It seems that with the media attention that birthing is receiving, that women are becoming more aware of the problems that could face them as they enter the hospital to give birth. Women, for years, now have taken the word of the medical community as the only truth that could possibly apply to them, and because of that and so many other factors, women believe their bodies are bound to malfunction during labor (thus the artificial induction, epidural, and cesarean section rates). Women spread the word of the terrors, pains, and sheer agony of labor, and explain in plain detail how pain medications saved them from having to feel and experience what labor was like. This, too, creates a barrier to women who will someday give birth; they begin to believe that they, too, will feel like they are being hit by a bus, and torn to shreds, and that they will need medication to just make it through.
Then there are the women who know their bodies were created to nurture, carry, and birth babies, and that all of these things are completely normal, natural, and healthy processes. These same women have a vision of how labor should be, and the vision they experience is not one of terror and pain, instead, it is of endorphins flowing through their bodies, creating a beautiful birthing experience they want to feel, and will remember forever. The experiences of these women are shared, too, but their voices are often drowned out by media outlets creating traumatic birth scenes and women sharing their terrifying stories.
Could our culture be turning toward the latter experience of birthing? With methods such as HypnoBirthing, couples are very clearly saying, “yes”. HypnoBirthing has been around for a little over 20 years, and was developed in the 1950s and 1960s by Marie Mongan, a woman who had the desire to experience birth for what it was. She knew her body was designed so perfectly, to nurture, carry, and birth her babies, and it wasn’t until her fourth child, that her knowledge came into being. HypnoBirthing believes that pregnancy and birth are normal, natural, and healthy processes, and so, focuses on knowing and understanding how the body and the baby function during labor and birthing, and working with the body and the baby, rather than against them. HypnoBirthing employs three different breathing techniques, one for relaxtion (yes, I said relaxation), one to use during surges (HypnoBirthing’s word for contractions), and one to use when birthing. HypnoBirthing also focuses on relaxation, conditioning pregnant mothers to become relaxed quickly, and on releasing fears and limiting thoughts that could stand in the way of a beautiful and gentle birth.
Because of my passion of HypnoBirthing, and the positive, beautiful, and empowering experience I had when birthing my daugther in 2007, I became a HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator (HBCE), in 2009. I have made a small impact in this community that seems to be almost resistant to a progressive move in birthing, and my true desire is to start a birthing revolution that focuses on better maternity care and newborns’ rights. I firmly believe every woman has the right to know how her body works, and how to work with it for a beautiful birth, and that every baby deserves to be born peacefully and gently. If I could say one phrase that would embed itself in women’s minds forever, it would be, “Trust your body, Believe in your abilities.”
I always welcome comments! To learn more about HypnoBirthing or Teva, please visit www.mygentlebirthing.com
Normal Mama 
I completely agree and have experienced both types of births. My first was filled with fear and pain, unknowing and vulnerable to the medical way of giving birth. My second birth filled with relaxation and awareness, confidence and calm, the way it was meant to be.
Hypnobirthing is a wonderful way to break free of what our society has deemed a “normal” birth. There is nothing normal about medications being pumped into our bodies, machines beeping, laying flat on our backs pushing and panting until we turn purple and then have our babies whisked away to be cleaned (because they are so dirty), measured, poked and prodded at while they cry searching for security with their mother. Skin to skin bonding is vital for the baby and mother, mentally and physically. I’m glad you wrote about that in your breastfeeding post.
HypnoBirthing really teaches us how to find confidence in our own bodies and their capabilities. Birth is wonderful, beautiful and natural. I hope Mom’s everywhere learn to embrace and believe in themselves.
Our country’s c-section rate is high, scarily high. It seems we have forgotten ourselves, our babies, and our rights.
You know, you’re one of many HypnoBirthing moms (including myself) who express that they had a confidence about what was going on. The HypnoBirthing classes prepare couples so much so, that the fear or anxiety they once felt toward birthing is replaced with a confident excitement.
I spoke with a friend yesterday who expressed this excitement, as if to say, “Let’s get this going, I’m SO ready!” HypnoBirthing moms are concerned about meeting their babies, and the journey involved in getting there, while moms who are afraid, are sometimes so fearful, that they might as well go in for an amputation. They are so frightened, that they cannot look past the fear and pain they experience to the end result, a baby that they birth. Giving birth in the United States, unfortunately, is seen as something to dread. This is very sad to me.
HypnoBirthing moms are not afraid, we trust our bodies, our babies, and nature to do what is right for us.
Thank you, Kayla, for this beautiful comment, and I agree with you. 🙂 And it was beautiful to be present for your second birth, you’re truly a HypnoBirthing mom. I’m so proud!
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