Many people have preconceived notions of Hypnobirthing: hippy-dippy breathing and relaxation practices perfect for those who aspire to give birth unattended in the woods with a tree branch between their teeth or in the sea with a pod of dolphins.
Am I right? And maybe you, too, hold a thought like this in your head.
I believe the ‘Hypno' part is doing us all a disservice when raising awareness about Hypnobirthing. It usually brings our mind to a stage where a more or less skilled magician is picking someone (not so) randomly in the audience in the hope of hypnotising them and getting them to do stupid (and hilarious) stuff without them knowing, depriving them of control and willpower.
Thankfully, this is far from what Hypnobirthing actually is.
Hypnobirthing finds its roots in Hypnotherapy techniques applied to the specific process and needs of childbirth. The 'Hypno' part of Hypnobirthing refers to the use of hypnosis, a state of deep relaxation and heightened focus, to manage pain and anxiety during childbirth.
Suppose you’ve ever seen a hypnotherapist to, let’s say, stop smoking or cure a phobia of some sort. In that case, you’ll know that there is no magic to it, that you are fully conscious throughout the session and in control.
Out of curiosity, I checked the definition of Hypnobirthing in the dictionary for you. It says... Hypnobirthing: a method of managing pain and anxiety during childbirth, involving various therapeutic relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing and visualisation.
However, Hypnobirthing is not just about relaxation, breathing, and visualisation techniques. It's about empowerment. If you choose your Hypnobirthing course wisely, you’ll discover it’s a "complete antenatal education programme that supports you and your birth partner to explore, empower and discover how calm, confident and positive your baby's birth can be." (Katherine Graves, KGH Founder)
I could talk to you about the many benefits of Hypnobirthing for hours, but I know first-hand, as a mother of 3 and full-time doula, childbirth educator and Hypnobirthing teacher, the scarcity and value of time, so I'll limit myself to the 5 reasons to choose Hypnobirthing for your birth preparation:
And if you can't be bothered but you'd love to quickly check out the Hypnobirthing stats and studies.... click here.
Let’s dive in!
1. Hypnobirthing is a complete antenatal class with the added benefits of relaxation and breathing practices
Yes! A Hypnobirthing course is a complete antenatal class. You can absolutely decide to prepare for your birth only with a Hypnobirthing course.
That being said, all Hypnobirthing courses aren’t equal, and you should take the time to choose one that answers your needs. Having trained with KGH, I am slightly biased, but as with everything in life, especially in pregnancy, birth and postpartum, you should do you! And you should pick a course that suits you.
Ideally, your Hypnobirthing course should make you feel in control, confident, and calm no matter the circumstances by:
Helping you deconstruct your beliefs around birth
Helping you identify and overcome your fears related to birth
Giving you evidence-based information
Teaching you about the physiology of birth
Empowering you and your partner to navigate the system and make decisions
Giving you relaxation, breathing and visualisation techniques to prepare for your big day
At the end of your course, you should feel prepared for ANY birth scenario. Whether you choose to give birth at home or at the hospital, with or without an epidural, on your own, with a midwife or surrounded by doctors, your Hypnobirthing knowledge and tools will support you. Remember, it's all about you and your unique birth experience.
I’ll let that sink in. You do YOU.
2. Hypnobirthing gets you ready for ANY birth. It gives you the tools to stay calm, in control and confident no matter what...especially if things go south!
Which they’re less likely to do anyway, thanks to your Hypnobirthing preparation! Ha!
As Benjamin Franklin said, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." This holds true in the birthing world. Having a birth plan and a clear idea of your ideal birth is key to a positive birth experience.
That being said, what makes planning so effective at setting you up for success is not that what you plan will magically happen as you imagined it on paper. What makes it so great is that by carefully considering all the options and possible outcomes of birth, you are getting yourself ready for any circumstance.
And so should you. You cannot control birth, and it is unlikely it will happen exactly as you wish. But that’s okay. That’s life! However, you can be in control of the choices you make in your birth experience. And... there's nothing more empowering than feeling confidently knowledgeable and making informed choices we feel at peace with.
