What is the best time to do hypnobirthing?
You can start hypnobirthing at any time during your pregnancy, though I generally recommend starting at around the midpoint. The thing that makes hypnobirthing work is practice, so starting from around 20 weeks gives you plenty of time to do so before the big day. Having said that, it is never too late! If you are 34+ weeks get in touch as soon as you can and I can provide a private, more intensive course.
Does my partner/birth partner need to attend?
Ideally, it is best if your partner can attend the course. Hypnobirthing acknowledges that partners can be a real asset to the birthing mothers and have a very important role to play. The course contains a significant amount of content aimed at birth partners, helping them to feel more knowledgable about the process, to know what their role is both in the lead up to the big day and in the birthing room. Having a clearly defined role can really help fathers to feel useful and in-control, and they often report a sense of satisfaction and comfort from knowing they are being supportive of their partner. It is very common for fathers to come along to the classes feeling very sceptical, but they almost always leave feeling enthusiastic. Threre is a great article about reluctant birth partners on the KGHypnobirthing website which you can find here. Couples also often say that practicing and preparing for birth together, and having a shared understanding during the process of birth has brought them closer together as a couple. That being said, it might not be possible for all sorts of reasons whether that be childcare, them being away, or the mum-to-be rocking it as a single lady. It is not necessary for a birth partner to attend classes and plenty of solo attendees have fantastic births using their hypnobirthing skills.
Is it just airy fairy nonsense?
No, it is very much grounded in science, namely the Fear-Tension-Pain Theory penned by Grantly Dick-Read in 1933 which explores the relationship between a woman's state of mind and the way her physiology works during childbirth. We will talk about this on the programme, but a quick google with satisfy your interest if you have a scientific mind for such things. There is also a lot of scientific theory underpinning the use of hypnosis in childbirth. The KGHypnobirthing course I teach provides explanations for everything you are asked to do, and you are encouraged to ask questions if you don't understand or feel a bit sceptical about it.
If you are so inclined there are a few key references below from reputable mainstream scientific journals suggesting the efficacy of hypnobirthing:
- Harmon, T.M., Hynan, M.T., & Tyre, T.E. (1990). Improved obstetric outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skilled mastery combined with childbirth education. Journal of Clinical and Consulting Psychology, 58(5), 525-530.
- Jenkins, M.W., & Pritchard, M.H. (2001). Hypnosis: practical applications and theoretical considerations in normal labour. Journal of Family Practice. 50, 441-443.
- Lycett, A. Hypnosis during pregnancy and birth: the science and clinical applications (Lecture). Royal Society of Medicine (2012)
Can you guarantee that childbirth will be pain free?
I'm afraid I can't. But I can guarantee that it is possible, and that pain during labour is not inherent, inevitable or neccesary. The level of comfort or discomfort a woman may feel during labour depends on a lot of factors, some of which you can influence easily such as how much she practices hypnobirthing before she goes into labour and some less so such as the baby's position. The sessions I teach provide women with all a woman needs to have a calm and relaxed labour which should have a positive effect on the level of comfort she experiences.
I saw someone 'put under' by a stage hypnotist once. Is it like that?
No, there will be no swinging pocket watches or people clucking like chickens in the class. Hypnosis is really just a term for deep relaxation. When you are in a state of deep relaxation, you are still conscious and in control. You are more suggestible, but only to things you are happy or open minded about. This is one of the reasons that it works so well, as you can work on releasing your subconsious fears whilst in this state. Because you are still in control, you can choose to exit the state of relaxation if you hear something you don't like.
Can I use it if I'm giving birth in hospital? I heard it was just for home-births.
Absolutely. Hypnobirthing can be used in any setting as much of the benefit is down to what you do and how you nurture your state of mind. Many hypnobirthing mothers do choose a home birth; and the course discusses the pros and cons of all the choices you have regarding where you give birth. It is worth noting that currently in Cyprus there is not a choice of having a home birth. In hospital it is useful to 'shop around' for an obstetrician who is supportive of hypnobirthing, and to communicate that you are a hypnobirthing mother with the midwives when you are admitted.
Does hypnobirthing mean I shouldn't have any pain relief during labour?
There are no shoulds or should nots with hypnobirthing. You will be provided with all the knowledge you need about the uses and side effects of all possible drug and non drug pain relief interventions in order to make an informed choice. Most women who choose to hypnobirth find they need less or no other 'pain relief' during labour. This is because they are relaxed and so feel less pain, and feel less need for relief; not because they are expected to just use breathing techniques to 'grin and bear it'. In certain situations, 'pain relief' can be a really positive thing, and so we choose to keep an open mind about this.
Can I do hypnobirthing? Is there anyone who it isn't suitable for?
Yes, anyone can use hypnobirthing. It is true that people do find it more useful than others; but this is more to do with if they have an open mind and most importantly how much they practice in the lead up to the birth. It also doesn't matter what type of birth or birth setting you intend to have.
What if I have a C-section?
Hypnobirthing is not just for natural births without intervention or 'pain relief'; it is about helping a mother relax during any type of birth. Hypnobirthing can help mothers to stay relaxed and focussed during a planned C-section, or during the lead up, decision making, and the actual surgery of an unplanned C-section. Being relaxed can be really helpful in creating the best environment for hormones to thrive that help set off breastfeeding to a good start.
What about the cost?
You can see my fees here. Hypnobirthing practitioners are highly skilled and I complement this with my skills as a Clinical Psychologist. I have set my course fees fairly to reflect the expertise I bring. However, if you feel that the fees are genuinely not viable for you at this time, please do get in touch to see if we can arrange a way they can be adapted to your needs. I feel passionately that everyone should have the opportunity to have a positive birth experience, and would not wish for my fees to stop anyone from having this opportunity.
I'm a second time mum and I had a terrible first birth. Would hypnobirthing make it better second time round?
I would say that hypnobirthing will absolutely be able to help you. Hypnobirthing is designed to help overcome fears about birth, and a lot of your fear probably comes from your difficult first experience. The course is designed to build your confidence in your body's ability to give birth through learning basic physiology, and also to learn to be able to relax your mind in order to let your body do the job it was designed to do. Women who hypnobirth for subsequent births often find the process particularly healing and empowering as they relearn to have a positive, trusting relationship with their body which they may have lost touch with following their first birth.
I really don't like talking in groups, will I be made to talk out loud?
No, you won't be made to do anything that you aren't comfortable with. However, sharing your ideas and asking questions is an important part of learning in a small group setting so you might not feel like you get as much out of the course as you could. People tend to find once they come along and settle in, that listening to and sharing with others was one of the things they most enjoyed about the course. Even so, groups are not for everyone, so if they really aren't for you then I would recommend private classes instead to give you the space to comfortably discuss what you are learning.