A MIDWIFE’S EXPERIENCE WITH HYPNOBABIES, Jan. 2010

            Despite the fact that I have been attending births for fourteen years, my first experience with Hypnobabies happened only a year ago…and I have to admit that I wasn’t looking forward to it.  Why not?  Because I’d had previous experiences with “hypno”-classes and the subsequent births were often MORE challenging as the parents were not only underprepared for what they were about to experience, they were set up for disappointments with unrealistic expectations of a “pain free” birth if they just did their hypnosis “right”.   It was not unusual for my client to feel labor becoming active (generally 3-4 cm dilated) and panic, thinking she was not doing things ‘right’ because of how it felt, losing all confidence in her ability and desire to complete the job at hand…the exact opposite of what you want in labor.

 The upcoming birth was a first time mother and, as most people know, first babies tend to be the most challenging.  I was skeptical and nervous about it as I knew this was a “hypno-birth” mother.  I braced myself for the false alarms I often saw, emotional breakdowns, the pep talks I was used to giving about how she was NOT failing or doing it wrong, that her body COULD do this, that nothing was wrong.  During our prenatal visits I would ask her if she had any questions this week about nutrition, signs of labor, questions about the birth – and I was always pleasantly surprised at the depth of her knowledge and she would always assure me that they’d just gone over that information in her Hypnobabies class!  My curiosity was peaked, but I did remain skeptical.

            I got the first call early in the morning that the mother thought her water had broken, but they assured me that she was doing just fine and would keep in touch with me and let me know if anything changed or she needed me.  She planned to do what she’d learned in her Hypnobabies class…to eat well and rest until labor commanded her attention.  Plan for the day was to take naps and watch a DVD!  Alright…now I was impressed!  I didn’t have to tell a first time mom to take it easy in early labor, or calm a panicking family because her water had broken!  How refreshing!

            We kept in contact throughout the day until I headed to their house late that evening.  Contractions were coming very regularly, but she was still calm and handling things very well.  I figured I’d be there for quite a long time as it still sounded like it wasn’t far into her labor.  I got to their home and she was listening to her CD’s, calm and happy – uh oh, more confirmation that I’d probably be there a long time.  Imagine my delight when their son slipped out into the world while his mom sat on a birth stool in her peaceful bedroom!  Tucked into bed, mom smiled and looked at me and said, “That wasn’t nearly as bad as so many people told me it would be!  That was AWESOME!”

            I was thrilled beyond words – but figured that the chances were great that it was the parents that succeeded IN SPITE of the method, not because of the method.  Glad that they had such a positive experience, Hypnobabies hadn’t quite won me over yet – I would need more experience with it before making a final judgment.

            Thankfully I wouldn’t have to wait long.  Another first time mother (who had attended the same class as the previous mother!) called me early in the morning with early labor.  Similar story as her classmate; she labored all day, finally calling me out late in the evening.  A smiling and happy first time mom greeted me from her rented Jacuzzi hot tub in her family room.  I commented to my assistant that we were probably in for a LONG night and after our initial assessment we laid down to rest.  One hour later, when I went to check on the baby, she was out of the water and going to the bathroom.  Still smiling and happy, we all agreed that an internal exam might be a good idea.  I prayed that she would be at least 3cm but braced myself for much less.  To say that I was shocked is an understatement: I found her to be 8cm dilated and her water broken around my hand.  Her response to finding out she was 8cm was a smile and a calm, “yay”!  She got back into her water and soon after she delivered her 10 pound baby girl in her bedroom.  Her response to the birth was that it was “beautiful”.

            I could feel myself converting to being a Hypnobabies fan.  Not for myself, mind you, but for my clients who time and time again had similar experiences.  Calm labors, centered mamas, working hard and never complaining because they EXPECTED and PREPARED to work hard!!  Babies born beautifully by empowered mothers who soon-after say how wonderful their births were.  I found myself referring people eagerly to the Hypnobabies classes, and my reaction to finding out someone was a Hypnobabies family was, “AWESOME!”  It has totally shattered all of my previous misgivings that I had developed, as it became obvious how different the Hypnobabies series was from all other hypno- classes.  The main difference that I saw was the amount (and quality) of childbirth information given.  Families were given information on how to keep themselves healthy through the pregnancy, stages of labor, physiological changes and ways to help facilitate the birth through positional changes and movement – and also given information on ways to use hypnosis to assist them through the birth.  The parents were given realistic expectations so that they could prepare for what they were likely to experience, not false hope of escaping the experience.

