What is Hypnobirthing?
Put simply, hypnobirthing is an incredible form of antenatal education which uses breathing and relaxation techniques to help you feel calm as you prepare for labour. It teaches you everything you need to know about what is going on with your body during labour so that you can trust it, work with it and feel truly confident in yourself. Finally, it teaches you about your rights and choices during labour so that you feel empowered as you welcome your little bundle of joy into the world.
Hypnobirthing is based on science and the work of Dr Grantly Dick-Read who concluded from working with many labouring women that 95% of labour pain is a result of tension and fear. Hypnobirthing works by breaking the fear-tension-pain cycle so that the woman relaxes. When a woman is deeply relaxed, her body softens and opens, time goes by more quickly and she blocks out other distractions. This can lead to an easier, more comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Hypnobirthing is for every type of birth! No matter how your birth unfolds on the day (or night!), the feelings you have around your experience will stay with you forever. If you are able to feel calm, confident and empowered, you are highly likely to view your whole experience as a positive one…and everyone deserves that.
Benefits of Hypnobirthing
- Studying Hypnobirthing allows couples to release their fears of childbirth, enabling a more calm and relaxed pregnancy and birth.
- Increased Confidence: By learning hypnobirthing techniques and gaining a deeper understanding of the birthing process, you and your birth partner can feel more confident during childbirth.
- Self-Empowerment: By learning about your rights and the choices available to you during labour, you will feel incredibly empowered to make the best decisions for you and your baby.
- Hypnobirthing can reduce the need for pain relief during labour and birth.
- Trust in your birth partner: Learning the hypnobirthing techniques together will allow you to deeply relax in labour, knowing your birth partner feels confident to be your emotional support and will advocate for you.
- Positive Birth Experience: By promoting a sense of control and empowerment, hypnobirthing can result in a more positive birth experience overall.
- Hypnobirthing teaches a wonderful skill for life – the ability to quickly become relaxed and at ease, which is useful in a wide variety of situations.
Check out my blog to read some beautiful positive birth stories.