For most of their lives, women have been inundated with the negative stories of other women’s birth experiences. Everyone, from their mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, and even strangers, wants to tell them the horrors of giving birth.
They have been conditioned to believe that excruciating pain is associated with birth; and because of this, women today hold an unprecedented fear of giving birth. This extreme fear causes their bodies to become tense, and that tension often prevents them from easily performing the normal, physiological function of birth. The result? – exactly what they feared most – long, painful, disappointing birthings.
People who are drawn to HypnoBirthing have long been searching for a way that helps women give birth as calmly, safely, and gently as possible.
Through a very simple program of self-hypnosis and education, women learn to release emotions tied to fear-based stories and misinformation, and they are helped to see birth as normal. They learn to trust that their bodies know how to bring their babies into the world in the calm and gentle way that nature intended.
HypnoBirthing Principle
HypnoBirthing Advantages
- Teaches deep levels of relaxation to eliminate the
fear that causes tension and pain- Greatly reduces and often eliminates the need for
harmful drugs for you and your baby- Shortens the first phase of labor
- Leaves mother alert, fresh, awake and with energy
- Helps keep oxygen supplied to baby during birthing
- Reduces the need for an episiotomy
- Reduces and often eliminates fatigue during labor
- Empowers parents with techniques to achieve
a gentle, peaceful birth for themselves and their baby- Gives the birthing companion an integral role in
the birthing process- Embraces the concept of pre-birth parenting
- Teaches breathing techniques that allow a woman
to gently breathe her baby into the worldwithout the violence of hard, physical pushingHypnosis Myths
Hypnosis is a form of mind-control.
This is simply not true. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis, so you must be willing to allow yourself to go into a deep level of relaxation. The Hypnotherapist is merely a guide to walk you through the process. Once you learn the techniques, you will have the ability to easily put yourself into a deep state of relaxation.
Will I do anything embarrassing during hypnosis?
You will not do anything during hypnosis that you would not do normally. Although your body will go into a very deep state of relaxation, your mind will remain alert at all times.
Can I get stuck in hypnosis?
No! Hypnosis is a completely natural state. We experience light forms of hypnosis several times throughout the day. Daydreaming is a light form of hypnosis, as well as being engrossed in a good book or movie. If the Hypnotherapist stops speaking, you will either fall asleep for a few minutes, or you will emerge from relaxation.
What if I cannot be hypnotized?
Since hypnosis is our innate ability, anyone who desires to experience hypnosis has the natural ability to do so.
What if I fall asleep during hypnosis?
Your subconscious mind is always aware, even if your conscious mind is asleep. While most people do not actually fall asleep during hypnosis, they often believe that they were asleep. That is because hypnosis is very similar to sleep because you experience a very deep level of relaxation, and you emerge feeling rested and refreshed.
What is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a naturally occurring state of focused relaxation that allows us to communicate positive suggestions to our subconscious mind. Hypnosis is an accepted and approved way to empower yourself to achieve the goals you desire. Among many things, self-hypnosis has been used to help people stop smoking, lose weight, overcome fears, and successfully manage pain.
Hypnosis is a gentle experience. Your body goes into a state of deep relaxation while your mind remains attentive and focused on the desired goal. During hypnosis the body remains in a deep state of relaxation while your intense mental focus helps you re-program any old attitudes or beliefs about your current behaviors.
Hypnosis is considered to be a safe and effective complementary and alternative treatment by the National Institute of Health. Hypnosis was first recognized by the American Medical Association in the 1950s. One of the best things about hypnosis is that unlike many of the drugs people take today, hypnosis has absolutely NO negative side affects!
QUESTIONS FREQUENTLY ASKED ABOUT HYPNOBIRTHING®
What is HypnoBirthing?
HypnoBirthing is a childbirth method that focuses on preparing parents for gentle birth. In HypnoBirthing classes, you will learn proven techniques in a well-thought-out program of deep relaxation, visualization, and self-hypnosis. All of these are designed to help you achieve a more comfortable birth. HypnoBirthing encourages a calm, peaceful, and natural pregnancy, birth, and bonding experience for families.
How does HypnoBirthing differ from other childbirth preparation methods?
Unlike other childbirth methods that teach you how to cope with and manage pain, HypnoBirthing is based on the premise that childbirth does not necessarily need to be painful if the mother is properly prepared and relaxed. When women understand that pain is caused by constrictor hormones, created by fear, they learn, instead, to release fear thus creating endorphins—the feel good hormones. They are then able to change their expectations of long, painful labor and are able to replace them with expectations of a more comfortable birthing. Rather than exhausting, shallow breathing and the distraction techniques of typical “prepared childbirth” programs, HypnoBirthing parents learn deep abdominal breathing and total relaxation, enabling the laboring mother to work in harmony with her body and her baby. This allows her to achieve a shorter and more comfortable labor for herself and baby.
