Hypnobirthing

I am very blessed to be apart of a wonderful community of women helping other women!!

 Erin Fung hosted a zoom class (all the way from England!) with tons of good info about hypnobirth! I am so thankful I was able to be apart of that! My aunt also provided some resources for me - she is so sweet! She gave me a few books and said, "I remembered you were interested in being a midwife a couple of years ago SO I HELD ONTO THESE FOR YOU." Can you even believe that? I'm blown away by the amount of support and love I receive. I hope I can do the same for other women. Support their dreams and ambitions - so simple and so empowering. 

One of the books she gave me is called Hypnobirthing The Mongan Method. It is loaded with great info. I learned a lot. For starters, hypnobirthing is not a magic show. You don't go on stage and cluck like a chicken. It is all about keeping calm and relaxed! I think of it more like a guided meditation. You focus on different breathing techniques, listen to calming music or premade playlists with voice overs to guide you on your journey. This is something that you will have listened to in advance - on a daily basis. It is a very important part of the process to be really familiar with your material. Practice ever single day! Do your stretches, walking, and listen to your audio tapes. You will train your brain in the process to go to that calm place that you have created. 

Another tip I picked up from my hypnobirthing taster session - get all of the negativity out of your thoughts. Don't listen to negative birth stories. Reflect on your own birth story. Did your mother have a positive or negative experience? If your friend has a story for you about her horrible birth experience, you can still support her, but wait to her the details until after you have given birth. Those stories can create fear or anxiety. Your thoughts and emotions play a BIG role in all of this. Here is why:

Oxytocin vs adrenaline. These hormones have a role in giving birth. Adrenaline makes an appearance right after you have dilated 10 cm. It gives you a boost of energy at a crucial time. 

However, this hormone can stall labor if it comes into play before you reach that stage. In the past, that was a great way to protect the mom and baby. Let's pretend it is hunter/gatherer times and a beast comes into camp right as you are in labor. (Don't you just hate it when that happens?) 

The adrenaline would tell your body that this is not a good time and to close up shop. The mom could relocate to a safer place and then continue her process. 

We now have modern beasts that scare us. Maybe it is a procedure, setting, or even someone's persona that makes you feel unsafe. You know yourself and what you are comfortable with. 

Your birthing team can help you advocate!