Being Pregnant
Can Your Ideas About Birth Determine How It Feels?
HypnoBirthing helps women view birth in a positive way.
Can changing your *ideas* about birth actually change the way it feels? According to the philosophy behind HypnoBirthing, yes.
In a CNN story on HypnoBirthing, Joyce Poplar, a perinatal educator, tells us: “We really focus on relaxation, releasing all the fears that moms have when they’re having birth. We’re getting rid of the fears, memories, experiences, or the mistaken belief they might have had, so they can move forward with natural childbirth.” According this story, HypnoBirthing is becoming more and more popular as women spread the news of their positive experiences to other expecting moms.
I’m intrigued by HypnoBirthing, as I have seen videos of women laboring using the self-hypnosis techniques and they are quite adept at handling the pain. They seem relaxed and extremely focused. I’ve head stories from women who have given birth with and without the technique say that with HypnoBirhting the pain was not gone but it was workable. The feeling goes from being one that feels impossible or insurmountable to one that is possible.
So what do they do? From my understanding the moms work with instructors on a whole range of relaxation techniques and then in those relaxed states they work through scripts they’ve written to themselves emphasizing the power of birth. The language used in HypnoBirthing is completely different from the one you were raised with. There are no contractions, there are surges. You don’t push a baby out, your breathe a baby out. Rather than telling yourself what not to do, there’s an emphasis on what you can do. Part of the education involves reversing the scary, medical-emergency, *worst pain of your life,* split-you-open-Sins-Of-Eve-agony narrative that’s so entrenched in our culture. Instead you learn about how birth is a normal physiological process. It’s a bodily function. We are made to do this and it almost always works.
During labor women visualize their bodies doing the awesome work of birth, rather than being torn asunder. They use the breaks between contractions to restore their energy and belief in their bodies. It does require lots of focus. And I imagine giving birth in a hospital with this method would require a labor partner who can help keep the focus for mom.
I use the word “pain” when I talk about birth. My concern is that I would paint too rosy a picture and women might then feel stranded if/when the first really tough contraction hits. But nevertheless, I think we could all use some deprogramming from the Very Scary Nightmare birth culture most of us have been brought up in. Hollywood hasn’t helped much. But also, we’re just not around the cycle of life. We don’t know about birth. It’s all very mysterious, so education about just how normal it is can help. I also think learning some relaxation techniques and emphasizing the importance of trust, confidence and focus (for not just mom but those around her!) is incredibly helpful. I think fear reduces pain but I know from personal experience that it doesn’t necessarily take it away. If you become more familiar and comfortable with what happens in birth, however, I think you have more resources to devote to the business of working through the pain.
I have heard that HypnoBirthing is particularly good for women who have lots of anxiety about birth. And that it requires several classes and lots of practice so that you can access that relaxed, positive place rather quickly when you need to.
Any HypnoBirthers out there? Care to share your experiences?
See what Jessica Alba had to say about HypnoBirthing, and find out what other techniques celebrity moms have preferred.
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11 Comments
ChiLaura commented on Aug 12 11 at 10:54 amI’m a pretty strong believer in mind over matter. With my first, I was relaxed and practiced visualization techniques during contractions. There was pain, but I could tolerate it and talk myself thru it. I educated myself and so I knew what was going on. (And, to be fair, because of my cluelessness about how fast my labor was moving, since it *was* my first time, I was really, really relaxed.) With my second, I still had the same information, but my labor went really, really fast and we were stuck in traffic — I was actually fighting contractions. That birth HURT. I hated it. I was terrified that I would have my baby in a car. I am convinced that the relaxed atmosphere around #1 contributed to its relative ease. I won’t say “painlessness,” but the pain was different than with #2. With #3, things went well, but I do remember joking with my husband that maybe I’d reconsider that epidural after all (all births were unmedicated). I do sort of “blame” that sentiment on the fact that I hadn’t prepared for the birth as much as I had with #1, and the fact that the triage nurses wouldn’t let me move. Knowing what’s going on and being in control (i.e. with #s 1 and 2 I could move around) were for me major factors in how I could handle the physical side of labor.
Sara commented on Aug 12 11 at 12:14 pmI’ll let you know in 0-5 weeks! I’m really excited to use everything I’ve learned in my hypnobirthing course to deliver my child. I can’t wait.
Lucy commented on Aug 12 11 at 3:26 pmHi, I was so scared the first time I was pregnant until I discovered HypnoBirthing. It was amazing, for both myself and my partner (and our little girl was such a chilled out baby!) despite things really not going to plan. I then re-trained as a practitioner myself, so it literally changed my life. Number 2 baby also didn’t go to plan due to circumstances beyond my control, but the way that we viewed the birth stayed so positive that I still really enjoyed it; and baby number 2 is also a happy and relaxed little chap.
