.3, 2, 1, relaxxxx.

well, as some of you may or may not know, i have decided to incorporate hypnobirth into my repertoire of techniques i will use in labor.  hypno-what?  i'm so glad you asked!


hypnobirth is actually the practice of self - hypnosis, deep relaxation, and visualization during labor and delivery.  and while some of you are chuckling thinking of me doing some chant, or being unconscious where i am unaware of anything going on...wrong!  using this method, you teach yourself how to go into deep relaxation instantly, as well as alter the way your brain thinks about pain.


from the website (www.hypnobirthing.com):
HypnoBirthing is based on the premise that childbirth does not necessarily need to be painful if the mother is properly prepared and relaxed. When women understand that pain is caused by constrictor hormones, created by fear, they learn, instead, to release fear thus creating endorphins—the feel good hormones. They are then able to change their expectations of long, painful labor and are able to replace them with expectations of a more comfortable birthing.  Rather than exhausting, shallow breathing and the distraction techniques of typical “prepared childbirth” programs, HypnoBirthing parents learn deep abdominal breathing and total relaxation, enabling the laboring mother to work in harmony with her body and her baby. This allows her to achieve a shorter and more comfortable labor for herself and baby.

many women who have used this method report a painless childbirth!  now people (especially those of you who have had kids, and are rolling on the floor laughing at this point, screaming EPIDURALLLLLL!!!), i do not expect to get a completely pain-free birth out of this, but i hope to gain a sense of mental control, confidence and empowerment out of it.


i have been studying this for a few weeks now (i wish i would have started sooner!), and can get so relaxed every time i do it, that i fall asleep!  in practicing, it is totally fine to fall asleep, since when i am actually in labor, i will use quicker methods to get relaxed, instead of the 30-40 minute sessions i do now.


lots of women hire a hypnobirth coach, which would be great, since they coach you and your birth partner on techniques, key words to use, special touches for the birth partner to use, etc.  they also give you work to do on your own time, and a cd to listen to that helps bring you into deep relaxation.  we did'nt hire anyone, and were a little late to start, so i ordered the cd, and have been working on my own.  i listen to the cd in the bath, and comfy in bed 2-3 times a week, and will listen everyday once i hit 38 weeks.  nick helps too!


i've done lots of research, and believe that this will really compliment the water birth i am planning, especially since i will be unable to use pain meds.  our minds are so incredible (especially mine, lol), we should give them a chance to help us through one of the hardest things we ever physically do in our lives.  i expect good things, even if every bit of my practicing seems to go out the window when the shit actually hits the fan.  i think i will retain at least something from my practice, and i know that nick will be able to help me re-focus if i get lost and start to freak.


xx