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Hypnobirthing: The new Lamaze
New childbirth technique teaches mom to focus on their baby, not on fear and pain.
Fri, Jun 22 2012 at 8:00 AM
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Hypnobirthing

Photo: junebuggy

Forget the rapid, shallow breathing espoused by the old Lamaze method. The new trend in childbirth is called hypnobirthing, and its proponents say it's helping moms give birth without the fear associated with labor and delivery.
 
The premise behind hypnobirthing is to help moms achieve a more relaxed state during childbirth so that they can trust their bodies to do what needs to be done to deliver a happy, healthy baby. Contrary to what you might think, there are no pocket watches or weird trances involved. Some moms use music — like Bach or beach sounds — while others just use visualization techniques to stay calm, present and focused during delivery.  Focused that is on cuddling with their newborn, not on fear and pain. 
 
Hypnobirthing has skyrocketed in popularity lately after endorsements from celebrities such as Jessica Alba, Tiffani Thiessen and Busy Phillips. 
 
It does not promise a pain-free delivery, but it does reassure moms that their bodies already know what to do and help them stay calm during delivery so that they can more easily endure any pain that does come.
 
Tiffany Washko of NatureMoms wrote about her first hypnobirthing experience in Hypnobirthing and My Birth Stories:
 
"My first hypnobirth went so well that I was in almost NO pain. I labored without pain at home and in a car listening to Abba while my mom ran errands until I was 9 centimeters dilated."
 
That's pretty impressive, especially when you compare that to Washko's first birth experience!
 
Hypnobirthing instructors say their methods reduce pain that stems from apprehension and anxiety about giving birth.
 
Hypnobirthing specialist, Liz Vincent, author of "Finding the Light," explains, “We hold a lot of fear in our bodies and fear creates pain so the more relaxed and calm the expectant mother is, the more she will be able to overcome any feelings of discomfort associated with the birth.”
 
The recent popularity means that many more hospital and birthing centers are offering classes on hypnobirthing in tandem with their other childbirth classes. If you're interested in learning more about the technique, contact your local center to find out if there is a class available near you.
 
Did you use hypnobirthing to deliver your baby? I'd love to hear your story in the comments!

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

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Comments: 9
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anonymous
Louise Boulton Jul 17 2012 at 10:25 AM

We used hypnobirthing and I can't recommend it enough. My drug free labour was tiring but not painful - and I have a very low pain threshold! One advantage we hadn't predicted was that you really thrash out what you want in advance which takes the stress out of the birthing experience. The only downside is that my husband couldn't tell when I was having a contraction. By the time the midwife arrived I was fully dilated and pushing.

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kellymaslen
kellymaslen Jun 27 2012 at 1:19 PM

I am a doula, hypnobirthing instructor and used this philosophy during my birth. I have witnessed incredible hypnobirthing births and experienced my own, this is a well thought out program of deep relaxation, self-hypnosis and breathing techniques, visualization and education. I strongly believe in this method of childbirth education. http://simplyhealthyfamily.com/hypnobirthing-classes

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anonymous
Shaz Rahman Jun 25 2012 at 6:02 PM

I used Hypnobabies for my baby's first birth and it was amazing! I don't understand how anyone can not use this method. I think its the first most important choice you will make for your child - to bring her/him into the world in a peaceful way. The class itself was so complete with nutrition, emotional health and hospital procedures information that I would not have gotten in another class. My husband also felt so involved and learned how to best support me. I recommend it to everyone I know!

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anonymous
Susan Jun 25 2012 at 11:28 AM
I agree with the others who have pointed out that full birth preparation requires a good education about the birth process and the pros/cons of possible interventions before, during and after the birth. That's why, if someone is interested in childbirth hypnosis, I recommend Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis. I took another class during my first pregnancy, and it only included guided relaxation, with very little pregnancy or birth information. My ignorance of the birth process and the choices that
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were mine to make along the way really complicated my birth, and the relaxation/fear release just wasn't enough for me. I chose Hypnobabies for my subsequent births, and was incredibly impressed with the result. Giving birth with Hypnobabies was enjoyable for me, and I was so calm because I knew I was totally prepared for anything that might come up during my birth.
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anonymous
Deena Blumenfel... Jun 24 2012 at 12:55 AM
A bit of an erroneous assumption about Lamaze here... I, for one, teach fear release and relaxation in my Lamaze childbirth classes. I am also a yoga instructor and the breathing I teach is pranayama. I'm a firm believer in teaching my parents not only these soft skills of childbirth, but the hard skills of evidence-based information, and effective communication with their care provider. This is what drew me to become a Lamaze instructor over other flavors of childbirth ed. More about me: http://
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www.shininglightprenatal.com/
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anonymous
Steph Jun 22 2012 at 5:27 PM

I used the Hypnobabies program for the birth of my baby and it was AMAZING! It was such a complete program and had me feeling totally confident and relaxed about the birth of my baby and all decisions I was faced with along the way. I had a peaceful and relaxing birth experience and I personally experienced no discomfort at any point. I am using Hyponobabies again for the birth of my second child. Thanks for this great article!

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anonymous
Linda Harmon Jun 22 2012 at 5:00 PM
It's important for expecting moms to explore their options for pain reduction during labor and birth, and hypnobirthing is a valuable option. There's a lot to prepare for beyond reducing pain and anxiety. Childbirth education courses, like Lamaze, teach parents-to-be about the many important decisions they will make before, during and after birth. Knowledge is power, and the more you know before giving birth the better! Check out Push for Your Baby, created by Lamaze to help women get the information
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they need to push for the best care possible: www.pushforyourbaby.com.
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anonymous
Virginia B Jun 22 2012 at 4:22 PM

I am a birth doula and am always in awe of how comfortable Hypnobabies moms look during their births. The hospital staff is usually pretty impressed too! I am pregnant with my third child and will definitely be using Hypnobabies this time around.

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RachelJ.'s picture
RachelJ. Jun 22 2012 at 3:51 PM
I used Hypnobabies for my birth and loved it. It's a complete childbirth class so it doesn't just teach relaxation. It actually teaches hypno-anesthesia like what is used for medical procedures as well as covering healthy pregnancy through diet and exercise, birth options and newborn procedures, a birth rehearsal, and even postpartum recovery and breastfeeding. They also include several scripts on CD to listen to throughout your pregnancy and during your labor. I don't think any other hypnosis
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for childbirth classes cover all those topics or have their scripts on CD. It's amazing what the mind can do if you just take the time to train it.
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