            As a midwife, my Hypnobabies births are easy on me as I am dealing with healthy and informed families ready for the challenges ahead – and they are a blessing to the families as the tools and information given to them through their classes help them have the best outcomes possible!!  Yes, Hypnobabies….you turned this skeptic into a fan!

Stephanie Soderblom LM CPM

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One of our Hypnobabies Instructors who is also a Doula wrote:

I just got back from doula-ing a super-great Hypnobabies birth!

This just makes everything we do SO worth it! This mom had a breech baby and did a successful ECV (external version) at 39 weeks.

She has been having prodromal labor since SUNDAY and I had been out to her house already and on the phone with her husband regularly since then.

Finally her pressure waves got consistent last night (Wednesday) and they called me to the birth at 1:00 am.

She arrived at the hospital at 6 cm. A few hours later she was 8. Before we knew it she was complete. She was so relaxed. The nurses were so impressed. The hospital was so hands-off and wonderful.

Then she pushed (and pushed and pushed) for nearly 5 hours! It was so strange because baby was only 6# 5oz, and was in a good position. The midwife was so supportive and she pushed in ALL sorts of different positions. I think it was maybe because she was so tired by this time from all the prodromal labor. Sunday night was the last time she had a full night's sleep and here it was Thursday morning!

Anyway, even with the prolonged 2nd stage...mom was amazing! She said she never felt uncomfortable at all during the "dilating" part. And that pushing felt good, but she was surprised that pushing took so long for her.

All in all she felt so amazing and wonderful about her birth and I am so honored to have been a part of it. This birth + one more and I am taking time off for my own birth/baby. It was such an inspiration to be there for this mom.

YAY HYPNOBABIES!!!!

AND another one from Sita:

This is the 2nd birth in a row that has been so completely amazing, and both were Hypnobabies births. I feel so honored that I was able to be the doula for this couple.

This was a 2nd baby after mom had a 24 hour labor with a posterior baby the 1st time. Things did NOT go the way she planned the first time, so she took my Hypnobabies class and hired me and decided on a homebirth halfway through class as well!

Her birthing time started with her water breaking at about 4pm on Friday. She called and said she was having "wonderfully strong pressure waves" and that she was going to lay down with her son for a nap and listen to her Birthing Day affirmations CD.

Then she called me again 2.5 hours later and said..."well, I think this is it! I am going to listen to my Birthing Guide CD now and you can head over in an hour or so."

I arrived at 8:45 and she was doing amazing. She was just leaning/slow dancing with her husband as she had her pressure waves, getting on hands and knees some or squatting. She was *really* listening to her body. She responded very well to the birthing prompts that I gave her with each pressure wave, and I could see her physically relaxing more, the more I talked to her.

The midwife arrived just as I did and when she checked her - she was already 8 cm. She decided to get in the birthing pool and then she had a few "transformation" kind of pressure waves. She seemed hesitant to vocalize, but I could tell she was holding back, so I just encouraged her to make nice deep noises and I just modeled the sound for her and she let go and did it! lol

Next thing you know, she started to push. The funny thing is, she never really believed he was coming right then even as she was pushing (She assumed she would push a long time because of her first birth). His head was literally OUT and she said, "OH, he's coming NOW!"

Anyway, she had a beautiful home water-birth. Her husband and 3 year old son (and me & the MW) were right there beside the pool as the baby was born. It was really, really beautiful.

Afterward, she told me that she was very comfortable throughout the birth (most especially the "laboring" part) and the only really intense part was pushing him out so fast.

This was my last birth before my hiatus starts since I am taking time off for my own impending birth now. I am just amazed to be a part of helping women have these amazing birth experiences...this is *exactly* why I became a Hypnobabies instructor and it feels so good to be a part of change and to make a difference in people's births and lives.

