Hypnobabies

Let me tell you more about Hypnosis for childbirth...! Hypnobabies is a complete birth education class, ours was 6 weeks long and Matt and I attended each week.The class consists of learning about pregnancy and birth, but also teaches and prepares mothers to use hypnosis and deep relaxation to stay calm during their birthing time, with the goal of staying comfortable, using little to no medication and having a joyful and connected birth experience.

It might seem strange since this isn't my first pregnancy, but I'm hoping to have a vaginal birth this time and with the twins had a C-section and didn't take a full childbirth education class.

The difference between hypnosis and mediation is that you actually change your thoughts and feelings about birth from typically fearful and helpless ones to empowered and calm ones.

It is a LOT of practicing...about 45 minutes every day. So it might not be a good fit for everyone. However, I am very glad we chose to do this and I am really feeling prepared and inspired and empowered. I am so amazed at how much information exists and how much knowledge about birth can be learned. I soak it up!

Each day I listen to "pregnancy affirmations" which are statements that are designed to change my beliefs about birth. Some of them are so powerful for me. Things like:

"Through birth I find healing"

"When I think about birthing my baby, I feel powerful"

"I can say NO and still be respected" 

One thing that stands out to me in class was the idea that our bodies are instinctual and that pain and fear are directly correlated with each other. For example, a deer in the wild will settle in to birth her young and if she becomes threatened at any time by a predator, her uterus will literally STOP preparing and allow her to run away to safety. Humans have similar instincts and our bodies take all the cues from our past experiences, things we have seen on tv, stories and the current moment and sometimes this results in the birth process being extremely long or slow and painful. Therefore, being relaxed and having positive expectations are supposedly essential to having a comfortable birth. 

On our last class we got to do a "birth rehearsal" and actually practice how it might be when the time arrives. The teacher led us through each step and how we might use our hypnosis tools and we acted it out. I loved doing this and believe this type of behavior only reinforces for me and my body the idea that birth can be good and safe and beautiful.

This video is amazing. I cry every time I watch a birth video of a woman using hypnosis and deep relaxation. It is pretty long, so if you decide to watch it you can skip ahead through things. There are captions throughout to explain what she is doing and how she is using her tools. (it's all decent so don't worry about seeing any random body parts...!)

And if you're in the mood, here is a link to more birth stories, they are so remarkable.