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Hypnosis birthing: a brand new style?
Filed under: Your Pregnancy, Media, That's Entertainment
While I was pregnant, a little more than a year ago, I was interested in learning about all the possible ways of
preparing for and experiencing birth. From the hospital-provided class to Ina May
Gaskin’s psychedelic birth stories, I read a lot about many, many different options. But I never thought of
them as different styles.Yet, Thursday the New York Times reported on hypnobirthing in its Style section. Hypnobirthing is a brand of hypnosis preparation for birthing. After all my reading, I decided to go with hypnosis for my birth preparation, but I personally used a hypnosis method that you can learn at home called HypBirth.
A doctor quoted in the Times points out what I found to be the shortfall of this method. Hypnosis birthing depends on completely changing your perceptions of how birth is going to feel and go. So, most programs completely ignore exploring any scenarios that are less than ideal.
So while I actually got to the point where I could numb parts of my body using the HypBirth light switch technique at home in bed, I ended up having very little training for
what actually happened when I was declared at risk of preeclampsia and entered the hypnosis-unfriendly world of
4-times-per-hour blood pressure measurements.
In the end, my experience proved to me that hypnosis for pain
control absolutely works, but that the hospital environment can be a very difficult place to practice it properly. It
would be absolutely wonderful for an uncomplicated home birth or in a birthing center. And it gave me tools to use to
get through the last uncomfortable months of pregnancy, and being induced. I was very calm through the whole labor
experience, and I attribute it to all my training and the few visualizations I was able to achieve in L&D. As my
friend Sarah puts it, my birth was hypnosis-y. Maybe even hypnosisish.
I
haven’t listened to Lori Dorman’s voice since Binx was born. I’m
actually kind of afraid to, because I think a whole dam of emotion might get let loose when I hear her talking.
However, I’m intrigued that she also sells post-natal CDs for things as varied as weight loss and sleep troubles.
She and I may have a future together yet.
And I’m glad to see the Times covering this subject, albeit
in the Style section rather than as science or a health care option. It seems like
hypnosis-style birthing may have just made it onto the mainstream map. And that makes me feel
like I’m filling up with a warm, liquid light.
[Thank you to reader Elizabeth for the tip.]
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
4-30-2006 @ 11:04AM
Christine said...I used hypnosis for childbirth which I learned from a psychologist. It was WONDERFUL. Like you, I found the hospital environment a difficult place to practice my hypnosis, but I remained calm throughout the delivery (which of course didn't go as I had planned). A nurse asked me, "are you always this calm?"
I would highly recommend it to anyone.
Reply
4-30-2006 @ 12:05PM
Colleen said...I also used the Hypbirth CDs for preparation for labor and delivery and was able to use the techniques successfully to get through 8 hours of pitocin without any pain meds. But, it was then determined that I needed a C-section and I was not prepared for that. In the operating room I kind of freaked out about being cut open while I was awake and started hyperventilating. I felt very out of control and terrified and it took many pep talks by my husband and the anesthesiologist to calm me down. Luckily, all went well and my daughter was born safely, but I wish the Hypbirth CDs had included additional techniques on relaxation specifically geared toward that type of experience.
Still, the CDs did help me relax during the last few weeks of my pregnancy. I went to 41 1/2 weeks and I wasn't tired or uncomfortable at all at the end. I think the program really helped me get through those last weeks.
Reply
4-30-2006 @ 8:11PM
Kerry Tuschhoff, HCHI, CHt, CI said...Hi,
Just wanted to say that as the creator of the Hypnobabies program, this is exactly why we are a complete childbirth program with so many excellent hypno-anesthesia cues, techniques and information about using hypnosis in *any* situation. There are many suggestions in Hypnobabies that keep the Hypno-mom in hypnosis and in her "Bubble of Peace" no matter what happens, no matter what is said or done around her, and with full ability to walk, talk, move around and freely communicate while in hypnosis, deeply relaxed and fully comfortable. It's amazing to watch and more amazing to experience.
Next time, perhaps Hypnobabies for birthing!
Thanks,
Kerry
www.hypnobabies.com
Reply
4-30-2006 @ 8:51PM
Cam said...I took the hypnobirthing course and loved the course and the idea, but, like you, ended up in a situation that was less than ideal. After several high blood pressure readings, I was induced, but the pitocin and breaking my waters weren't working, they kept turning up the pitocin, had back labor, baby in wrong position. Long story short, I also ended up with a C-section. I found that hypnobirthing worked for awhile, but once things got out of control (like lots of drugs in me--so much for my hopes of an unmedicated birth) and the amount of equipment I was hooked up to (16 tubes/monitors at one point), it was just too chaotic to maintain. But, when I was in surgery, I started shaking violently, but was able to use the relaxation techniques to gain control and make them go away. The people in the room were amazed that I was able to do it! So, in its own way it did come in handy. Even though I wasn't able to fully harness its power I still recommend it to everyone I know and I also found it helpful to destress me in the last month of pregnancy.
Reply
7-23-2006 @ 10:03PM
Gina (the Revolutionary Doula!) said...As a childbirth educator and doula, I have worked with several women who have used hypnosis. I agree that the home-version cd's from Hypbirth are useful to a degree, and do re-frame the ideas that our society have taught us about birth (intrinsic danger, excruciating pain, horror stories etc) in a positive manner. It is, however, just another tool to have available for birth. It is a good idea to have many, many tools at your disposal, so that when things happen in a way different from what you envisioned before the birth, you have some options available to you. I'ts such a pain when things go wrong, like mom getting sick, or when an induction is chosen, but it's nice to hear about more tools available to women. This tool is exceptionally useful for women who have already given birth, or who have taken a class about childbirth in addition to learning the hypnosis techniques. I also advocate for classes held outside of a hospital, taught by an independent instructor, who can give evidence-based information with no pressure as a result of employment, and fewer time constraints. FWIW!
Reply