Now don’t get me wrong, hospitals are not bad. They save lives. Hospitals use technology and science and medicine and machines to save lives, and provides services that are necessary to a few.  If you  envision your birth experience and it doesn’t involve technology, or science, or machines perhaps you could find the setting that offers the services you do need and want?

I have been involved in a few conversations lately where people have said things along the line of “My doctor says that after 5cm of dilation he will require me to be in bed…do I have to do that?.”  My first though is, Thank you. Thank you Doctor for being honest about how you practice medicine and manage a birth. Then my second thought is, Run momma run! When someone tells you how you will be treated, trust them, that you will be treated that way. If what they are telling you is not how you want to be treated then find a provider who will treat you the way you want to be treated. Why enter any situation armed for a fight, especially your birthing experience. No, legally you don’t have to be in bed, and there is no medical reason for that, but why enter into a fight if you don’t need to?

How many times in life have we been told to set ourselves up for success? This is no different. Find the setting and situation and people who will truly 100% percent support you. If you want a burger, go find the best darn burger joint!

Hypbnobabies Home Birth Video

Myth: If mom is making nosie and moving around alot she must be uncomfortable.

Truth #1: Many moms who use Hypnobabies are very aware of their babies needs during the birth process.  Some  moms sense this need through a physical feeling and sometimes it is just an intuitive emotional feeling.  Some babies need to re-position themselves during birth, and often times moms get the urge to move around as well (Birth is a team effort after all!).  Moving for mom can be relaxing, other times moving just feels like the right thing to do in that moment. Some moms also feel totally comfortable and relaxed in a still restful position. Think of times outside of birth where you have moved: dancing, yoga, a relaxing hike. Generally when one chooses these actions it isn’t because of discomfort but instead because the mood strikes,  it feels good, or it feels fun. So it is in birth.

Truth # 2:  Noise is used to release or harness the power of birth. At times in the birth process some moms will use the power and energy of their voice to help bring baby lower in their body with low, deep sounds. AHH and OHH sounds are very common in birth and it is also really interesting to note that while making those sounds your jaw is relaxed; if your jaw is relaxed so are your birthing muscles.  Sometimes in birth making noise can be energizing. Sometimes in birth noises can be a release of power and energy. Think of lifting a heavy object: You might make noises in the middle of lift. You might sigh after you lifted the box. Neither were uncomfortable but powerful noises.

Think of weight lifters, even with lovemaking…… movement and noise are positive things that do not mean discomfort!

Here is a confession: When I first heard about hypnosis for child birth I thought it was silly. I had seen stage shows at the fair where people who were hypnotized strutted around thinking they were ducks. I had heard of how people went to a hypno-therapist, slept through a session and woke up no longer addicted to cigarettes. I really had no idea how any of that would apply to childbirth.  So if you are sitting there in disbelief, I was there once too. And let me say this, what I am about to say is specific to Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis.

Hypnobabies uses self hypnosis. You can choose to have it make an effect on you or not. You are not a zombie who is responding to a magical set of words. You are not asleep. You are not meditating.  You are completely in charge of your mind, and in doing so you are completely in charge of your body. As you listen to the words you CHOOSE to use them or not. However it is silly to spend weeks practicing and preparing to then CHOOSE not to use them.

Hypnobabies gives you the tools to re-train your inner mind, your heart if you will, about what you believe in your core about childbirth. It is rare that when someone finds out a woman is pregnant that they will say: “You are so lucky, childbirth is so easy, and fun. You will do great.” Hypnobabies works to change those ingrained beliefs that you hold about birth being hard or painful. Think of a toddler. If you hand my son a piece of food and say, “This is gross, eat it.” He is going to be sure it is gross and will not put it in his mouth. If  you hand him that same piece of food and say, “You were so good today, have this special treat” He will go ahead and eat it and enjoy it. Our mind is the same when it comes to birth. What we expect childbirth to be like is that it will be like.

