Hypnobirthing: information and Q & A
I have been working with hypnobirthing clients for sixteen years and am a fully certified KG Hypnobirthing teacher. I appreciate the intimacy of life. My passion is to gently facilitate the human experience in ways that point directly to wholeness, or true nature. Hypnobirthing does this very effectively.
Q. What is Hypnobirthing?
A. Hypnobirthing is a series of therapeutic techniques designed specifically for fear release. It addresses the cognitive dissonance that commonly clusters around the childbearing experience. The practice of hypnobirthing helps couples clear negative cultural conditioning by means of positive interventions such as the demystifying of modern birth practices through the sharing of evidence-based information. Foremost, hypnobirthing introduces women to the practice of specific breathing techniques, therapeutic touch and visualisations for relaxation.
Giving birth carries the potential to be the most empowering and extraordinary experience of a woman's entire life. Hypnobirthing is an approach to birth that is grounded by the rational dissemination of evidence-based research about many birth related topics, balanced with relaxation techniques so powerful that they impact directly with the nervous and endocrine system. This is so much the case that those who have supported clients who have hypnobirthed their babies cannot believe their eyes and ears! During her contractions (''surges''), she appears supremely relaxed and deeply serene. Hypnobirthing is confidence inspiring, imaginative, creative and ultimately wholly beneficial to the experience of birth. Well documented is hypnobirthing’s potential to not only positively enhance pregnancy and birth, but also the postnatal period and beyond.
Q. How is Hypnobirthing beneficial to the physiology of birth?
A. Hypnobirthing techniques enhance parasympathetic nervous responses enabling the body and general state to be one of harmony and balance. It maintains body functioning in a state of calm. With a slower resting heart rate, reduced nervous stimulation the neuropeptides remain at low levels. The parasympathetic system enables the pituitary to produce optimal levels of oxytocin which help to co-ordinate the muscles of the uterus and increase a sense of calm, peace and enjoyment. Endorphins will also be in optimum production enabling the muscles of the uterus to relax between surges / contractions.
About 70 – 80 % of my clients hypnobirth. This is not to say that the 20 – 30% who do not don’t have positive experiences. The main difference is that the hypnobirthers tend to experience less fear and therefore pain and are a lot quieter (often silent, which can be a little spooky for partners!) and tend to breathe their babies out, as oppossed to them flying out and potntially causing perineal trauma.
Q. What other benefits are there with Hypnobirthing?
A. For woman: A more relaxed and enjoyable pregnancy, increased confidence in her body’s physiological abilities, enhanced mind / body connection, increased incidence of homebirth, possibly reduced risk of complications including raised BP, reduced risk of medical interventions, possibly shorter labour, reduced risk of perineal trauma and transfer to hospital, improved bonding with baby, lower incidence of PND, long term holistic well-being and more.
For partner: Improved relaxation antenatal experience due to shared hypnobirthing techniques, greater awareness around the physiology of pregnancy and birth, improved intimacy with partner, sense of pregnancy and birth as not just feminine territory, clearly defined role as his partner’s main pregnancy and birth supporter, improved bonding with baby and general feelings of confidence in his new parenting role and more.
For baby: A peaceful, 5 star uterus antenatally thanks to a very peaceful mother (ideal physiology for interuterine growth and development). Also labours tend to be shorter and babies don't show signs of stress, leading to increased homebirth rates and avoidance of complications / interventions associated with the hospital environment. Babies tend to experience a far calmer entrance into the world, immediate bonding with mother, immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding. It's a smoother transition that helps babies and parents to feel more peaceful and settled.
Q. How much practice is recommended for birth preparation?
A. As Hypnobirthing teachers we recommend 15 minutes a day from around Week 20.
Q. Why is it important to build confidence during pregnancy?
A. When a woman is psychologically free from obstruction, her body leads the way and the birth process can be natural. Confidence often is the result of excellent preparation – few of us feel confident until we familiarise ourselves as fully as we can with a subject. Birth is no different. An important part of birth preparation involves uncovering and exploring fears in such as a way as they are no longer buried and trapped between the breath and held by the body. The body is a direct follow on from our psychology – inseparable. To recognise this fact is the beginning of confidence building and fear release. I always ask clients to locate and describe the quality of the feelings as they register at a physical level. In doing so there’s an opening that occurs enabling an experience of the inner world as being infinite and ineffable, unlimited by thoughts.
