10th July 2018 - Dr Hannah Robertson-Cowley
Some people ask me if it is possible to have a hypnobirth out in Cyprus. Some people have said to me that it is impossible because there is a culture in Cyprus for more medicalised births, and to plan for anything different is to 'set oneself up for failure'. I couldn't disagree more. The only thing that can't happen in Cyprus is a homebirth due to legislation; but its absolutely possible to use hypnobirthing out here.
It is true that birth is (as a rule) more medicalised here in Cyprus than in the UK. They have one of the highest C-section rates in the world, and every birth is attended by an obstetrician. This is in comparison to the UK, where midwifery is a recognised independent profession and most mothers who are deemed to be 'low risk' would expect to be cared for by a midwife rather than a doctor during labour. Midwives are often known as the 'guardians of normal birth', and so in Cyprus without this profession being recognised, the culture is shifted in favour of medical intervention. Medical intervention is a wonderful and necccesary development in our history as humans which saves lives of both mothers and babies in emergency situations. However, in the absence of an emergency, medical intervention is not so useful and perhaps even damaging, as a woman is designed to give birth well under normal circumstances.
So, getting back to hypnobirthing in Cyprus, it is very possible, but does take a little more research, preparation, and communication from you. As the birth author Diana Korte said "If I don't know my options, I don't have any." A big part of creating an environment for oneself which is supportive of hypnobirthing is negotiation with medical professionals. They are experts in saving lives and managing crisis situations, but you bring the expertise on how to birth your baby naturally and normally. It is so important that you know the system out here, what your options are, and how to negotiate and give/refuse consent; both in the leadup to your labour and during your visit to hospital on 'the big day'.
In Cyprus, standard care may be different to what you might expect in the UK, and if you go to hospital uninformed whilst telling yourself you have an 'open mind', you will likely end up following the procedures that they are most used to (many of which are not particularly supportive of hypnobirthing). However, if you know your options, know what you want, and learn how to negotiate with those who are caring for you; they will work with your wishes and you can create a support system that is complementary to hypnobirthing.
One of the key things I believe to be important in facilitating an environment that supports you hypnobirthing in Cyprus is a 'birth plan'. There is a lot of controversy and debate about the utility of 'birth plans' with skeptics stating that they're useless as birth is unpredicatable by nature. I am personally of the view that if we rebrand them as 'birth preferences' they are very important for a number of reasons. Firstly, in order to write about your preferences, you have to be informed and as they say; 'knowledge is power'. A good one will help you to have an idea in your mind about what you might want to happen in various scenarios (not just an ideal scenario). I often find that after we spend some time during the programme thinking about preferences and plans, people wish to include things they had never thought of, or surprise themselves in some of the choices they want to make. It is so much more helpful to have considered these beforehand in a calm context, with time to think and extensive information on pros and cons to weigh up. It also encourages dialogue and understanding of intentions not only between mother and medical professionals but also between mother and birth partner so they can work together well as a team during labour. And most importantly, it prevents anyone from falling foul of assumptions; whether that be a well-meaning doctor assuming a mother might want some help speeding up labour when she does not, or perhaps a woman assuming she would only be offered an intervention if it were a medical emergency. For example, a doctor might offer an intervention to a woman whose labour is slow but without any inherent risk to baby or mother, assuming that the mothing is struggling with pain or is tired. If that woman is hypnobirthing it may be that the mother is quite comfortable and trusting her body that her labour is productive albeit slower than she was expecting. Equally, if the woman has not discussed her wishes with the doctor, she might assume that s/he would only offer this in an absolute emergency and become panicked when it was offered. This could lead to her agreeing to a procedure she didn't want, or worry her so much that it further slower her labour leading to her actually needing an intervention. It is my belief that a flexible, yet assertive and well researched 'birth preferences document' is a must for giving birth in Cyprus; and is something we talk about in the programme.
KGHypnobirthing is a full antenatal programme that is tailored to provide you with the information you need to work WITH medical professionals in Cyprus to create an environment which is safe and comfortable for all. Hypnobirthing is not just about relaxation techniques, or achieving a certain psychological state to help with labour. It is also about choice; having the information to make an informed choice, and learning how to communicate around these choices in a way that will be useful to you. There is no right or wrong way to give birth: vaginal or C-section, with 'pain relief' or without; but it is important that you know what your choices are. Birth can be unpredictable in any country or setting, but there are usually many chocies that are well within your control. When you understsand what there are, you can make sure they are available to you when you give birth in hospital in Cyprus.
