#Birth: Hypnobirthing - preparing for life

It is amazing to see how many people are discovering the benefits of hypnobirthing. The revolution is happening! More and more women are becoming aware, not only of the physiological impacts of relaxation during pregnancy and labour, but also gaining a greater understanding of the processes and procedures around birth. We are becoming more informed and more engaged with how our bodies birth.

One of the things I've noticed is all the different ways it is possible to learn about Hypnobirthing - online, short classes, long classes, in groups, one to one. Everyone wants to gain differently from their experience because everyone learns differently. 

What is most important though is practice. 

Hypnobirthing isn't something that can be done and then you're sorted for birth. Hypnobirthing will only be truly effective if you continue to train your subconscious to relax and your body to soften. It requires more time investment than a two or even ten hour course.

Let me explain...

The theory behind Hypnobirthing is that:

a) we need oxytocin (the love hormone) to be stimulated during birth, rather than adrenaline. Oxytocin is released when we are relaxed and calm. Oxytocin enables blood and oxygen to reach our reproductive and digestive systems so they work effectively. We don't need blood and oxygen flowing to our legs during birth - no running necessary! 

b) fear makes us tense. If we are tense, we are holding tight the muscles that are required to soften and open for birth. The uterus pulls up (during contractions) as the cervix opens. If we are fearful, this action is made harder and it's a bit like baby getting their head stuck in a lift door. Therefore, we need to be deeply relaxed for the doors to open easily. 

c) negativity around birth can become ingrained in our subconscious, so we become anxious about the prospect. We need to reprogramme our subconscious with positivity, in order to look forward to birth and be completely calm as it approaches. 

d) we can also become more confident through informed knowledge of birth. Preparing ourselves with the knowledge of what happens and what choices we might have to make will enable us to feel empowered, no matter what happens. Birth is normal, natural but no birth is the same. 

The Hypnobirthing course I run is about YOUR birth story, which will be completely different to anybody else's. That's why I like to work with individual couples, so that I can tailor the course to suit you and your situation. During the ten hours of training, we discuss ways to promote the release of oxytocin, overcome fear, reprogramme your subconscious with positivity, and gain the knowledge needed for a truly informed birth. There's a lot to cover!

BUT, practice is absolutely key. I ask women to practice for at least ten minutes a day. To practice relaxation, to visualise the birh they hope for, to release fears as they arise, to focus on positive birth stories...all of these work as a drip feed to your subconscious...slowly slowly reprogramming you to feel happy, calm and confident in the lead up to birth.

It is an investment, but it's an investment for the most important day of your life. And not just that, the impacts for you, your baby and your birth partner are huge. If you prepare for everything else in life, why not birth? Hypnobirthing gives you skills and knowledge for life. 

For more information about the individualised course I provide, visit www.birthstory.co.uk or email katie@birthstory.co.uk. I look forward to helping you have a positive birth story.