What Is HypnoBirthing?
HypnoBirthing is as much a philosophy as it is a technique. Women have been birthing this way for thousands of years. Animals birth this way every day!HypnoBirthing is not a 'new' way to give birth. It is rediscovering what has been lost over the years. Reclaiming the birth right of women and their birth partners.
HypnoBirthing was developed by Marie F Mongan in the late 1980's and is based upon the theories of early 19th century english Obstetrician, Dr. Grantley Dick-Read, and his critically acclaimed book, Childbirth Without Fear.
His theory was that it was fear of pain that actually created pain. He found that women who were not afraid of childbirth and who approached their labours with calm relaxed confidence, went on to have easy, comfortable labours and births.
To explain this simply, fear causes tension in your body. All the muscles in your body tense up. Your uterus is the muscle which plays the main part during labour and birthing. When you are fearful and scared, your uterus is tight and constricted. It cannot do it's job easily and muscles and fibres rub against each other and yes, this will cause the mother discomfort.
Imagine now a nice relaxed mother. All the muscles in her body are relaxed and she feels calm and confident. The uterus can do the job it is meant to do with no resistance, and little or no discomfort to mother. Just like every other muscle in the human body, the uterus can function properly and without discomfort in the abscence of fear, and the tension that fear brings to the body.
Now that all sounds very simple! I remember thinking when I was pregnant, 'If all you need to do is relax, why isn't everyone doing it?!'
HypnoBirthing recognises pregnancy and childbirth as not just a physical act, but a physcological and emotional process as well.
You will be educated about everything that happens in your body and realise that there is nothing to be fearful off and everything to be joyful about. You will be taught how to plan and direct your pregnancy and birth so that you are completely in control of your birthing experience. Through this education you will naturally become more relaxed as you progress through your classes together. This along with the deep relaxation techniques you learn will ensure that you have an enjoyable, and comfortable birth experience. For yourself, your partner, and of course your baby.