It is true that birth is (as a rule) more medicalised here in Cyprus than in the UK. They have one of the highest C-section rates in the world, and every birth is attended by an obstetrician. This is in comparison to the UK, where midwifery is a recognised independent profession and most mothers who are deemed to be 'low risk' would expect to be cared for by a midwife rather than a doctor during labour. Midwives are often known as the 'guardians of normal birth', and so in Cyprus without this profession being recognised, the culture is shifted in favour of medical intervention. Medical intervention is a wonderful and necccesary development in our history as humans which saves lives of both mothers and babies in emergency situations. However, in the absence of an emergency, medical intervention is not so useful and perhaps even damaging, as a woman is designed to give birth well under normal circumstances.
So, getting back to hypnobirthing in Cyprus, it is very possible, but does take a little more research, preparation, and communication from you. As the birth author Diana Korte said "If I don't know my options, I don't have any." A big part of creating an environment for oneself which is supportive of hypnobirthing is negotiation with medical professionals. They are experts in saving lives and managing crisis situations, but you bring the expertise on how to birth your baby naturally and normally. It is so important that you know the system out here, what your options are, and how to negotiate and give/refuse consent; both in the leadup to your labour and during your visit to hospital on 'the big day'.
In Cyprus, standard care may be different to what you might expect in the UK, and if you go to hospital uninformed whilst telling yourself you have an 'open mind', you will likely end up following the procedures that they are most used to (many of which are not particularly supportive of hypnobirthing). However, if you know your options, know what you want, and learn how to negotiate with those who are caring for you; they will work with your wishes and you can create a support system that is complementary to hypnobirthing.
One of the key things I believe to be important in facilitating an environment that supports you hypnobirthing in Cyprus is a 'birth plan'. There is a lot of controversy and debate about the utility of 'birth plans' with skeptics stating that they're useless as birth is unpredicatable by nature. I am personally of the view that if we rebrand them as 'birth preferences' they are very important for a number of reasons. Firstly, in order to write about your preferences, you have to be informed and as they say; 'knowledge is power'. A good one will help you to have an idea in your mind about what you might want to happen in various scenarios (not just an ideal scenario). I often find that after we spend some time during the programme thinking about preferences and plans, people wish to include things they had never thought of, or surprise themselves in some of the choices they want to make. It is so much more helpful to have considered these beforehand in a calm context, with time to think and extensive information on pros and cons to weigh up. It also encourages dialogue and understanding of intentions not only between mother and medical professionals but also between mother and birth partner so they can work together well as a team during labour. And most importantly, it prevents anyone from falling foul of assumptions; whether that be a well-meaning doctor assuming a mother might want some help speeding up labour when she does not, or perhaps a woman assuming she would only be offered an intervention if it were a medical emergency. For example, a doctor might offer an intervention to a woman whose labour is slow but without any inherent risk to baby or mother, assuming that the mothing is struggling with pain or is tired. If that woman is hypnobirthing it may be that the mother is quite comfortable and trusting her body that her labour is productive albeit slower than she was expecting. Equally, if the woman has not discussed her wishes with the doctor, she might assume that s/he would only offer this in an absolute emergency and become panicked when it was offered. This could lead to her agreeing to a procedure she didn't want, or worry her so much that it further slower her labour leading to her actually needing an intervention. It is my belief that a flexible, yet assertive and well researched 'birth preferences document' is a must for giving birth in Cyprus; and is something we talk about in the programme.
KGHypnobirthing is a full antenatal programme that is tailored to provide you with the information you need to work WITH medical professionals in Cyprus to create an environment which is safe and comfortable for all. Hypnobirthing is not just about relaxation techniques, or achieving a certain psychological state to help with labour. It is also about choice; having the information to make an informed choice, and learning how to communicate around these choices in a way that will be useful to you. There is no right or wrong way to give birth: vaginal or C-section, with 'pain relief' or without; but it is important that you know what your choices are. Birth can be unpredictable in any country or setting, but there are usually many chocies that are well within your control. When you understsand what there are, you can make sure they are available to you when you give birth in hospital in Cyprus.