Hypnobirthing: A Birth Story, Part 1
This is part 1 of 2. Click here for Part 2.
As some of you know, I chose to do Hypnobirthing with my first baby. If you're like I was, you're probably thinking, "Hypnobirthing? That sounds...really weird." It's not as weird as it sounds, I promise. The basic idea is that, when a woman in labor is able to relax, let go of her fears, and trust her body, her pain and discomfort is decreased (sometimes nonexistent), and the labor goes more smoothly and quickly. One of the ways this is achieved is through self-hypnosis, where one goes into a deep state of relaxation and/or creates detailed scenes in one's mind that help guide the body through the different stages of labor. For example, one of the things that helped me during labor was the "rose script," in which Stephen talked me through imagining a rose slowly opening over and over. This exercise is intended to encourage the cervix to open. I feel that it definitely helped me. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. This is part one of my Sweet Boy's birth story, and the story of my journey from being a wimp about pain to being...well, less of a wimp.
From the time I was a child, I've always been nervous about pain, injuries, blood, etc. I had a hard time dealing with any little thing that ailed me. Basically, I was a bit of a baby. I remember hearing about how painful labor and birth could be and was so grateful to know that epidurals were available to relieve that pain. In my mind, that was always the plan: an epidural as soon as possible, so that I wouldn't have to 'suffer' longer than absolutely necessary.
I found out I was pregnant with Sweet Boy in March 2012 in the bathroom at Walmart. I'd gone to the store during my lunch break because I thought I might be pregnant, and it had been a week or so since the last time I'd taken a pregnancy test (which had been negative). We had been trying to get pregnant, but seeing that little digital screen declare "Pregnant" still came as a bit of a shock. I was so excited, and wanted to wait until Stephen came home from school so I could tell him in person. After I got out of work though, he texted me and asked if I'd taken the test yet. So I told him yes and sent him a picture of the positive result. He called me from the train, struggling to find words to express his feelings. We were both happy but understandably nervous. A few days later we told our families, and they all freaked out. Everyone was so excited for us. It was wonderful.
I had a pretty easy pregnancy. I had some mild morning sickness for about 10-12 weeks, as well a few aches, pains, and heartburn here and there. I dutifully went to all of my OB appointments, and made sure to ask my OB/GYN how early in the labor process she would let me get an epidural. In August of that year (I was about 6 months along), my mom and I went to a baby shower for a friend of the family. It was there that I first heard the term "Hypnobirthing" and learned a little bit about what it was. My friend gave us the name of the woman (Launi) who taught the class, and gave glowing praise to both her and the Hypnobirthing philosophy. I was intrigued.
I soon learned that my husband's cousin had also done Hypnobirthing, and taken the class from the same teacher. I decided I should look into it. Hearing that there was a chance of having a baby naturally, without pain, was incredible - almost too good to be true. But I had to know more.
We started the classes when I was about 32 weeks pregnant. Our teacher talked about how women's bodies are designed to and perfectly capable of giving birth. She said it was even possible to give birth without pain. We learned that when a woman in labor experiences fear, the "fight or flight" response is initiated, and blood flow goes to the parts of the body used to fight or flee (i.e.: arms and legs), and away from the important organs that are doing the work of labor. This means those organs get less oxygen and struggle to release properly (basically, contractions last longer and are more painful). The muscles often end up fighting each other, which can lengthen labor and cause excess discomfort. We learned about methods - specifically self-hypnosis - to help one relax and encourage the body to do what it was made to do.
By the end of the five classes, I was excited. I no longer feared birth. I looked forward to it as the process through which I would finally get to meet my son. I looked forward to being able to do something difficult without the help I used to believe I would absolutely need. But mainly, I looked forward to holding my beautiful son.
As some of you know, I chose to do Hypnobirthing with my first baby. If you're like I was, you're probably thinking, "Hypnobirthing? That sounds...really weird." It's not as weird as it sounds, I promise. The basic idea is that, when a woman in labor is able to relax, let go of her fears, and trust her body, her pain and discomfort is decreased (sometimes nonexistent), and the labor goes more smoothly and quickly. One of the ways this is achieved is through self-hypnosis, where one goes into a deep state of relaxation and/or creates detailed scenes in one's mind that help guide the body through the different stages of labor. For example, one of the things that helped me during labor was the "rose script," in which Stephen talked me through imagining a rose slowly opening over and over. This exercise is intended to encourage the cervix to open. I feel that it definitely helped me. Anyway, I'm getting ahead of myself. This is part one of my Sweet Boy's birth story, and the story of my journey from being a wimp about pain to being...well, less of a wimp.
From the time I was a child, I've always been nervous about pain, injuries, blood, etc. I had a hard time dealing with any little thing that ailed me. Basically, I was a bit of a baby. I remember hearing about how painful labor and birth could be and was so grateful to know that epidurals were available to relieve that pain. In my mind, that was always the plan: an epidural as soon as possible, so that I wouldn't have to 'suffer' longer than absolutely necessary.
I found out I was pregnant with Sweet Boy in March 2012 in the bathroom at Walmart. I'd gone to the store during my lunch break because I thought I might be pregnant, and it had been a week or so since the last time I'd taken a pregnancy test (which had been negative). We had been trying to get pregnant, but seeing that little digital screen declare "Pregnant" still came as a bit of a shock. I was so excited, and wanted to wait until Stephen came home from school so I could tell him in person. After I got out of work though, he texted me and asked if I'd taken the test yet. So I told him yes and sent him a picture of the positive result. He called me from the train, struggling to find words to express his feelings. We were both happy but understandably nervous. A few days later we told our families, and they all freaked out. Everyone was so excited for us. It was wonderful.
I had a pretty easy pregnancy. I had some mild morning sickness for about 10-12 weeks, as well a few aches, pains, and heartburn here and there. I dutifully went to all of my OB appointments, and made sure to ask my OB/GYN how early in the labor process she would let me get an epidural. In August of that year (I was about 6 months along), my mom and I went to a baby shower for a friend of the family. It was there that I first heard the term "Hypnobirthing" and learned a little bit about what it was. My friend gave us the name of the woman (Launi) who taught the class, and gave glowing praise to both her and the Hypnobirthing philosophy. I was intrigued.
I soon learned that my husband's cousin had also done Hypnobirthing, and taken the class from the same teacher. I decided I should look into it. Hearing that there was a chance of having a baby naturally, without pain, was incredible - almost too good to be true. But I had to know more.
We started the classes when I was about 32 weeks pregnant. Our teacher talked about how women's bodies are designed to and perfectly capable of giving birth. She said it was even possible to give birth without pain. We learned that when a woman in labor experiences fear, the "fight or flight" response is initiated, and blood flow goes to the parts of the body used to fight or flee (i.e.: arms and legs), and away from the important organs that are doing the work of labor. This means those organs get less oxygen and struggle to release properly (basically, contractions last longer and are more painful). The muscles often end up fighting each other, which can lengthen labor and cause excess discomfort. We learned about methods - specifically self-hypnosis - to help one relax and encourage the body to do what it was made to do.
By the end of the five classes, I was excited. I no longer feared birth. I looked forward to it as the process through which I would finally get to meet my son. I looked forward to being able to do something difficult without the help I used to believe I would absolutely need. But mainly, I looked forward to holding my beautiful son.
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