Inner Power Hypnobirthing by Paola Bagnall

Women are constantly bombarded with negative stories about childbirth – told that it is the most painful thing they will ever do in their lives – told all the gory details of births that had complications – told about all the medical intervention that could occur. Then they hear about breastfeeding and the endless sleepless nights! It is no wonder women get anxious and worried about it. It is no wonder they are tense and unable to relax. It is no wonder that the “pain” of childbirth becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy.

But, it need not be like that. Childbirth is a natural process – one that women’s bodies were designed for. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation where you are totally aware of what is going on around you. It is a really pleasant and enjoyable experience. The hypnobirthing childbirth method is a philosophy and technique for achieving a satisfying, relaxing and stress free birth.

Hypnosis helps you to connect to your inner resources, your inner power, to remain calm, relaxed and in control, creating your own natural epidural thereby releasing serotonins to help reduce the feelings of the contractions. This therefore eliminates the need for medication and allows your body and your baby to work together in the most natural way possible.

Clients that come to see me for hypnobirthing usually present with similar problems. If they are a first time mum, then they are often afraid of the birth and the “pain” that it involves. Pain is a very subjective thing anyway and if one thinks “pain” then this is usually what one gets. However, I teach the client about the biology of the body and how our bodies are designed for this purpose and that if one thinks of contractions that help the baby out into this world, then one automatically has a different perspective about the birth. I teach the client to use breathing techniques and visualisation as well as “glove anaesthesia” (using visualisation again, or the touch of your partner to createanaesthesia) to reduce the feelings of the contractions and to help them be in control. I also involve the partners in this process as they have the very important job of keeping the mum-to-be focused on keeping themselves in self-hypnosis.

Other worries usually involve tearing during the birth, healing up after the birth, breastfeeding and getting one’s figure back. All these are covered during the hypnobirthing process.

I also see many second and third time mums-to-be. Many had to have a caesarian and now want a vaginal birth and this is totally possible to achieve using hypnosis. Others have had long and painful labours with intervention, epidurals, and forceps or ventouse deliveries. After using hypnosis and practicing the hypnobirthing techniques, the vast majority of mothers have wonderfully natural births, which are so much shorter than their previous births. They heal up much more quickly; have no problems breastfeeding and most hypnobirthing mums get their figures back within two to three weeks after the birth.

J.H., Croydon – first baby
It was regularly pointed out to me by my midwife and doctor that I stayed very calm and relaxed. Also my positive attitude to the “naturalism” of the entire birth helped me a lot. I did tear, but the healing was so quick using the hypnotherapy. I also found breastfeeding very easy and I had previously been worried about this.

S. T., Bromley – second baby
My first birth was induced at 41 weeks and 4 days which led to more and more intervention, i.e. epidural and eventual C-section. Had very negative feelings and some postnatal depression after the birth. However, with the hypnotherapy for the second birth I found that Paola’s serenity seemed to envelop me and it gave me the confidence to achieve anything, which I did as I had a totally natural birth.

J. Q-H., Kent – third baby
Wow ¾ the hypnosis really worked!! The baby was born in just under two hours and I noticed such a difference from the previous two births. I had been very sceptical because I had not listened to the tape that much. However, this birth was so much less painful and I was so very calm. With the other births I had suffered sickness and the shakes throughout the birth and this did not happen at all with the third one. Also I needed no pain relief whatsoever and I had no stitches, which I had with the other two. Giving birth this time was like taking a walk down to the shops. It was a breeze and so easy, no trouble at all really.

Hypnobirthing is a wonderful experience as you learn the tools to be calm and relaxed whatever the situation. Being calm and relaxed takes you to your alpha and theta brain wave pattern so your body creates its naturally epidural by secreting the hormone serotonin.

In this way you enjoy your pregnancy and good quality sleep, coping easily with all you have to do at work and at home. You look forward to the birth with excitement and you enjoy the experience of the birth because you are in control.

Hypnobirthing involves the partners/husbands in the preparation for, and during, the birth. This means that they no longer feel helpless and isolated. I feel it is important for the partners to know what hypnosis is all about so that they can be really involved in the birth and so help to keep the mum calm, relaxed, focused and in control. In this way the internal focus of hypnotic trance is very much linked to the internal focus of being in labour and so achieves a truly magical experience of birth for the parents and the baby.

Copyright 2006 Paola Bagnall Web site: www.innerpower.co.uk
Telephone: 020 8660 6022 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting            020 8660 6022      end_of_the_skype_highlighting (West Wickam, Kent, UK)