HypnoBirthing® UK

[mickih]

Hi, I am profoundly deaf 5 and a half months pregnant with my first baby, due in November. I would very much like a natural birth and I am interested in the hypnobirthing methods. I've yet to research your methods fully but I am interested to know whether self hypnosis can be used on deaf people and whether the methods you practise in hypnobirthing are suitable for deaf people. Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated. I apologise also for my naivity in the subject.

Kind regards

[Danielle]

I am hearing but used to work at the deaf college in derby and am a hypnobirthing practitioner. This is something that I have thought abut in the past. A lot of the course is about listening to the 'rainbow relaxation' and that is something that alot of people do during the birth, however there are still lots of other techniques that you could use, and they would be very effective for you, for example the visualisations, the breathing techniques and light touch massage. You could still use the things like the depthometer and rainbow relaxation, most hearing people have them read aloud but you could read them to yourself and then go through it yourself, for example this morning I had really bad periods pains (sorry probably too much information for everyone-but just follow my point) and so in my mind I started to visualise the depthometer in my head and found that that relaxes me as much as someone reading it to me.

During the birth of my second baby I didn't lsten to anything I used the breathing techniques-so you don't have to be listening to anything during the birth, by practicing relaxing yourself you would be able to achieve the level of relaxation that you need.

You birth companion (this people can be mum/partner/sister, it doesn't matter if they are deaf or hearing) would also be learning the techniques with you and helping you to relax, and reminding you what to do during the birth.

I think it would definetly be possible for you to do it, it would just have to be taught a bit differently...

If you watch big brother one of the guys taught a couple of the others self-hypnosis a few days ago. He said 'close your eyes, and picture yourself in a beautiful place' (or something like that). Right (this is how I would teach it to you) I want you to try that now, just as you sit at your computer, visualise a beautiful place, then when you can do it open your eyes and continue reading. Thats sort of how you may have to do, by having you read bits of text or directions and then doing it, opening your and and then going on to the next bit, then at the end giving you time to put it all together in your own mind, then y ou would go away and practice it for yourself before the next class and you would find that as you started practising it regularly you would be able to become relaxed more and more quickly.

Self-hypnosis isn't difficult at all. Its sort of like daydreaming.

The 'rainbow relaxation' cd that practioners give out helps mums to relax because it gives then an anchor or a trigger, you would hae to focus on something else to give you the same focus to relax, may a touch on the arm from your birth companion or maybe a picture of a beautiful rainbow or something else that you like.

Hope this helps and I hope I haven't rambled on for too long, does anyone have any experience of teaching with anyone or does anyone have a hearing impairment?

[mia]

Hi,
I have to apologise for my naivity in the subject, as I am also hearing, but I have no doubt that you can use these techniques with great effect. It all goes in your mind!! Imagination and practice is all you need, along with some emphasis on touch. In fact, it may really help your birth, given that birthing peacefully and gently includes having - literally - a quiet environment.
Now is the perfect time to start contacting practitioners and choosing the one you think you can work best with - I guess it may take a little longer to complete the classes, and you don't want to leave it too late.
I hope it goes well!