A main concern among expectant women is the labour or childbirth pain that could make their pregnancy experience full of fear and anxiety.

But who said childbirth has to be unbearably painful? Or so says Jasmine Collin, hypnotherapist and hypnobirthing expert in Dubai, who has helped thousands of women have a relaxed birthing experience.

Hypnobirthing technique, reportedly adopted by A-star celebrities such as Jessica Alba and Duchess Kate Middleton, is based on the belief that women are naturally equipped to give birth with the ability to naturally release all the drugs needed without medical interventions or painkillers.

The self-hypnosis technique teaches mums-to-be to mentally programme themselves to relax during childbirth through breathing techniques, relaxation, affirmations, visualisation and self-hypnosis.

"What we do during hypnobirthing classes is that we effectively equip women and replace her negative perceptions and fear of childbirth with positive thoughts through deep relaxation and focus on the positive feelings of motherhood," said Collin. "Anxiety and fear add up to a woman's pain and makes her delivery stressful."

The meditation-like classes, which are best to start at 26 - 30 weeks of pregnancy, enable mothers to maximise the release of endorphins and oxytocin, and to assist all the natural functions of the body during birth. The classes prepare women and condition their minds to relax to specific scents, music or environment that she can position herself through during child delivery.
It's all in the mind

Collin said if medical intervention of any sort was needed, a woman will find herself better able to remain calm and in control during delivery. "Mums who have needed caesareans for medical reasons report that they were totally relaxed before, during and after the procedure and many reported that they needed little or no medication following the birth. They were able to return to normal functioning in a short period of time," said Collin.

She added that the technique requires a huge deal of commitment and training for the mind for several consecutive weeks. The 15-hour programme requires daily training for an hour at least throughout the month of pregnancy.

"At least one hour of daily practice for mum and a couple of hours a week as a couple would be a good start. The connection a mother feels with her baby throughout the courses is worth the time and effort that some may find exaggerated," said Collin.

She added that the main success factor for this method is that the women must be motivated to give birth naturally and to position herself in the appropriate environment to do so. "It is best to find a doctor who can support this method. Having a natural and balanced birth environment will help the body release the hormones that will facilitate this process," said Collin.

She said although the technique does not guarantee a painless birth, some hypnobirthing mothers do report having a relatively pain-free birth and many report an easier pain management. "Most of them did not need any medical drugs, and more importantly, they described their birth experience as a positive and overwhelming experience away from postpartum depression," she said.

While women could do hypnobirthing on their own, it is highly advised to have a 'birth partner' who can be the husband, sister or mother who can guide the laboring mother through hypnosis prompts, relaxation techniques, deepening methods, and visualisations.

Source: Khaleej Times