Hypnobabies

I realized that I never gave a review of my Hypnobabies class after we completed it a couple of weeks ago. I should do that... and any of you should feel free to ask any questions you might have!

Overall: both Ash and I LOVED this class.

It was a 3 hour session once per week for 6 weeks. There were five couples total in the class (two home birthers, one birthing center birther, and two hospital birthers). Our instructor had three boys, each one born in each of the three settings possible, so it was nice for all of us to hear her first hand experience from each birthing environment. We were all first time moms and we ranged from 28 weeks to 36 weeks by the end of the class. The class took place in the instructor's home in Durham. It cost $300. We were served water with lemon wedges the whole time and a DELICIOUS/filling/nutritious snack halfway through each class. We were told to bring pillows, blankets, and anything else we needed to be comfortable.

Each class started off with a quick hypnosis session, in which the instructor would tell us to lie back in a fully supported position and take deep breaths to begin relaxing. The script was read aloud and was all about leaving behind any thoughts or worries from your day and being fully committed and present during class. Each of us had been given a CD with a hypnosis script to listen to daily before the class began, so it was easy for us all to jump in at class number one. Each class we went over a plethora of information regarding pregnancy and childbirth (SO MUCH INFO! Even for someone like me, who spends a lot of time researching this kind of stuff) and practiced specific hypnosis techniques that we would need during our birthing time. We were sent home with a to-do list for each week, with daily instructions on which CD to listen to in addition to other things like daily stretching, exercises, and nutrition goals. Some examples of tracks we would listen to at home: "Deepening Hypnosis", "Fear Clearing", "Visualize your Birth".

I think a defining moment was after about the third class, when we all spent a week listening to a track that told us how to create our own anesthesia for childbirth. This is the same sort of hypnosis that they teach to people who must undergo surgery without medical anesthetic (due to an allergy or whatever). We practiced in class with our husbands pinching our arms while we were in hypnosis, to prove to ourselves that we really did not feel pain, only pressure, while using our hypno-anesthesia. I recently used this technique while getting blood drawn at my appointment (I didn't use the technique with the first draw, and it HURT LIKE THE DICKENS so I asked to go under hypnosis for the next draw, and it was COMPLETELY COMFORTABLE). I also use this technique during perineal massage for complete relief of discomfort. While creating anesthesia we created two options for ourselves: being in "Off" mode, in which your entire body is loose and limp and you are anesthetized from head to toe, and "Center Switch", in which your middle (everything except your legs and head) is anesthetized (this is so you can walk around and talk to people during your contractions if you wish). When your mental light switch is in the "On" position, it is just normal everyday you with no anesthesia.

The last class was a birth rehearsal. The instructor used a stopwatch to tell us when we were starting and stopping our fake contractions (or "birthing waves" as we now call them). We practiced the "doula stomp" (walking together with wide, slow steps), leaning on our husbands fully supported while standing and sitting, and leaning on the birth ball in various poses. I think we all were pleased to discover that this exercise helped us get an idea of what we would find comfortable during labor (I certainly thought that standing supported was not nearly as comfortable as being on all fours). The instructor sent us home with instructions on what exercises to continue doing daily (physical things and hypnosis) until our babies get here. I have been doing everything every day and it is really is making me feel quite prepared and excited about the baby coming! I feel like I have all the tools and all the knowledge I need to make my best birth happen.

To see what a birth under hypnosis looks like, check out the videos at this doula's youtube page:

Enjoy Birth