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A zen childbirth with hypnosis
Childbirth raises many questions and apprehensions in pregnant women. The fear of feeling the pains related to the contractions, the anxieties related to the passage of the baby and the good progress of the end of pregnancy are part of the natural fears future mothers. Some midwives offer hypnosis exercises during childbirth preparation sessions. Through a positive and colorful vocabulary, the visualization of soothing scenes and “resource places”, the future mother develops tools to help them breathe, focus and relax for the big day. She will be able to put them into practice from the first contractions or upon arrival at the maternity hospital to create a peaceful environment.
What is hypnobirth?
Hypnobirth is a self-hypnosis technique that allows you to give birth peacefully, reducing pain and preparing to welcome your baby. This method, developed in the 1980s by hypnotherapist Marie Mongan, now has more than 1 practitioners around the world. It is based on the practice of self-hypnosis. Its goal ? Help women live their pregnancy and childbirth in peace, rather than in fear and anxiety. “Hypnobirth is within the reach of any woman who wishes to give birth naturally,” assures Elizabeth Echlin, practitioner in Hypnobirth, “but she must be motivated and trained. “
Hypnonaissance: how does it work?
Hypnonaissance is based on 4 fundamental pillars: breathing, relaxation, visualization and deepening. This form of birth preparation can begin from the 4th month of pregnancy with a practitioner trained in this specific method. The complete preparation includes 6 lessons of 2 hours but, be careful, it does not enter into the classic system of preparation for childbirth supported by Social Security. During the sessions, you will learn different breathing techniques that you can then apply during childbirth. The wave breathing is the most important, it is the one that you will use during the contractions to facilitate the phase of opening of the cervix. Once you have learned to breathe at a steady pace and relax effortlessly, you can move on to relaxation exercises. You will naturally turn to the ones you prefer and which prove to be the most effective for you.
The role of the dad in hypnobirth
In all cases, the role of the companion is essential. The father can indeed relieve the mother and help her to deepen her level of relaxation through specific massages and strokes. One of the keys to hypnosis is conditioning. It is only by practicing these techniques regularly that you can truly prepare for childbirth. Just attending class is not enough. Moreover, a recording to listen to at home is provided to mothers in order to deepen their ability to relax.
Giving birth painlessly with hypnosis?
“The pain of childbirth is something very real for a lot of women,” says Elizabeth Echlin. The fear of birth hinders the natural process and creates tensions that are at the root of suffering. “Stress and anxiety slow down and complicate the work.” The interest of Hypnonbirth is first of all to help the woman to get rid of the stress related to childbirth. Freed from her fears, she can relax from the start of labor. Self-hypnosis allows the mother to focus on what she is feeling, on her well-being and that of her baby and to reach a state of deep relaxation. She then manages to better manage the discomfort of the contractions. This state of relaxation accelerates the production of endorphins and oxytocin, hormones that facilitate childbirth. Under self-hypnosis, mom is not asleep, she is fully conscious and can come out of this state whenever she wants. “A lot of times women use this relaxation during contractions,” says Elizabeth Echlin. They live the present moment intensely, then come out of this state of concentration. “
Hypnonaissance, who is it for?
Hypnobirth is for all future mothers, and particularly to those who dread childbirth. Preparation for birth by hypnobirth takes place over several sessions, led by a specialized practitioner. The vocabulary used is always positive: a contraction is called “wave”, the pain becomes “intensity”. Against a background of relaxation, the expectant mother evokes her body in a positive way, and the baby is called upon to collaborate in his own birth.
Important: Hypnobirthing classes do not replace the support of doctors and midwives, but complement it with a more personal approach, based on relaxation and positive visualization.