For hundreds of years societies of various cultures have used hypnosis for one purpose or another. Since hypnosis opens doors to the vast power of the mind, we use it today for weight loss, to quit smoking, manage stress, heal trauma, for pain management, surgical procedures and also for childbirth. The latter is what I am going to discuss here because it is essential for women today to be informed and empowered with options to birth without routine medical intervention and to trust their own birthing instincts. HypnoBirthing® gives women the confidence and the tools to do so.

The true definition of hypnosis is a relaxed, focused state of concentration. Actually it is a very natural, normal shift of consciousness that we all go in and out of through out the day. It is like when you are completely engrossed in a good movie or TV show or when you are driving your car and have forgotten the last ten minutes because you were thinking of a conversation you had or project you are involved in. Hypnosis for many people just feels like they are very relaxed. The brain wave activity is similar to that time right before sleep when we are in an alpha state. The alpha state is a pleasant, dreamy state in which the mind is receptive to suggestion. During childbirth women naturally go into a state many practitioners call "labor land" where the conscious mind is basically turned off and the subconscious mind runs the show through the perspective of it's held beliefs, emotions, and fears.

A good metaphor for the subconscious is the concept of a bio-computer because it stores everything you have ever experienced in a maze of memory patterns that reside within the mind and body on cellular and energetic levels. The subconscious does not have the guard of the conscious mind and it absorbs verbal and nonverbal messages from others in a very literal way. A woman birthing is especially vulnerable partly because her subconscious mind is very impressionable. So we want those around her to make positive statements, support her relaxation and trust of her birthing body rather than reinforce fear and anxiety. When hypnotherapy and self-hypnosis are used during pregnancy, a woman is given the opportunity to release and clear out any negative or harmful programming, allowing her to exercise her mind's full potential. So the subconscious during the actual birthing is very focused, relaxed, and free of fear. The baby now has the assistance of its Mother's body working with the birthing process rather than against it.

The mind-body connection during childbirth is very important since the subconscious regulates the autonomic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system controls the fight or flight mechanism which is designed to help us out of a dangerous situation that we need to fight or flee from. The fight or flight response in childbirth can get activated by negative, fearful or anxious "self-talk;" or from unresolved fears or trauma stored in the subconscious. When the flight or flight response is triggered, stress hormones are released, and the body goes into a state of alert. So if a woman becomes anxious when she thinks about giving birth, her body tenses and she sets in motion a myriad of physiological and chemical responses that affect adrenal functioning, hormone balance, blood pressure, and other bodily responses. Ongoing and intense fear and anxiety during pregnancy can lead to hypertension, preeclampsia, migraines, and premature labor. During birthing when a woman is anxious and tense, the body goes into alert mode and the blood and oxygen flows to her extremities so she can fight or flee. The muscles in the uterus that we want relaxed, are deprived of the blood and oxygen they need to work effectively. These muscles now constrict, tighten, and work in opposition to each other leading to pain, fetal distress, and prolonged labor.

The beauty of the female body is that it was created to carry and support a baby to term, and to birth normally. The uterus is an amazing and powerful organ with muscles that work in harmony if the mind and body are relaxed. When a woman relaxes, her birthing body can take over and sensations of pain can be considerably reduced or eliminated during birth! This is true because as the mind deeply relaxes, the appropriate amount of endorphins needed, are released. Endorphins...ahhh...nature's own natural anesthesia! A woman who has the practice of using HypnoBirthing® relaxation and breathing techniques gives her baby the opportunity to move down and out into the world in a peaceful, calm, loving environment the way nature intended. She also has access to tremendous energy and intuition to support her to let go and trust the miracle that is happening.

In a culture that values technology and where birth, for the majority of women, is a hi-tech event, it is invaluable for a woman to draw from her inner power and intuition. For thousands of years birth was a celebration of life, and women were honored and nurtured during labor. Herbs and natural brews were used and fear was not part of the birthing experience. Today women all over the world continue to birth without fear and little pain. Dr. Dick -Read in his legendary book, Childbirth Without Fear states, "The higher the civilization of a country the more generally is pain accepted as a symptom of childbirth" (Dick-Read, pg.4). Childbirth has little to do with education or book knowledge because it is an instinctual process. A woman preparing for childbirth must begin to trust herself and her birthing instincts. This confidence allows her to rely on her birthing body, relax and literally breathe her baby down. Letting go to the body and the baby is crucial because in reality they both will ultimately influence how birthing unfolds. Lets talk for a moment about the baby's role in birth. We understand now more than ever about how the amazing infant contributes to the journey of childbirth. Studies performed by Thomas Verny, M.D., show that a mother's thoughts, feelings, actions and behaviors are forms of maternal emotional, psychological, physiological communication with the baby and impact intrauterine and postnatal bonding. In his book with John Kelly, The Secret Life of the Unborn Child, Verny states "By birth, the infant is mature enough to be able to respond to maternal feelings with great accuracy and compose physical, emotional and cognitive responses"(Verny,pg.62). So how a woman nourishes her body with plenty of pure fluids, healthy foods, positive thoughts and images, and the way she prepares herself for birth and the postpartum period, not only impacts pregnancy and childbirth, but are also ways she communicates with her baby. When a baby feels loved and welcomed by an empowered, anxiety-free mom, he or she will not be inhibited, fearful or hinder the birth process but will move with the natural progression of birth. We have also discovered through other studies, like one done in 1990 by internationally known Swedish pediatrician and researcher, Dr. Righard who found that babies born unmedicated and without interrupted contact immediately following birth, have greater success of bonding with Mom and breastfeeding (Righard, 1992).

Another significant aspect of pregnancy and childbirth that impacts a woman's ability to birth naturally and that affects her overall well-being, is her relationship with her medical provider. When a woman feels supported by her doctor or midwife to trust herself to birth normally and naturally, she has better chances to birth on her own, without the need for medical intervention such as pitocin to induce labor or an epidural for pain relief (Goer, 1999). More women today are aware that drugs cross the placenta, can initiate a series of complications, increasing the risk of a cesarean birth, and interrupt postpartum bonding. These women are empowering themselves by finding a physician or midwife that has low episiotomy, epidural and cesarean rates, and that will honor their beliefs and requests. They also are attending birth classes that prepare them to birth naturally and that teach them how to decrease their chances of having their birth become a "medical-incident".

As a spouse or significant other, family member, or friend it is beneficial for the pregnant mother if you support and encourage her to have confidence in the normal and natural process of childbirth. Use phrases like, "Trust yourself, your body knows how to give birth" or " Trust your birthing instincts." Do not reinforce ideas that will produce fear or anxiety. As a pregnant woman, find a health care provider that is supportive, respectful and will honor your wishes. Look for childbirth classes that fit your approach and attitude about birthing and that also teach proven effective relaxation techniques. It is your birthright to have every opportunity to birth naturally and in your own unique way.

Resources

Dick-Read, G. (2004). Childbirth Without Fear(5th edition). London: Pinter and Martin.
Goer, H. (1999). The Thinking Woman's Guide to a Better Birth. New York, New York: Berkley Publishing Company.
Righard, L. (1992) Delivery Self Attachment [Videotape]. Sunland California: Geddes Productions.
Verny, T. & Kelly, J. (1981). The Secret Life of the Unborn Child. New York: Dell Publishing.