Love,
Sita R, Atlanta, Georgia

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Homebirth/Home Study Mom’s birth, from doula Jenn:(who is also a Hypnobabies Instructor)

I wanted to share the story of a beautiful homebirth I was at last month - she was a home study Hypnobabies student & I was her Hypno-Doula. Mom first called me on a Thursday afternoon around 2pm, I got there by 4pm and her birthing waves were steady at 4 minutes apart. She was doing really well and using her Hypnobabies techniques - her husband didn't even believe that this was it. So her mother arrived around midnight (after an 8 hour drive) and we sent her to bed to rest...the midwife slept for a while as well and I stayed up with mom through the night. At 7am, my hypno-mom told me to rest for a bit and so we got her mother up and I gave her a quick run-down of the BP's guide and I briefed her on the imagery/special place and cues, phrases she liked, etc - well, I have to say that Grandma was a natural. She embraced it like a champ!

I took a break for an hour and during this point, the midwife did a vaginal exam & reported that mom was about 4cms (discussing with mom after, we both agree that this had a huge emotional effect on her - the girl had been steady at every 3.5 - 4 mins and lasting a minute for more than 15 hours at this point ... was tired even though she was doing SUPER well and I think she expected the number to be higher). At this point, mom stalled. Although I was a bit frustrated with the midwife every time she decided to remind mom of the fact that if there was no progress, her suggestion would be to transfer to hospital (talk about pressure!!)...I would tap dance and counter it with positive suggestions. The midwife was fine with it and supportive - I think she just felt she had to remind mom of her suggestions - I could see the fear flash in mom's eyes whenever the midwife would talk about this and I KNEW that it was just going to make things worse. I reminded mom of all the natural options and I just happened to know a couple of fantastic acupuncturists (who are also doulas) who do house calls for birth - so we did it all!! Mom & I were giving her hypnosis suggestions, her midwife prepared a drink commonly used here to bring on waves & the acupuncturist hit the points.

I can't tell you how amazing it was to be part of such a supportive group of women...THIS is the way birth should be. So there it was: more than 24 hours after it had began for her, things REALLY took off. I remember being in the bathroom with mom slow-dancing with her own mother, me doing the hip squeeze, the acupuncturist gently placing cool cloths on her neck and the midwife watching from the doorway like our protector. And then, we all heard it...the UGGGH sound and we looked at each other and I know I had tears! We all knew she was going to have her homebirth (there was also a gag in there and mom said to me after: "I think the happiest moment was when I thought I was going to throw up...I knew I would have my homebirth!").

The midwife checked her and found that there was a bit of a lip of cervix left so we got her on all fours with her own mother literally forehead to forehead with her just breathing with her and staring into her eyes as I gave suggestions and the acupuncturist hit the points on the lower back for the cervix. There were a couple of moments when you could see mom's emotions run in but we would all remind her how safe she was and to look into her mother's eyes, breathe and she immediately found comfort.

The cervix melted away and we got her into the tub. Mom pushed wonderfully (and completely mother-directed) and I even got to hold the flashlight (the lights were dimmed) for the midwives (it was my first water birth!!)

I had witnessed a perfect example of how if we're just patient (and of course mom & baby are doing ok) & try all the natural options, if anything, we can make all the difference (I have no doubt the outcome would have been completely different had we transferred and been 'augmented' ...for this mom anyways).

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Another birth story from Jenn:

The next birth I want to share is from one of my students from my very first Hypnobabies class (they had their hypno-baby in August). We had a class reunion and this mom looked at me and said "You know Jenn, I can honestly say that I didn't have any pain at all...it was intense but no PAIN" YAY!!!

Also great was how happy dad was - when mom first called to register for Hypnobabies class she actually said to me "my partner is skeptical - he's a business professor and very 'academic' but he loves me and will support what I want". So at this reunion, Dad looked at me (beaming) and told me that he thinks that one of the biggest contributors to their amazing birth was the Hypnobabies practice and preparation that they did - together, as a team. I think he's one of our biggest Hypnobabies fans now.

Also great is that this couple had Gloria Lemay as their midwife and she commented that “It’s so unusual to attend a birth where the woman didn’t complain even once in all 19 hours!” GO HYPNOBABIES!! (Gloria Lemay is a wonderful, very experienced and well-respected midwife who is a contributing editor of Midwifery Today Magazine, an Advisory Board member of the International Cesarean Awareness Network (ICAN), and a keynote speaker at childbirth conferences, travelling throughout North America teaching midwifery. She lives in Vancouver, BC, Canada. She also recently shared with Jenn, “I really love working with Hypno-birth families.  There is so much that women can do through managing their minds that makes birth easier.”)

