HypnoBirthing® UK

[gordon_mullan]

Hi

My name is Gordon and I'm the webmaster and moderator for this site.

I'm not a HypnoBirthing practitioner myself but I am married to one - the wonderful Jenny!

We've got a fantastic son called Joseph, who exhibits all the typical characteristics of a HypnoBirthing baby - calm, relaxed, happy, sleeps well and eats well.

Mind you, at (currently) 22 months old, he's not really a baby any more - more a very energetic and enthusiastic toddler!

What about you? Have you got kids already? Or are you waiting for the arrival of your first one?

Or are you just interested in HypnoBirthing from another perspective? Maybe you're a Dad, or dad-to-be?

Whatever your position, say hi - we'd love to hear from you!

[lurch]

Hi,

I'm intrigued by the comments "who exhibits all the typical characteristics of a HypnoBirthing baby - calm, relaxed, happy, sleeps well and eats well"

Is the suggestion that Hypnotherapy can also influence the personality of an unborn child? Interesting.

--
Lurch

[gordon_mullan]

[Caroline Dimascio]

I'm intrigued by the comments "who exhibits all the typical characteristics of a HypnoBirthing baby - calm, relaxed, happy, sleeps well and eats well"

Is the suggestion that Hypnotherapy can also influence the personality of an unborn child? Interesting.
_____________________

Lurch

I would have thought calm,relaxed,happy etc is more a state of mind than a characteristic.

Which means everyone can have these emotions and exibit the associated behaviour, so yes hypnotherapy or HypnoBirthing training to achieve these traits when under stress can influence how a baby behaves in its future.

After all we are very good at learning the opposite in and out of hypnosis. However speaking as a hypnotherapist are we ever out of hypnosis or some level of it?

I suggest to all my parents to be that the best time to train a child in its future behaviour is when it is still in the womb. If baby can hear and feel what the mother is doing directly, it can learn to behave in the way she behaves in calm and stressful situations. So if for example, at 3pm everyday mother sits down to listen to a certain choice of music and feels lovely and rested, is not the baby going to learn this reaction too? Many of my new mothers have noticed that after the birth that the baby will immedieatly calm down and go to sleep when the same birthing music is played. I have heard that some children even at the age of 5 or so, still react or ask for the music if they have had some sort of trying day, to relax to.

We take on board loads of -ve suggestions all through life, lets balance those with the good ones too, and chuck in a few extras just for fun!

Learn HypoBirthing and try to prove us wrong. We HypnoBirthing Practioners are always happy to accept any suggestions for improvement.

Hugs
Caroline

[Marilyn]

Hello Lurch

I just wanted to clear up the difference between HypnoBirthing and Hypnotherapy. In the former it is more of a philosophy and education of childbirth with the use of hypnosis. Learning through the use of hypnosis to be totally relaxed , calm and in control as part of a total education in the awareness of the pregnant mother's body with specific breathing exercises during her pregnancy and labour. In addition the course offers knowledge & help to couples for their birthing experience.

The latter being therapy with the use of hypnosis in addressing problems, illness, phobias etc. That is not what HypnoBirthing is about.

In the accounts of parents practising HypnoBirthing the results have supported Gordon's claims .

What HypnoBirthing is not saying is that Hypnotherapy produces these characteristics in a child.

Marilyn

[Aimee + baby Alyssa]

Hello to all. Not sure if you remeber me Gordon, i emailed you a while ago about everyone being extremely close minded about me doing a hypnobirthing course? (at one point my dear old dad told me if i didnt have intervention i would kill my little girl. thats how close minded people were being) my sister thought it necessary to grossly exaggerate to me how much you have to 'open up' to let the baby out.... well all i can say is that im having a baby, not a rugby ball sideways. (how she would know is beyond me, she had a caesarean!!)
Ive got an A level in Psychology, but i cant seem to understand why people think its a good idea to tell you the 'horrors' of childbirth.
My rainbow relaxation tape is great, im starting to go numb and floaty as soon as i hear ' Hello, this is Marie Mongan.....'
ive finished my much wanted hypnobirthing course now and am eagerly (and a little anxiously, trying not to though!!) awaiting the big day. Although im tempted to not tell anyone when ive gone into labour, because theres alot of people that live in my house (half a dozen, including a bloody dog that i hate, and a constantly screaming 2 year old) and i dont want half a dozen people yelling at me 'are you in alot of pain?!?' , 'Is it time to go in to the hospital yet?!'......BUGGER OFF!!!!! I think ill lock myself in my room with my fantastic DP cuddled up to me and some loud but relaxing music to drown everyone out LOL....Ill just have to sneak out. Thinking of shimmying down the drainpipe or something .
Anyways, im waffling. ill let you know how i get on (cheers for reading this if you have gotten this far, its helped to get alot off my chest!!)
lotsa love
aimee, antony and baby alyssa xxxxxxx

