If you have been following me for a while you will know that I used hypnobirthing techniques with both of my girls before with both girls and this led me to train as a hypnobirthing insturctor and birtch coach in 2021.

I am a huge fan of the practice, but I know it can sometimes get a bit of negative press and some confusion around what it really is. So let’s go back to the start of my story and also de-bunk some myths along the way!

When I was pregnant with Pepper I had heard of hypnobirthing but didn’t really know what it was. I was terrified of the giving birth bit and was completely dreading it. When I was then told I should have an induction I was even more scared, so I looked online for a hypnobirthing course that might help me. Spoiler, I went into the hypnobirthing course terrified of birth and left it very excited to experience my birth journey. 

So, with Indie I knew I wanted to hypnobirth again and I did a little refresher course to give me some more confidence in the techniques that worked for me and also to get my mindset ready to give birth in a pandemic. For me it was always about mindset, never about pain relief or a more holistic experience, it was about a positive and confident mindset in both the run up to the birth and the labour itself. Hypnobirthing absolutely provided me with tools and knowledge I needed to achieve that and it helped me to feel empowered and in control during a lonely covid labour!

The techniques aren’t for everyone and that is absolutely fine. I am not here to tell you that you should or shouldn’t do it, and I am also not here to tell you that I am the birth coach for you. But what I am going to do is tell you that prep is so important when it comes to birth. The more prep you can do, the better your birth will be.

So let’s debunk some of the myths!

You are hypnotised…

I think this is one of the most common push backs I hear from people when I talk about hypnobirthing. Maybe the name is a little misleading, but hypnobirthing isn’t about being ‘hypnotised’ in the way that you see on the TV. It isn’t like the comedy shows when they drop into a deep sleep and have no idea about the tricks being played on them. 

I completed my course with Sophie Fletcher, Author of Mindful Hypnobirthing, about it and she explained it to me with such clarity. She said that with hypnosis you simply quieten down the salience area of your brain, which is the part that analyses thoughts. By doing this you are then able to receive suggestions and respond to them without interruption from your analytical brain. The reason this is important is because analysis is often made up of past experiences or things you have been told by others, so past trauma or a friend who had a bad birth experience will come into your mind at this moment and perhaps cloud your judgement.  

Hypnobirthing simply uses hypnotherapy techniques to help you have a clear mind in the moment you need it most. At no point will you be out of control or not able to make decisions that you want to. 

It can only be used for a natural birth…

This is such a big mistake. It doesn’t matter whether you give birth vaginally, via a c-section, induction or any other type of intervention, you can use the techniques effectively.

Hypnobirthing can be used at any type of birth. 

I have had two inductions and used my hypnobirthing techniques both times. My second birth was during the Covid restrictions so I used them even more. It is more about mindset and trying to keep yourself positive and in your own zone, whatever that birth zone may look like for you. For me, it was always about feeling in control of what was happening to me, rather than feeling like my body was controlling me. I really managed to get myself into a positive mindset and strong breathing rhythm because of the hypnobirthing I had done prior. And you can still use all the techniques if you give birth abdominally too, I have completed courses with many clients who are planning or end up having an abdominal birth and hypnobirthing continued to play a big part in that experience.

You can’t have pain relief…

Wrong again. You can use hypnobirthing techniques alongside any pain relief. It was never sold to me as a replacement for pain relief, though it may of course help you to feel as though you might not need any other pain relief. I always used the tools to get me to the point of which I felt pain relief was my next option. With my first labour, circumstances meant I could only have gas and air for the actual birth, but with my second I had gas and air and pethidine at a slightly earlier stage. You can hypnobirth and have any sort of pain relief you wish, it’s all about your own personal choice. 

You are encouraged to avoid medical intervention...

This was one of the misconceptions that shocked me the most. As a birth coach I will never actively encourage you to ignore medical advice. Instead, it’s about making informed decisions and giving you the tools to feel in control of situations that otherwise might feel a little forced upon you. It’s all about choices and feeling empowered to make them. 

One thing I was pleasantly surprised by during my own hypnobirth experience was the amount of time we spent on birth preferences and understanding what choices we actually had, there are so many! This is something that is so important on all of my courses. Choice is a huge part of your motherhood journey and the choice should always be yours.

Before having my own children I had no idea I could be as in control of my birth and pre birth experience as I was. I followed the medical advice offered to me both times, but I felt empowered enough to ask all the questions and come to decisions that felt right for me, not just be told what was going to happen to me and my baby.

I always tell my clients that the choices you make are entirely yours, I am not here to judge. But what I do want to ensure is that the choices you make are informed ones.

It’s for hippies…

Some hypnobirthing instructors will have a more spiritual and alternative approach (what some people might call hippy), and that’s fab if that’s what is right for you. But, if that isn’t your thing then there are plenty of courses available that are not like that at all, mine included. I love to focus very much on the science and the physiology of birth to ensure the families I work with are fully informed as a couple about the tools they have at their disposal to help them have a positive birth.

I also love a bit of crystal healing and meditation where I can squeeze that in. I often put femine crystals out during the courses and discuss them being part of the birth environment. I also sleep with those types of crystals by my bedside and have had them with me in both of my labours. If you are into that, then these are the ones I bought. 

It’s also really important to connect with whatever birtch coach you choose and be open and honest about what you want to gain from the experience. Both times, the practitioners I worked with were able to tailor my course to discuss and teach things that were key for us. And if there are aspects of hypnobirthing that you don’t think you want to embark on, then that’s fine too, just be open and honest. I would however say that it’s important to keep an open mind, as some of the techniques might seem like something you aren’t interested in, but they may help you more than you think. 

It’s expensive…

This is true to an extent, but I guess it’s all relative to what you are hoping to gain. For me, I would say learning the techniques face to face was priceless, others may think it could have been done by reading a book. So if you don’t want to or can’t invest the money in a face to face experience there are plenty of books you can buy, audiobooks you can listen to and MP3’s available online too. Below are some of my recommendations. They might also help you to make a decision about whether or not a course is right for you.

My DM’s are always open if you ever have any more questions about my own courses, my past experiences or just general questions relating to the practice. I love to chat all things babies, birth and boobies!

You can see all my upcoming courses here, or email me gemma@mindfulmamaclub to book a private 1:1

Recommendations:

Book: Mindful Hypnobirthing

Book: The Calm Birth Method

Hypnobirthing tracks – I found the relaxation one particularly helpful: Mindful Hypnobirthing 

Spotify podcast: The Hypnobirthing Podcast

My birth stories: via my own podcast

This is the playlist I listened to before birth and during labour: Calming instrumental covers