Archive for category Childbirth Education
Hypnosis For Childbirth
Posted by in Childbirth Education on October 8, 2011
If you mention the words “hypnosis for childbirth” in mixed company, most people would look at you askance, like you were off your rocker. Unfortunately, hypnosis is a very misunderstood mental state but when used in a therapeutic manner, it has very calming effects. And why should hypnosis for childbirth, or hypnobirthing as it is known, be regarded with skepticism? After all, is it any more normal for a woman to pant so much in labor that she risks hyperventilation? Is it normal for women to think of the birthing process as something to dread instead of with enthusiasm as the day she meets her child? Is it normal to be drugged up with pain medication when a woman’s body was designed for childbirth with the body’s natural pain killers in supply? If you look at it like that, maybe hypnobirthing is not so weird after all as it is a method that addresses all these issues.
Hypnobirthing consists of deep relaxation techniques and positive imagery through self-hypnosis. With these calming effects, a woman is not fearful, does not tense up and thereby creating pain for herself. She lets her body do naturally what it was designed to do with very little or no drug intervention. She has learnt to filter out the negative imagery associated with childbirth. Read the rest of this entry »
Do You Need Childbirth Education?
Posted by in Childbirth Education on October 8, 2011
Most area hospitals offer childbirth education that you can take before your baby is due. This is something that you do not have to take, but if you are having your first baby, scared about the birthing process, or simply want to do something special with the dad or partner to be, you can enroll and go through these classes. If you are trying to go through natural childbirth, meaning you don’t want to use drugs for pain relief, these can be helpful in showing you how to minimize the pain with breathing and focus techniques. Basically, it is up to you to attend or skip these classes.
Breathing techniques that you can learn in childbirth education can be useful to all moms that are soon to be going into labor. Though much of the pain is dulled through medications for those that choose to use them, there are some contractions that you have to go through before they will give you those meds, and they can be severe. These breathing exercises can help you handle the pain much more than you probably imagine. If you are going natural, these are a must have skill for you in the delivery room.
Childbirth education is great for first time moms because it takes some of the mystery out of the process for them. Some offer films of other women giving birth so that they can see what it can be like. Don’t let these films scare you though, as each woman has a different experience during birth. Some sail through, handling the pain quite well, and some are so scared that they freak out the whole time. You can feel a bit calmer about what is going to happen if you watch these in childbirth education classes if you choose to take them. Read the rest of this entry »