Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing has become very popular in recent years. Although it is not actually a form of pain relief, it aims to teach you methods to help you to stay calm and in control during your labour.

Hypnobirthing tries to teach you to think and talk about labour and birth in a different way to help you relax and feel more positive about the whole birth process.

Although hypnobirthing cannot take the pain of labour away, it aims to help you control your emotional reactions to pain. This should keep your stress hormone levels down, which in turn should help increase your endorphin and oxytocin levels which could help you to have a better labour. Endorphins are your happy hormones and Oxytocin is the hormone that helps your womb contract and help get the baby out!

You can start practising relaxation techniques at any time in your pregnancy. Around 32 weeks is a good time to start, but some people start much earlier on and some even later. You can take a physical course which is often done over a few days, or there are courses which you can download and do in the comfort of your own home.

Many women and their partners rave about hypnobirthing and it can be very helpful in keeping you relaxed and calm during your labour, even if it does not go as planned. Even if you end up having an emergency Caesarean Section, having the ability to stay calm and not panic is a real bonus.

You should understand though, that practising hypnobirthing does not necessarily mean you will have a more straightforward birth.

If you would like to learn more about Hypnobirthing and take a FREE Hypnobirthing taster session then please head over and sign up for your  Online Antenatal Classes where we discuss all the forms of pain relief available to you!