Hypnobirthing

So, Diana and I have decided to do the hypnobirthing method for our boy.  A good friend of ours has done this method for two of her three kids and swears by it so…we had our first of four classes last night.  The class was held at the instructor’s home, which made it much more relaxing.  We were one of four couples.    One of the couples included this guy and his wife:

http://www.jameshydeonline.com/

James was a bit skeptical of the whole hypnosis thing and I think he was only there because his wife forced him.  LOL.  To be honest, I was a little skeptical too.  I wondered if I could be hypnotized and if this method of birthing was all just a bunch of hooey.  What I discovered amazed me.

Did you know that:

1.  Women in underdeveloped countries routinely have babies without pain.

2.  Women can have babies when in a coma…no conscious pushing is necessary.

3.  Deep relaxation techniques allow the body to do what it is designed to do. 

4.  During labor, endorphines are released, which can lead to intense pleasure (even orgasm).

5.  The problem with modern birthing is that women become scared, which releases stress hormones that counteract the endorphines.  These stress hormones tighten the muscles of the uterus, which leads to pain when the body tries to move them.

6.  Hypnobirthing actually leads to shorter average labor time.

7.  Rushing the delivery also leads to pain.  If left to its own devices, the baby will find the path of least resistance through the birth canal.  If drugs or techniques designed to quicken the birth are used (such as Lamaz), this natural process is broken.  Therefore, pain is encountered.

8.  Having an epidural does have several sides effects including the pain of a needle in the spine, the requirement of a catheter and high risk for UTIs after birth.

9.  During the deep relaxation state, time passes quickly.

10.  During the deep relaxation state, you are completely aware of your surroundings and are not in La La land.

I am now excited about the birth.  We watched a couple birth videos and it was amazing.  The women were very relaxed and seemed to almost enjoy the birthing process.  Our friend S who has done this method told us that her births were much like these videos.  Her pain level was a 2 at its worst point and it wasn’t long before she got back into the deep relaxation.

We spent about an hour in a hypnotic state last night.  It was phenomenal.  I have never been hypnotized and considering my high stress personality, I wondered whether I could ever be hypnotized.  I was though.  I was sooooo relaxed yet completely aware of everything around me.  Diana also found herself in a state of deep relaxation and it’s all about her anyway. 

My job during the birth is to assist her in staying relaxed and to prevent intervention by health care professionals.  No petosin, no IVs, no shunts, no piezeotomy, no drugs…of any kind.   Our doctor is very familiar with this method and is OK with our doing it, which is great.  

So, I ask, if this method is so great, why is it not the standard of care? Think about it.  If women didn’t need medical attention, then how would hospitals and doctor’s make money?  If the birth process were allowed to proceed naturally, how would the doctor make his or her tee time, or dinner, or trip to the zoo?  Modern birthing has little to do with improving the birthing process for the woman.  It has more to do with improving the profitability of the birthing process.  I am surprised that the insurance companies aren’t pushing for this.  Right now, it is being advocated by the more spiritual healer types, which in the eyes of the medical community are a bunch of wackos.    I admit, that in the back of my mind, I am a little skeptical but am open to trying…even if the medical community (doctors and drug companies) think otherwise. 

I’m a rebel like that.