Monday, November 19, 2012

Ten Ways To Make It All The Way To The End Of A Natural Hypnobabies Birth And Still Enjoy It

You know I am a doula and a Hypnobabies instructor..I love it. I do.....and over the years I have found a list of certain things that help moms have easier, comfortable births that they feel like they are in control of and not a victim to. Through experience and trial and error I  have also found that these techniques help most moms make it all the way through their Hypnobabies births right up to the end while still feeling like they are in control, strong, comfortable and that their Hypnobabies hypnosis is working.   Most of these births have the first ingredient in them to take Hypnobabies.. With most moms this is a must. Not that they can't give birth without it but with Hypnobabies moms can actually create births that they really. really enjoy and not something they have had to muscle their way through....so Yes!!!!

Number one is Take Hypnobabies!!!!!!


Number 2---

Create a firm resolve about the kind of birth you want-You can do this. Try to work through any thoughts about the need to suffer. This particular thought is deeply embedded in our culture and if  you don't watch it you will find yourself walking down that path.. It is not necessary to bring a beautiful child into this world in pain, agony and with suffering. Seriously its not!!!

Number 3
KNOW you deserve it-
Do all your hypnosis practice with the intention of creating the birth that you KNOW you can have.
Work through every single fear you can find.Write them down. Go through all the stories that your mom or friends told you growing up and pick out those things that you are afraid of and work on them.

Number 4
Be stubborn about your choices before birth and during birth, like not getting induced ect. and not having your water broken when you are just two centimeters. Remember you have the right to refuse everything-- If YOU are ok and your BABY is ok-- think again!!!!!

Number 41/2
Ok, I forgot one of the most important things---- Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, in your early birth time and as much as possible later.. DO WHAT EVER IT TAKES to get back to sleep if you wake up in the middle of the night. Avoid the tendency to wake up and get all excited and wake everyone else up.. If your birth is really long you will want that sleep and your body will need it...understand?

Number 5
The minute you feel your waves getting stronger start using your hypnosis with a vengeance!! or I guess you could call it firm consistency doing at least two Hypnosis Scripts/cds every three hours. This is important to set a firm foundation for adding layers of anesthesia to help you through transformation. This is a must. This choice will help you be deep enough when you enter transformation and eliminate the fear that comes with dealing with intense transformational waves.

Number 5 1/2
Put in in your mind that birth can be easy and comfortable but that it can be quite intense at times. Knowing that the waves get stronger and stronger before birth can be empowering and help you accept the intense pressure that these waves bring... P. S. It is helpful to have someone around that can tell you when they are as intense as they will get before birth( A Doula?). That way you know that if you can handle those you can handle all of them!! ya bab! you can do it!!!!

Number 6

Stay home as long as possible and resist the temptation to go to the hospital to get your baby out.
It doesn't work like that but at some point during your birth your mind starts telling you it does..Going to the hospital sooner does not mean you will get your baby sooner. Instead just focus on going deeper into your hypnosis and that will do the trick.

Number 7
Hire a Hypno-doula( preferably an instructor of Hypnobabies or someone that has a lot of practice with Hypnobabies) and a fantastic caregiver that really believes in your goals and does not just give them lip service. If you have any reservations about your caregiver change immediately as soon as you can before birth. They will help you and dad navigate uncharted waters and support you in finding your own way to the birth you desire..

Number 8
Prepare your cervix before birth by taking things that soften your cervix and getting regular chiropractic adjustments to align your pelvis.There are many natural substances that you can use to help you have a shorter easier birth simply by preparing your cervix ahead of time for the process.
Consult with a doula that has this kind of knowledge or a natural minded caregiver. It is so worth your time and research.. it can take hours off a birth if used in a timely manner.

Number 9
Prepare ahead of time through visualization to navige the different stages of birth, like transitioning from early birth time to active birth time, the transition from dilating rapidly to dilating very slowly which can happen in birth from time to time and finally visualizing the transition from transitional waves and keeping very relaxed to the downward and intense pressure of pushing your baby out.  If you visualize yourself working through these transitions with grace and knowledge and a prepared plan of what you will do and how you will do it, you will find that not much will get you off balance and you will be able to use your hypnosis more effectively and continue with a peaceful outlook..

Number 10
Prepare, Prepare, Prepare for transition. Have a plan and put it to work the minute your waves start getting 2-3 minutes apart and lasting 90 seconds. Plan ahead of time that this is the time you will put everything you know into practice and that your focus will only be on taking one wave at at time and going deeper.If you have a particular visualization that takes you deeper, use it at this time.. It will help so much and keep you steady and focused during this time. Avoid the impulses to come out of hypnosis ect. and just stay steady in working with each wave and going deeper. Remember transformation is very close to getting your baby. That is so exciting and can be very rewarding if you stay in that mindset. You should have a very firm resolve at this time by not allowing your mind to wander from your focus of taking one wave at a time and focusing on your anesthesia...taking you deeper...Ignore everything that is not focused on your goal.. Just be patient you can do this.... you are very close.

