Natural, Relaxed Childbirth
HypnoBirthing is an educational method for natural, relaxed, comfortable childbirth, using self-hypnosis and breathing techniques. Mothers learn to release the fear that most of us have inadvertently absorbed, and in doing so, allow her body and the baby to trust in their own instincts, to relax and experience a safer, easier, calm birthing. The mother's birth companion the father or partner is a key participant throughout.
I was fortunate recently to attend a HypnoBirthing practitioner's training, taught by Marie Mongan. Marie developed this method over 25 years ago, basing it upon the writings and theories of the two pioneers of natural childbirth, Drs. Dick Grantly-Reed and Jonathan Dye. We learned about the physiology of birthing and how the baby and the mother's body work together to bring the new person into the family and into the world. We learned about self-hypnosis and deep relaxation, using different breathing techniques as labor proceeds, how the mother can “get out of the way” and allow it to happen, and we watched videos of calm, relaxed, even serene women giving birth to non-traumatized infants.
Even the terminology is different, reflecting the HypnoBirthing philosophy of describing the experience in a gentler, non-medical manner, evoking emotions of feeling good, rather than creating fear and lack of understanding. Instead of “contractions,” uterine surges; the uterine seal instead of “mucous plug;” we receive the baby instead of “catch the baby.” Instead of “water breaking,” HypnoBirthing speaks of membranes releasing; instead of perineal tissues “stretching,” they unfold. This language helps to shape the thought that birthing is a natural, normal, and healthy experience (in the absence of special circumstances).
In the class were several “hypno-moms,” who had birthed their babies this way. One was there with her 3-week-old son alert and looking around, perhaps one of the calmest babies of this age I have ever seen.
I was inspired and moved by the material, by the other participants, and by Marie herself happily much more than I had bargained for.
