Hypnobirthing is a childbirth pain management technique that combines relaxation and visualization with affirmations and practiced deep breathing. It’s a form of self-hypnosis, and it may also involve the help of a hypnotherapist or group.
Olberz says Hypnobirthing can give birthing parents confidence and a sense of control during labor, even when the unexpected happens. Some studies suggest it may lead to a shorter first stage of labor, better baby Apgar scores, and fewer C-sections.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis involves focusing the mind inwards, relaxing the body and being open to suggestions. It is a powerful technique that can be used to promote relaxation, decrease pain perception and help women to deal with labour and birth in a calm and confident way. It can also be a great tool to support women who may have had a traumatic birth in the past.
Our birth preparation programme uses hypnosis to help you release any fears and anxieties that you may have around giving birth. It also helps you to prepare your body physically for labour and birth. Studies have shown that hypnosis can lower blood pressure, alleviate pain and make labour shorter. Hypnosis can also be used to turn breech babies and alleviate back and hip pain in pregnancy and labour.
Most Hypnobabies moms report having a shorter labor, transition and pushing stage. This could be due to the fact that their bodies are more relaxed which allows them to work with contractions and not against them. Most Hypnobabies mothers have very little to no need for medication, including pain relief.
Hypnosis for childbirth, also known as hypno-birthing is a complete childbirth preparation course that combines positive affirmations with medical-grade hypnosis. It reframes birth from being something that women fear and dread to being pleasant and even joyful.
Affirmations
Affirmations are a simple way to shift negative thoughts and promote positivity. Affirmations are short statements that you say out loud or think to yourself, and they help you become consciously aware of your thoughts so that you can control them. Affirmations can be about anything, so it’s important to choose ones that are relevant to your situation. For example, if you’re struggling with anxiety, an affirmation about your courage might be helpful. You can also try linking your affirmations to core values, like kindness or dedication, to keep them grounded in the broader picture.
A randomized controlled study found that participants who used positive self-affirmations performed better on a stressful word-association problem-solving task than those who did not. This suggests that the practice can be a powerful tool to overcome difficulties and promote more constructive mindsets in high-pressure situations. In addition, positive affirmations have been shown to decrease the intensity of unpleasant feelings and reduce self-sabotaging behavior, such as procrastination or negative body image.
To maximize the effectiveness of positive affirmations, it’s best to recite them out loud and with as much conviction as possible. It’s also beneficial to do them at a time when you’re calm and can give them your full attention, such as first thing in the morning or right before you go to sleep.
Visualizations
Meghan Markle’s baby prep has been in full swing, and it’s included everything from prenatal yoga to acupuncture. But now there’s more great news: the Duchess of Sussex is also using hypnobirthing techniques! Hypnobirthing is a method that uses visualization, meditation and relaxation to help a woman have a natural birth without the use of pain medications.
It’s an important part of the overall childbirth experience and helps a woman feel confident that she is capable of having a healthy pregnancy, a safe delivery and a positive postpartum. It also helps a woman to overcome any negative beliefs or memories she might have from her own previous births or from hearing about others’ experiences.
A study found that women who went through hypnobirthing had shorter labours, less pain and more confidence than those who did not go through the program. However, this doesn’t mean that hypnobirthing eliminates all pain or makes childbirth comfortable, as some people will have more discomfort than others.
A comprehensive hypnobirthing course should include complete childbirth education, as well as a detailed and specific birth hypnosis script that teaches Hypno-Moms to enjoy a much easier, more comfortable labor. The Hypnobabies 6-week, 3-hours per week course is very detailed and successful and teaches women to have “eyes-open hypnosis” while staying deeply relaxed, changing positions and even walking! This allows our Hypno-Moms and their Birth Partners to easily remain deeply in hypnosis while making decisions and discussing options during the birthing process.
Breathing
Breathing is a complex process that happens automatically but can also be controlled consciously. Breathing is dependent on the contraction and relaxation of muscle fibers in both the diaphragm and intercostals, which are found between the ribs. The changes in pressure between the lungs caused by these muscles are what enable inspiration and expiration.
In hypnobirthing, people learn how to control their breathing in a way that helps them relax during labor. They learn different types of breathing, including surge (big, deep breaths) and birth breathing (a quick inhale followed by a long exhale). The goal is to help the mother relax, which can lead to a shorter first stage of labor and better Apgar scores for the baby.
The breathing techniques are augmented by meditation and positive affirmations to give the laboring woman a more empowered experience during childbirth. Hypnobirthing classes are often taught by a hypnotherapist, who may or may not be present during the labor. Some women who take hypnobirthing classes are able to work one-on-one with a hypnotherapist, while others attend group or private classes that are taught by trained instructors.
Unlike Lamaze, which takes a firm stance that natural childbirth is the best way to go, hypnobirthing encourages parents to be prepared for whatever turns their labor may take. “When you know what your body can do, it’s easier to meet a medical challenge with grace,” says Kristen Olberz, an RN and HypnoBirthing educator who has witnessed more than 1,500 births.
