WHAT IS HYPNOBIRTHING

HypnoBirthing was founded by Marie Mongan in 1989- Celebrating 35 years of positive birthing. This is the original HypnoBirthing program, first titled HypnoBirthing Mongan Method. Around a decade ago, there was an official re-title to HypnoBirthing International, as it is well established with certified childbirth educators in 49 countries. It was introduced in Australia in the year 2000 and in 2015 the Australian Steering Committee was developed, to provide a tailored program to best suit the Australian Midwifery Standards of Care.

It teaches pregnant women and their partner to reconnect with their natural ability to birth free from fear. This comprehensive antenatal course includes evidence based childbirth education and is held over five sessions, where you will also learn practical skills and effective relaxation techniques. This positive dynamic enables the pregnant woman and her partner to move through and calmly work with whatever shows up on their birthing day, at a hospital or homebirth setting.

HypnoBirthing is an empowering method of birthing that is based on the belief that when a pregnant woman is properly prepared for birthing physically, mentally and emotionally, and is effectively supported by her partner during labour, she can experience the joy of birthing in an easier and more comfortable way, and is highly likely to achieve a normal physiological birth.

The idea behind HypnoBirthing is not new. In London in the 1920s Dr Grantly Dick-Read, an English Obstetrician first introduced the concept of natural birthing, by emphasizing the importance of reducing or eliminating tension and fear, before and during labour. Following on from his work, HypnoBirthing teaches that in the reduction and even absence of fear and tension, severe pain does not have to accompany labour.

HypnoBirthing does not profess to offer preparation for births that are totally free from pain, discomfort or unanticipated incidences. However, it does offer pregnant women an opportunity to explore the possibility of stepping into their birthing without fear, and to embrace their birthing journey with natural resources that work with their birthing body.

HypnoBirthing is collaborative and informs parents of the many aspects of birthing, so that they can make educated decisions with their health care provider. Therefore, if for some reason, your pregnancy and birthing run differently from what was planned or anticipated and medical intervention is required, then implementing the HypnoBirthing techniques enables parents to remain calm, as they discuss options and work with their health care provider with informed decisions concerning their birthing.

For some, the word Hypno added to the word birthing sounds new age or only for ‘hippies’. This is far from true! HypnoBirthing is inclusive regardless of your social and cultural orientation. I write this because a few mums that came to Yoga Motion’s HypnoBirthing sessions did have preconceived ideas.

But they were so glad they followed through with the program because it gave them so much more than they first expected. More importantly these mums utilised the HypnoBirthing techniques throughout their labour, and were able to work with their labour instead of against it.

With evidence based learning, HypnoBirthing teaches pregnant women and their partner how to release negative and counterproductive beliefs about labour and birth. The Yoga Motion Birth Stories and HypnoBirthing Testimonials is proof of the many HypnoBirthing advantages for childbirth preparation.

Birth Partner Plays an Integral Role

HypnoBirthing recognises the importance of the family in birthing, whether this consists of a mother and her baby, a couple who are expecting their first baby, or a family who has welcomed one or more children into their home. The program will cover specific techniques designed to also support the birth partner.

The birth partner plays an integral role in HypnoBirthing and will learn to support the mother and be her advocate during labour and birth. They will also learn and practice relaxation techniques and receive birth guides and prompts.

The promotion of teamwork between the mother and her birth partner is paramount, as you will both learn informed birthing choices and will receive flexible birth preferences that will empower you to work with the Australian Health Care Model for Midwifery.

HypnoBirthing International (Mongan Method) is about inspiring parents to take responsibility for their own birthing. This is supported by actively seeking the right health care provider, practice the HypnoBirthing techniques, to ensure that they are fully prepared to proactively implement these natural resources into their sacred birthing space. This is the core element of empowering parents to welcome their baby into the world, as a ‘Celebration of Life’.