Q. What is the difference between a natural and a normal birth?
A. Natural = simple, straightforward, unfolds on its own and is unobstructed, free from interventions, instruments and invasive procedures.
Normal = Bright lights, noisy, foreign environment, unfamiliar people, Continuous fetal ultrasound surveillance, limited mobility (bed-bound), starvation, IV drip infusions, mechanical interventions, chemical interventions (eg. IOL), analgesia, sedatives, antacids, antibiotics anaesthetics, instruments (amnihook, FSE, ventouse / forceps), surgical intervention (episiotomy, LSCS), pubic shaving in prep for LSCS, IV infusions, IV transfusions to name but a few.
The point of Hypnobirthing is not birthing without pain. The point is to birth with LOVE and CONFIDENCE, without fear, without unnecessary intervention and with a supportive team who shares your birth vision. That is the definition of a successful hypno-birth. The wonderful side-effect of this type of gentle, mother-centered, empowered birth is more pleasure and less pain.
Summary of what Hypnobirthing classes will offer you and your partner:
A. Hypnobirthing classes are taught privately per couple and taught in 2 long sessions, unusally with a 2 week interval between sessions. For example 11 am - 5 pm, in couple's own homes. This format enables practise and time to address individual needs with you being in the comfort of your own environment. Alternatively, the entire programme can be taught over a weekend. If you have the space to open your home for group classes and can interest 3 other couples, you will receive a discount. Contact me with more information and we will see what we can negotiate.
Fees
I charge £300 per couple. You will receive links to download MP3s and a printed manual with essential information comprising a toolbox of techniques to choose from, how to practice and apply all the different techniques and a full understanding of all things pregnancy, birth and postnatal period related.
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Click here to fill in a contact form and I will be in touch shortly :-)
I have been working with hypnobirthing clients for sixteen years and am a fully certified KG Hypnobirthing teacher. I appreciate the intimacy of life. My passion is to gently facilitate the human experience in ways that point directly to wholeness, or true nature. Hypnobirthing does this very effectively.
Q. What is Hypnobirthing?
A. Hypnobirthing is a series of therapeutic techniques designed specifically for fear release. It addresses the cognitive dissonance that commonly clusters around the childbearing experience. The practice of hypnobirthing helps couples clear negative cultural conditioning by means of positive interventions such as the demystifying of modern birth practices through the sharing of evidence-based information. Foremost, hypnobirthing introduces women to the practice of specific breathing techniques, therapeutic touch and visualisations for relaxation.
Giving birth carries the potential to be the most empowering and extraordinary experience of a woman's entire life. Hypnobirthing is an approach to birth that is grounded by the rational dissemination of evidence-based research about many birth related topics, balanced with relaxation techniques so powerful that they impact directly with the nervous and endocrine system. This is so much the case that those who have supported clients who have hypnobirthed their babies cannot believe their eyes and ears! During her contractions (''surges''), she appears supremely relaxed and deeply serene. Hypnobirthing is confidence inspiring, imaginative, creative and ultimately wholly beneficial to the experience of birth. Well documented is hypnobirthing’s potential to not only positively enhance pregnancy and birth, but also the postnatal period and beyond.
Q. How is Hypnobirthing beneficial to the physiology of birth?
A. Hypnobirthing techniques enhance parasympathetic nervous responses enabling the body and general state to be one of harmony and balance. It maintains body functioning in a state of calm. With a slower resting heart rate, reduced nervous stimulation the neuropeptides remain at low levels. The parasympathetic system enables the pituitary to produce optimal levels of oxytocin which help to co-ordinate the muscles of the uterus and increase a sense of calm, peace and enjoyment. Endorphins will also be in optimum production enabling the muscles of the uterus to relax between surges / contractions.
About 70 – 80 % of my clients hypnobirth. This is not to say that the 20 – 30% who do not don’t have positive experiences. The main difference is that the hypnobirthers tend to experience less fear and therefore pain and are a lot quieter (often silent, which can be a little spooky for partners!) and tend to breathe their babies out, as oppossed to them flying out and potntially causing perineal trauma.
