Hypnobirthing – What is it and how it can benefit you through your pregnancy and birthing experience!
For a lot of women, throughout most of our lives, we have been inundated with the negative stories of birth. We have been conditioned to believe that great pain is associated with birth and because of this, women today hold an unprecedented amount of fear around giving birth.
Fear has a very predictable and powerful effect on the birthing body. When there is fear, it leads to tension which leads to pain which leads to more fear, more tension, more pain and so it continues in a vicious cycle.
So what is HypnoBirthing and how does it change the “typical” birth experience and break this Fear-Tension-Pain Cycle?
HypnoBirthing has 2 focuses:
1) Education
To begin to shift away from the fear cycle we need to engage our prefrontal cortex through education and understanding. Specifically, when it comes to childbirth, Hypnobirthing teaches you about how perfectly the body is designed for this purpose. Just as we don’t have to tell our hearts how to beat, it’s something that happens without conscious thought, we actually don’t need to mentally or physically interfere with the birthing process. Instead, we need to allow our bodies to do what they are designed to do. Our bodies are perfectly designed to give birth – from the moment of conception, an impeccably choreographed cascade of hormones begins that creates physical changes in your body that in turn creates the perfect nurturing environment for your baby to grow and thrive. The birthing process is a continuation of this and just as perfectly designed. With Hypnobirthing, you will learn that you can step aside without any fear and allow your body to birth naturally.
2) Hypnosis Techniques
In addition to engaging our prefrontal cortex through education we can teach our bodies to relax through self-hypnosis. This includes techniques such as breathing, guided imagery and visualization. Learning these techniques will allow your body to remain relaxed and your mind to remain calm throughout birth and therefore break the fear-tension-pain cycle.
Why is it called HypnoBirthing?
Although it seems like a bit of an odd name it is actually quite descriptive. ‘Hypno’ describes using hypnosis techniques such as breathing, guided imagery and visualizations to allow for a calm, natural or instinctive birth.
What is Hypnosis?
Sadly, for many people when you mention hypnosis their immediate response is to think of mind control of some form. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. You cannot be hypnotized against your will. It is a voluntary state and a familiar state. Almost everyone has experienced this state. Athletes often describe being ‘in the zone’; people who practice meditation and yoga experience this same zone but they might describe it as being ‘grounded’, ‘centered’ or ‘present’. Most of us, without perhaps realizing it, have experienced this state. Examples might include when we are engrossed in a good book or movie; when we are absorbed in a hobby or task that we enjoy. This takes us to a place where our mind ceases to be busy and our perception of time changes. In this state we are relaxed in both body and mind.
Growing, nurturing and bringing a baby into the world is such a beautiful expression of our human creativity. From the moment of conception to birth, our bodies do something that is nothing short of miraculous. Labour and birth represent that remarkable step your baby takes from the womb to the outside world. This is an amazing transition from a sheltered watery world to a terrestrial and airy world. Imagine the sensory stimulation your baby experiences as they emerge and begin to breathe air, see bright lights, feel touch on their skin etc. To be able to be present and relaxed, trusting in your body, allows your baby an opportunity to come into a world that feels calm, warm, safe and inviting.
HypnoBirthing will give you valuable tools to achieve a calm, gentle birth. Additionally, you will learn that these tools and techniques are not only incredibly useful for labour and birth, but will continue to serve you in times that you feel stress or tension.
Future Classes at Trillium
The next series, which consists of 5 weekly classes, will begin May 9th, 2020. Each class is 2.5 hours. This next class series will be taught online via Zoom. Classes will start at 2:00pm and go until 4:30pm.
What you will need:
– a quiet space in your home where you can be undisturbed for 2.5 hours
– a relatively good internet connection
– a place to be comfortable when we do relaxation/visualization scripts. This can be your bed, a yoga mat, a comfortable chair etc..
What is the cost?
The cost for the full 5 class series is $300.00. This includes the Mongan Method HypnoBirthing Book and the download for the Rainbow Relaxation Script. The cost is for both you and your birth companion (partner, friend, mom – the person who will be with you for your birth). If you would like to sign up for the upcoming series you can book online though the Trillium Health Centre website.
Any questions?
Please feel free to message me on my Facebook page, The Mind Body Connection – HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education or email info@trillium-health.ca.
I am excited to meet you and teach you all about HypnoBirthing!
Lorna