What is Hypnosis?

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“ We have a secret
in our culture, and it's not that birth
is painful. It's that women are strong. ” 

Laura Stavoe Harm
Hypnosis is a naturally induced state of relaxed concentration — a state of mind and body in which we communicate suggestions to our subconscious mind. This part of our mind influences what we think, how we feel, and the choices we make. It can actually control pain. There is no magic to achieving success with self-hypnosis. Almost anyone who chooses to can reach deep relaxation and redirected focus. 

When having your baby with HypnoBirthing®, what you will experience is similar to the daydreaming or focusing that occurs when you are engrossed in a book or staring at a fire. You will be conversant and in good spirits — totally relaxed, but fully in control.

You will be aware of your body’s contractions, but will be able to determine the extent to which you feel the surge. You will experience your birthing in an atmosphere of calm and relaxation, without the fear and tension that cause pain. Your body’s natural anesthesia (endorphins) will replace the stress hormones that cause pain. When it is time for you baby to be born, you will be fully awake and involved.

What are the benefits of HypnoBirthing?

  • Returns birthing to the beautiful, peaceful experience nature intended.

  • Teaches deep levels of relaxation to eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome before, during and after birthing.

  • Greatly reduces and often eliminates the need for chemical painkillers or drugs.

  • Shortens the first phase of labor.

  • Eliminates fatigue during labor, leaving mother alert, fresh, awake, and with energy for actual birthing.

  • Eliminates risk or hyperventilation from “shallow” breathing methods, and helps keep oxygen supplied to baby during birthing.
  • Reduces the need for an episiotomy.

  • Teaches breathing techniques that allow a woman to gently breathe her baby into the world without the violence of hard, physical pushing.

  • Empowers parents with techniques to achieve a gentle, calm birth for themselves and their baby.

  • Embraces the concept of pre-birth parenting.

  • Gives the birthing companion an integral role in the birthing.

  • Promotes special bonding of mother, baby, and birthing companion.

  • Fosters more rapid postnatal recovery.

Will I be unconscious or will I remember my birth experience?

How is the Birth Companion involved?
Despite misconceptions and misinformation, you are definitely not unconscious during self-hypnosis. The HypnoBirthing® mother is deeply relaxed, but she is also an active participant in the labor process.  Though she is deeply relaxed, she is totally aware and may return to a conversant state or choose to become mobile whenever she desires.  HypnoBirthing mothers often find that they experience time distortion and are not distracted by other people or their birthing environment, while they focus on their birthing and their baby.
The Birth Companion of the mother’s choice is an integral part of the HypnoBirthing® experience.  

He or she practices with the mother in helping to prepare for deep relaxation. During labor the Birth Companion guides the laboring mother through hypnosis prompts, relaxation techniques, deepening methods, and visualizations, provides comfort measures, and joins in welcoming the new baby, often by receiving the baby as he emerges.