HypnoBirthing: "During childbirth, women give up control too quickly".

Giving birth is painful. I've taken this idea on board so much that I instinctively grimace whenever my friends bring up the subject. Yet I've never given birth. It's the stories I've been told of painful, arduous childbirths that have influenced my perception of the matter. But suffering is apparently not inevitable, as more and more mothers are sharing their positive experiences on social media to combat this image, which is all too ingrained in the collective unconscious. One term comes up a lot: HypnoBirthing.

"HypnoBirthing is both a philosophy and a technique for preparing for birth," explains Stephanie Borner. She has recently started offering HypnoBirthing classes for expectant parents, and she sheds light on the differences between this concept and conventional birth preparation classes. Thanks to testimonials from celebrities such as the Duchess of Cambridge or Anja Zeidler, the method is being taken up by an increasing number of pregnant women. On the Swiss site (in German) for HypnoBirthing, the positive reviews read almost like jabs at mothers who have suffered.

"The birth was simply perfect."

"A dream birth."

"A quick and beautiful birth."

"It was incredible!"

What did these women do differently?

A change of perspective

"In the usual antenatal classes, pregnant women learn which positions and breathing techniques help to manage pain. Pain is seen as a problem, and solutions are proposed to deal with it. "In HypnoBirthing, also known as "gentle childbirth", a different point of view is adopted. Birth is seen as something positive. The mental components of childbirth preparation are emphasised.

"Here, women learn everything that conventional courses teach. But they are also shown the tasks their bodies perform without them having to do anything. This knowledge gives women strength and courage. It awakens their ancestral confidence in nature, in their own bodies. "The body knows what to do," and if it reaches its limits, medicine is there to provide a safety net.

A loss of control

"Doctors and the hospital are essential components of a safe birth," says Borner. They step in when the natural process needs a little boost. "The problem is that doctors often intervene too quickly, and women relinquish control of the situation to them from the outset."The doctor looks after the child's health; he's not there to give the woman strength. "He intervenes when something isn't working. But pregnant women are not sick. Giving strength to women was, and still is in many cultures, the role of the mother, sister or friend. They accompany the mother-to-be and give her advice and support. "Yet in our country, many pregnant women turn first to their doctor when they have questions."

According to Borner, it's important to remember that not everything the doctor does is in the best interests of the mother-to-be. "There are many aspects of modern medicine that make childbirth easier for the doctor, but not for the patient," she gives the example of lying down with legs spread. "We now know that this is not the ideal position for giving birth. But it does facilitate access to the doctor. Episiotomy has also become commonplace, because it's more comfortable for the doctor. It is unnecessary in the majority of cases, and causes pain that could be avoided."

HypnoBirthing reflects the idea that the woman only lets the doctor handle the situation when the natural process no longer works. Not before. "Many women think that in hospital they will be told how the birth will go and what to do."

This way of thinking opens the door to uncertainties and fears that end up stressing the patient out. "When there's stress, the body slows down digestive functions and blood circulation, and reduces the baby's oxygen supply. The woman becomes tense and in pain. Preparation using the HypnoBirthing method helps to avoid such stressful situations. It gives the woman various tools.

Self-hypnosis and the power of words

According to Stephanie Borner, the conscious use of words is one of these tools. "When we talk about contractions or pushing, we imply that it's all painful, so these expressions are replaced by positive terms. It's no longer a contraction, but a wave. Not pushing, but sliding. And pain is transformed into muscular strength. Other tools include self-hypnosis, positive affirmations, communication, visualisation and breathing exercises. "The mental preparation of the mother-to-be for what is about to happen and confidence in her own body are the central elements of the method. They can lead to deep relaxation."

According to Borner, visualisation and the use of other terms can, in most cases, prevent a tear or episiotomy. "Sudden thrusts are much too fast for the tissues of the perineum. It doesn't have time to relax, and it ruptures. That's why women start massaging this area a month before giving birth. If she imagines that she is sliding the baby along rather than pushing, everything slows down. There is also the mechanism of hypnosis. The woman visualises the opening of the perineum, like a flower. "In this way, a kind of relationship is created between the mother-to-be and her perineum before childbirth.

This type of hypnosis is nothing like the kind you see on TV shows. "Think of it as a medication that brings deep relaxation, a pathway to reach your unconscious and work there. The aim is to get you looking forward not only to the arrival of your baby, but also to childbirth itself: "It's about deprogramming certain mechanisms. Fighting fear through relaxation. Childbirth is an act of power, and muscular strength - in other words, pain - gradually brings the mother closer to her child. If women manage to relax and stay focused on the joy to come, even the most "recalcitrant" can enjoy childbirth. "However, HypnoBirthing is not intended to be a miracle solution for a smooth birth. The mother should, with her partner where possible, practise at home."

