Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better

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There’s really no set time for this so it’s totally up to you. Obviously, the more time you give yourself to learn the techniques the better - especially if you plan on doing a course - but you can start as early as say six weeks or as late as 34 weeks, or even later. If you don’t want to fork out lots of money, but would like to learn the techniques of hypnobirthing, Maggie Howell has produced a CD for helping women prepare for birth in a hospital setting

Hypnobirthing teacher and Founder of The Positive Birth Company, Siobhan Miller’s name pops up again and again on our Mumsnet forums. In her book, Siobhan aims to debunk common myths around hypnobirthing while educating women so they can have more control over their body, resulting in a more positive birthing experience. Feeling more relaxed during labour and being more likely to enjoy the experience (apparently Kate Middleton, who’s a fan, said she “really quite enjoyed it!”) Throughout my pregnancy, I've been trying to read several books that will prepare me for what's to come. One of the most important topic that I'd like to know more about is the process of birthing a baby. Hypnobirthing was recommended to me by a close friend who gave birth last year and told me it had helped her tremendously. So a few months before my due date, I made it a mission to finish reading this book and see what it has in store. Even though some parts of this book felt irrelevant due to the different cultures in my country, I'm still grateful I took the time to read it because it allowed me to understand what will happen during labor and delivery. I can't say much about the hypnobirthing techniques because I haven't got a chance to practice them yet, but I think it's worth trying since it sounds so logical and science-based. Hypnobirthingwill change your mindset towards birth and give you the tools needed so that you can navigate your birth - and any twists and turns - with confidence, feeling calm and in control throughout. The book teaches you how to understand the changes in your body so you can make informed decisions, as well as practising relaxation skills, mindfulness and meditation so you stay focussed and calm during labour. This has helped readers feel less anxious about giving birth.

If you’re expecting a baby, you may be considering hypnobirthing, a technique that can help relieve pain and feelings of stress during pregnancy and labour. Like lots of things to do with becoming a parent though, it can feel overwhelming trying to find the right information, which is where the best hypnobirthing book comes in very handy. She doesn’t claim that a birth will be perfect but that it can be a positive experience for both mum and baby. Through Your Birth, Your Baby, Hollie’s aim is to build confidence in women so that they listen to their instincts during childbirth. Presented by mum-of-two and hypnobirthing coach Clare, the Hypnobirthing Podcast is a series looking at the positive effects of hypnobirthing. If you’re giving birth at Thomson Medical, then you can book the hypnobirthing classes on offer at the Thomson Parentcraft Center. They offer weekday and weekend group classes, as well as private classes upon request. Classes are taught by qualified hypnobirthing childbirth educators and complement the antenatal course offered at the hospital. Hypnobirthing uses breathing techniques to gently encourage a baby out rather than pushing. Traditionally, pushing encourages you to hold your breath, whereas hypnobirthing teaches you to trust your body to be able to give birth and use breathing techniques to gently encourage your baby out. How do you breathe during hypnobirthing?

