Are you considering a natural childbirth hypnobirthing course in Australia? Perhaps you have already done HypnoBirthing and are looking to make the most of what you have learned from the official Mongan Method HypnoBirthing(R) course?

Here are some tips to get the most out of your HypnoBirthing practice.

Regardless of who taught you the skills and techniques, if you don’t practice them, you may not be able to apply them very well, if at all, on the day of birth. The surges of labor (contractions) can take you by surprise in their intensity, and unless you know how to fully relax and go into your laboring body, they may catch you off guard.

So what do you need to do to really integrate your HypnoBirthing learning so that you can be sure of a safe, comfortable and natural birth? The following are lists of suggested activities for mothers and fathers and should in no way be taken as “be all and end all” practice suggestions. HypnoBirthing is a relaxed and stress-free method of giving birth and if the following scheme sounds too much like “school” or “hard work” then do whatever is most comfortable for you. Enjoying your pregnancy and delivery is our love here!

FOR MOTHERS

• Practice twice a day of the surge breath. When you get up in the morning and when you go to sleep at night.
• Daily practice of your affirmations.
• Daily visualization of your perfect birth (during your Surge Breathing practice).
• Daily practice of Glove Relaxation, Progressive Relaxation, Vanishing Letters, Hypno Labor Sensory Gate Valve or Depth Gauge – find one that works for you better than the others and then practice it daily

From 36 weeks…

• In addition to the above, make sure you drink plenty of water every day before delivery, to avoid having an IV when you’re in the hospital. A minimum of two liters per day is suggested. Hydration is vital. Even mild dehydration can have an effect on your body’s ability to process the hormones of childbirth, replace old amniotic fluid with fresh fluid and regulate its volume, and to remove any fluid retention you may have in your ankles. Yes, more fluid helps expel fluid, so don’t stop drinking just because you may have fluid retention. Dehydration will also cause hospital staff to insert an IV drip into your arm, which can reduce your mobility or prevent you from going under water.
• Daily display of the opening flower. Use your image somewhere where you can reflect it while you relax. Maybe put it in the bathroom over the bathtub or on a wall near your sofa.
• Breathing practice at birth in the bath. To make sure you’re doing this correctly, take a birth breath to breathe out your bowel movement. See how easy it is to exhale your waste this way. Imagine that the feeling of your bowel movement is the feeling of giving birth (because it is very similar).
• Daily 2 capsules of evening primrose oil orally and 2 vaginally
• Daily Perineal Massage: Ask your class or use an Epi-No pelvic floor exerciser, available at select pharmacies and online.
• Weekly or twice a week, do a Release of Fear relaxation. Make sure there is nothing you are afraid of left before the birth. Do not discard anything, identify the fear, drop it and let it go
• Consider seeing a naturopath, homeopath or herbalist before 36 weeks for a fortifying tonic. You can give her herbs later to start labor, but you’ll want to get to know her well before considering doing so. If you approach them too late, they may refuse to treat you.
• As you can see, there are many things you can do to improve your preparation for childbirth with HypnoBirthing. Keep them up. Like everything in life, practice makes perfect. Just taking a HypnoBirthing course is of little use to you if you don’t practice what has been taught and live the “relaxation walking” lifestyle.

FOR PARENTS and BIRTH PARTNERS (midwife, doula, friend)

• Diary. Keep an eye on mom for signs of stress or tension. If there are any, be sure to help her relax. Start the relaxation, walk her through some labor pictures, and practice reading the scripts to her. She needs to be comfortable with your voice when reading the scripts.
• Daily practice of soft touch massage.
• If there are other children in the house, make sure they are in bed and asleep so mom can practice in peace; Similarly, turn off the phone, TV, radio, or any other device that makes noise so Mom can really relax.
• Plant the anchor to bring mom into deep relaxation at any time – use “Deeply Relaxed” or similar, and use downward pressure to signal to let go
• Daily foot and leg massages for mom to relieve swelling in the ankles and lower legs. Use an unscented vegetable oil to reduce allergy risks
• Daily affirmations to yourself: You are a wonderful parent who guides with love
• Fear Release Relaxation if you think you might be transmitting your fears to mom; do not dismiss fears, even those that are not expressed can be accidentally communicated. Release them and let them go. Fear does not serve you, mom or your baby
• Practice reading your Birth Partner Deepening scripts aloud to yourself and to mom as well. Mom needs to hear a soft and confident tone and it will benefit you too (to relax and give you confident speaking skills)
• Whisper loving and kind words to mom every time you hug her.
• Take your time to relax too

Happy hypnobirthing!