Hypnobirthing

I used a form of hypnobirthing whilst pregnant and giving birth to my third child. As it is totally non-invasive and drug free I felt it was worth a go. My experience was entirely positive and I love telling other mums about it so when I was approached by Katharine Graves I told her I was more than happy to help her spread the word!

What is Hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing is a relatively new practice, with the origin of Hypnobirthing usually accredited to Michelle Leclaire O’Neill in 1987. Since then it has become widespread throughout Europe and the US.

The process of childbirth is a natural one, and so there is no logical reason why it should be painful, as we have been designed to reproduce and give birth in this way. The fear of a painful childbirth, perpetuated by the stories which people are keen to share about traumatic births, is in many cases the cause of the pain. As we are in fear and tense we are not allowing our bodies to behave naturally, thus causing tension and pain.

Hypnobirthing is a form of hypnotherapy for birth, which can help mothers to have a calm and more comfortable birth often without the need for drugs or medical intervention. Employing techniques to help you achieve deep relaxation and release fear, Hypnobirthing allows you to work with your body, rather than against it during the natural process of childbirth.

Many mothers who choose Hypnobirthing find that they experience a calm, comfortable natural birth. Some find that they don’t need any pain relief, and that by using the techniques of Hypnobirthing often the length of labour is reduced. Hypnobirthing lessens the physical impact of childbirth, leaving you feeling more alert and in control.

Hypnobirthing helps you to overcome the fear which leads to tension and pain by teaching methods to release these fears and become deeply relaxed. This involves learning self hypnosis techniques to bring about a state of deep relaxation and calm.

Hypnobirthing courses not only teach self hypnosis techniques, but also massage techniques to stimulate endorphins. Not only are these feel-good hormones, but they are also your body’s natural anaesthetic. You will also practice visualisation exercises to keep you positive and grounded, whilst also learning about how the body and mind can work together in harmony.

If your experience of birth is gentle and drug free, so is your baby’s. Birth is the most formative experience of our lives, and if a baby enters the world gently and calmly, to be received by a mother in the same state, this will have a profound effect on how it forms it’s first relationships in life. This is the blueprint for every other relationship it forms, and will have an effect throughout its life on all the people that it meets. The importance of this cannot be over-estimated.

Katharine Graves teaches Hypnobirthing to mums to be in the London area, and offers a wealth of information on Hypnobirthing on her website.

Please let us know if you have any hypnobirthing stories or experiences that you think might help other couples trying to decide if they should give it a go.