Shoulder Anchor

Physical anchors are a way that the Birth Companion can support the birthing mother in deepening her state of relaxation without the Birth Companion having to say a word.  The key to anchors is to get into a peak state, do something unique and then repeat.  For HypnoBirthing, an anchor you might want to establish would look like this:

• Peak state - guide the mom into a deep state of relaxation
• Unique – touch her shoulder briefly when you notice that she is deeply relaxed (don’t leave your hand on her shoulder)
• Repeat – continue to guide her deeper into hypnosis, touching her shoulder briefly whenever you see her getting more deeply relaxed

In order to tell if she is getting more deeply relaxed, look for signs such as:

• Head dropping further down
• Slower rate of breathing
• Shoulders and body sinking down into the support beneath her
• Facial muscles relaxing

The Birth Companion Deepening script introduces you to the shoulder anchor.  You can reinforce this anchor during any relaxation practice sessions you are doing whether or not you are using the Birth Companion Deepening script.  If you are doing light touch massage and you notice her getting relaxed, touch her shoulder briefly. 

Fractionation scripts are a great way to reinforce a shoulder anchor.  After you have awakened her some percentage of the way, and you’re on to the part where you tell her to become even more deeply relaxed than she was before, watch her for signs that she is getting more relaxed.  By its up and down nature, fractionation tends to really highlight when she is getting into a deeper state of relaxation.  Watch her for signs that she is deeply relaxed and touch her shoulder briefly.