GIVING BIRTH WITH NO PAIN - An article published in the Bangalore Mirror about HypnoBirthing®

4/10/2014 GIVING BIRTH WITH NO PAIN

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Publication: Bangalore Mirror;Date: Jul 4, 2013;Section: You;Page: 15

GIVING BIRTH WITH NO PAIN

HypnoBirthing has caught on among expectant moms. Twoexperts explain the concept and its benefits

Ayesha.Tabassum @timesgroup.com

HypnoBirthing is the buzzword among expectant mothers in the city, ever since Duchess of Cambridge KateMiddleton announced her decision a few weeks ago to practise Hypnobirthing for an easy delivery. ThoughHypnoBirthing has been in practice across the globe since its inception by its founder, world-renownedhypnotherapist Marie F Mongan,in1989,itisanewconceptin India. Shreya S Bathrinath, a Hypno-Birthing practitionerand Sarojini Alva, a trainer from HypnoBirthing Mongan Method, USA, throw more

light on the process.

MONGAN METHOD

The fundamental philosophy of practitioners of HypnoBirthing is that the manner in which babies areborndeeplyinfluencestheirmental, emotional and physical well-being. Mongan, the award-winning hypnotherapist andfounder, had four pain-free deliveries, since 1959, when her first child was born. Her book HypnoBirthing – TheMongan Method gives a detailed first person accountofherdeliveries.“Theaimof HypnoBirthing is to work with the mindand body to enable mothers to birth their babies in a calm, peaceful and joyful manner, whichresultsincalm,contentedbabiesand closely bonded families,” says Shreya Bathrinath.

It is not a set of exercises that need to be practised by mothers-to-be. Practitioners believe that the birthing body andthe baby know what needs to be done, so, “HypnoBirthing is designed to teach women to trust in nature's way ofbirth and to relax and let their bodies do what is needed. By practicing a few key techniques, mothers program theirminds and condition their bodies to birth easily,” explains Bathrinath.

Even in complicated deliveries like C-section, the experts say Hypno-Birthing eases the pain to a large extent.“The techniques will help to reduce pain and discomfort after surgery. It will help reduce bleeding during and after theprocedure which is helpful for mothers recovering from child birth,” she adds.

Sarojini Alva emphasises that four basic concepts – breathing techniques, deep relaxation, visualisation andaffirmation form the basis of HypnoBirthing. “Breathing gives a lot of energy to easing the process. Stresscausesalotoftension–whichtightens the body and the uterus. Fear needs to be overcome to relax and overcome thetension in the body. Learning to relax is a deep aspect of HypnoBirthing. The next step is visualisation. Only if anexpectant mother visualises an easybirthdoestheprocessbecomeenjoyable for her. We try to make the body deeplyrelaxed and help the expectant mother reframe the thoughts,”addsAlva.Readingmaterials like the 302-pageHypnoBirthing – The Morgan Method are given during five information-packed class meetings that discuss the entireprocess of birthing. After that, the expectant mother has to put in practice theprocessesandcouldoptforprivatesessions with the practitioner.

THE PROGRAM COVERS

• Everything you need to know to achievesafer,easierandmorecomfortable birth



• To explode the myth that pain is a necessary accompaniment to labour

• What’s wrong with labour as it exists with most other child birth methods

• Techniques of deep relaxation to help you eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome

• How your body is naturally designed to conceive, nurture and birth your baby with ease and comfort

• Naturalwaystobringyourbodyinto labour without artificial chemical induction

• How you and your birthing companion can create a birthing environment that is calm, serene and joyful, rather thantense and stressful

• Gentle birthing techniques that allow you to breathe your baby into the world without the violence of hard physicalpushing

• Touse your natural birthing

instincts to birth your

baby in a way that most

mirrors the way that

nature intended.

ROLE OF FATHERS

Practitioners say the process cannot be a success without the support of the husbands. The process not only helpsin nurturing the husbandwife relationship, it also helps in creating a strong father-child bond. “Many expectantmothers feel that their partner may not understand why they are required to attend the classes. But the partner has toplay a big role in the birthing process. At the classes, the partner is taught relaxation cues and massage techniquesas well as the process of birthing the baby using HypnoBirthing,” says Bathrinath.

The husbands will be the voice during the birthing process. They need to be well-versed in what the wife wants sothey can inform the midwives and staff . “The classes are relaxed and fun to attend, because they will also get toexperience deep relaxation with their partners.”

HypnoBirthing is not about the mother slipping into a trance during a labour, says Bathrinath. “The mother will bein full control, she will be able to chat and will be upbeat, aware of what is happening to her and around her.” She alsosays that once the lady practices HypnoBirthing for her first delivery, she can practice on her own for the secondchild. HYPNOBIRTHING ADVANTAGES

• Teaches levels of deep relaxation to eliminate fear and tension that cause pain during birth.

• Greatly reduces and often eliminates the need for chemical interventions and drugs to relieve pain.



• Shortens the first phase of labour.

• Leaves mother and baby alert and awake so they can bond immediately after birth.

• Gives the birthing companion an integral role in birthing.

• Helps keep continuous oxygen supply to the baby.

• Teaches techniques to allow mom to gently breathe her baby into the world without the violence of hard pushing.

• Empowers parents with techniques to achieve a gentle, calm birth.



Kate Middleton reportedly wants to have a natural birth using hypnotherapy as part of her delivery

GIVING BIRTH WITH NO PAIN - An article published in the Bangalore Mirror about HypnoBirthing®

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