Giving birth, a team sport

Whoever accompanies the woman during childbirth is entrusted with an important task. It doesn't matter whether it's a partner, mother or friend. "In practical terms, this means managing visits and ensuring that the woman drinks, eats and goes to the toilet. "Partners often feel powerless during childbirth. HypnoBirthing gives them an active role, so it's important that the partner knows exactly what's going to happen. Fear has no place here, because in the worst case it can contaminate the mother and then the child. "In general, men are not sufficiently involved in the process. Their fears and concerns are therefore an important part of the course."

Knowing what you want

"The woman has to decide how and in what environment she wants to give birth to her child," explains Borner. This starts with the choice of place of birth. "Some hospitals specialise in caesarean sections. There's a greater likelihood that people will opt for this type of operation more quickly than elsewhere. Each establishment has its own ways of achieving the same goal, so it's important that the mother-to-be knows what she wants and finds a place that can fulfil her wishes.

"I encourage women to think carefully. Do they want to be accompanied by the same midwife throughout their pregnancy, or will the hospital midwife who will be on call at the time of delivery be able to step in? Once she has given birth, would she prefer a family room for more privacy, a single room or a room with several beds? Details are also important: how will the room be lit? Will there be music? Candles to create a relaxing atmosphere? "In reality, childbirth is a calm event. That's not to say that the woman doesn't have the right to scream: "On the contrary, she should if it makes her feel better! The idea is for her to decide for herself when she becomes more vocal. In certain situations, a midwife who shouts to push can not only disturb the main person involved, but also the child, who is just emerging from its mother's silent womb."

Following your intuition

Lilian, 35, is one of those who prepared for the birth of her child with HypnoBirthing. She took the course from an online provider (in English) and completed it at her 34th week of pregnancy. She didn't want to have a caesarean. Despite this, this is how her first child came into the world.

"A few weeks before the due date, the baby was in a breech position. As he wasn't turning over, it was very likely that he would remain in this position. I was told that a natural birth would be possible, but difficult, and that my hospital didn't do it in these cases."Lilian had the choice between a caesarean section at the hospital, for which she had undergone all the necessary tests, or a natural birth at another cantonal hospital, if the baby didn't turn over again at the last minute. The coronavirus crisis added a further disruptive element to the situation. "Until shortly before the birth, we didn't know whether my husband would be able to attend the birth. I was devastated."

Thanks to the method's course and books, the young mum has managed to adopt a positive frame of mind. "HypnoBirthing helped me to accept the situation, even if the birth wasn't going to go as I would have liked. She learned to trust her intuition instead of getting lost in long discussions. In the end, she decided to opt for a caesarean section. "Later, we learned that the umbilical cord was wrapped around the baby's neck. Even if I had chosen a natural birth, my son would still have come into the world by caesarean section. My intuition was right."

In fact, she still uses what she learned. "HypnoBirthing also uses what's called the Safe Space, a place to mentally take refuge in. I always visualise it when the situation becomes too intense and my emotions get the better of me. "This visualisation helped me above all before and after the operation, during breastfeeding and uterine trenches.

The home stretch

"In countries where the healthcare system works smoothly, these mental preparation techniques are not essential, but very useful," says Borner. Take the case of Germany, which is struggling with a shortage of medical staff. You're seen as a number. Everything has to be done quickly. "Those who have been in this situation compare giving birth to rape. It's a traumatic experience that can have repercussions not only for the couple, but also for the mother's subsequent relationship with her child. "In the worst case, the mother can hate her child."

HypnoBirthing aims to transform childbirth into a positive experience. This does not rule out a caesarean section or a 24-hour labour. As long as mother and child feel well, there is no such thing as a bad birth. That's the philosophy behind HypnoBirthing. "When we prepare, we imagine the ideal experience. Like a marathon runner who prepares mentally for the race, but remains flexible. Everything will be fine, no matter what happens."

Guidebooks

EUR19,95

HypnoBirthing. The natural way to a safe, gentle and easy birth.

German, Marie F. Mongan, 2021

5

Guidebooks

EUR19,95

HypnoBirthing. The natural way to a safe, gentle and easy birth.

German, Marie F. Mongan, 2021

5