[gordon_mullan]

Hi Aimee

Yes, I remember your email and I'm delighted you've managed to do the HypnoBirthing.

I wish you all the best with your birth (as I'm sure does everyone else) and if you get people interfering then you (and your partner) will just have to say something like - "If you can't say something positive, or be supportive, then please leave me/us to birth in peace".

I'm sure they do genuinely want you to have a good birth but, because they are subscribing to the (incorrect) prevailing world view of birth, they are trying to protect you from making what they see as 'a mistake'.

Of course, you now know that their view of birth is not how it has to be and that it is possible to have a wonderful, enjoyable and relaxed birth.

Keep doing the affirmations and practicing your exercises and I'm sure you'll have a fabulous time. Then you can take great delight in telling them how fantastic it was!

Warmest regards
Gordon

[Renee]

Hi Lurch,

You really have opened a can of worms!! I don't believe that hypnotherapy itself need necessarily affect the baby, but the effect of following the HypnoBirthing programme to my mind certainly will.

The reason for this is that there is now a substantial amount of clinical evidence that supports the theory that the baby's intra-uterine experience is extremely important to its well-being. As Gordon says, a calm mother plus a calm birth gives a calm baby.

New research shows that stress hormones released by the mother cross the placental barrier, causing the baby to feel stress. A stressed baby grows more slowly, its immune system may be compromised and agitation can be detected in its movements. We even know now that heavy metal music causes babies to feel stress. Loud harsh noises make preborns jump.

Otto Rank, in the 1920's, set out to show that neurosis may be due to birth or pre birth tauma.

Thomas Verney's book "The Secret Life Of the Unborn Child" makes fascinating reading for any HypnoBirthing Practitioner interested in prenatal bonding. He appeared recently on TV talking abouthis work, supported by many eminent scientist. He suggests that there is clear interaction between a mother, father and an unborn child, and that some babies may starve themselves to death if they perceive their environment to be hostile.

Michel Odent,well repsected in his field, in his book "Primal Health" suggests that the release of cortisol from the mother at a certain stage in pregnancy may be directly related to a tendency towards homosexuality in males.

Recent work is questioning Freud's theory that the ego develops around 3 years. It may be that a primitive form exists in utero.

You can probably guess I'm a bit passionate about bringing calm adventurous babies into the world (another phrase from Frederick Le Boyer who maintains that babies born into a non-threatening, calm environment will be adventurors, meeting people and events with confidence and unafraid).

Next question - is there any connection between the rage we are perceiving today and the massive increase in technological interference with birth. Perhaps a bit off the point re personality and the intra-uterine experience, perhaps not.

Renee Buchanan

[Aimee]

Hello again! Wow its getting more and more difficult to stick to your guns these days! (i was flicking through the <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=tv&v=56">tv</a> channels and there happened to be a woman birthing on) i muttered to myself that she shouldnt be hyperventilating like that and my mum heard.....
'oooh, you cant help it, youll understand when youve been through it'....
i also noticed she was giving birth on her back, and that the m/w said she was delivering a big <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=baby&v=56">baby</a>......surely i thought she would be better off upright so as to open her pelvis more?? (made me realise that even m/w lack common sense sometimes!!)
Anyway im way off the topic as usual....... anyone know any natural methods of bringing on labour? ive tried just about everything (im 2 days overdue)...curries, raspberry leaf tea, <a href="http://www.ntsearch.com/search.php?q=sex&v=56">sex</a>, walking (lots and lots), bouncing, hot baths. she is shifting for noone!!
i dont want to force her out of course, but im trying to escape an induction and no way am i going near the castor oil!
any ideas?
aimee + very comfy baby!
40+2

[gordon_mullan]

Hi Aimee

Be wary of saying you're genuinely overdue. You can only really be classed as overdue once you get past about 41.5 weeks - some would say past 42 weeks. 95%+ of babies are born within 2weeks of due date.

