HypnoBirthing

The Mrs and I went for a HypnoBirthing “taster” recently. It was very strange because a couple of weeks ago, we were just commenting that we were not comfortable going for this method. Personally it seemed a little too “Hocus Pocus” to me. We had decided to only go for the usual Antenatal classes to prepare ourselves better on what to expect and do during and after labour but how that one and half hour changed things. Although I am sure it has not changed our perspective a hundred percent but after learning more about it we are comfortable enough to want to give it a try.

What I got from the “taster” was HypnoBirthing is mainly trying to change one’s perspective on child labour. Like millions of people out there my image of child labouring is a hot and sweaty mum whose face is all red and cringed up and all the while trying her hardest to push the baby out of her system. Maybe some vulgarities will be hurled here and there, now and then. Meanwhile the husband not knowing what else to do is trying to act and stay as calm as possible and saying encouraging words to the poor woman.

You know, I have always felt that a woman’s ultimate way of showing her love for a guy is to agree to give birth for him. This image will give you a rough idea what she has to go through hence enforcing my view.

Well, it seems it doesn't have to be this way anymore. Apparently mothers can get into her own comfortable position be it squatting, sitting or even standing when she is trying to “breathe” her baby out. So much for showing her ultimate love huh?!

I believe the first and most important part about HypnoBirthing is to change your way of looking at child birth. Once you truly believe that it can be done with minimum or almost no pain and shortened labour then half the battle is worn and the rest of it is to apply what you have learned and put into practice. A little easier said then done right? We’ll let you know months later.

Anyway it seems a lot of work has to be put into practicing on one’s breathing and relaxing during the prenatal stage. The mums have to learn to ride the waves of “Surges” aka contractions. The theory of HypnoBirthing is actually not all “Hocus Pocus” but rather scientific. A relax mum will naturally be able to relax all her muscles including those essential for labour and generate better blood flow hence reducing pain and shorten labour.

We also watched some videos of babies being born and that sort of freaked the Mrs out. One of the video showed the baby’s head coming out all purple (blue to me) and the Gynae slowing guiding and turning it when all the while the mum was breathing calmly. Within a couple of minutes the rest of the baby was out too and then the mum was shown to be giggling and laughing. Nope, no screaming and cursing were heard.

I have to say that some of the positions that the mums were in seemed a little unorthodox to me. I told the Mrs that her mum will surely freaked out if she sees her kneeling down on the floor during the early stages of labour.

Power has certainly been shifted back to the mothers when it comes to giving birth. No more going with the flow and simply obeying what the Gynae and nurses dictate. With knowledge mothers are better prepared to decide for themselves what kind of birth they want including how and when they want it. I’m sure this will prove to provide headaches for some Gynaes and hospitals that are a little less experimental and more conservative.

The Mrs is worried that it will all be a waste of money if she fails at the last hurdle and ask for Epidural. I told her that it will not happen because I will be there and I will tell the nurses that she is well trained in HypnoBirthing so she can manage. She is just panicking. No, seriously if she has to use drugs then so be it. I’m sure she is not the first and neither will she be the last. She’ll just have to put the breathing and relaxation technique to use in her daily life in the future.

Right now just know that I cannot make her meow like a cat or quack like a duck when she is "Hypnotised".