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HypnoBirthing®
Classes are four weeks, and scheduled on an ongoing basis – call for information.
Classes now forming
Call (413) 585-1581
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HypnoBirthing®: The Mongan Method is as much a philosophy as it is a technique. The concept of HypnoBirthing® is not new, but rather a "rebirth" of the philosophy of birthing as it existed thousands of years ago and as it was recaptured in the work of Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician, who, in the 1920s, was one of the first to forward the concept of natural birthing. This method teaches you that, in the absence of fear and tension, or special medical circumstances, severe pain does not have to be an accompaniment of labor. You will gain an understanding of how the birthing muscles work in perfect harmony--as they were designed to--when your body is sufficiently relaxed and you trust birth and your body. You will learn how to achieve this kind of relaxation, free of the resistance that fear creates, and you will learn to use your natural birthing instincts for a calm, serene and comfortable birth.
"When you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change."
Marie F. Mongan ~ Founder, HypnoBirthing®: The Mongan Method
When you have your baby with HypnoBirthing®, you will not be in a trance or asleep. What you will experience is similar to the daydreaming, or focusing, that occurs when you are engrossed in a book, a movie, or staring into a fire. You will be conversant and in good spirits--totally relaxed, but fully in control. Awake throughout, you will be aware of your body's surges and your baby's progress; but because you will have trained yourself to reach complete relaxation, you will be able to determine the degree and the manner in which you will feel the surges. You will experience birthing in an atmosphere of calm relaxation, free of the fear that prevents the muscles of your body from functioning as nature intended them to. In this calm state, your body's natural relaxant, endorphins, replaces the stress hormones that constrict and cause pain.
Course Highlights:
• How the mind and emotions affect the body
• Why labor hurts and why it doesn't have to
• Releasing fear, the enemy of labor
• Preparing your mind and body for birthing
• Avoiding artificial induction and episiotomy
• Developing ultimate-depth relaxation
• Preparing your Birth Plan
• Tapping Nature's own relaxant
• Breathing your baby down for birth
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
About HypnoBirthing®: The Mongan Method What is HypnoBirthing®?
HypnoBirthing® is a childbirth method that focuses on preparing parents for gentle birth. In HypnoBirthing® classes, you will learn proven techniques in a well-thought-out program of deep relaxation, visualization, and self-hypnosis. All of these are designed to help you achieve a more comfortable birth. HypnoBirthing® encourages a calm, peaceful, and natural pregnancy, birth, and bonding experience for families.
How Does HypnoBirthing® Work?
Because the mind can only hold one thought, and the body can only feel one sensation at a time, you can choose in advance what you will experience. Through dedicated daily practice of relaxation, you will train your mind and body to relax completely, regardless of what is going on around you – allowing you to completely go within to your birthing experience, feeling tightening, pressure, but not necessarily pain.
"I felt pressure, I felt tightening. It wasn't exactly comfortable when he was in the birth path, but I never felt anything I could actually call pain."
Michelle S. ~ First-Time HypnoBirthing® Mom
Who should take HypnoBirthing®?
Anyone considering birth, whether it is your first, second (or more) pregnancy, should take a HypnoBirthing® class, as each pregnancy and birth is unique. Moms who have been pregnant before but didn't use HypnoBirthing® methods will find immense benefit from bringing new skills to their birthing – often the techniques taught to release fears and limiting beliefs from previous experiences can make all the difference. First time moms find support and strength in learning about their birthing body, and trusting in the beautiful design of their body for birthing.
When is the best time for me to begin taking classes?
Now!! The sooner you begin taking classes the better. Having more time to learn and practice the techniques taught to you in class will only allow for more confidence and success during your labor and birth. Although it is possible to complete your classes up to one month or later before your “due” date and still accomplish your goal, it is much easier for your mind to 'digest' the information and let it sink into your mind. There is no 'wrong time' to attend classes, but it is recommended that you allow yourself time to become familiar and comfortable with the techniques.
