Key to HypnoBirthing is a HypnoBirth-Trained Doula

Key to HypnoBirthing is a HypnoBirth-Trained Doula

5
July

This blog post explores the benefits of hypnobirthing. We also explore the pros and cons of hiring a hypnobirthing-trained doula. It gives key questions to ask when hiring the right doula to support you throughout your hypnobirthing journey.

Ask anyone who has witnessed a birth, and they will agree: welcoming a new life into the world is a miraculous and transformative experience. Hypnobirthing has emerged as a popular approach for expectant parents who desire a calm and empowering birth experience. This gentle and natural method utilizes self-hypnosis, relaxation techniques, and positive affirmations to promote a more serene and manageable labor and delivery. 

The Benefits of Hypnobirthing 

Hypnobirthing offers a range of benefits for expectant parents. By harnessing the power of relaxation and self-hypnosis, hypnobirthing enables mothers to tap into their innate abilities, reduce fear and anxiety, and enhance their overall birth experience. Research suggests that hypnobirthing can contribute to shorter labor, decreased medical interventions, and increased satisfaction with the birth process. Moreover, it promotes a positive mindset, empowering parents with a sense of control and confidence during this transformative time.

Doula or Don’t You Know HypnoBirthing? 

When selecting a doula to support you during your hypnobirthing journey, it’s crucial to understand the difference between a doula who has received specific hypnobirthing training and one who has solely experienced hypnobirthing personally.

 While both options may offer valuable support, a doula trained in hypnobirthing brings unique expertise and insights to enhance your birthing experience. This article will explore the pros and cons of choosing a doula with hypnobirthing training versus a doula with personal hypnobirthing experience.

Pros of Choosing a Hypnobirthing-Trained Doula: 

There are many positive reasons to choose a doula with HypnoBirthing training. I’ll highlight just a few in the interest of space and your time. I’d love you to share additional reasons in the comment section. 

  1. Expertise in Hypnobirthing Techniques: A doula with hypnobirthing training possesses in-depth knowledge and understanding of the various techniques, exercises, and relaxation methods. She knows what tools are available in your HypnoBirthing toolbox and when to use them.  a Hypnobirthing doula can guide you in effectively utilizing self-hypnosis, breathing techniques, and affirmations to promote a calm and empowered birth – at the appropriate points in your birthing journey.
  2. Tailored Support: A trained hypnobirthing doula can personalize their assistance to align with your hypnobirthing preferences and birth plan. They will know the skills you have learned and can help you incorporate hypnobirthing techniques seamlessly. They will communicate with medical professionals to ensure your desire to integrate hypnobirthing techniques is respected.
  3. Comprehensive Preparation: As part of their pre-natal visits with you, doulas have a set of educational concepts they cover with you. A hypnobirthing-trained doula can provide comprehensive preparation and education specific to hypnobirthing. They can offer resources, recommend reading materials, and conduct practice sessions to enhance your understanding and implementation of hypnobirthing techniques. The support they will give you will go hand-in-glove with the training you have received from your Certified HypnoBirthing Educator. Their language (that all-important, number one hypnotic tool) will be consistent with the language you learned was essential to support your HypnoBirthing mindset.  
  4. Confidence and Reassurance: Having a doula with the same training can be a source of confidence and reassurance throughout your birthing experience. When your doula understands the techniques and methods you’ve learned, it reinforces your belief in them. You will speak the same language, enabling seamless communication and understanding between you and your doula. Think of it as having the perfect training wheels as you embark on your birthing journey, providing stability and support. 

Cons of Choosing a Hypnobirthing-Trained Doula 

Of course, there are some cons to consider if you are dead set on finding the perfect hypnobirthing doula match. 

  1. Availability and Accessibility: Hypnobirthing-trained doulas may be in higher demand due to their specialized skills. This could limit their availability, requiring early booking and scheduling conflicts. 
  2. Cost Considerations: The expertise and training that hypnobirthing-trained doulas bring to your birthing experience can come with a higher price tag than doulas without specific hypnobirthing training. HypnoBirthing is an experiential training. Your doula invested a huge sum in obtaining this additional training, and because, bottom line, being a doula is a business, they will need to recoup that cost.  It’s important to consider your budget and weigh the value of their specialized knowledge against your financial constraints.
  3. Compatibility: Finding the right doula for your hypnobirthing journey involves more than just their training. Compatibility and a strong connection with your chosen doula are equally vital. Ensuring their personality, communication style, and overall approach align with your needs and preferences and their hypnobirthing expertise is essential. Consider what matters most to you – knowing, LOVING, trusting your doula, or simply feeling comfortable with them while still benefiting from their hypnobirthing knowledge.  Another consideration in finding the right hypnobirthing doula Is the hypnobirthing training. There are subtle differences in the various hypnobirthing programs. You must decide if you want a doula trained in the same model you learned.
  4. Limited Pool of Options: The pool of hypnobirthing-trained doulas may be smaller than doulas without specific hypnobirthing training. This could limit your choices when selecting a doula, requiring thorough research and potentially longer search times.