How is the Birth Companion involved?
The Birth Companion of the mother’s choice is an integral part of the HypnoBirthing experience. He or she practices with the mother in helping to prepare for deep relaxation. During labor the Birth Companion guides the laboring mother through hypnosis prompts, relaxation techniques, deepening methods, and visualizations, provides comfort measures, and joins in welcoming the new baby, often by receiving the baby as he emerges.
Will I be unconscious or will I remember my birth experience?
Despite misconceptions and misinformation, you are definitely not unconscious during self-hypnosis. The HypnoBirthing mother is deeply relaxed, but she is also an active participant in the labor process. Though she is deeply relaxed, she is totally aware and may return to a conversant state or choose to become mobile whenever she desires. HypnoBirthing mothers often find that they experience time distortion and are not distracted by other people or their birthing environment, while they focus on their birthing and their baby.
Will HypnoBirthing be useful to me if I don’t opt for a natural childbirth or if circumstances necessitate medical intervention or a surgical birth?
Absolutely. The things you will learn in your HypnoBirthing classes will help you to learn relaxation skills that will be useful to both you and your baby, regardless of your birth experience. In the event that medical intervention of any sort is needed, you will find yourself better able to remain calm and in control. Mothers who have needed scheduled cesareans for medical reasons report that they were totally relaxed before, during and after the procedure. Many report that they needed little or no medication following the birth, and they were able to return to normal functioning in a very short period of time.
Is it true that I will experience a pain-free birth with HypnoBirthing?
HypnoBirthing does not promise painless birthing, though many HypnoBirthing mothers do report having a relatively pain-free birth or one that they were able to manage easily. When the cause of pain--fear that constricts the birthing muscles—is eliminated, birthing can be accomplished in a shorter period and much more comfortably. A relaxed mother’s body will produce more endorphins, nature’s own relaxants. HypnoBirthing mothers may still experience sensations of tightening or pressure; but most describe their birth experience as working with their body through the sensations, and thus avoiding the excruciating pain that is frequently spoken of by women who choose other methods of preparation for birthing.
What if my doctor/midwife is not familiar with HypnoBirthing? Can I still use this method and how can my healthcare providers help me to achieve my HypnoBirthing goals?
More and more care providers are becoming aware of the benefits of HypnoBirthing. Many hospitals offer HypnoBirthing as an option in their childbirth education programs, and HypnoBirthing is now taught in some schools of medicine to student doctors. If your caregiver is not knowledgeable about HypnoBirthing, take the opportunity early in your pregnancy to discuss the techniques you will be using and the type of calm birthing environment that you desire. In class, you will learn how to create a plan of Birth Preferences, which will help you to communicate your birthing goals and preferences to your doctor or midwife. Also, your HypnoBirthing instructor will contact your provider with information on HypnoBirthing.
Founder of HypnoBirthing®She is a former college dean who, early in her career, was named one of five outstanding educational leaders in New Hampshire and was awarded a Ford Foundation Fellowship to Harvard University.
Marie (best known as "Mickey") is licensed by the State of New Hampshire as a counselor and is certified as a hypnotherapist, hypnoanesthesiologist, and instructor of hypnotherapy. She holds several awards for distinguished service and achievement in the practice of hypnosis and is the 1995 recipient of the National Guild of Hypnotists President's Award. In 2000 she was presented with the coveted NGH Charles Tebbetts Award for her contribution in "shedding the light" and advancing the awareness of hypnosis. In 2005 she became the first woman ever to receive the highest award given by the National Guild- Rexford L. North Award.
Mickey is the mother of four adult children, all born in the late 50s and early 60s. She experienced all four labors without labor medication, using the theories of Dr. Jonathan Dye, of Buffalo, New York, and Grantly Dick-Read, of the UK, two pioneers in natural childbirth. Two of her birthings were entirely free of anesthesia at a time when it was unheard of, and her husband was by her side in both the labor room and the "delivery" room. Her book, HypnoBirthing®--A Celebration of Life, was written in 1989; her latest book, HypnoBirthing® - The Mongan Method is now available in leading book outlets and through the HypnoBirthing® Institute.
Photo: D. Dow
Marie Mongan, M.Ed., M.Hy., of Chichester, New Hampshire, is an award-winning hypnotherapist, who brings to her classroom over thirty years' experience in education and counseling on the college level and in the private sector.
What does Wikipedia have to say about Hypnosis in Childbirth? CLICK HERE
