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September/October 2002 Alternative Health
Hypnobirthing®

by Sharon Burt

HypnoBirthing®, a new paradigm in natural childbirth education, is an easy to learn method utilizing deep relaxation and focused breathing patterns. It is as much a philosophy as a technique. The concept is not new, but rather a "rebirth" of the natural childbirth concepts that were developed by Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician. His book, "Childbirth Without Fear", published in 1944, identifies the Fear-Pain-Tension cycle as a common accompaniment of labor. Hypnosis has been used for over 100 years in modern times and is named for the Greek god of sleep, Hypnos. Both Dr. Ferdinand Lamaze, who went to Russia to study psycho-neuro-physiology, and Dick-Read used relaxation, visualization, attention focusing and positive affirmations. They didn’t call it hypnosis because of people’s beliefs about hypnosis, and fears of being controlled. Some people still don’t understand that hypnosis is an altered state of mind where you are aware and fully in control. It is a dual level of consciousness, like driving and thinking of something else. Hypnosis is a trance state similar to meditation or deep prayer. Today, hypnosis is used for managing blood pressure, working with auto-immune diseases as well as other health disorders. (It is a primary treatment for hemophilia.) Hypnosis is also used as enhancement for competitive sports and preparation for other challenging life events.

HypnoBirthing® is a program developed by Marie Mongan, a hypnotherapist in New Hampshire, who worked with the concepts of self hypnosis for birth at the time that her own children were born over 35 years ago. It wasn’t until her fourth birth that she was able to get the obstetrical and hospital support that she needed to bring her vision into reality. Today, more and more babies are being born to women choosing to create a different experience for their births. There are many HypnoBirthing® practitioners across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Also, other hypnotherapists and obstetricians are using hypnosis for birth and in 1999 Dateline did a feature on Dr. Larry Goldman, an obstetrician who has used hypnosis with over 1000 births.

In HypnoBirthing childbirth education classes, the woman learns how to take herself into the state of self-hypnosis by focusing her attention inward, working with her body and her baby. The classes also explore the birth process and prepare the birthing companion to support the mother as they bond with the baby and prepare for birth. The process focuses on activating the body’s endorphins--natural opiates replacing the stress hormones that constrict and cause pain. As the mother remains in relaxed control during labor, the birthing is mother directed, with her breathing the baby down and out, following the surges of her uterus as it massages the baby into the world.

HypnoBirthing® returns to women the art of birthing in a way that allows her to summon her natural birthing instincts. It is based on the belief that when a mother is properly prepared for birthing, physically, mentally, and emotionally, and fully relaxed, she can experience the joy of birthing her baby more easily, often faster, and with less discomfort. With most births requiring little or no intervention, HypnoBirthing® moms use their skills to deeply relax and open to the power, passion, and pleasure of birth.

Sharon Burt, BA, CHt, a HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator, is available at 503-289-6329, or 1-888-262-BABY, www.hypnobirthingnorthwest.com