born, but I waited to start teaching until after he was born so I could make sure that I believed in the techniques. I remember starting to plan my first class the morning after he was born because I felt so blessed to have had such a wonderful birth experience. My faith in HypnoBirthing became even more deeply ingrained in me after my second child was born peacefully in record time in a warm birthing tub in his very own bedroom. ^top

How is HypnoBirthing different than other childbirth preparation classes?

In my class I focus almost exclusively on techniques that you can use in labor. I don't spend time on anatomy, nutrition, the development of the baby, breastfeeding or infant care, which are important topics that are often covered in other childbirth preparation classes. In my class we focus our time and energy on learning techniques that will help the birthing mom and her birth companion to work together during contractions to make them feel more manageable. We put together different techniques of breath, touch, and mind in order to positively influence the birthing experience. ^top

Do you see HypnoBirthing as a supplement to other methods, like Bradley or Lamaze, or something that can be used instead of the other methods?

To this question I can only answer for myself personally....I only took the HypnoBirthing class for the birth of my first child because I didn't want to confuse myself with different methods and because HypnoBirthing really seemed to fit for me. I also relied on reading a lot of books on pregnancy and birthing on my own in order to get a lot of the information that is covered in a longer class. We won't spend any time talking about nutrition, fetal development, or post natal issues like you might in other classes because the HypnoBirthing class is focused exclusively on the birth of your baby. I found it was all I needed. In my classes I hand out a list of supplemental reading that I think you will find useful for the more general information. But if you're not going to have the time to do a lot of reading and research on your own, I would recommend also doing a Bradley or a Home Birth or a Birthing from Within class. I have recommendations for teachers for those classes that I hand out to all of the students in my classes. ^top

Do you offer private HypnoBirthing sessions if the class dates don't work for me?

Yes. I do private work all of the time in Santa Cruz with couples whose birth schedules don't fit with my teaching schedule. Click here for an entire page about private sessions ^top

When in my pregnancy should I take this class?

As soon as you see this announcement! Whether your baby is due to arrive soon after the class or whether you are early in your pregnancy, the skills learned in this class will be invaluable for your preparation on the journey to birthing your baby. Most women take this class during their 2nd or 3rd trimester. ^top

When and where is the next class?

I am currently teaching HypnoBirthing classes every other month in San Francisco. My San Francisco classes are held on Dolores Street in the Mission. My classes always fill up early, so sign up soon! I am currently only teaching HypnoBirthing through private sessions in Santa Cruz. ^top

How much does the class cost?

The class cost is $250 per couple, which includes the HypnoBirthing book and the HypnoBirthing CD. ^top

How do I sign up?

To schedule private HypnoBirthing sessions in Santa Cruz classes, please call (831) 345-1500 or send an email to info@hypnobirthingsantacruz.com

To register or for more information about my San Francisco classes, please call (415) 902-0550 or send an e-mail to info@hypnobirthingsf.com ^top

Do you do other kinds of work with pregnancy and birthing?

Yes. In my private practice I work with a lot of women on issues surrounding pregnancy because of all the passages in a woman's life, pregnancy and childbirth are among the most intense and transformative. I work with women to prepare them for the challenges of pregnancy, delivery, labor, and motherhood. Hypnosis has been proven to be effective in helping a breech baby turn naturally inside the womb. I use HypnoBirthing techniques to prepare women for birth, and to address their fears regarding labor and delivery. I counsel women who are either having a hard time getting pregnant or who have had miscarriages. I also help women prepare for their shifting identity as a mother. Addressing our own "mother issues" before the birth of our own child can help each woman to fully embrace their pregnancy, their birth experience, and their newborn babies. ^top