About HypnoBirthing

What is HypnoBirthing?

HypnoBirthing is based on the belief that severe discomfort does not need to be a natural accompaniment of birthing. It is the fear of pain, a fear that keeps the body tense and closed during birth, that must be released to allow the experience of a gentle birth. Relaxing the mind through hypnosis allows the body to work as it should.

With HypnoBirthing you are not in a trance or a sleep state but, instead, fully in control, profoundly relaxed, ultra focused and always aware of what is happening during your birth.

You and your birthing companion will learn how to identify emotional stress before and during labour and how to release it. You will be taught visualisation and relaxation techniques to allow your body to work at its ownpace and to release endorphins, the hormones which allow us to feel pleasure and block pain (200 times stronger than morphine). These are techniques which can also be used in our everyday lives to cope with pain and anxiety.

The HypnoBirthing Advantage

Eliminates the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome before, during and after birth
Reduces, and often eliminates, the need for conventional pain relief, episiotomy and other interventions
Lessens fatigue during labour, leaving you energised for the birth
Shortens the first stage of labour
Promotes bonding of mother, baby and birthing partner
Provides an integral, supportive role for your birthing partner
Creates a calm, easier, peaceful birth experience
Encourages more rapid postnatal recovery
Calmer babies with improved feeding and sleeping patterns

Interesting Links

HypnoBirthing- Taking the birthing world by calm. YouTube video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v536xaNBMh4

The Official UK HypnoBirthing® website
www.hypnobirthing.co.uk

The Official US HypnoBirthing® website
www.hypnobirthing.com

Keeping Childbirth Natural and Dynamic- A Scottish Government Initiative
www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/nursing/naturalchildbirth

The Royal College of Midwives, Campaign for Normal Birth
www.rcmnormalbirth.net

Midirs Midwifery Informed Choice Leaflets
www.choicesforbirth.org

Birth Information site
www.birthworks.org

The Association for the Improvement of Maternity Services. Professional advice for a better birth.
www.aims.org.uk