The Hypnobabies differenceby Kerry Tuschoff, HCHI, CHt
Founder of the Hypnobabies Network
We are not a regular childbirth hypnosis class. Hypnobabies is very detailed and successful, uses medical hypnotic anesthesia techniques from Gerald Kein's amazing Painless Childbirth program, as opposed to simple visualization and imagery, and contains the same kinds of hypnotic scripts used by people who undergo surgery with hypnosis as their only anesthetic. We also fully train the Birth Partners by giving them their own Birth Partner relaxation CD, and their own detailed Birth Partner Guide for labor, which allows them to fully grasp their role in the preparation for baby's birth as well as their partner birthing. This is unique to Hypnobabies and we are very proud of this feature.
Hypnobabies classes also provide excellent and complete childbirth education, lacking in most birth hypnosis programs. Providing this complete childbirth education ensures that our wonderful students will not have to take other natural childbirth classes whose philosophy is so different that it negates what they have learned in Hypnobabies. "Pain management and coping skills" are actually opposite of what is learned in Hypnobabies; we teach Pain Elimination by using real hypnosis.
Long before they ever step foot in their first Hypnobabies class, our hypno- moms get to meet their baby and bond with him or her in a tape/CD called Your Special Place, and the second track is Painless Childbirth, which helps teach them how childbirth can easily be so comfortable (deprogramming them from the usual childbirth horror stories). They go on to learn the Hypnobabies Techniques in class, bringing their Birth Partner into the preparation, and also how to use hypnosis for many other things: nausea elimination, back and hip pain, insomnia, pre-term labor, pre-term bleeding, perineal massage, internal exams, turning a breech, etc.
One main difference is that our students participate in a hypnosis script each week in class and then have that same script to work with for reinforcement during the next week, which makes a huge difference when programming the inner mind for success. It is called "compounding" in the world of hypnosis, is necessary for hypnotic suggestions to be retained by the woman's subconscious, and many other birth hypnosis programs do not have it.
In addition, Hypnobabies requires that their Certified Instructors have a trained background in both childbirth and hypnosis before becoming trained in Hypnobabies, so that all childbirth questions and concerns from each hypno- couple can be addressed, hypnotic depth can be assessed, and problems such as resistance and abreaction can easily be dealt with.
Hypnobabies also has "Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis", which allows the hypno-mom to walk and talk and move around freely yet remain very relaxed, fully present, aware and in touch with her body and baby and completely comfortable while doing so. Other programs rely on complete immobility for focus and concentration. We also do Birthing Rehearsals in class 5 so that our hypno-moms can experience using their Hypnobabies techniques while in hypnosis in class, which is invaluable, and also shows the Birth Partner hands-on exactly how to use his or her cues and assistance. What a confidence builder!
Our students also never have to guess how to make a cohesive plan for birthing using the Hypnobabies techniques; it is very clear and concise and includes a Quick Reference Guide for each birthing couple to use during their labor, as well as a Birth Guide CD (or tape) which keeps the hypno-mom deeply in hypnosis with constant hypnotic anesthesia suggestions. Our students tell us this is "Pure Gold!"
Our Hypnobabies Instructors are always available for help before, during, and after the hypno-baby is born, and we also have a free Hypnobabies Yahoo e-mail group for our moms to join for support and encouragement after their Hypnobabies class has ended, so that they can enjoy a community where others are using hypnosis for childbirth as well. We have daily tips and advice, a weekly chat, additional free hypnosis scripts, childbirth hypnosis birth stories, and a great deal of camaraderie.
Other programs have shorter and simpler childbirth hypnosis classes (8-10 hours of instruction as opposed to our 15) and may contain some excellent hypno-tools for birthing, but none contain the amount of information and support of Hypnobabies. All elements have been carefully designed to work together and the results are amazing even to me. Not all of our hypno-moms will have a completely pain-free birthing, yet for most it will be very close to it, and this makes all the difference in the world to so many women. Very gratifying!
Founder of the Hypnobabies Network
We are not a regular childbirth hypnosis class. Hypnobabies is very detailed and successful, uses medical hypnotic anesthesia techniques from Gerald Kein's amazing Painless Childbirth program, as opposed to simple visualization and imagery, and contains the same kinds of hypnotic scripts used by people who undergo surgery with hypnosis as their only anesthetic. We also fully train the Birth Partners by giving them their own Birth Partner relaxation CD, and their own detailed Birth Partner Guide for labor, which allows them to fully grasp their role in the preparation for baby's birth as well as their partner birthing. This is unique to Hypnobabies and we are very proud of this feature.
Hypnobabies classes also provide excellent and complete childbirth education, lacking in most birth hypnosis programs. Providing this complete childbirth education ensures that our wonderful students will not have to take other natural childbirth classes whose philosophy is so different that it negates what they have learned in Hypnobabies. "Pain management and coping skills" are actually opposite of what is learned in Hypnobabies; we teach Pain Elimination by using real hypnosis.
Long before they ever step foot in their first Hypnobabies class, our hypno- moms get to meet their baby and bond with him or her in a tape/CD called Your Special Place, and the second track is Painless Childbirth, which helps teach them how childbirth can easily be so comfortable (deprogramming them from the usual childbirth horror stories). They go on to learn the Hypnobabies Techniques in class, bringing their Birth Partner into the preparation, and also how to use hypnosis for many other things: nausea elimination, back and hip pain, insomnia, pre-term labor, pre-term bleeding, perineal massage, internal exams, turning a breech, etc.