Jenn also writes: One last thing...I met with a doula this week (she attended the class as the birth partner for one of my last couples - dad came to the class but didn't do any of the practice with mom, "it wasn't his thing"...and the doula said this to me today: "I strongly believe that every woman should have a doula. I also think every woman should have Hypnobabies"

She's taking my hypno-doula workshop this weekend.

{5/29/10 - Update: this doula actually just started my class last week - she's going to be a hypno-mommy herself now}

Jenn K, Canada

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 And another two from Jenn:

5/13/2010 – 2 Great Hypnobabies Births; one who overcame Placenta Previa!

Just wanted to share that two of my students had their babies this week. It was the same midwife at both births. After the first birth, the midwife came back to clinic and looked at me and said "that hypno stuff REALLY works!!" (it was a beautiful homebirth - midwife arrived around 9am and baby was born at 1pm...first baby!). Then, today another student had another lovely birth.

I really wanted to share this second story because it's a great one -

So mom started Hypnobabies with a very good chance of having a C-Section (for previa)...but she was all about positive thinking from the beginning. They had a follow-up scan done at 32 weeks to assess the location of the placenta and it was still "too close" but mom & dad decided they wanted more scans before opting to just have the surgery (I think they would have continued to today if it meant a chance). Her last one was at I think 34 weeks and she came into class that night just about FLOATING off the ground...even though the technician 'prepared her' for the 'fact' that "at this point, the placenta usually doesn't move much at all" - the most *conservative* measurement they got was the cut-off (according to guidelines here). Meaning she was going to have her vaginal birth!!! It had moved so much (the technician was shocked) and she was so excited and felt that her hypnosis (& positive thinking reinforced by Hypnobabies) had helped so much.

Maybe because of all this, I think they were REALLY dedicated to the program and were so positive about creating a fantastic birth and I just can't even tell you all how happy & moved I was to hear that they did it! They created it.

Yay Hypnobabies!

Jenn
Vancouver, BC

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Halloween Hypno-Baby, in a hurry!

I had the opportunity to be my sister's doula for her second hypno-baby on Halloween! Sarah wasn't due for another week but she desperately wanted a Halloween baby. She listened to "Come Out Baby" CD a few times in the previous couple days and sure enough, it worked! She woke at about 1:30 am and listened to a few Hypnobabies tracks. She was birthing at our older sister's home so she woke her for support at 3:30 am. She tried calling me but I didn't hear my phone. Thank goodness, they kept trying and got through on my husband's phone. I spoke with them at about 5 and got to her in the next 30-45 minutes.

She was on her birth ball and relaxing through the waves that were coming about 7-10 minutes apart. She was very tired so I rubbed her back and kept her deep in hypnosis for about 20 minutes. She was hot and needed to go to the bathroom so we waited through a pressure wave and then walked to the bathroom. Her husband was setting the pool up downstairs so we headed there next. On the way, she had another wave and needed to throw up. She held on until we had a bowl and then let it go. I knew she was getting closer! We moved her to a bed while the pool was filling. I kept her deep again so that she could rest some more.

She opened her eyes and said she felt like pushing, but thought it might just be poop. She was so peaceful that even I didn't know how close we were. We waited for another wave then headed to the bathroom. I didn't want her pooping in the pool where the baby was going to be born! As we walked in the bathroom, I instructed her husband to get under her and hold her up since more waves were sure to come. My oldest sister was on one side, her husband underneath her, my mom in the doorway and I was at her other side.

She sat down and made a quiet moan and little yelp. I told her to lean forward so I could see what happened. The baby was in the toilet! Thank goodness my brother-in-law was inspired to clean and sanitize it just before the birth! I scooped her beautiful daughter out and held her up to Sarah. She was amazingly perfect. We got Sarah back to the room and I held baby Cozette up to my tummy so that she would be warm. It was so sweet for me to be able to help in that way.

Cozette was very peaceful and didn't feel like nursing right away so we just let them cuddle together for a little while. As the pressure waves began again, I moved Sarah to the pool to birth the placenta. The midwife was on her way but had not made it (third time for our family! Our babies come fast now that we know how to relax :). She had called and directed us to the clamp so I could shut off the cord. She made it just as the placenta was birthed. Sarah had a tiny tear but felt great. Cozette was a healthy 7 lbs. 5 oz. and 19 1/2 inches long. Her cord was only about 17 inches total. What a miracle this birth was!

Hooray for Hypnobabies!
Mindy D, Utah

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3 Beautiful Hypnobabies Births in 36 hours!