No birth preparation can guarantee you a ‘pain-free’ birth or even an ‘according-to-plan' birth. Nevertheless, Hypnobirthing will get you ready and set you up for success for a positive birth experience, whatever the circumstances.
3. Hypnobirthing is a beautiful natural pain-management tool which has nothing to do with magic... Pinky promise!
Have you ever heard of Oxytocin? Commonly known as the Hormone of Love, it is produced when... we fall in love, make love... and breastfeed!
The uterus is covered with oxytocin receptors, and funny enough, the Hormone of Love is the secret ingredient that will get your contractions going and finally allow you to meet your baby.
The more Oxytocin you have in your body during labour, the quicker the birth. And because nature has thought of everything, when your brain gets the message that Oxytocin is flowing and your contractions are ramping up, it releases Endorphins.
You can think of Endorphins as your natural painkiller and your brain as your very own pharmacist.
Great! But what does Hypnobirthing have to do with any of this?
I’m glad you asked! Hypnobirthing techniques, such as deep relaxation and visualisation, can help stimulate the production of Oxytocin, thereby facilitating a smoother and more comfortable birth.
See... the Hormone of Love is very shy.
As an introvert myself, I get her. To flow freely and work her magic, she needs calm and safety. She needs you to be relaxed, comfortable, and unobserved. If, for some reason, there is a change in your environment, let’s say a busy medical staff enters your room and turns the ceiling lights on, it might be just enough for her nemesis Adrenaline to join the party. Adrenaline is often seen as the mean girl that ruins the moment. But she has an important role to play. As Dr. Mindy Pelz likes to say, “Remember, you are in a primal body in a modern world.” If you were giving birth in the jungle – which one of your ancestors might have done – you'd be very grateful for Adrenaline to kick in and stop labour when finding yourself face to face with a sabre-toothed tiger. In your case, the sabre-toothed tiger is most likely to be an overtired midwife or doctor in a white coat rushing from one room to another for supplies, but nonetheless, contractions will slow down or even stop. And because the Hormone of Love can't be rushed either, it might take a minute to get her to return and get labour going again.
Preparing for your birth with a Hypnobirthing course will help you remain calm throughout labour and ensure Oxytocin and Endorphins are flowing in copious amounts in your bloodstream. With these two hormones combined, acting as a pain reliever, and Adrenaline, hopefully kept at bay, it is possible (no guarantee, alas!) that you won’t feel pain per se but rather feel intense pressure during your surges.
Come to think of it... there is something magical about the birthing body!
4. Hypnobirthing will give your partner the tools to be genuinely involved!
More often than not, antenatal classes are designed with the birthing mother in mind, not so much their partner. While it is absolutely necessary to get birthing mothers ready—after all, they’re kind of the stars of the show—birth partners don’t have to be bystanders, and both mothers and partners greatly benefit when partners can take their part during labour.
We’ve previously discussed how the female body is designed to give birth naturally and efficiently. Similarly, partners are designed to protect women in labour. Back to our cavemen ancestors, men had to protect the cave and ensure the mother and baby's safety. Partners also live in primal bodies in the modern world. They are still wired to protect the birthing space.
This makes them the perfect companions to help the birthing mother keep her Oxytocin flowing by maintaining the right environment, helping her get in the most comfortable positions, encouraging her to eat and drink regularly, and coaching her to stay calm.
"Dads usually are the biggest sceptics when they arrive at our course and our biggest supporters by the end." Katherine Graves, KGH Founder
Hypnobirthing courses are designed with both mothers and partners in mind, giving partners the tools they need to have a meaningful role during pregnancy, birth and beyond. Partners who have followed KG Hypnobirthing courses typically share how much they cherish participating actively in the birthing journey. They talk about feeling a profound bond with their little one from the get-go and growing closer to Mom as they dive into the birthing plans together. They know how to employ various techniques to help mom with every surge and offer words of comfort to help maintain a serene atmosphere.