How does HypnoBirthing® differ from other childbirth preparation methods?
Unlike other childbirth methods that teach you how to cope with and manage pain, 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 her baby.
The skills that you learn in your HypnoBirthing® classes will give you confidence that not only will you have a memorable birth experience, but the knowledge that you are already lovingly parenting your child and are developing skills that will continue to grow for the rest of your lives. Many couples have reported using skills learned in their HypnoBirthing® class to manage stress, control pain in other situations, and even lose weight!
How is the Birth Companion involved?
The Birth Companion of the mother's choice is an integral part of the HypnoBirthing® experience. He or she practices with the mother in helping to prepare for deep relaxation. During labor the Birth Companion guides the laboring mother through hypnosis prompts, relaxation techniques, deepening methods, and visualizations, provides comfort measures, and joins in welcoming the new baby, often by receiving the baby as s/he emerges.
Will I be unconscious or will I remember my birth experience?
Despite misconceptions and misinformation, you are definitely not unconscious during a HypnoBirthing® birth. You will be deeply relaxed, but you are also an active participant in the labor process. You will be totally aware and may return to a conversant state or choose to become mobile whenever you desire. HypnoBirthing® mothers often find that they experience time distortion and are not distracted by other people or their birthing environment, while they focus on their birthing and their baby.
Will HypnoBirthing® be useful to me if I don't opt for a natural childbirth or if circumstances necessitate medical intervention or a surgical birth?
Absolutely. The things you will learn in your HypnoBirthing® classes will help you to learn relaxation skills that will be useful to both you and your baby, regardless of your birth experience. In the event that medical intervention of any sort is needed, you will find yourself better able to remain calm and in control. Mothers who have needed scheduled cesareans for medical reasons report that they were totally relaxed before, during and after the procedure. Many report that they needed little or no medication following the birth, and they were able to return to normal functioning in a very short period of time.
"Even though our birth ended up in an emergency c-section, the tools and techniques we learned in our HypnoBirthing® class were invaluable. K~ was able to stay calm, and when we were discussing the c-section, the nurses were amazed that her blood pressure didn't go up very much. Baby S~ is beautiful, healthy, and K~'s recovery from the surgery was unbelievably fast and easy. Thanks, HypnoBirthing®!"
Jason F. ~ First-Time HypnoBirthing® Dad
Is it true that I will experience a pain-free birth with HypnoBirthing®?
HypnoBirthing® does not promise painless birthing, though many HypnoBirthing® mothers do report having a relatively pain-free birth or one that they were able to manage easily. When the cause of pain – fear that constricts the birthing muscles – is eliminated, birthing can be accomplished in a shorter period and much more comfortably. A relaxed mother's body will produce more endorphins, nature's own relaxants. HypnoBirthing® mothers may still experience sensations of tightening or pressure, but most describe their birth experience as working with their body through the sensations, and thus avoiding the excruciating pain that is frequently spoken of by women who choose other methods of preparation for birthing.
What if my doctor/midwife is not familiar with HypnoBirthing®? Can I still use this method and how can my health care providers help me to achieve my HypnoBirthing® goals?
More and more care providers are becoming aware of the benefits of HypnoBirthing®. Many hospitals offer HypnoBirthing® as an option in their childbirth education programs, and HypnoBirthing® is now taught in some schools of medicine to student doctors. If your caregiver is not knowledgeable about HypnoBirthing®, please take the opportunity early in your pregnancy to discuss the techniques you will be using and the type of calm birthing environment that you desire. In class, you will learn how to create a plan of Birth Preferences, which will help you to communicate your birthing goals and preferences to your doctor or midwife. This is also an excellent time to have a conversation with your caregiver to make sure that you are on the “same page” with your birth preferences, helping to ensure that you have the kind of support you desire and need for your birthing experience.
Where can I get more information?
