The Hypnobirthing Experience

So, most of you know we attended our first of four sessions in a Hypnobirthing class. It's held at the West End Women's Clinic in Nashville. Let me explain how we came to decide on this method and how we found this particular class.
I've posted before about our decisions with this pregnancy and the upcoming birth of another sweet baby girl. Looking outside of the box is not an easy thing, especially when so many people don't understand and aren't willing to support us in this venture that we've chosen. In doing my research for alternative pain control and through some of the books I've read, there are several different methods. Whether its breathing methods or changing the way you look at birth or even herbal remedies, it all comes down to wanting something different than that which society has placed in your mind as 'normal' birthing. I looked at several different things but came to the conclusion that the mind/body connection is the strongest form of pain control. I can simply tell my body what to do. That sounds ridiculous to most, I'm sure, but really, how many times have you told yourself you're not tired or talked about food and suddenly, you are salivating for whatever was talked about. Ina May talks a lot about this in her "Guide to Childbirth" book. Researching this came up with a couple different things to look at. The program Orgasmic Birth as well as Hypnobirthing. I love the idea of both and think that they are actually very similar. Orgasmic Birth is about letting go of the idea and fear associated with birthing and allowing your body to enjoy the experience. If you think about it the same muscles and parts of the female body are used and engaged in birth as in love making and having an orgasm. With Hypnobirthing you put yourself into an alternate state of being and let your subconscious take over. Both require a willingness to let the body take its natural course, and be totally in compliance with what your body needs to do. When I was looking for these programs locally and their practicality, Hypnobirthing seemed to require more than just reading from a book or watching a video, which is something I think an Orgasmic birth could be achieved from. I looked for classes in our city.. nada.. so of course I looked in Nashville.. Lo and behold, the Vanderbilt Midwifery center offers a hypnobirthing program in their offices! SO, I emailed as soon as I found it but I was only like 13 weeks along. The instructor, Sandy, told me to check back after 22 weeks. I waited until the holidays were over and contacted her the first week of January, and there was a class that night; I figured the cost would be expected then, something we could not afford at the moment. I told her we wouldn't make it that month. Last week I emailed her again to get the schedule for Feb. and told her we'd be there! WORD! :) It stinks having to find a sitter and drive all the way to Nashville for about 2 hours of class then drive back late and get the wee one in bed, but it is oh so very worth it, I believe.
Ok, so, that's the background behind our attendance last night. We got to the clinic just in time for the class, walk in the room and there are just a few other couples there, the lights were dim and there was calming instrumental music playing lightly in the background. The room was more of a small lobby. An end table was set up with a Laptop and speakers, surrounded by chairs and a little couch (total waiting room furniture). We made a v-line for the couch and snuggled in comfy-cozy like. ;) Eric leaned over to me while I was filling out the paper work and said "I don't know why, but I really pictured us being on the floor on a gymnasium with chairs in a circle or something" haha.. So funny. But in all honesty, neither of us really knew what to expect from the class. We did the typical introduction stuff and were asked a few questions. Once we got down to business, I found that a lot of the beginning info shared were things I'd already known or come to conclude on my own. She seemed to be trying to make points that, in my mind, I'd have driven home even more so, but because of her position, I assume she can't express extreme views. She finally got into describing what the class is about... Yay!

The definition of Hypnosis given:
Hypnosis is a means of including a level of consciousness that is characterized by relaxation and suggestibility. The purpose of hypnosis is to provide a means of bypassing the critical mind and accessing the non- reasoning, suggestible subconscious.
The purpose of hypnotherapy is to assist the client, through guided imagery and visualization, to bring about a desired change in behavior or thought.


No type of hypnosis can be done without a willing person. So the people seen on tv or whatever are either rigged or volunteered and that's the only way it will work. One point she really wanted to make sure we understood was that we are never out of control. We 'hypnotize' ourselves and bring ourselves out of it. No one can make you do something while under hypnosis, that is against what you would normally do. Sandy talked about the power of spoken words and did a small exercise where she had us close our eyes, relax and then go to a kitchen we are comfortable in, someplace familiar and make a meal, and the slice a lemon and smell and taste it. It was cool because I could really smell the kitchen and the lemon. She made a point that everyone has been under hypnosis at one or more points in their lives. Have you ever been driving and realized you don't remember how you got from point A to point B,like you were just off in your mind somewhere and have no recollection of driving. You were in a heightened awareness in your subconscious state. That's what hypnosis is.
We also discussed changing our vocabulary to a more positive look. Here are some examples:
When you talk about contractions, you think of pain, so we replace that with Uterine Surge or just surges. This makes me think of surges of energy or power surges... I associate it with strength. Next is a Coach... When you talk about your partner as being a coach, you think someone yelling at you with a whistle telling you to work harder, go faster.. Not what you need to be thinking when you are trying to have a relaxing birth. Replace coach, with Birthing Companion, someone to encourage you and lift you up while your "running your marathon of birth". Labor was another word we talked about, it insinuates work, hardship, labor. (not what birthing is about) Replace this with birthing process. Birth is a process, its a natural occurrence for most women, our bodies just know what to do. One of my favorite quotes is:

Just as a woman's heart knows when to pump, her lung to inhales, and her hand to pull back from fire,so she knows when and how to give birth.- Virginia Di Orio

Another term discussed was 'due date', this word tends to put pressure on women to "preform" by a certain date, when in actuality i think less than 10% or women birth on their actual 'due date'. So instead we say Birthing Month. this takes the pressure off. I know for me C was 10 days late, I have a sneaking suspicion that miss Anabelle will be at least 5 days past her "due date' so in order to take the pressure off and to keep people from asking over and over "Whens that baby coming" or "Hurry up Baby Anabelle".... I promise.. at 10 months pregnant NO ONE wants to meet her more than I do!! :)
We talked about "water breaking" and how nothing is actually broken. Sometimes we have to have our membranes ruptured, but that involves someone going in with a hook and rupturing them for you (which is what happened to me). We replace this kind of talk with membrane release, because its really the membrane releasing the fluid around the baby, nothing broken, just released as naturally and beautifully and nature intended. When you think of 'pushing' you think of forcing and going against somethings will... This is not natural. We don't push, we 'breathe down'. Breathing the baby down implies letting the baby come in his/her own time, when you allow your baby to take their natural course without forcing them out, they will come much easier and with less damage to mom and baby, ie. shoulder displacia, tearing mom (or episiotomy)
So that was the gist of the class. It was all very interesting and I am really looking forward to next weeks class. We get out book and a couple of CD's to go along and will be given homework and such to complete!
Here's the Website for the class along with a lot of other things offered by Sandy. She created this company out of a passion for natural childbirth, and seeing women enjoy their birthing process as much as possible.

http://www.babyinc.org/index.html

Here are some more of my favorite birthing quotes.

The knowledge of how to give birth without outside intervention lies deep within each woman. Successful childbirth depends on an acceptance of the process. ~Suzanne Arms

When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change. -Mongan

If you don't know your options, you don't have any. ~Korte & Scaer

Mothers need to know that their care and their choices won't be compromised by birth politics.~Jennifer Rosenberg

Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers ~ strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.~Barbara Katz Rothma

We have a secret in our culture, and it's not that birth is painful. It's that women are strong. ~Laura Stavoe Harm