Hypnobabies teaches you how to relax your body. It is hard to just lay down and say relax, and have your body respond in true relaxation. Hypnobabies teaches you to quiet your mind and how to quiet your body beyond just comfortable positions. Other classes will show you where to put pillows as you are laying down, to make sure that no body parts touch, and will call that relaxation. Hypnobabies actually gives the skills to relax your mind and body. Hypbobabies also teaches you to be active in your birthing time. Yes, you can be active and relaxed at the same time! I honestly think it is this combination of techniques that makes a HUGE difference for moms to have an easier more comfortable birthing time.

And on top of all of that Hypnobabies is a complete childbirth education class. It teaches what is going on in your body during pregnancy, during your baby’s birth and the postpartum period.  It will teach you to be a good consumer of medical services. You will learn your options for you birthing time, and the right questions to ask to decide what interventions are appropoate for you and your baby. You learn how to stay healthy and low risk so that you have the most options available to you as possible. And you get support in creating your birth preferences.

Hypnobabies is not a magic set of words that you hear once while you are birthing that magically makes everything easy and comfortable.  Hypnobabies is a skill set. Just like any other skill, the more you practice it the more it is there for you, and the easier it is to use. Think of running a mile for first time, and what that same experience would be like after running a mile a day for 60 days.

When I found out that I was pregnant I assumed that I would get an epidural. I mean who wants to feel pain? If there was a way out I was going to take it. I wondered if the anesthesiologist could meet me in the parking lot even?? I work in health care. Every day we work to get rid of pain, drugs work!

I also REALLY wanted to breast feed. People who know me know that when I have a goal in mind it becomes all consuming. I read books, I consulted Dr. Google, and I went to classes. I wanted to know everything I needed to. What I found was a little surprising. It wasn’t just mechanics of having my boob in a baby mouth. Apparently you wanted an awake, happy, alert baby. Narcotics were bad for that. IV fluids are bad for that. Epidurals even can be bad for that. OH BOY. I am not one of those strong empowered women who have homebirths. So if I wasn’t going to get the drugs how was I going to do this?

Around this time I also learned about the movie Business of Being born. I was probably 8 -12 weeks pregnant at this point.  Honestly I don’t remember how I heard about it. But there was a premier inSan Francisco, and afterwards there was a Q&A time with the producer:RickiLake. I bought tickets for my husband and me to go. I walked in and knew I didn’t fit in. I wasn’t nearly earthy enough for this group. I wasn’t going to use cloth diapers like the free samples out front.  But the movie was life changing for me. I learned what I should have already known. One thing leads to another. Medicine is not bad, but does have a cause and effect relationship. Doctors are just people. I needed to set myself up for success.

I interviewed doulas. I knew I needed an experienced support team with no agenda but supporting me! I met with three, and the moment I met with Kari I knew she was the one. She was calm, and fun, and I wanted to spend time with her and I trusted her.

During my first son’s birth I was so in the zone. I had no idea that time was passing. The lights were off, the music was on. I was on the birth ball supported by my husband and doula it was beautiful. And then an intervention, and then a second, and I lost the zone. That amazing comfortable happy place was so far gone I didn’t know my way back. I started panicking. I got an epidural. An hour later was a mom. I don’t regret anything about that birth. But there was a better way.

During my second son’s birth I was so sure thing were going to be different so I made almost all the opposite decisions…I didn’t want to vomit so I didn’t drink water. I didn’t want to have any of the same interventions. I got to the hospital much later. I was never in the zone. I didn’t want anyone to talk to me or touch me…so my doula just sat with me and was there with me. Sheer determination to have this be different, and I have an unmediated birth.

I so loved my doula that I became one, I wanted to love on women the way she loved on me! I knew that the more time I spent with couples the better of a team we would be. I knew that empowered, informed parents are able to make the best decisions for themselves. I wanted to teach a childbirth class. But which one. I had used an epidural and sheer will power to have my boys. There seriously had to be a better way. There are so many classes out there. I knew that there had to be a way to help mom’s find the zone,  be physically comfortable, be prepared and informed, empower moms move around and know their bodies,  and teach them to work as a team with their partners. Really there was only one class that fit the bill……Hypnoababies. I did tons of research and this was the class that met all my needs.

So what next? I love teaching. If we have a third child it will be born at home with a midwife and Hypbobabies. I LOVE giving birth. I would really LOVE to do it again. And next time I will be able to enjoy it with Hypnobabies.