HypnoBirthing
HypnoBirthing
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HypnoBirthing:
What is it and how does it work?
by Kerry Tuschhoff, HBCE Mention Labor and Delivery to an expectant mom in her last trimester, and chances are good that her heart will begin to race, her mind floods with concern and in some cases, panic. She knows that the day is coming when a force much bigger than herself will take over and her body will govern itself completely. For some women, this is a very fearful event, but for HypnoBirthing mothers, it is merely a challenge. HypnoBirthing is a childbirth method that uses hypnosis to eliminate pain and fear from the birthing experience. In the past, the word "hypnosis" conjured up images of stage hypnotists re-creating Elvis, or mesmerizing others into embarrassing situations. Now it is common for hypnosis to be used therapeutically in many areas of medicine, dental anesthesia and personal therapy sessions. Even so, there are many misconceptions regarding hypnosis that can dissuade those contemplating this powerful tool. Here are a few FACTS:
What is HypnoBirthing? HypnoBirthing teaches an understanding of how the birthing muscles work in perfect harmony, as they were designed to do, when the body is sufficiently relaxed. The depth of relaxation necessary can easily be achieved with hypnosis, and couples learn these skills in HypnoBirthing classes, and practice them at home every day until the baby arrives. The Birth Companion, as the partners are called, have a very integral role in the preparation process, listening to the audio tapes, reading the HypnoBirthing book and handouts and guiding the mother into hypnosis with HypnoBirthing scripts. In labor they are an invaluable part of the birthing process as they help the mother to focus and concentrate, as well as supporting her physically. All aspects of labor and birth are covered in HypnoBirthing classes, as well as information on nutrition, exercise, complications, interventions and consumer issues. Fear and Expectation In other cultures, childbirth is regarded as a natural, normal event in a woman's life, with the birthing women given support from other women, and many times children in attendance. In this way, birth is celebrated and honored. The young girls then grow up with the belief system that birth is a positive event in a woman's life, and their expectations of childbirth reflect this attitude. As a result, their births are similar to their predecessors; without pain and fear. They don't have a negative expectation of childbirth. In our culture, it is very much the opposite. For many generations we have been told that delivering a baby is many hours of painfully agonizing work, to be faced with fear and trepidation. We have heard stories from well-meaning friends and family that send shivers up our spines, and so the legacy continues. We experience pain in childbirth, in part because we very much expect to! In HypnoBirthing classes, the expectant couple is taught to surround themselves with only positive people and messages, to re-create a positive view of childbirth and the expectation that their birthing with be the beautiful, peaceful experience that nature intended. Our Fear Release Sessions are integral to this process, as they allow each person to address fears they have, work through possible solutions and then release them. Fear in labor can create tension, which creates pain, then more fear, and the cycle continues. Fear and anxiety can also create adrenaline production in the body, causing the labor to become dysfunctional, a common reason for Cesarean Section surgery. Freedom from fear can make a huge difference in the birthing experience. HypnoBirthing teaches women how to go into self-hypnosis instantly, and create her own natural anesthesia whenever and wherever she needs it. This is important as any drugs taken by a laboring woman can be dangerous for her, and especially her baby. She has total control over her body, and is an active participant in her birth process. As labor progresses, she goes deeper inside herself, trusting in her body's natural ability to give birth with ease and comfort. Her mind is programmed to give her exactly what she needs. Too good to be true? Can it be that women can give birth with no pain? They can, but there are many variables in labor and birth that can affect the outcome, and couples need to have a positive but realistic view of HypnoBirthing. Here are statistics for my class only: (I teach a 6 week course, 15 total hours of instruction) 1) Pain-free births - 30%. Women who report that they felt nothing but pressure. 2) Pain-free until transition - 50%. Pressure only, until the 10-60 minute transitional period, with mild to intense degrees of sensation. 3) Mostly pain-free until active labor - 20%. This group can have any number of things that affect their birth experiences; posterior or asynclitic presentations that do not resolve, other complications, emotional responses to negativity surrounding them, or they just plain did not do their homework! No amount of coming to HypnoBirthing classes is going to help if a couple is not willing to do the work involved in preparing for their baby's birth. All women reported that the relaxation and fear release were invaluable to them during their labors. Benefits of HypnoBirthing
It is well worth the time to look into HypnoBirthing as an option, both for yourself and for your baby. It has even helped many a nervous dad to cope, as they experience hypnosis in class as well! Kerry Tuschhoff has taught natural childbirth for over 11 years and is Operations Director of HypnoBirthing Associates in Cypress, Ca. Website: http://members.theglobe.com/kerrot/HYPNOBIRTHING |