Hypnobirthing - what I learned from a course

[tinselcat]

Hi ladies

I've not had a chance to put this into practice yet, but in case anyone was wondering what hypnobirthing is about, this is what I got from the course I attended:

The Theory

If you are afraid then your body will release hormones like adrenaline, which reduces blood flow to the baby/womb and can slow down labour. This in turn makes things more painful and take longer, and ends up in a vicious cycle as you fear things more!

If you are relaxed then your body will release good hormones like oxytocin (the cuddle hormone) and endorphins (the body's natural "high") which can speed up labour and also have a natural pain-killing effect.

One way to help trigger the better hormones is to control your breathing, with deep in-breaths and long, steady out-breaths, particularly through the contractions. (This seems similar to what we do in my pregnancy yoga classes).

Another thing is that your subconscious can help reassure you about the whole thing (the more hypnotherapy part of the experience).

Other things can stimulate the good hormones, e.g. skin-to-skin contact for oxytocin (so encourage your partner to massage you gently to get this going, or when baby is born then put him/her direct on your skin).

Terminology

To help you fear the whole thing less, hypnobirth people use language to refer to things in more positive associations.

So 'contractions' are called 'surges' and 'labour' is called 'birthing'. (Or similar).

The Practice Before-Hand

To help you get into a state of deep relaxation at the time, it is best to practice in the run-up. The more you practice, the better you will get at it!

You can find hypnobirthing tracks (e.g. CDs or maybe even apps for your mobile phone) that use hypnotic language to help guide you into a state of relaxation.

Then while you're relaxed (or even snoozing!) and listening to the track the person talking on the track will tell you lots of positive things about the upcoming birth, such as that each surge brings you closer to meeting your baby, or that your body will know what to do when the time comes etc.

If you fall asleep while listening to a track, then you've probably gone into a state of hypnosis, which is great!

You should ideally listen to these tracks as much as possible.

Books

Probably go more in-depth into explaining the theory plus some anecdotes, and maybe have a few practical suggestions.

In Summary

Practicing breathing and relaxing and listening to the tracks is probably the most useful thing you can do before the birth!

 

[CARNAT22]

Need to get my book out and I am going to start listening to the CD again soon (the effective birth preparation one can be used from 32 or 34w? It's still on the iPod from last time)

I never fully got the visualisation techniques to work for me but I loved the whole theory of Natal Hypnotherapy and will be happy to give it a go again this time.

X

 

[Cosmogirl7]

Oohhh thanks for that. I've booked up for a hypnobirthing course, doesn't start till mid jan though. I've looked at a couple of births on you tube and they seem quick and relaxed xxx

 

[Rose83]

Any CD recommendations? Now I'm on maternity leave feel like i have plenty of time to investigate these things! X

 

[Baker_Baby]

I've got the Maggie Howell cd it seems to work for me I go to sleep whenever it comes on and despite being a proper wimp I feel very calm about labour at the moment!

 

[tinselcat]

The one I have is Judith Flood - http://www.hypnobirthing-london.co.uk/www.hypnobirthing-london.co.uk/Shop.html

At the bottom you can download the MP3 tracks for £7.99.

I think there may also be apps for your phone with hypno tracks but I haven't looked into them x

 

[Tootsmaloy]

I think hypno birthing is a nice theory and I listened to the maggie. Howell one whilst pregnant, but when it. Came down to it I was not in a mental place where I could picture sitting on a beach, no way. But I was VERY relaxed and concentrated on my breathing and relaxing with that. I ended up reaching 10cm and then giving birth without any pain relief whatsoever so for me breathing and remaining calm really worked.

I think the hypno birthing CD helped calm me in the run up to the birth and that's important, but on the day, it was my breathing that got me through

 

[Cosmogirl7]

I started my hypnobirthing classes this week and really enjoyed the first session. The theory of it is just so simple and really makes sense to me. Our bodies are designed to birth babies and using breathing and relaxation to eliminate the fear seems to work. It's made me really look forward to labour rather than be scared xxx

 

[westy100]

Thanks for all this wonderful information, I have downloaded a hypnobirthing relaxation mp3 and found it really really empowering. The question is can I do the whole thing without doing a course? I have found a local one close to me in london (http://www.kghypnobirthing.com/hypnobirthing-classes-in-london) which i would love to do but the hubby thinks it is a lot of money for the course. Any feedback on this one, much appreciated in advance

 

[rozyt]

Hello, i am doing a dissertation of alternative therapy in pregnancy and was wondering if anyone could help me by answering some questions on it please, all responses will be gratefully received
thank you.

 

[attagirl_777]

Hi ladies, did you go to the class with your husband? Is it something that should be done by both the expecting parent and would that come up twice the fee of the class? Sorry got a lot of questions and still trying to figure out the perfect natural childbirth with less pain (I hope). I'm trying to read as much as I can now, is it always the same duration as what this article states?