What is Hypnobirthing??
Hello I am so grateful to be able to share my knowledge on hypnobirthing with you. I am a mental health nurse by trade but also have a masters in health promotion and a degree in KGH Hypnobirthing. I discovered hypnobirthing during my second pregnancy and it has honestly changed my life and I hope it can do the same for you. I began my own business in January 2023, Mindful Birthing. I incorporate Hypnobirthing, mindfulness and my years of mental health experience to provide women with a holistic approach to labour and birth. To me you’re not a pregnant woman, you’re a woman who happens to be pregnant! Your still you while you’re pregnant and to me it’s so important that your pregnancy prep suits you as the individual you are.
So what is Hypnobirthing?
Everyone has two thoughts about hypnobirthing; the first is that someone comes into the room and hypnotises you in labour, and the other is that it’s a magical technique that prevents pain in labour! The first is a myth and the second can be true if you practice! The truth is, hypnobirthing is a process and it starts way before labour and birth. Hypnobirthing is a way of unlearning all the unhelpful associations we have with childbirth, and let’s face it there are loads. Hypnobirthing provides you with an in-depth antenatal approach to childbirth. It educates you on the physiology of labour i.e. what is actually happening in your body and the hormones we naturally produce to help us have a smooth and comfortable labour. Once these foundations are in place, we can then train ourselves to think positively and calmly about birth, these are the tools you can use and the beauty is that there are so many so you find the best one for you.
Why do they always bang on about breathing?!
A large focus of Hypnobirthing is our breathing, but why? When we use our breath effectively, we mitigate discomfort, oxygenate the body and work in motion with our muscles which helps them work better, stronger and efficiently. There is so much information now about the benefits of belly breathing, mindfulness and training our breath to regulate our nervous system. Well, it’s the exact same narrative for childbirth. Himalayan mountain climbers, runners, opera singers train their breathing to ensure their bodies work with them and we as birthing women must train our breathing to ensure our bodies work their best during childbirth.
What are the ‘tools’ that can help in childbirth?
In hypnobirthing it’s all about the brain, training it and changing the perspective on childbirth. To do this we use things like;
-Affirmations
-Visualisations
-Relaxation/guided meditations
-Aromatherapy
-Neuroscience/psychoeducation around how the brain might work against you and how you can challenge these thoughts.
Hypnobirthing also covers;
-Comfort measures during labour & birth
-Pain management, non-medical and medical
-Birth Plan writing
-Caesarean births
When should I start a Hypnobirthing course?
There is no right or wrong time really, now obviously 2days out from your due date is not ideal! It is recommended that you start practising hypnobirthing techniques from week 22 of pregnancy. Why? Because the longer you give yourself to educate yourself and practise your favourite techniques the more effective it will all be on the day. Labour prep is always likened to marathon running, you don’t just show up on the day expecting to do a marathon, you do your preparation. Emotionally, physically and mentally we need to prep for childbirth because it is life changing event.
How do I know hypnobirthing is for me?
Hypnobirthing is for everyone and every birth. Hypnobirthing is a great tool to have for caesarean to help you stay relaxed and in control and it works in the same way for vaginal births. It is all about building confidence, staying calm and feeling in control of your birthing experience. I’m sure you know what’s it like to feel ‘out of control’, it’s not nice, its anxiety provoking and makes us feel chaotic. This is not what we want to feel like in labour because that is when we run into issues. If you want to feel empowered, confident and calm for birth then, hypnobirthing is for you.
Will Hypnobirthing help me with anxiety around childbirth?
Many hypnobirthing courses will talk about the normal worries of childbirth and offer validation around this however in many workshops you may not be able to voice your personal worries. There are the education aspects of hypnobirthing that can go a long way to demystifying childbirth once we understand exactly what is going on inside our own bodies. When I work with you, I bring my knowledge and expertise in mental health to build self-confidence and challenge unhelpful thinking patterns. The one-to-one space I offer women allows them to speak honestly and openly about their genuine concerns because sometimes its not always related to labour.
So, will you be trying Hypnobirthing?
Ill be perfectly honest, when I was pregnant on my first son I laughed when Hypnobirthing was suggested to me so I understand the reservations. When I became pregnant with my second, I dived head first into the world of hypnobirthing, birth preparation and reading everything I could about birth. Hypnobirthing and mindfulness made such a significant difference to my whole experience that I went and set up my own business to spread the word and empower other women. If your still on the fence about it, why not book a FREE coffee call with me and we can talk through everything so you can make the best decision for you and your family. Take control and have the birth you deserve.
