HypnoBirthing Helps!
HypnoBirthing is a wonderful tool to use for birthing for couples that desire a better birth experience. Developed in the 1990s by Marie Mongan in the United States the method has spread internationally and is now a popular tool to use for birthing. Deborah Dewey the only qualified and register HypnoBirthing instructor in Hong Kong says, “the practical techniques are practiced by mums-to-be, looking for a calmer birthing experience”. The popularity of HypnoBirthing has spread in the past 10 years in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and Germany and is becoming a first choice for many mums in hospitals. In the United Kingdom midwivies are seeing such a positive effect from HypnoBirthing that more midwivies are learning the tools to pass on to their expectant mums.
Birthing should be a happy time of preparing and getting ready to welcome their newborn. However, for some couples it can be an overwhelming time of fear and change. Fear of the unknown and fear of the birth. The philosophy of HypnoBirthing prepares the mums mindset for their labour day by giving her a sense of control, empowerment and the goal of giving her the birth that she truly desires without fear or tension. HypnoBirthing allows couples to understand how the body and mind works and ultizes this by coupling it with the subtle technique of hypnosis.
What to Expect When Your Expecting:
In the well-structured HypnoBirthing classes mums are taught how to create deep levels of relaxation easily and effortlessly. When we are in a deep level of relaxation this eliminates the fear that causes tension and thus, pain. When we understand the Mind-Body connection of the “fight or flight” response we are able to control our reaction to it and this allows mum to be alert, fresh, awake and have more energy in the labour room. It is well known in the HypnoBirthing world that Hypnobirthing mums have a shorter first phase of labour. This is better not only for mum but for baby too. The techniques learnt will also help to keep a healthy supply of oxygen to the baby during birthing. Mei Kei, a midwife from China who has had valuable experience in New York, London, Beijing and Shanghai says “The method is very effective, couples are really relaxed. Majority of them need no medical intervention, their labour is shorter and calmer”. With over 40 years of experience as a midwife, Mei Kei has seen first hand how HypnoBirthing is changing our belief about birthing. It is filling a well needed gap for a better birthing experience for mums in hospitals by allowing them to take control of their birthing bodies with confidence and by allowing them to be well informed of their choices.
Breathing techniques are core to the program and become a part of mums daily routine. Through breathing mum can condition her mind and body in preparation for birth and create an ultimate state of relaxation. In HypnoBirthing the breathing techniques taught suit birthing, as one DB mum says about her sessions with Deborah, “The easy-to-learn breathing techniques are practical and truly helpful”.
For HypnoBirthing mums the enemy of the labour room is catecholamines, the hormones that can be triggered in our ‘fight or flight” response to stress. These act as constrictors which cause the muscles within the uterus and elsewhere in our body to tense. Through the 4 key principles of HypnoBirthing; breathing, visualization, deepening and relaxation couples are taught how to identify emotional stress before and during labour, how to release it and bring mum back to a deepened relaxation. In this state endorphins are released naturally, which have an effect that is 200 times more powerful than morphine. HypnoBirthing tunes couples in to this tranquil, amnesiac conditioning by creating a pathway to the subconscious and tapping into these natural tranquilizers by helping to alleviate the pain and understand how to react and “let go” to it. Guided imagery is taught in HypnoBirthing classes, a valuable tool because hypnotherapy understands that the majority of people, 80% of us are visual by nature and thus what our mind thinks we do become. Therefore, where are mind leads our body follows and this will create a relaxed mum that welcomes her labour day with joy.
Creating Choices with HypnoBirthing
HypnoBirthing suits couples that want to take responsibility of their birth day and take control of their choices. As a tool HypnoBirthing is geared towards couples that would like to have a natural birth experience. However, HypnoBirthing supports mums who have epidurals and even mums who have a C-section planned. Why? Because the tools taught can create a more relaxed state of mind for the mum ready for her labour day in hospital, whatever the outcome. As midwife, Mei Kei says, “Women have been giving birth for thousands of years, unfortunately, with today’s modern technology, we are treating birthing as a medical procedure. It’s time to bring it back to nature”. Whatever your beliefs are about birthing the program will change your pespective on birthing. Deborah, a qualified Clinical Hypnotherapist trained at the London College of Clinical Hypnosis made an easy choice to train as a HypnoBirthing instructor because it is the most special and happiest time in a woman’s life. After completing the course Deborah saw birthing through fresh eyes. She has always been an advocate for more natural birthing methods and Deborah understood that HypnoBirthing gives the tools a mum needs for birthing in todays modern hospitals.
During the 5 classes couples will learn an array of techniques and gather tools for their labour day. The course comes with a complimentary HypnoBirthing, Mongan Method book and a relaxation CD, that is specifically geared for easier birthing. A detailed and well informed Hand Book is also included for couples to use at home and in class. Deborah offers private or small group classes.
If you have any further questions please call Deborah 6208 7321 and she will be more than happy to answer your questions. I wish you a happy birthing day. Deborah Dewey, BA, D. Hyp. (LCCH)
