After the joy of discovering you were with child, what was your next thought? Tell your family and friends, perhaps? Any what did they say in response? Congratulations! Or something similar? And what stories did they share with you about their births? Positive, happy experiences or the agony of it all, something to dread and be frightened of?
We have all been programmed to believe that giving birth is painful. Growing up, we are inundated with horror stories, media depictions of women in agony and screaming in pain. Now remember that at one time, everyone thought the world was flat. Perception is the key here. How would you like to be one of those moms with a positive birth story? It might mean that after the birth of your baby, you won’t fit into the fraternity of ‘horror’ stories. You just might be excluded from that ritual that has become so common in our society today. But then again, is that such a bad thing?
It was a calm, soothing experience for her, her husband and her baby. Without recognizing it, she had utilized self hypnosis to accomplish this.
Marie Mongan was recently in Singapore and relayed her story and her fearless birth program. In the 1950’s she knew that there was something wrong with the way women were birthing their babies. Women were routinely given ether, completely unconscious while their babies were pulled from their bodies with foreceps. She noticed how animals birthed their babies with seemingly no pain. She requested from her doctor the right to birth without drugs and interventions. It took until her third child to accomplish her goal. She found she had to ensure her doctor informed the hospital staff that she did not want to be tied to the bed and be given ether. She did manage to do just that, without feeling any discomfort, only a tightening feeling in her abdomen. With relaxation and concentration, she birthed her baby gently, into the world. It was a calm, soothing experience for her, her husband and her baby. Without recognizing it, she had utilized self hypnosis to accomplish this.
Childbirth is a natural expression of life. It is fear that keeps women’s bodies tense and closed, creating the pain in childbirth. Fear creates tension and in turn creates pain. Women’s bodies were designed to give birth and have a natural capability to produce its own ‘epidural’. They are designed to work in neuromuscular harmony with nature. Hypnosis utilizes nature, not manipulation to relax the mind in order to let the body do what nature intended it to do. Mothers freed from the fear of birth are empowered to have the birth of their choice.
Have you ever been reading a book and then realize someone has been speaking to you and you haven’t heard a word? Or driving home and realize you have been on autopilot and are in the carpark before you know it? That is a state of hypnosis. Hypnosis is simply being in a relaxed state, mind and body. You remain totally aware of what is going on around you. Hypnotic techniques bring about an easier, more comfortable labour and birthing.