*While I acknowledge that all births are different,using these ten techniques will really create a powerful, strong ,self-sustaining process for completing and enjoying a wonderful natural birth.. Through being a doula, I have seen this work first hand over and over.. So birthing Moms and Dads, it is possible and it can happen and it can happen to you! Believe it, know it.. it is possible and it has been done!!!!

p. s  Over and Over--

Marie Johnson
Doula and Hypnobabies Instructor
Thedoulahouse.com




         




Monday, November 5, 2012

Why You Need A Hypno-Doula

I love teaching Hypnobabies, it is really one of the most rewarding things that I do. While our couples are going through the childbirth class, the topic of having a doula comes up many times.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with what a doula is, let me clarify.

Webster's Defines A Doula As:
"a woman experienced in childbirth who provides advice, information, emotional support, and physical comfort to a mother before, during, and just after childbirth"

 In everyday terms, this means having a trained professional with you and your partner from start to finish. A doula attends your birth to provide you with suggestions for physical comfort, emotional support, and understanding what the care providers are telling you. A doula often will suggest alternatives for typical medical procedures. Studies have shown that having a doula present at your birth can reduce the length of your birth 25%, reduce your chances of a cesarean birth by 50%, and reduces the request for epidural use by 60%. On top of all of that, women who have a doula present at their births often have a more positive view of how their birth went and have less postpartum depression. 



When I explain all these wonderful benefits to moms, I throw in a caveat, not all doulas are created equal. For starters, a doula who has been doualing for 10 years will have more experience and a better understanding of the flow of birth than a doula right out of training. Also, a doula who is trained in Hypnosis for Childbirth will have a better understanding of what to expect during a Hypnosis birth. (such as Hypnobabies or Hypnobirthing) 
At first this might seem like a minor thing, having a doula who is familiar with hypnosis for birth. But in practical application this makes a huge difference. If you imagine that having a doula at your birth is like having a tutor during a test. You want your tutor to not just be familiar with your subject, but to really understand the subject. To have studied this subject as intensely as you have. This will make your tutor of more use to you. The same is true for having a "hypno-doula." These doulas have a very specific set of skills, and they are invaluable during your birth. These doulas know your hypnotic deepening techniques and cues. They also know that a hypnosis birth many times look different from a regular birth. For example:
  1. A mom using Hypnobabies will probably remain calm and focused for most, if not all, of her birth. I have had many moms show up at the hospital at 8 or 9 cm and have the nursing staff believe that they were still in their early birthing time (around 3-4 cm) This is amazing!! And for the untrained eye, or a non hypno-doula, they may mistake a mother's calmness and focus just like the nurses do...thinking it is only early birth and no need to rush or head to the hospital. I had one mom accidentally have her baby at home because when she informed her doula that she felt it was time to head to the hospital, her doula told her she was no where near having a baby and to relax on her bed. 15 minutes later this mom had her baby in her hands. 
  2. Secondly, a doula unfamiliar with how powerful her words are, and the effect they have on a mom in hypnosis can say the wrong thing and cause some unintended consequences. I had another mom tell me that her doula kept telling her that "I know this is painful but you can do it" or "I know it hurts, and you can just embrace that pain and move forward." Well, throughout her entire Hypnobabies class she had retrained her subconscious mind to only expect discomfort, not pain. She told me that it was incredibly distracting, and the more the doula talked about pain,, the more she felt "pain." This mom eventually had to ask her doula to leave the room. 
Now, I am not saying that you can't have a fantastic doula who is not a hypno-doula, it just increases the odd that your doula will be exactly what you need if she has this extra skill. Another benefit to a hypno-doula, she understand hypnosis. So even if a couple is not using hypnosis for childbirth, the hypnotic techniques she uses will help any birthing mother become more calm, focused, and relaxed. Every mother, Hypnobabies or not, is in a state of hypnosis during birth. These mothers are open to all suggestions given to them; why not make those suggestions positive and empowering, instead of fear inducing.

Now, if a hypno-doula is your tutor, let me add one other option. Imagine now that you are taking that same test, but instead of having a tutor, you actually get to have the teacher help you take the test. She is there to give you the answers and suggestions to help you have the best test you can have. 
This teacher, during your birth, would be your Hypnobabies Instructor. She knows the subject better than anyone, and she also knows exactly how to respond to the situation and help you have the best birth possible. Many of the Hypnobabies instructors are also doulas for their students. This is one of the best things you can do, in addition to taking Hypnobabies, to have a great birth. And, if your instructor is not a doula, I know she can refer you to one who is. 

With my second birth, I had 2 doulas. A hypno-doula and my Hypnobabies instructor. (and yes, my husband had plenty to do and never felt like his role was taken over) It was so empowering to know that when I, or my husband, needed the extra hypno-support it was there. My birth was so empowering, not just for me but for my husband as well. He told me afterwards that it was so nice to have another set of hands and eyes to assist him during the birth. 

So, if you are considering having a doula present at your birth, Hypnobabies or not, look into the option of having a hypno-doula present. 

For more information on Hypnobabies classes in Utah, please click here
For more information on Hypnobabies everywhere, or to find an instructor close to you, click here