What I know for sure…
After teaching Hypnobirthing for 6 years and being a Mum to 3 children (all born using Hypnobirthing) I want to share with you some of the things that I know for sure about Hypnobirthing.
Hypnobirthing is a method of birth preparation but it is essentially a tool that you can use in whatever situation you find yourself in (when it comes to birth).
Induction- yes!
Waterbirth- sure!
C-section- yep!
Drug-free- you betchya!
Epidural- oh yeh!
Special Circumstances- damn straight.
Hypnobirthing is not just for hippies!!!!! I love a hippie and I guess in some ways I can be as hippyish as the next person but Hypnobirthing is so deeply ingrained in science that usually there isn’t a bare foot, hairy arm pitted, omming hippie to be seen.
Hypnobirthing can help to make a pain-free birth possible. If all you have heard about birth is that it is the most excruciating experience you will ever go through- that won’t be an easy sentence to read. Birth CAN be painful, it can be orgasmic for some people (seriously!!) and it can be pain-free for others. The truth is that there is a WHOLE spectrum of sensations you can experience!
However….Pain can still be a part of labour even if you do Hypnobirthing! No amount of work you do on your mindset or breathing preparation can 100% ensure that you won’t feel any pain during labour and birth. Hypnobirthing will help you to CHANGE your perception of pain in childbirth, it will EDUCATE you about your body and how to work with it during labour and you will learn some AMAZING relaxation techniques…all of which are proven to help with reducing the amount of pain associated with giving birth but no one (not even you) can know if you will still interpret the sensations you experience during labour as pain or not.
The Hypno part of Hypnobirthing IS Hypnosis but not the ‘run around like a chicken’ mind control type of Hypnosis that you might be anticipating. In fact, no type of Hypnosis can make you do something that you don’t want to- you are always in control.
Not all methods of Hypnobirthing are the same. I have taught 2 different methods and I cannot believe the differences between them. At first glance you might think they are identical but the subtle messages in the materials and the way an instructor leads or guides you will either prepare you for perfect and painfree or prepare you for whatever your birth throws at you…considering I don’t have a crystal ball, I know what I would prefer.
Hypnobirthing can be used in any setting. Hospital, homebirth or birth centre. There isn’t a particular setting which is more equipped or better suited to it.
Hypnobirthing is for EVERYONE. It isn’t just for people with time on their hands, or money to burn…it isn’t just for women who are planning to go drugfree. It is for all births (have I got that point across yet?!)
Hypnobirthing is not something you ACHIEVE. Who the HECK wants that pressure when you are going to get an actual human out of your body? You are not under scrutiny. You are not being marked or assessed. Hypnobirthing is something you USE, USE, USE!!!! You cannot FAIL at Hypnobirthing or birth. Its doesn’t not work…its not a working thing (am I making sense or am I just screaming hysterically at the laptop now)?
The Calm Birth School method of Hypnobirthing helps you to experience the most positive birth that YOU can, in your own unique way.
You can sign up for the first 3 videos of our on-line course for free via our website or get in touch with one of our instructors in the UK or Ireland.