Kelly commented on Aug 12 11 at 10:24 pmI am a believer!! I used hypnobirthing to bring my beautiful, so healthy (9 lb. 1 oz. @ birth), active, 1 month old daughter (Kinzey) to the world. Kinzey is my first and before I knew about hypnobirthing I had decided I wanted my birthing experience to be as natural as possible. Hypnobirthing gave me all the tools I needed to have a 100% natural birth. I trusted my body to bring our baby into the world as it is designed to do. Through different relaxation techniques, proper preparation, breathing techniques and visualizations, hypno allowed me to birth a 9 lb. 1 oz. Baby 100% naturally – pretty amazing! I am definitely not going to say I couldn’t feel anything (as some testimonials I have read) but I would describe the “breathing down the baby” part of labor as INTENSE, not painful just intense. Contractions were totally manageable, nothing that made me feel as if I couldn’t handle the pain. Upon arrival :) Kinzey was SO alert, latched on right away (we had absolutely NO problem breastfeeding), and was/is so active. I would recommend hypno to any and everyone, it was such an amazing experience!
Care commented on Aug 13 11 at 5:59 pmHypnoBirthing techniques changed my life. When I found out I was allergic to all the drugs that were in an epidural – my doctor told me I would have to go natural. I cried for two weeks and was truly terrified. Then my niece told me about HypnoBirthing her two daughters. I was not a yoga girl or a hippie and I was very skeptical. But after reading the first 100 pages of the book I started to believe in the power of my body. After all – our great, great grandmothers had no epidural cart so genetically, my body knows how to do this. I practiced relaxing and letting go and rehearsed with the CD tracks. I only watched and listened to positive birth stories and my mindset began to change. The new birth language makes a HUGE difference to how we experience labor. I looked forward to the new experience and even though I was a bit nervous – I was excited. My birth was awesome and haven’t been able to stop talking about it. I became a doula and now I teach HypnoBirthing. Women need to stop fearing what their body was created to do. The power that comes from a birth where you are not scared and feel like you need to be rescued from it – is life changing. These techniques work even when medical interventions are necessary to help mom or baby and work amazing in a c-section. Go for it ladies – there are some wonderful women who can support you through what can be the most beautiful experiences of your life! It’s your choice!
Hollie commented on Aug 14 11 at 2:08 pmI did not do Hypno Birthing, but I agree, as you say “I think we could all use some deprogramming from the Very Scary Nightmare birth culture most of us have been brought up in”. I read all about childbirth. My mom and aunt had 5 natural, drug-free births between them and swore it was not like on TV. When I finally had to be induced, I had to use everything in my mind to NOT get ramped up on the scary talk surrounding Pitocin. I focused on breathing, knowing that each contraction would have an end, and trusting that my body knew what to do. I had no problem until transition, when I still wouldn’t say I was in pain, just overwhelmed by how there were no breaks in contractions. I got an epidural at 9 cm (cutting it a little close) and pushed my baby out 5 minutes later. In the end, just breathing and trusting my body kept me pain free for 10 hrs of labor. I think being educated, calm, and focused, as Hypno Birthing claims to help with, makes for a MUCH less scary birth.
Cassie commented on Aug 15 11 at 9:39 amBecause I had two births with epidurals that I didn’t really want, but was kind of bullied into, I went into my 3rd birth with the desire to WANT to feel my contractions.
I welcomed each contraction instead of trying to fight them off. I slept at 6cm and was still smiling at 9cm. I honestly don’t think that labor was anywhere near as painful as I had thought it would be, and I think my attitude played a huge role in that
jules commented on Aug 26 11 at 1:20 ami did hypnobirthing and while taking the course and listening to the cd, i wasn’t sure it was really going to work. i thought when it came time to actually give birth (a waterbirth at home) that the hypnobirthing stuff would go out the window once the pain and reality hit. however, i had an amazing, easy birth – labored for hours on my own without even realizing i was in active labor, called the midwives just in time, who all said they were amazed by my calm demeanor (i was in another world completely between contractions and pushing) – i agree that while there is no denying the pain, somehow it was completely manageable.
Lauren commented on Sep 01 11 at 12:07 amAny ladies know of any good Hypnobirthing books? I would love to try hypnobirthing with my first baby, but there are no classes near me. Any recommendations on books would be welcome, or videos!
Nelly commented on Sep 02 11 at 11:54 pmI had an epidural with my first and that really messed up my back for YEARS, so 11 yrs later when I had my 2nd I decided to do hypnobabies. I also had my 3rd without drugs too. I am pregnant with my 4th (due in Dec) and cannot bring myself to get pain meds. I can only share my experience which is, the birthing waves were very manageable. I was very calm through out that, until it comes to the pushy stage, then that is when it becomes a diffrent sensation. The 2nd child (1st on hypnobabies) I expected the pain level to be the same as it was when I was getting the birthing waves, but it was intense when its time for baby to come out. I felt like I had failed because I felt pain! So for the 3rd child, I practiced my hypnobabies extra hard. She was an easier delivery, but I wouldnt say that there was no “pain” involved. After that I talked to some other hypnobirthing mothers, and they experienced the same thing I did. In my opinion if you are not 100% commited in your mind and PREPARED to give a natural childbirth, and face it head on, your body and mind will know! It is worth it to me to have a natural childbirth, I could endure the “discomfort” of birthing once more to give my child and myself the very best. Good luck 1st time moms! You are brave, do not forget it!
Nelly commented on Sep 02 11 at 11:56 pmOne more thing. @ LAUREN… go to hypnobabies. com on line you can get the package. Good luck
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