What is Hypnobirthing?
Ok, I know it might sound weird and wacky, but Hypnobirthing is actually based in the science of how your body and mind work. It’s much more than deep breathing and it’s definitely NOT just for people who are into yoga and meditation. It’s for everyone and every birth.
Hypnobirthing is a full antenatal education programme designed to prepare you practically, mentally and emotionally. It’s a process of taking you from a place of fear (bricking it!) to a space where you feel like you can boss it!
Yes some of the techniques might sound ‘hippy’, but there are really good reasons why we use them:
Hypnosis - Hypnosis is nothing to get freaked out by. There’s no clucking like a chicken or mind control (I’m not Derren Brown!) Hypnosis is simply deep relaxation and is only one part of Hypnobirthing. We use guided relaxation to help you let go of the fears and anxieties you might hold about birth. It’s all about building a strong and confident mindset.
Affirmations - They might sound a bit cringe, but if used regularly, affirmations can be hugely powerful. These positive and empowering statements are designed to challenge negative or unhelpful thoughts. By repeating them to ourselves, seeing or hearing them regularly, we can convince our brain to believe them. Neuroscience research has shown we can actually make changes in our brains when we use positive self-affirmations (Cascio et al. 2016).
Breathing techniques - Breathing is the most basic thing, but did you know that paying focused attention to your breath is one of the easiest ways to stay calm? Studies have shown that controlling your breathing calms your brain, allowing greater emotional control (Yackle et al. 2016). Taking lots of nice deep breaths will also ensure you’ve got plenty of oxygen flowing to the muscles of your Uterus, helping them work more effectively.
Visualisation - Thinking about how you’d like your birth to go can help you feel more confident in your plans and trick your mind into thinking it’s nothing new when labour starts for real. Top athletes and actors use visualisations to help them realise their goals and perform at their best. If it’s good enough for them, why not you?
