Our baby was born without that over riding sense of fear which characterises talk of babies. I used relaxation, visualisation and a positive approach. In this way I managed to have a lack of fear of birth – I had an uncomfortable work out – after all, passing a human being through our pelvis IS uncomfortable – we don’t do it every day! I didn’t have ‘pain’ until they stuck in a catheter afterwards – YOUCH! It was very hard work, however, I was quite sweaty!! Would I do it this way again? Absolutely, I will prepare the same way next time.
This section is about using resources of relaxation, visualisation, positive thinking and avoiding negative information, thinking and stories to achieve as close as possible to a pleasant birth.
Self hypnosis is an amazingly powerful and achievable tool. I used Birth Hypnosis for the pain free birth of both my babies. It was still a big workout and took effort (as passing a baby through your pelvis takes effort!) but it wasn’t painful. My second baby was 9 pounds 10 ounces, and I went home the same day.
– Charndra
P.S HypBirth is The Birth Hypnosis Program I used
Using hypnosis is a mind-led approach to having a baby, rather than the usual fear-led approach programmed into us by culture, media and years of ‘horror’ stories!
I used a program called “hypbirth” People are obviously curious about it, so I have written this section.
l also hope to provide an insight into the journey of information I explored as I researched about this concept – milestones of info that I found useful or helpful as I prepared using this idea, plus info I found later that would have helped me even further had I known of it. They are a starting point for finding out more information if you find it an intriguing idea, on your own unique journey.
“There is literally a birth “response” that propels our babies from womb to world with very little conscious effort on our part. The problem is, there is something even more powerful than the birth response, something that can override it entirely. That something is known as the fight/flight response.” (oops need to find link for this info)
Dr Grantely Dick-Read (an english doctor who wrote “Birth without fear” in the 1930’s after observing it in action), explained it in this way:
“When a woman is in a state of fear, messages are sent to the body telling it there is a danger out there that must be fought or run away from. Blood and oxygen are instantly sent into the arms and legs enabling the frightened woman to fight the danger or run away. In order for this to happen, however, blood and oxygen must be drained from other organs that the body considers non-essential for fight or flight. This is why we turn white when we’re afraid. The body assumes that our leg muscles need blood and oxygen more than our face does.
Unfortunately, when it comes to fight or flight, the uterus is considered a non-essential organ. According to Dick-Read, the uterus of a frightened woman in labour is literally white. Because it is deprived of “fuel” – blood and oxygen – it cannot function correctly, nor can waste products be properly carried away. Hence, the labouring woman experiences not only pain, but also a multitude of problems.
The solution is twofold: not only do women need to stop being afraid, but also doctors need to stop interfering in the process. Labouring women do not need to be poked, prodded, and drugged. Instead, they need to be calmly encouraged or simply left alone so their bodies may work unhindered. Birth is an emergence, not an emergency.”
The fear-tension-pain cycle
As suggested by the Bristol hypnotherapy clinic
Hearing non-stop as you do from people how having babies is a horrendous experience, seeing it on TV and the movies as always a dramatic, screeching and dangerous event with more often than not terrifying emergencies, I was quite happy to say to hubby “You can have the babies, thanks!”
This option didn’t seem to have much potential, however, so I looked further.
Then there was the option of an elective caesarean, but I knew that there are inherent risks with operations if you can avoid them, do so! I started, weirdly, reading some birth stories (the dreadful ones) thinking I could immure myself or something, nup bad idea! Then, while researching on a natural parenting site, I happened on the concept of using hypnosis for a relaxing birth, – I had found my answer! I read everything I could, and learnt a lot, and ended up having my baby in a birth centre with midwives only attending. (Photo is me in labour at the Birth Centre – over 6cm dilated and happily listening to my CD while sitting on our massage chair, drinking energy drinks!)
I learnt and endlessly practised relaxation strategies, programming them into my brain as automatic, conditioned responses. I looked at all sorts of approaches to using the mind and body to support physiological, normal hormone production, based on avoiding the fear-tension-pain response. Stress hormones cannot exist alongside pleasure hormones; one is always in control; the aim is to keep the positive hormones in the majority as much as possible!
– hand on forehead
– looking up
– finger drops
– kisses and smiles for endorphin release!
– breathing activities – enhancing oxygen levels to keep muscles happily working. (NOT that panting stuff!)
– cue words – such as ‘relax’, “1,2,3”
– feather touch – tickles release endorphins.
The Baby Friendly Health Initiative (BFHI) is an international project that aims to give every baby the best start in life by creating a health care environment where breastfeeding is the norm and practices known to promote the health and well-being of all babies and their mothers are followed.
The BFHI Ten Steps to Successful Breastfeeding are the global standard by which health services are assessed and accredited. A ‘Baby Friendly’ health service is one where mothers’ informed choice of feeding is supported, respected and encouraged.
Find out more: Baby Friendly Health Inititative
“Baby Led Attachment” (with pickies!)
“Protecting and supporting breastfeeding in the first 24 hours and beyond” Baby Led Latching (Another term for attachment)
“Baby led attachment – an intuitive approach to learning how to breastfeed” Baby Led Attachment
“There is no knowledge that is not power.” Ralph Waldo Emerson
Talk to people with up-to-date knowledge and positive experiences to report, or positive information to share. Keep learning. I know so much more now than I did then, and my brain was bursting at that time with all the knowledge I could cram in!
“We have a hunger of the mind which asks for knowledge of all around us, and the more we gain, the more is our desire; the more we see, the more we are capable of seeing.” Maria Mitchell
Keep in Touch with My Tribal Baby on facebook for updates on new articles and future giveaways.
Hypbirth: Amazing tools for birth (HypBirth is the Birth Hypnosis Program I used)
Hypnobabies: No drugs for baby, no pain for mummy
Calmbirth in Australia
Hypnobirthing The Mongan Method
Hypno Info – No. 1 resource on self hypnosis
Gentle birth, gentle mothering www.sarahjbuckley.com (she has a book by the same name that is AWESOME)
Joyous Birth The world’s only forum devoted specifically to discovering what you need to know about home birth.
Gentle Birth – Pregnancy and birth information – this is an amazing article to read! Fish Can’t See Water: The Need to Humanise Birth
Recommended Resource:
[I LOVE Pinky McKay – She regularly runs teleseminars about Gentle Parenting Options…]
Do take a look…