I’m unsure where this point goes, but it is worth mentioning. Several clients reported their doulas stated they knew hypnobirthing. But really, she used it herself or read the book and supported other moms in using some of the techniques. NOTHING is more comprehensive than taking HypnoBirthing training. There is a difference between using the method and learning how to teach and support someone else effectively. 

As an educational consultant with a Master of Curriculum Development and Training designation,  I’ve previewed several video training programs – and while some are good, most lack the depth in hypnosis training that a live instructor-led interactive class provides. This is crucial for you. An instructor-led course ensures your doula/educator has the proper knowledge to ensure you are doing hypnosis and not just falling asleep. 

Key Questions to Ask a Doula

When seeking a doula with hypnobirthing expertise, it is important to ask specific questions to ensure they have the necessary training and experience to guide you effectively. Let’s explore the key questions you should ask a prospective hypnobirthing doula.

When interviewing a potential hypnobirthing doula, the following questions will help you assess their qualifications, experience, and compatibility:

  1. Can you tell us about your experience as a doula focusing on hypnobirthing?
  2. How long have you practiced hypnobirthing techniques, and what specific training have you received in this area?
  3. Have you worked with couples who have used hypnobirthing in the past? If so, can you share some examples or success stories?
  4. What role do you see yourself in supporting us during the labor and delivery process with hypnobirthing techniques?
  5. Are you familiar with different hypnobirthing methods or programs, and do you have a preferred approach? Can you explain your reasoning behind it?
  6. How do you typically assist expectant parents in preparing for a hypnobirthing experience? What kind of guidance or resources do you provide?
  7. Can you explain how you would incorporate hypnobirthing techniques into the birth plan and work alongside medical professionals?
  8. Are there any specific comfort measures or techniques you typically recommend to enhance the effectiveness of hypnobirthing during labor?
  9. Have you encountered any challenges or complications during hypnobirthing-assisted births, and how did you handle them?
  10. Can you provide references from previous clients who have utilized your services for hypnobirthing? (Note: privacy restrictions might exist to providing this information.)

By asking these questions, you can gauge the doula’s expertise, level of experience, and compatibility with your birth preferences. 

Hiring an experienced doula specializing in hypnobirthing can provide invaluable support and guidance throughout your birthing journey. By asking relevant questions and ensuring their qualifications align with your preferences, you can find the perfect doula to help you achieve the transformative birth experience you envision.

Choosing a doula trained in hypnobirthing offers distinct advantages when aiming for a calm and empowered birth experience. They possess expertise in hypnobirthing techniques, provide personalized support, offer comprehensive preparation, and instill confidence. However, it’s important to consider factors like availability, cost, compatibility, and the size of the available pool when selecting a doula. By carefully evaluating your needs and priorities, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your desires for a transformative hypnobirthing birth experience.

 

The Power of Mother’s Day

The Power of Mother’s Day

I’ve been thinking . . .

Mother’s Day. It’s a tough one for many of us. On this day I reflect upon the absence of my own mother, my journey as a mother, and the dozens of women I guide into motherhood each year. Even though personally, it is a day tainted with sadness, I focus on the appreciation I have for moms and the journey through motherhood.

Being a childbirth educator is, for me, a sacred walk. Every five weeks I meet a new group of couples embarking on a journey into the unknown. My job is to try and prepare them for what has no words but must be experienced to truly comprehend– birth.

I want them to know the sacredness of this journey and how the joys of parenting are often felt more deeply than almost any other feeling humans are capable of having. And the challenges are great, too. And I want to prepare them, the best one can be prepared, for birthing.

Memories of Motherhood

My mind flashes to so many of the mothers that have imprinted my memory this year.
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​I think of the parents who have been trying to conceive for the last year after having miscarriages, or those who are trying to conceive without success. One couple comes to mind who successfully used HypnoBirthing for their first child. Five years had passed when she called and asked for help with hypnosis.

