Hynobirthing?

For the past five Saturdays Dave and I have been attending Hypnobirthing classes for a few hours in the morning. On the way to our first hypnobirthing class, Dave was skeptical. I think he expected pocket watches, googly eyes and hippy sandals to abound and he was not thrilled about missing out on his Saturday morning rides with the other cyclists. I really did not know what to expect, but my Grandmother delivered her last child (50 years ago!) using hypnosis, and raved about it so I have always been intrigued. Our first class was held at the birth center where I plan to deliver. Two mommies were delivering that morning, so there were nurses and midwives shuffling in and out of our meeting room, getting ice chips for the laboring mothers and drinks for themselves. The class teacher, Sharon, began the class by educating us about childbirth – what causes pain in labor, the different hormones that are released and the theories behind the hypnobirthing techniques. We were given lots of handouts, cd’s and information and we watched a couple of hypno-births on the dvd player in the room as well as a video about Marie Mongan, the founder of hypnobirthing. Sharon also led us in our first hypnotherapy session, which involved imagery and relaxation techniques that carried through the rest of the classes. We were both shocked at how relaxed we felt after the class, and how fact-based the whole theory is. One baby was born as our class was coming to an end.

Our second class we met at the home of Joyce Ann Leaf, the class’s co-teacher because the floors of the birth center were being waxed. Joyce Ann and her husband are caretakers of a beautiful plantation and live in a restored cottage on the property. She is also a massage therapist, yogi, and doula (and probably several other holistic things I have yet to find out). Within minutes of beginning class, Dave and I knew this woman would be my doula. She emits an aura of relaxation and genuine caring and has clearly found her calling. Hundreds of books line her shelves – historic classics to massage techniques to birding – all of which she likely reads in the comfortable living room furniture or on the classic Southern front porch beneath the sprawling oak that covers the front lawn. Dave and I and the other couple decided immediately that this is where we would be holding the rest of our classes.

The second class format was similar to the first, but having practiced the hypnotherapy cd’s at home, I was able to more quickly enter the relaxed state and visualize the items described to me. The class focused on additional education and the release of fears that you have about labor, parenting and pregnancy. By identifying and ridding yourself of these fears, you open your mind to focus on other more productive endeavors. In the middle of the session we enjoy incredible homemade breakfast treats, fruits and cheeses and look out at the peacocks that roam the property. By the end of class, we left feeling like we’d just been to a spa – complete with homemade breakfast snacks (scones, fruits, cheeses, eggs from the property made into quiche-like delicacies, tea and coffee).

We finished the last of our five sessions this past weekend with a visit from two families who used hypnobirthing and were taught by our instructors. Both had very different stories, and both talked about how the techniques had worked for them. 

Both of us were disappointed for these classes to be ending. We had gotten used to that relaxing Saturday routine, and had looked forward to the time together – focusing on this new phase of life that we’re about to enter. The sessions brought us closer together and made us think about things we would never have realized we might need to talk about. I will still be listening to my CD’s nightly, and we will be meeting with Joyce Ann several times before the birth of our baby, but I would happily re-do this whole process. I also want to continue to use the hypnotherapy in other aspects of life, such an effective way to help yourself think clearly and focus.

Thursday is 32 weeks so I will post the latest belly pic, what we've been doing around the house (no rest for the weary) and what is going on with my budding business adventure. This coming weekend is St. Pat's, (think azaleas, parades, bagpipes and 250,000 visitors to our little city) and Dave's Mom is coming to visit us. She wanted to see me pregnant (very overated in my opinion - think Tanya with a soccer ball attached) so we are going to try to show her a good time since she's coming all the way down!

A pic of my nursery chair glider/rocker below! Found it at a consignment store! I have re-arranged everything since then, but things are definately coming along!

Cannot beat a chair for $25.00!