Preparing for a Calm and Gentle Birth

The best way to create a calm and gentle birth is to spend some time preparing to give birth.  Sounds simple right, but so many women approach birth with very little knowledge about the process and what they can do to facilitate the kind of birth they desire.  The fact that you are taking a HypnoBirthing class means that you are interested in being an active participant in designing your birthing experience.

So the best way for you to begin is by determining the specifics of what you want for your birthing.  Review the ”Birthing Goals” post to get started.  Create affirmations that support your birthing goals, see “Affirmations” post.  Later you can use these birthing goals to create your Birth Preferences.  Determining where you want to give birth is an important decision, see posts, “Birthing Environment – Hospital, Birth Center and at Home” and “Considering a Homebirth?” for more information.

Releasing fears about birthing, parenting, etc. is a crucial step towards achieving your birthing goals.  Remember the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome identified by Dr. Grantly Dick-Read.  In order to promote the deep state of relaxation that you will use during birthing, you need to be free of fear and tension.  Use the following process to help you release your fears:

• Complete steps in “Fear Release: Step 1 – Worry List” post
• Complete steps in “Fear Release: Step 2 – Conscious Fear Release” post
• Listen to the Fear Release track (track #3) on your Birthing Zone CD as often as necessary to support you in letting go of your fears prior to giving birth
• Schedule a one-on-one session with us if you need additional assistance in releasing your fears

Next is practice, practice, practice.  I wish I could say that mere exposure to the HypnoBirthing techniques is enough, but it does take practice to master the techniques.  See post “The Importance of Practice” for more information.  So how should you approach practice?  Of course, you’re welcome to modify this approach to create a process that works for you, but this will give you a starting point.

1.  Listen to Rainbow Relaxation daily to several times per week.  You want to get to the point where you are instantly conditioned to relax whenever you listen to this CD.  Review “Rainbow Relaxation” and “Double Hypnotic Induction” posts.

2.  Include sleep breathing in your relaxation practice sessions.  Slow breathing should be practiced everyday.  Practicing right after waking up and immediately before falling asleep each day tends to work well.  Begin practicing birth breathing as directed in the HypnoBirthing book towards the end of your pregnancy.

3.  Listen to the Special Place, track #1 on your Birthing Zone CD several times per week until you become skilled at creating this place whenever you want to.  See the “Special Place” post for more information.  The Special Place track includes the following techniques, time distortion, verbal anchor and dissociation.  Each of these techniques are further explained in the following posts:

• “Time Distortion“
• “Verbal Anchor“
• “Comfort Management: Dissociation“

4.  Test out the various relaxation and deepening scripts available to you in your bound booklet, like Mommy and I are one, Birth Companion’s Deepening Exercise and White Light / Fractionation / Mommy and I are one and Disappearing Letters in your HypnoBirthing book.  Determine which ones work best for you.  Practice these techniques and have them available to you during labor.

5.  Once you have become skilled at getting into deep relaxation, through whatever techniques you like, begin adding in movement and distractions.  Your goal is to become skilled at not only getting deeply relaxed, but getting there quickly.  During labor, you may need to lessen your level of relaxation in order to interact with people around you or move around.  You want to be able to quickly deepen your level of relaxation immediately following these activities.  Practicing fractionation will give you experience in instantly deepening your level of relaxation.  Anchors are also helpful.  See the following posts for more information:

• “Practice With and Without Movement“
• “Practice With and Without Distractions“
• “Verbal Anchor“
• “Shoulder Anchor“

6.  Prepare for your visualizations.  See post, “Visualization Techniques – Pictures/Videos to Help” for literal and symbolic images to help with your visualizations.  You will use these visualizations to support your body in thinning and opening.  The post, “Optimal Birthing Position & Breech Babies” will give you more information about visualizing your baby in perfect birthing position.  Remember to place your picture of the baby in proper position in a place where you will see it daily.

7.  Practice your comfort management techniques.  In your bound booklet you’ll find the scripts for Depthometer and Sensory Gate Control Valve.  These go together nicely to create glove relaxation.  Also, practice the Glove Endorphin Release script from this booklet.  Track 2 on your Birthing Zone CD is also a comfort management process.  Dissociation is another comfort management technique that you may find valuable (see “Comfort Management: Dissociation” post).  Continue practicing the glove relaxation technique until you are easily able to create the numbing effect and move it where ever it is needed, just in case you have a need for this skill during labor.

8.  Begin Perineal Massage, as described in the HypnoBirthing book, 6-8 weeks before your baby’s guess date.

9.  When you are at week 37 in your pregnancy, begin listening to your Birthing Body Zone CD several times per week.  This CD is designed to help your body further prepare for a comfortable birthing and to encourage your baby to move into optimal birthing position. 

Note: Pain and discomfort management techniques should be used during birthing if the mother experiences these symptoms as part of the normal birthing process. They should never be used to cover up a serious condition that requires medical attention.