During our initial meeting, she is stoic as she relays her journey to become a mom again. After a successful IVF, she lost the baby after 12 weeks. Patiently they waited the required time and once again went through the IVF process. They breathed a sigh of relief after the first trimester and keep their fingers crossed that this little one stays full term. A twenty-week ultrasound shows the placenta stoutly sealing the cervix.

“The subconscious mind is a funny thing. “I tell her and share how it takes us quite literally. She was determined she was not going to lose this baby. As an older mom, she was keenly aware the biological clock was shutting down. IVF could drain their finances. What does her body do? It seals the cervix to make sure this one doesn’t come out. Subconsciously, problem solved!

Now we have awareness. We have a map of the beliefs we work to erase. We can thank the subconscious mind for its protection and get on with using hypnosis to move that placenta to a more acceptable position.

We did.

Or, more accurately, she moved it with her mind. She was able to naturally birth a baby girl.

Easing a Baby Into The World

My thoughts wander to the mom who birthed in the hall. A first-time mom she wasn’t really sure if her sensations were strong enough to be the ones that meant the baby was coming. During this time of COVID, the doula, observing social distancing, assessed her through the visual cues on the computer and the sound of mom’s voice. To an experienced doula, mom didn’t sound at all like a mom in transformation. But when they hung up, mom didn’t make it from the office to the bedroom before a baby boy made his gentle and quiet debut to the world.

I pause to reflect on the single mom who came for several hypnosis sessions as she prepared to give her baby up for adoption. I admire her courage as I think of her love for that baby. Together we walked through the sacred ground and bore witness to the complexity of fate and destiny. We were humbly reminded we have little control over the destiny we planned before we came here.

I look at the letters, notes, and emails, pinned to the wall above my computer. Each is a gentle reminder of the reason I do this work. I am grateful.

I hope YOU feel loved and appreciated this Mother’s Day.

My Baby Is Breech

My Baby Is Breech

23

MAY 2017

“If your baby remains in the breech position, we will have no option but to do a C-section.”

These are words no mother anticipating a natural birth wants to hear.

Hearing your baby hasn’t turned into the anterior position (the back of his head slightly towards the front of your tummy) isn’t the end of the world, nor does it mean you have to have a Cesarean.

Hypnosis is clinically proven to be an effective means for turning baby into the right position. A study conducted in 1992 by Dr. Mehl-Madrona , University of Vermont Medical School, showed clinical hypnosis to be highly effective, if not the most effective means to get babies heading in the right direction for birth.

The study included 100 women, with a control group of 100 women who did not receive hypnosis. All women were carrying their babies breech beyond week 36.  The study group of Mothers, while in hypnosis, were led through guided imagery to bring them into a deep relaxation. They were asked to visualize their babies easily turning and then visualize their babies in the correct vertex position. Mothers visualized the uterus becoming soft and pliable to allow the baby sufficient room to re-position. In addition, the Mothers were asked to talk to their baby, and the therapist encouraged the baby to release itself from the position and to turn itself downward for birth.

At the conclusion of the study 81% of the breech babies with the hypnotherapy turning spontaneously from breech to vertex presentation as opposed to only 26% babies who turned spontaneously without hypnotherapy.

When designing the study, researchers allocated 10 hours of hypnosis for each participant to achieve the desired results. Half of the successful 81 turns required only one session. The average number of hours for the remaining women was four and a half hours to achieve a successful turn.

As a clinical hypnotherapist, I can use hypnosis to turn breech babies. HypnoBirthing offers a specific script for breech presentations. I encourage all pregnant moms, whether or not they are using HypnoBirthing, to schedule a series of hypnosis appointments before they go for an external cephalic version (EVC).

An EVC is done at a hospital where doctors will be able to closely monitor the baby for fetal distress while they manipulate the abdomen externally. If the baby does not respond on the first attempt, a second attempt may be done using an epidural to help you relax and to reduce the pain you experience with the procedure.

When the turning of the breech baby is achieved through hypnosis, the baby usually remains in the vertex position, while babies turned through ECV sometimes go back to the breech position.

Hypnosis to turn a breech baby is a viable alternative to an ECV procedure. The rate of success in turning babies is high, no pain in using the technique, and no drugs administered, except the endorphins your body produces while experiencing the wonderful state of hypnosis.

If your baby is breech, hypnosis offers a pain free, drug free alternative to external cephalic version. I use a standard three session protocol and suggest that mothers schedule their session at the end of the 36th week if the baby is not yet head down.