WHAT IS HYPNOBIRTHING?

 

Hypnobirthing is a logical, effective and science-based approach to childbirth preparation.

 

Every woman is physically designed to give birth, but we live in a culture where fear and negativity often dominate our perception of birth. The thing is, fear and tension often prevents the birthing muscles in your body to function as they naturally should, making labour feel more painful and like a negative experience.

 

Hypnobirthing teaches simple and effective deep relaxation and visualization techniques combined with positive thought and language to reduce fear, anxiety, tension and stress - tools which will enable you to have a positive and empowered birth. These skills will stay with you beyond the birth of your baby. They will help you reframe any ingrained fear or negative perceptions of giving birth and allow you to work with your mind and body to achieve a calm and positive experience that will have lasting impacts on your wellbeing.

 

You will also gain an in-depth understanding of how the body works during the birthing process, medical interventions and how to navigate the turns of your labour as well as the hospital system – which will empower you to make confident and informed choices so you can own your birth experience.

 

 

THE SCIENCE BEHIND IT

 

There is now irrefutable scientific evidence on the power of the mind-body connection. We now understand the influence of meditation, mindfulness and visualization on everyday stress and anxiety. Mindful meditation has been shown to strengthen brain connections, reduce pain and decrease the production of stress hormones in the body.

 

The British Medical Association reports that women who use a form of deep relaxation and focus during labour have more frequent spontaneous births with less complications and less need for medical intervention. There is less request for pain relief and labours are shorter.

 

Educating ourselves and understanding how the body works during the birthing process is a fundamental part of a calm birth. The more we understand the birthing body the easier it is to work with it.

 

 

COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS

 

Hypnobirthing is not related to ‘stage hypnosis’, it does not mean you will be “hypnotised”, unaware of your experience, in a trance state or asleep. Rather, you will feel relaxed, fully aware and in charge of your body and mind. You will be able to chat and move about as normal at all times, but in a focused and calm state.

 

Hypnobirthing does not promise a certain type of birth and it does not mean unexpected things won’t happen. The course will also cover how birth sometimes can take a different journey and it will teach you to feel calm and empowered to create a positive and joyful experience even when things don’t go to plan, no matter the type of birth and whether it takes place at home, in a birthing centre or at a hospital.

 

Hypnobirthing does not apply to people with particular beliefs or prior knowledge or experience. Some mums and dads start the course quite sceptical at first, until they understand and see for themselves what the course can do. In fact, the more sceptical they are to start with, the more they rave about the transformative benefits of hypbobirthing.