Hypnobirthing entails creating an experience for the mother and her partner to be firmly grounded in the process of birth giving and to discover the joys of the same. The conventional fears and anxiety about giving birth and the pain that ensues during the process, does not have to be the only narrative surrounding this very real and natural process. Hypnobirthing comprises a combination of techniques that helps making childbirth an empowering and fulfilling experience, as the mother ascends to a synchronized emotional, spiritual, and physical state to truly appreciate the miracle that bringing new life on earth is.
The concept of hypnobirthing was first introduced by hypnotherapist Marie Mongan in her book Hypnobirthing: A Celebration of Life. At the heart of the concept lies the power to exercise control over your mind and body in order to be able to perform self-hypnosis. Self-hypnosis will help you unlock a distinct and profound set of sensations and perceptions that are far removed from things you experience on a regular basis. These sensations will help the mother to not only power through the process of childbirth without the mind-numbing fear of pain, but also will make her more receptive towards a plethora of life-altering feelings. Moreover, it is not just a positive birthing experience for the mother but also, for her partner. Both the mother and the partner are able to look beyond fear and approach labor in a more optimistic way. To be best prepared for labor, the mother and her partner need to start preparing at the early stages of pregnancy, ideally at 20 weeks or earlier. Hypnobirthing courses entail guided meditation and breathing techniques that help relaxation and induce stress release. In addition, soothing audio visuals are used to enhance the couple’s journey into mastering the hypnobirthing technique. The course is ideally 12 hours long and divided into small bite-sized classes to target individual issues of mothers-to-be. Amongst other things, a detailed study of Marie Morgan’s book and the knowledge of other guides to hypnobirthing should suffice in preparing the couple for a wonderful birthing experience.
Hypnobirthing is ideal for vaginal deliveries, Vaginal birth after Caesarian (VBAC), and even for C-section deliveries. The goal of hypnobirthing is to look past the fear and be present in the birthing process, and this is possible for almost all procedures. Hypnobirthing helps the mother to gain a sense of control, shorten the duration of labor, manage the pain that ensues with contractions, and feeling overall empowered from the procedure of childbirth. However, like everything else, hypnobirthing has its limitations too, it does not assure pain-free labor, it will help you manage the pain. In special cases or complicated birthing scenarios that require more medical intervention, hypnobirthing might not be able to pan out to its complete fruition. Other than unprecedented scenarios, hypnobirthing helps you approach labor with a lot more control and power than approaching it unprepared. Hypnobirthing gives you the opportunity to experience motherhood in its purest and most natural form.