5. Hypnobirthing is for LIFE (not just birth)!
Hypnobirthing preparation offers techniques that are not only valuable during childbirth but can also be beneficial in various other aspects of life due to their focus on relaxation, pain management, and stress reduction. Deep breathing, visualisation and mindfulness, central to Hypnobirthing, are proven methods for reducing stress and anxiety in any situation.
These methods help calm the mind and can be used effectively in daily scenarios, from managing stress at work to dealing with social anxiety. Hypnobirthing teaches breathing techniques, which are designed to help manage pain without medication.
These techniques can be adapted for other painful conditions such as chronic pain, recovery after surgery or even minor day-to-day injuries.
Regular relaxation, breathing, and focus practice can also improve sleep quality, help build emotional resilience, and enhance one's ability to concentrate in less intense situations, such as work or study.
Interestingly, you should be able to reap the benefits of your Hypnobirthing practice during pregnancy, birth and beyond! And it might be as early as your postpartum!
As you now know, Hypnobirthing is more than just a set of techniques; it's a complete antenatal class that maximises your chances of experiencing a positive birth, whatever your preferences and circumstances. By empowering you and your partner to make informed choices and giving you the tools to remain calm and confident, Hypnobirthing is the birth preparation you need to feel in control in a context that is out of your control.
To wrap up, I would say that choosing Hypnobirthing as part of your birth preparation isn't just about getting ready for labour—it's about embracing a holistic approach that empowers you and your partner and makes you both more resilient in pregnancy, birth, and beyond – starting with postpartum! The tools and knowledge gained through Hypnobirthing do not expire once your baby arrives; they equip you for life, enhancing your well-being and providing strategies to handle stress and pain in everyday situations.
And if I haven’t convinced you yet, have a look at the below Hypnobirthing Stats and Studies:
"The research – carried out independently for us in conjunction with The Institute of Mums – surveyed almost 700 women. We looked at women who had studied a full KGH course with Katharine Graves compared to a control group who had not studied hypnobirthing.
Birth experience: When comparing the overall birth experience, 69% of KGH mums rated their birth experience as ‘extremely’ or ‘very’ positive vs. only 44% of non-hypnobirthing mums. 76% of KGH mums reflected on their birth as ‘extremely’ or ‘quite’ calm, compared to 46% of non-hypnobirthing mums. Twice as many KGH mums specifically stated that their child’s birth was ‘extremely calm’. KGH mums also needed lower levels of pain relief.
Caesarean section: Most notable from the results were the differing levels of intrusive medical intervention, with mums who had experienced the KG Hypnobirthing programme almost 50% less likely to require a caesarean section.
Mental health: Focusing on stress, anxiety and mental health, the study highlighted how non-hypnobirthing mums were over 73% more likely to have experienced mental health issues compared to KGH mums."
"Reduction in pain: This study found that women who gave birth via Hypnobirthing had less birth pain and fear compared to the participants in the control group. All of the women who applied Hypnobirthing stated that the hypnobirthing method reduced pain. Read the study here.
Shorter labour and reduced intervention rates: The hypnobirthing group's rates of birth intervention were significantly lower, and their delivery periods were shorter than those of the routine control group. Birth satisfaction was also shown to be higher. Read the study here.
Anxiety reduction: Pregnant mothers who studied Hypnobirthing had anxiety levels as low at a statistically significant lower level than pregnant mothers who did not study Hypnobirthing. Read the study here.
KGHypnobirthing hospital results: The statistics show a dramatic increase in positive childbirth outcomes in Hospitals that use KG Hypnobirthing as a core method for training both their Midwives and couples giving birth at their hospital. Read the results here."
"It is important to note that not all studies have found positive effects of Hypnobirthing. We do occasionally hear people saying that Hypnobirthing did not work for them. When you learn more about their experience, a common denominator is their course length and daily practice routine. We cannot stress enough how important it is to do a full-length KGH course and not to cut corners. This area is vital to get right to ensure you enjoy all the benefits Hypnobirthing can offer. A 5-hour course and no further practice differs from an entire 12-hour course and 15 minutes of daily practice.", KGH
What's your take on Hypnobirthing? Share your experiences or questions below and let’s chat! 🗨️💬
Comentários