Q. What other benefits are there with Hypnobirthing?
A. For woman: A more relaxed and enjoyable pregnancy, increased confidence in her body’s physiological abilities, enhanced mind / body connection, increased incidence of homebirth, possibly reduced risk of complications including raised BP, reduced risk of medical interventions, possibly shorter labour, reduced risk of perineal trauma and transfer to hospital, improved bonding with baby, lower incidence of PND, long term holistic well-being and more.
For partner: Improved relaxation antenatal experience due to shared hypnobirthing techniques, greater awareness around the physiology of pregnancy and birth, improved intimacy with partner, sense of pregnancy and birth as not just feminine territory, clearly defined role as his partner’s main pregnancy and birth supporter, improved bonding with baby and general feelings of confidence in his new parenting role and more.
For baby: A peaceful, 5 star uterus antenatally thanks to a very peaceful mother (ideal physiology for interuterine growth and development). Also labours tend to be shorter and babies don't show signs of stress, leading to increased homebirth rates and avoidance of complications / interventions associated with the hospital environment. Babies tend to experience a far calmer entrance into the world, immediate bonding with mother, immediate skin to skin and breastfeeding. It's a smoother transition that helps babies and parents to feel more peaceful and settled.
Q. How much practice is recommended for birth preparation?
A. As Hypnobirthing teachers we recommend 15 minutes a day from around Week 20.
Q. Why is it important to build confidence during pregnancy?
A. When a woman is psychologically free from obstruction, her body leads the way and the birth process can be natural. Confidence often is the result of excellent preparation – few of us feel confident until we familiarise ourselves as fully as we can with a subject. Birth is no different. An important part of birth preparation involves uncovering and exploring fears in such as a way as they are no longer buried and trapped between the breath and held by the body. The body is a direct follow on from our psychology – inseparable. To recognise this fact is the beginning of confidence building and fear release. I always ask clients to locate and describe the quality of the feelings as they register at a physical level. In doing so there’s an opening that occurs enabling an experience of the inner world as being infinite and ineffable, unlimited by thoughts.
Q. What is the difference between a natural and a normal birth?
A. Natural = simple, straightforward, unfolds on its own and is unobstructed, free from interventions, instruments and invasive procedures.
Normal = Bright lights, noisy, foreign environment, unfamiliar people, Continuous fetal ultrasound surveillance, limited mobility (bed-bound), starvation, IV drip infusions, mechanical interventions, chemical interventions (eg. IOL), analgesia, sedatives, antacids, antibiotics anaesthetics, instruments (amnihook, FSE, ventouse / forceps), surgical intervention (episiotomy, LSCS), pubic shaving in prep for LSCS, IV infusions, IV transfusions to name but a few.
The point of Hypnobirthing is not birthing without pain. The point is to birth with LOVE and CONFIDENCE, without fear, without unnecessary intervention and with a supportive team who shares your birth vision. That is the definition of a successful hypno-birth. The wonderful side-effect of this type of gentle, mother-centered, empowered birth is more pleasure and less pain.
Summary of what Hypnobirthing classes will offer you and your partner:
- The theories and rationale for HypnoBirthing
- Everything you need to know about labour
- About your body and how it functions in pregnancy and labour
- A range of special breathing and relaxation techniques
- How to release any fears and anxieties you and your partner may have about labour
- Self-hypnosis which will allow you to be totally relaxed yet in control
- Partners learn to encourage and support throughout labour and during the birth
- Early bonding
- Early parenting skills
- Useful advice on breast feeding
- Self-hypnosis can be used in many future life events
A. Hypnobirthing classes are taught privately per couple and taught in 2 long sessions, unusally with a 2 week interval between sessions. For example 11 am - 5 pm, in couple's own homes. This format enables practise and time to address individual needs with you being in the comfort of your own environment. Alternatively, the entire programme can be taught over a weekend. If you have the space to open your home for group classes and can interest 3 other couples, you will receive a discount. Contact me with more information and we will see what we can negotiate.
Fees
I charge £300 per couple. You will receive links to download MP3s and a printed manual with essential information comprising a toolbox of techniques to choose from, how to practice and apply all the different techniques and a full understanding of all things pregnancy, birth and postnatal period related.
Click here to Home
Click here to Top of Page
Click here to fill in a contact form and I will be in touch shortly :-)