An Introduction to Hypnobirthing
Cursory description of HypnoBirthing.

Our Story: A Gift for You
Marie Rossborough's personal HypnoBirthing experience.

If you would like to contact Marie Rossborough, you can E-mail her at: tommarie@frontiernet.net

An Introduction to HypnoBirthing
Copyright © 2001 Marie L. Rossborough

Overview:

The HypnoBirthing method of childbirth is based on the work of an English obstetrician, Dr. Grantly Dick-Ried, the pioneer of natural childbirth, who authored the book, Childbirth without Fear. Marie Mongan, educator and hypnotherapist, incorporated his fear-tension-pain theory into a method that utilizes specific breathing and deep relaxation techniques. Self-hypnosis is also learned to achieve an altered state of consciousness. The mother and birth partner learn this technique that assists during the birthing process and maintains an altered state. The laboring mother is alert but deeply relaxed. She then can maintain a deep relaxation along with “sleep breathing” and “slow breathing” through active labor and to interpret birthing sensations as pressure, stretching or numbness. It is this ability to deeply relax that enables the pelvic muscles to open and allow the baby to birth easily. Traditional medicine tends to define contractions as “labor pains,” thus guaranteeing that the mother will interpret any sensations as pain.YES With self-hypnosis the mind learns to interpret uterine surges (contractions) as numbness, stretching and/or pressure.

HypnoBirthing is predicated on the belief that woman can experience birth through the natural flow and rhythm of their laboring body; to release birthing over to their mind and body and to trust their body to function as it was intended to, thereby alleviating undue discomfort, assisting rather than resisting.

HypnoBirthing and the Hospital
Collaborative (not alternative) method:

HypnoBirthing is a collaborative method of childbirth, not an alternative method. The HypnoBirthing philosophy does not preclude the introduction of medical intervention should it be necessary. This program of childbirth is in no way intended to interfere with necessary hospital procedures. This collaborative method is taught by professional hypnotherapists, nurses, and birthing educators trained in the techniques of hypnoanesthesia. The goal is to teach the mother and father various techniques of working together to bring the mind and body into perfect harmony, thereby creating a non-complicated birth. By learning about the physiology of the birth process and the fight-or-flight response, which usually accompanies labor, the couple realizes how that “fear-tension-pain syndrome” develops. They are then taught how to break that response through special relaxation techniques, through re-interpretation of pain and through fear-release techniques. In this way the mother is free to connect with and work with her body as she experiences labor.

Should you have further questions regarding HypnoBirthing, please E-mail
Claire L. Remington or Marie L. Rossborough.

We also recommend the Website HypnoBirthing.com.

You can also call the Body Mind Wellness Center at (716) 425-7415.

It is amazing how quickly life can change with the birth of a child.  Our story began 10 years ago with the birth of my son.  Here is our story.

The birth of our son is something that I will not go into great detail about.  This is primarily because I choose to leave you with only 'positive suggestions ' about your own personal power and your ability to create a wonderful birth experience.  I can tell you that the process took 44 hours and was not a natural child birth.  A few hours after his birth, the nurses referred to your experience as, "the labor from H___ " (you can finish the rest of that word). 

However difficult it was, this birth brought to us a beautiful boy, full of energy and talent, and part of the reason why I have chosen to help bring birthing hypnosis to the public.  

It was 4-1/2 years later with the birth of our second child, that the experience of Childbirth Hypnosis entered the picture.  10 weeks prior to her estimated due date, our little girl attempted to enter into the world.  We were fortunate to stop that labor.  She then tried again 2 weeks later, and then two weeks after that. Bed-rest, 'home health aids' to help, and a lower income for the family was our experience. I would like to interject that it may not have been our little girl trying to birth 10 weeks early, it may as easily have been myself playing out the fears of the previous birth experience.  You see, how much easier it would be to deliver a smaller package!  Because our minds and our bodies are not separate, as has been proven in the medical profession, it is important to release any fears that you may hold about birthing.  This allows you to deliver in a more relaxed way.  More on this during class.

During the pre-term labor experiences, it was my mother who helped me through with her expertise in stress reduction and hypnotherapy.  With the help of my husband and mother, there was created a sleep-tape which I would listen to each night as I drifted off to sleep, and some daytime conditioning exercises which I followed 'without fail.'  Let me tell you what transpired!

Around the due date , yes we did reach full term, I remember experiencing the contractions (surges) which my body would never completely shut off.  As usual I drank allot of water (Dr.s orders), and listened to my tape.  This happened at about 11:00 at night.  I fell asleep to the tape and woke up at around 1:30.  I did know that this was the real thing as most mothers do, alerted my husband, and we were off to the hospital.

My focus was on the conditioning imagery that I had learned.   This was imagery that took me into a deeply relaxed state where I had previously re-interpreted pain as light pressure.  Once we were in the hospital and in our rooms it appeared that I was 6 centimeters dilated.  It should be noted that most mothers who use hypnosis before and during labor to deeply relax, are often farther along in their progress than is realized.  Consequently, I was not a candidate for pain medication as I hoped.  What was a surprise to me after the water broke, was the realization that I had no pain.  The experience was of subtle pressure, and my focus was on imagery to relax more deeply. Our little girl was born 2 hours later.