Calm, Confident, Welcoming
Calm, Confident, Welcoming |
Phone Shari on 0407 775 783 Email shari@birthskills.com.au
Canberra Adelaide Perth Hobart
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I get a lot of questions regarding the use of hypnosis for
birthing and the BirthSkills
program, here are some of the more common questions and my answers: What?Q
What do you teach in the program, is it different to the ante-natal classes
at the hospital? A
The BirthSkills program teaches you and your partner physical relaxation techniques, the use of breath, how
to use visualisations and self-hypnosis, how your muscles work during birthing and what your
hormones will be doing. The focus is on mind/body communication, that is, how
you can use your thoughts to work effectively with your body during birthing.
Generally speaking, hospital ante-natal classes will run you through
their processes and standard procedures, the basics of how the baby will move
through your body during birthing, what happens if… and your options regarding
medical pain-management (all of which is also covered in BirthSkills, but more
specifically in terms of the choices you have). Q
Does your partner have to attend all of these sessions and what do you teach
the guys? A
Ideally, Mum and Dad (or other birthing partner) attend the sessions together so
that both learn and understand how to use the hypnosis and other relaxation
techniques, this way there is less chance for Mum to become frustrated with Dad
on the day! We teach the Dads techniques for helping their partner to go even
deeper into hypnosis and relaxation, we give them scripts to read and teach them
massage techniques specifically designed to compliment the effectiveness of the
hypnosis for pain-management. Partners also gain an understanding of what they
might expect of their partner during birthing and how what they say and do can
contribute to making it a more calm and positive experience.
Why?
Q
Why use relaxation/hypnosis instead of the medical pain-relief offered by the hospital? A The
short answer is personal preference. Medical pain-relief methods (gas, pethidine
and epidural) involve the introduction of a chemical to the woman’s body to
control the experience or perception of an unpleasant sensation. These
substances can be unpredictable
with regard to the effects that they might have on the woman (side effects of the gas or pethidine) can include nausea, dizziness,
feeling out of control etc. and there is research to suggest that there may be
side-effect for babies too (especially with regard to pethidine). Some women
don’t like the thought of the needle or the catheter (for passing urine) which
is often needed for an epidural. Learning relaxation and self-hypnosis and other skills for birthing
offer you the opportunity to use the natural resources available within your
body, with no side-effects, to birth the way nature intended. Q
Why don’t more people use hypnosis instead of the medical ‘stuff’? A Our
culture perpetuates the view that birthing is a medical process, that women need
others to help them birth their baby even when everything is going
‘normally’. We are not taught the skills of birthing as girls or young
women, instead we are told about the pain, how long it takes and about all the
things that go wrong, Unfortunately, not everyone comes across the idea that
there is another way, that these are other people’s stories and with the right
preparation your experience can be very calm and very positive. How?
Q
I have heard some mothers (who have used hypnosis) refer to being able to
select on what day they would give birth, and one woman swearing that she
planned the length of her labour and ended up within 5 minutes of her goal.
Is it in fact possible to your knowledge? A
Yes, through hypnotherapy, releasing fear and trusting your body, you are able to
choose the day and length of your labour, I have had a number of women do this
successfully (not all choose to do this). I still find it absolutely amazing and
am in constant awe of the power of the mind. We use a hypnotherapy script in the
BirthSkills program that offers women the opportunity to select aspects of their
birthing experience including day, time, length and intensity of their labour. How? Q
Is it actually possible to have a pain-free birth? A Again, yes, and again, I find it absolutely amazing that the main difference between women who have a pain-free birth and those who do not is their beliefs. Women who have pain-free births develop trust, confidence, determination and concentration using the relaxation and/or self-hypnosis techniques, they are the happiest new Mums on the planet! Many midwives have said to me that birthing is 90% attitude and 10% medical luck - attitude is something we can choose! How? Q
How do you relax during a contraction? A
With knowledge and practice the physical relaxation becomes very easy and natural, combine
this with breath-work, endorphins and a good support person and your whole body will be
completely relaxed, working with your contraction instead of against it. When? Q
I am very
interested in participating in the classes and was wondering at what stage
of pregnancy you recommend taking the classes? A We have had women start the BirthSkills classes at 14 weeks and others at 35 weeks. Despite the starting date, participants always gain some benefit from the classes; the knowledge, skills, and techniques are not difficult to learn and are readily applicable to life as a parent and to any other circumstance which might pose some level of stress or frustration. If someone really tries to pin me down on this
question I suggest around the 28 week mark, you have had all of the
first-trimester tests and screenings and know all is going well and are ready to
focus on the ‘next bit’, at this stage you also have a few months ahead to
practice the techniques and develop a great birthing plan and set of
preferences. Q
When are the classes? A
BirthSkills
classes are held as either 5 weekly, evening sessions of 2 hours each or as a
weekend workshop, 6 hours each day (Saturday and Sunday). Weekly sessions begin
every 6/7 weeks and the weekend workshops are held every 6-8 weeks - please go to
the Workshops page for details. If you have a question regarding hypnosis for birthing or the BirthSkills classes please email Dr Shari Read at shari@birthskills.com.au or phone 0407 775 783. |
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Email shari@birthskills.com.au .
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