Hypnobabies – Is it Realistic?
Here is a great take on Hypnobabies from Hypno-Mom and Hypnobabies Instructor Susan May!
“It is realistic to expect that birth can be safe and enjoyable. Most of the time birth will happen the way it is meant to for mom and baby if they are left alone. What isn’t realistic is the current culture of fear that surrounds birth.”
Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis really does help you enjoy a much easier and more comfortable birthing! Use code hypno1528 for 10% off our Hypnobabies Home Study Courses.
As a Hypnobabies instructor I have had to learn how to walk a very fine line. A basic premise of the class and of hypnosis is that our minds are very powerful and will work to create that which we dwell upon. So OF COURSE we want to feed the mind ONLY positive messages about childbirth. Hypnobabies does this really well – through affirmations, hypnosis tracks and scripts, and videos of beautiful, empowered births. Every mom also creates a special safe place for herself and her baby and a Bubble of Peace for times when there is negativity in their environment. This tool helps them to keep positive messages around them while keeping the negative away.
The tricky part is also embracing the fact that birth is inherently unpredictable and that every mother and baby’s experience will be unique. Some birthing times (labors) are long and some are short. Some mother’s stay very quiet while birthing and others ROAR their babies out. Some mama’s can switch “off” (a Hypnobabies self-hypnosis tool) laying down and relaxing very deeply while experiencing pressure waves (contractions), while others prefer to be in “center” so they can stand or sit up and rock during waves. Ok, so you get the idea – each birth is DIFFERENT.
A criticism that often comes up of Hypnobabies is that by encouraging this positive mindset for women’s births – that birth can in fact be peaceful, comfortable, and joyful – that we are setting women up for disappointment.
I believe that this statement underestimates women and I know that this mentality undermines both women using and NOT using Hypnobabies for childbirth.
First of all, I know that birth CAN BE all of the things listed above – because I experienced at least 2 of the 3 and I know many women who have experienced it all – some even having what they consider PAIN FREE births. So the question is, how is it helpful for us to prepare a woman by being “realistic” – which usually implies that birth has to be painful or difficult? Read the rest of Susan’s story HERE.