You look forward to the amazing and empowering experience that is giving birth, trusting that you, your body and your baby know exactly what to do." My wife is having our baby in a few months, and having read this book, it's clear that I knew almost nothing about what to expect and how to help her when she gives birth. Nothing, of course, except what I've seen on TV: lots of screaming, shouting of "push!" and a sense of danger and urgency. As a man, I recognise the TV father helplessly spectating, comically fainting, or sitting outside an operating theatre chewing his nails. In the second chapter, Siobhan Miller begins to share the toolkit that includes: two breathing techniques, visualizations, light-touch massage, guided relaxations, positive affirmations, and the art of creating shortcuts to achieve relaxation. I like the breathing techniques and visualizations best so far and want to try doing them to help me relax through the different stages of labor. These techniques are supposed to help mothers relax and release any tension experienced during labor and delivery—allowing the body to do what it's naturally meant to. Aside from that, the author also provides a list of positive affirmations that can be read by birth partners to empower and encourage birthing mothers. I love how readers can freely choose the techniques they want to practice according to their personal preferences and which one feels most effective. I also find the various testimonies about birth experiences shared in this book very inspiring because each person birthed their babies in different circumstances and they all had a positive birth experience with the help of hypnobirthing. Best of all, I hope you are excited to meet your baby and start your journey in the best way possible: calmly, confidently, happily, and full of love." THIS BOOK WILL MAKE YOUR BIRTH BETTER. IT IS FOR EVERY WOMAN AND EVERY TYPE OF BIRTH. ‘Siobhan manages to completely demystify hypnobirthing, making it accessible and relevant to all women and all births. This book will be a complete game changer and I will be recommending it to mums-to-be from now on’ Sarah Turner, author of The Unmumsy Mum Expert hypnobirthing teacher and founder of The Positive Birth Company Siobhan Miller has made it her mission to change the way women around the world approach and experience birth. Through her teaching she seeks to educate and empower women – and their birth partners – so that they can enjoy amazing and positive birth experiences, however they choose to bring their babies into the world. In this book, Siobhan debunks common myths about hypnobirthing and explains why she believes it can make every type of birth a better experience – from a water birth at home to an unplanned caesarean in theatre. So, what is hypnobirthing? Essentially, it’s a form of antenatal education, an approach to birth that is both evidence-based and logical. Hypnobirthing certainly doesn’t involve being hypnotised; instead, it teaches you how your body works on a muscular and hormonal level when in labour and how you can use various relaxation techniques to ensure you are working with your body (rather than against it), making birth more efficient and comfortable. Siobhan’s advice and guidance will change your mindset and enable you to navigate your birth with practical tools that ensure you feel calm and in control throughout. By the time you finish this book you’ll feel relaxed, capable and genuinely excited about giving birth. Hypnobirthing: Practical Ways to Make Your Birth Better by Siobhan Miller – eBook DetailsMumsnet users appreciate the course’s balanced approach to all kinds of births and found it useful for learning the techniques, although some did find that the course pushes the idea of home births which is not going to be suitable for everyone. Owner of The Nurture Nest, the episodes include useful information about preparing for birth, as well as interviews with authors and mums with their own positive birth stories. She also covers a range of different experiences, such as giving birth to a larger baby as well as provided some guided meditation to listen to.

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Yes, of course, women who don't know any better are convinced that they need inductions sooner than they are comfortable with, and sure, many might agree to interventions they don't understand, but for the love of god, let's not get on our Western high horse and convince moms-to-be that the absence of white coats will inherently make their births connect them to the divine feminine. There were some really good takeaways from this book, and I particularly liked the science behind the labour. I also enjoyed that it explained different birth types and so even if things don't go to plan, the relaxation techniques can be put to use e.g. staying calm for an unplanned caesarean and how you may want it to be. Tommy’s Pregnancy Hub describes hypnobirthing as “a method of pain management that can be used during labour and birth, involving a mixture of visualisation, relaxation and deep breathing techniques.” Basically, it uses hypnosis to take on labour pain, helping mums re-frame pain and to see childbirth as a positive process. The general idea is if you can reduce the fear factor that comes with birth, your body can relax and produce endorphins rather than the stress hormones that can cause your muscles to tense up, which should make birth a little bit easier. What are the benefits of hypnobirthing? Some people struggle to learn the relaxation techniques so allowing yourself plenty of time to practise is better, but if you decide later in the pregnancy that you would like to learn about hypnobirthing you can still practise some of the exercises in time for your birth. Can you teach yourself hypnobirthing?

This class will enable you to navigate your birth experience with confidence, equipping you with practical tools that will help you to feel calm and in control throughout. It doesn’t matter how your baby appears, or when, or with what help; what matters is that you are fully informed of the choices available, and that you feel calm, respected and supported each step of the way. After this class, you will feel more confident and empowered to make the right decisions for you and your baby, allowing you to have the best birth possible. Course content Having worked with celebrities including Fearne Cotton and Giovanna Fletcher, Hollie de Cruz is a renowned hypnobirthing coach.Her down-to-earth approach makes her a sought after and successful hypnobirthing coach and with this audiobook you can listen to it again and again to help you prepare for birth.