I just thought I'd share some great recent births since I find it so encouraging to hear them from others when they share. :)

I had 2 Hypnobabies doula clients whose guess dates were the 2nd and 3rd of October. A good friend of mine (also a Hypnobabies student) from my husband's church asked me to be her doula but I had to say no because her guess date was too close to the two I'd already committed to. She ended up hiring the brand new doula, named Michelle, who observed the class series that she took and I was the backup. I told them I could attend the birth and co-doula with Michelle if "my" Hypno-moms had already given birth.

Well, Michelle was also my backup for my clients with the guess date of the 3rd. Those clients called me around midnight on Wed and I met them at the hospital. When I was going to grab some ice, I saw that the room next door had a Hypnobabies sign on it - it was my friend and her husband. :) Both couples had started their birthing time within an hour of each other, but Michelle and I hadn't wanted to bother each other in the middle of the night, so we didn't call each other yet.

The client I was with did AMAZING! She was so focused and intuitive, it was beautiful to watch. It was definitely one of those "holding the space" births. I mostly just gave suggestions to the dad and grandma and encouragement at the end when mom got discouraged (she had been told she was almost complete, just had an anterior lip, then was told she was 7cm). Baby was born early afternoon on Thursday. Beautiful birthing, no interventions other than antibiotics for GBS. The doc was great, had mom use the squat bar, let cord stop pulsing, had mom bring her baby up and announce the gender, no pit after the birth, etc. And the doc is soooo excited about Hypnobabies! I'll definitely be following up with him, I think he'll be sending some clients my way.

Because my Hypno-mom was doing so well, I was able to poke my head in on my friend’s next door frequently when I went to get ice or use the bathroom. Her baby was posterior and ended up coming out with a "superman" presentation, where her hand was up over her head, which made her uncomfortable towards the end and the birth itself. She was calm and confident though, even when she experienced some discomfort. Her baby was born within an hour of my client's. Her husband, (who had been very hesitant with the whole hypnosis thing and finally agreed when my husband told him they needed to take a Hypnobabies class) told me the next day how grateful he was that they took the class and was raving about how amazing the Hypnobabies techniques were!

I got home late that night and said my prayers, thanking God for 2 healthy babies and moms and wonderful births and I asked, please, please, allow me one night of sleep before my other mom goes. You sure can't complain about answered prayers, the other mom called me at 8am and told me her water had broken and that she was heading to the hospital!

Her birth went beautifully as well, she had a fast first birth and this one was similar, although much more comfortable. She went from 6cm to baby in her arms in 25 minutes and from 7cm-10 in ONE pressure wave! She felt like she needed to push, so the nurse checked her and she was 7cm, so I had her go hands and knees to try and give the doc time to get there since we knew she was going fast. She had one pressure wave in that position and said, I've GOT to push! I ran out and grabbed the nurse again, who checked her and said she was complete! She pushed the baby out in 6 minutes and gave birth almost exactly 24 hrs after the two Hypno-moms the day before.

It was an exhausting 36 hours or so as a doula, but soooo rewarding! 3 healthy babies nursing like champs, 3 healthy moms, 3 happy dads, 3 unmedicated, largely comfortable births, go Hypnobabies! :)

Morgan C, Idaho

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“I don't know that I'll be attending many more non-Hypnobabies births now that I know women what Hypnobabies can do.”

Last week Friday my Hypnobabies client entered her true birthing time. Her hypnosis had her in a zone. We got to the hospital and the nurses were so not concerned about how far along she might be. They were even respectful that she wanted minimal vaginal exams and was going to have the dr. on call check her since he'd be there overnight. We unhooked her from the monitor so she could go to the bathroom, when I heard that classic pushy sound! I asked if she felt pushy and she said yes. Called for a nurse who checked her while she was on the toilet and said yep, she's complete.

Dr. came in shortly thereafter to double check, and while doing so, the baby pooped in his hand! So it was then we found out baby was breech. He visually assessed the couple (dad was over 6' and mom was 5'10") and said the baby's gotta be huge (and actually ended up weighing 7 lbs 1 oz), so he didn't want to try a vaginal delivery. Baby was born via cesarean within the hour. Mama said the hardest part was not pushing when that was all she wanted to do, that THAT was the only painful part. I offered to read the Hypnobabies Change of Plans Script to her but she said she was okay with everything.