I am happy to answer any questions you may have about HypnoBirthing®, how the classes work, hypnosis, or anything else. Please feel free to contact me, Kat Lovell, Certified HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator at (413) 585-1581 or kat@createyourchange.com . Additionally, please feel free to visit the official HypnoBirthing® website at www.hypnobirthing.com .
What is included in the classes?
You will receive a copy of HypnoBirthing®: The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan, 2 cd's for at-home relaxation practice, and a folder of multiple handouts to support your journey. Handouts will include things like: birth companion scripts, a birth plan to share with your care provider, instructions for perineal massage to avoid an episiotomy, and even a special recipe for eggplant parmigiana that is reported to induce labor!
What will I learn in the classes?
Class 1 – Building a Positive Expectancy
- Introduction – HypnoBirthing® Stories video – Marie Mongan
- HypnoBirthing® Beginnings
- Rationale/Muscle Comparison
- How the Uterus Works
- Articles of Birth Affirmation
- What's Wrong with Labor?
- How Fear Affects Labor
- History of Women and Birthing
- Hypnosis and Deep Relaxation/Creating Positive Birth Outcomes
- Psycho-Physical Exercises
- Pen Dropping
- Sleep Breathing Introduction/Demonstration
- Lemon Cutting
- HypnoBirthing® Stories Videos #1 and #2
Unit #2 – Falling in Love With Your Baby/Preparing Mind & Body
- HypnoBirthing® Stories Videos #3 and #4
- Prenatal Bonding Techniques
- Bonding Exercise
- Father's Script
- Mother's Conversation with her Unborn Child
- Parents' Prayer
- Relaxation and Breathing
- Routine
- Positions
- Facial Relaxation
- Sleep Breathing Reviewed
- Surge Breathing
- Birth Breathing
- Progressive, Instant, and Deepening Techniques
- Progressive Relaxation
- Disappearing Letters
- Birth Companion's Deepening Script
- Hypnotic Relaxation and Visualizations
- Rainbow Script
- Opening Blossom
- Blue Satin Ribbons
- Arm-Wrist Test
- Depthometer/Glove Relaxation/Sensory Gate Valve
- Time Distortion
- Releasing Limiting Thoughts Assignment
- Preparing the Body for Birthing
- Light Touch Massage
- Stretching the Inner Thigh Muscles
- Leaping Frog/Squatting/Semi-Squatting Positions
- Pelvic Floor Exercises (Kegels)
- Perineal Massage
- Nutrition – Its importance in growing healthy, happy, babies
Unit #3 – Getting Ready to Welcome Your Baby
- Birth Stories Videos #5 & #6
- Daddy's Promise
- Birth Preferences
- Hospital Records and Pre-Admission Registration
- Breech Presentation
- When Baby is Ready
- Looking at your “Due” Date
- Special Circumstances that Require the Attention of a Caregiver
- Avoiding Artificial Induction of Labor
- Achieving a Natural Start of Labor
- Prelude to Labor
- Your Body Working For and With You
- Releasing Negative Emotions, Fears, and Limiting Thoughts
Unit #4 – Overview of Childbirth – A Labor of Love; Birthing – Breathing Love, Bringing Life
- Birth Stories Video #7
- Onset of Labor – Thinning and Opening Phase
- Arriving at the Hospital
- As Labor Moves Along
- Birth Companion's Role
- Birth Companion's Birth Guide
- If Labor Stalls or Slows
- Review of Misconceptions
- Natural Measures to Restart Labor
- Important Questions for Birth Companions to Protect the Natural Birthing Experience
- As Birthing Advances – Nearing Completion
- Birth Rehearsal Imagery
- Birth Video
- Hallmarks of Labor
- Mother Nears Completion – Thinning and Opening Phase Ends
- Birthing Phase – Breathing Baby Down
- Positioning and Repositioning
- Birth – The Final Act
- Forest Fantasy Metaphor
- Miscellaneous Scripts and Illustrations
- Recommended Reading List
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