Hypnobirthing-busting the myths
I recently heard from a client that a friend of theirs had a poor experience with hypnobirthing. My client told me that their friend’s practitioner (who was not a Mindful Mamma practitioner) had made them feel guilty for not wanting a completely natural birth and for mentioning that they were looking into pain relief such as an epidural. The practitioner even suggested that they were not thinking of baby’s best interest.
This gives me the opportunity to address some of the misconceptions around hypnobirthing…
Hypnobirthing is not solely about having an undisturbed birth at home. It’s about letting women/couples know that they have choices. It is their decision as to how and where they want to give birth.
Hypnobirthing is about giving women tools of mindfulness and self-hypnosis, confidence and the ability to trust, allow and let go through labour and birth.
Hypnobirthing is about conditioning the brain so that the body will respond to labour with relaxation.
Hypnobirthing is about clearing the brain’s reference section around birth, which may have been influenced by horror stories, and leaving space for new positive associations with birth.
Hypnobirthing is about preparing the birth partner to be the mother’s best advocate.
Hypnobirthing is about learning how to get the environment right for birth, no matter where that may be.
Hypnobirthing is about empowering women and their partners so that they can make informed decisions, no matter what direction their birth takes.
When women are involved in the decision-making process, during their labour and birth, it is far more likely to lead to a positive experience for mum, partner and baby.
This is what hypnobirthing is all about.
At Mindful Mamma we support an undisturbed home birth just as much as we support those who choose to give birth in hospital, a birth centre or even free birth. Whether they choose an elective caesarian, epidural and assisted birth or physiological, undisturbed birth, hypnobirthing will be invaluable. If they end up having to be induced or an emergency caesarian, hypnobirthing will be invaluable.
Here’s a recent study on hypnosis and birth experience
https://www.midwiferyjournal.com/article/S0266-6138(20)30039-5/fulltext?fbclid=IwAR2KWi8XoLj926K8xfhj2YZwF693KrI3UBJEg4AwZN1QaEEymegebt7yajk
Another assumption is that by using hypnosis somehow you will not be the one in control. Hypnosis is a state of heightened focus and concentration. It is a state that people go into regularly through the course of a day, like when you lose yourself in a good book and time has passed more quickly than you expected.
Its a very empowering process as you’re the one that is in full control. Hypnosis is used in preparation for birth, as mentioned above, to condition the brain to respond to labour with relaxation. We also use self hypnosis, if desired, to go that little bit deeper into your birthing zone. The use of hypnosis coupled with mindfulness during labour and birth allows you to calmly tune into your body and your baby, allowing you to trust and let go.
Many people are put off hypnobirthing because of the assumption that it is for “kaftan wearing Hippies” (this was an actual comment made to myself). However, as we’ve recently discovered, even the Duchess of Cambridge has used hypnobirthing for her three pregnancies, saying that she “quite liked labour” as many hypnobirthing mums do. https://podcast.app/the-duchess-of-cambridge-on-the-early-years-e86595471/
I have had a wide range of people attending my workshops from all walks of life including Engineers, Scientists, Teachers, Athletes, Designers, Midwives, Doctors and Psychologists, to name just a few.
When you choose a Mindful Mamma workshop, you will come away feeling stronger, armed with the right questions to ask should you come up against anything that doesn't sit well with your birth choices and feeling calmly excited about the birth of your baby.
For more information or to book a workshop please go to https://www.mindfulmamma.co.uk/?s=philipa+jackson