Being 2 days past your due date (or, more correctly, your estimated due date) is not a big deal. It's called an estimated due date for a reason....

[DISCLAIMER: I'm not an HB practitioner but I am married to one]
As for specific methods, you should have been taught some during the course - nipple/clitoral stimulation, making love, etc. Have a look in the book - I think it gives some in there.

Other than that, just be patient, and don't be pressured into an induction unless they can give you a strong medical reason for it. If you're in any doubt, please speak to your HB practitioner for more information and reassurance.

You might also find the information and links given in this Google Answer helpful and encouraging.

Wishing you all the best with your birth.

Warmest regards
Gordon

[Renee]

Hi Aimee,

Id agree with Gordon re being relaxed about your dates. I'm wondering,though, if your 40+2 at the end of your message was+2 weeks or days.

When you read the book,you'll see that making love can soften the cervix, which has a similar effect to a gel the medics may suggest inserting to start labour, but of course more natural. I'd recommend that and also, have you thought of talking to your baby and your birthing body? We know that your baby is the one who initiates labour. We also know that there is a statistically good chance of turning a breech baby by this method. This has been done many times.

Why don't you put on a relaxing CD - or Rainbow Relaxation tape - and encourage you baby to come into this world, telling her what a beautiful birth she'll have, how much you want to cuddle her, how you and her dad are waiting eagerly to see her. Visualise her easy birth, not just once, send her lots of TLC, and basically suggest - in the nicest possible way - she gets a move on. Find the funniest video you can, and have a good belly laugh. All this can be tried before you resort to castor oil, which has served many women well in the past.

Just had a thought, by the time you receive this, she may already be there!!!

Keep us informed, and all the best for a wonderful birth.

Renee

HypnoBirthing Practitioner

[Renee]

Aimee,

A PS to my previous posting. Have you tried acupuncture or reflexology or speak to someone who practises shiatsu. There are some pressure points which can bring energy down and thus begin the baby's inclination to come down too.

Renee

[Aimee]

he he, im still here! I think she is just far too comfy in there. her daddy was a late arrival too (so his mum tells me) -i on the other hand was a fortnight early, so it looks like shell be just like her dad. (although i dont know how late he was!) bless, i think he wants to see her more than i do, i brought a little cardi for her the other day, he saw it when he came home from work, picked it up, looked at it, kissed and cuddled it (dont think he knew i was watching!!)
i think i read somewhere that stress can interfere with the body trying to bring on labour, so im just going to chill and see if that helps any (?? what am i on, course it will help its better than being pumped full off stress hormones!)
Am on the raspberry leaf tea at the mo', and am going to have a nice bath in a bit.
love aimee + comfy baby
40+3 (+3 is days over, not weeks BTW)
p.s shes been quite a bit more active lately, so hopefully shell use alll that energy to find the exit!!
p.p.s just about tried everything to bring on labour naturally, i really dont want an induction, ive heard so much about how terrible inductions are and how much more intense they are than natural labours!!!

[gordon_mullan]

[Aimee]

Well, i was right about something at least. i was having a very comfortable pregnancy till the last few weeks when i was getting alot of pressure in my back and sharp pain under my tum, thinking it was just late pregnancy discomfort, i ignored it til i spoke to a friend who was moaning cos her baby had turned posterior. she described every single symptom i had. i realised then that i no longer felt her sticking her bum out , only her feet moving.... hmm.
after consulting my midwife she confirmed that my baby was in fact posterior, so now am spending alot of time leaning forwards, sat with hips higher than knees etc to get her to turn.
Can you suggest anything else that would help? (she isnt engaged yet so i would imagine it would be relativley easy for her to turn)
Ta
Aimee xx
p.s i have to share this! when she was examining my tum, she had to stop several times because my tummy kept going hard apparently i was having lots of braxton hicks..... i couldnt feel a thing!!!!!! it was a shock to me to hear that cos i didnt even know id been having them!! Maybe im closer to having her than i first realised?