One main difference is that our students participate in a hypnosis script each week in class and then have that same script to work with for reinforcement during the next week, which makes a huge difference when programming the inner mind for success. It is called "compounding" in the world of hypnosis, is necessary for hypnotic suggestions to be retained by the woman's subconscious, and many other birth hypnosis programs do not have it.
In addition, Hypnobabies requires that their Certified Instructors have a trained background in both childbirth and hypnosis before becoming trained in Hypnobabies, so that all childbirth questions and concerns from each hypno- couple can be addressed, hypnotic depth can be assessed, and problems such as resistance and abreaction can easily be dealt with.
Hypnobabies also has "Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis", which allows the hypno-mom to walk and talk and move around freely yet remain very relaxed, fully present, aware and in touch with her body and baby and completely comfortable while doing so. Other programs rely on complete immobility for focus and concentration. We also do Birthing Rehearsals in class 5 so that our hypno-moms can experience using their Hypnobabies techniques while in hypnosis in class, which is invaluable, and also shows the Birth Partner hands-on exactly how to use his or her cues and assistance. What a confidence builder!
Our students also never have to guess how to make a cohesive plan for birthing using the Hypnobabies techniques; it is very clear and concise and includes a Quick Reference Guide for each birthing couple to use during their labor, as well as a Birth Guide CD (or tape) which keeps the hypno-mom deeply in hypnosis with constant hypnotic anesthesia suggestions. Our students tell us this is "Pure Gold!"
Our Hypnobabies Instructors are always available for help before, during, and after the hypno-baby is born, and we also have a free Hypnobabies Yahoo e-mail group for our moms to join for support and encouragement after their Hypnobabies class has ended, so that they can enjoy a community where others are using hypnosis for childbirth as well. We have daily tips and advice, a weekly chat, additional free hypnosis scripts, childbirth hypnosis birth stories, and a great deal of camaraderie.
Other programs have shorter and simpler childbirth hypnosis classes (8-10 hours of instruction as opposed to our 15) and may contain some excellent hypno-tools for birthing, but none contain the amount of information and support of Hypnobabies. All elements have been carefully designed to work together and the results are amazing even to me. Not all of our hypno-moms will have a completely pain-free birthing, yet for most it will be very close to it, and this makes all the difference in the world to so many women. Very gratifying!
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Article on Hypnosis for Childbirth
Hypnosis Reduces Pain, Complications of Labor
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 13, 2001 - Self-hypnosis during childbirth eases the pain of labor, lowers the risk of medical complications and reduces the need for surgery, study results suggest.
Hypnotherapy has been shown to reduce pain and the need for anesthesia, as well as ease anxiety and fear during childbirth, Dr. Paul G. Schauble and colleagues note in the Journal of Family Practice for May. The use of hypnosis during pregnancy to prepare women for delivery may be key since it gives them a sense of control, they say.
To investigate, the researchers, who are at the University of Florida in Gainesville, assigned 42 pregnant women to receive either counseling or four sessions of instruction in self-hypnosis for childbirth. Women in the hypnosis group learned deep relaxation and imagery techniques to help them cope with pain. They also received suggestions to help them respond to possible complications and boost their confidence in their ability to manage anxiety.
According to the report, only 1 of 22 patients in the hypnosis group remained in the hospital longer than 2 days after delivery, compared with 8 of 20 patients who did not learn self-hypnosis. None of the patients in the hypnosis group needed surgical intervention, compared with 60% of those in the non-hypnosis group.
In addition, fewer patients in the hypnosis group experienced complications such as high blood pressure or vacuum-assisted delivery, opted for medical anesthesia or oxytocin, or required medication after delivery.
"This study provides empirical data demonstrating that the use of hypnosis in preparing pregnant women for labor and delivery reduces the risk of complications, decreases the need for medical intervention...and promotes safer, more comfortable delivery for mother and child," Dr. Schauble told Reuters Health. "We anticipate this will lead to a reduction in the costs involved in childbirth."
J Fam Pract 2001;50:441-443.
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Jun 13, 2001 - Self-hypnosis during childbirth eases the pain of labor, lowers the risk of medical complications and reduces the need for surgery, study results suggest.
Hypnotherapy has been shown to reduce pain and the need for anesthesia, as well as ease anxiety and fear during childbirth, Dr. Paul G. Schauble and colleagues note in the Journal of Family Practice for May. The use of hypnosis during pregnancy to prepare women for delivery may be key since it gives them a sense of control, they say.
To investigate, the researchers, who are at the University of Florida in Gainesville, assigned 42 pregnant women to receive either counseling or four sessions of instruction in self-hypnosis for childbirth. Women in the hypnosis group learned deep relaxation and imagery techniques to help them cope with pain. They also received suggestions to help them respond to possible complications and boost their confidence in their ability to manage anxiety.
According to the report, only 1 of 22 patients in the hypnosis group remained in the hospital longer than 2 days after delivery, compared with 8 of 20 patients who did not learn self-hypnosis. None of the patients in the hypnosis group needed surgical intervention, compared with 60% of those in the non-hypnosis group.
In addition, fewer patients in the hypnosis group experienced complications such as high blood pressure or vacuum-assisted delivery, opted for medical anesthesia or oxytocin, or required medication after delivery.
"This study provides empirical data demonstrating that the use of hypnosis in preparing pregnant women for labor and delivery reduces the risk of complications, decreases the need for medical intervention...and promotes safer, more comfortable delivery for mother and child," Dr. Schauble told Reuters Health. "We anticipate this will lead to a reduction in the costs involved in childbirth."
J Fam Pract 2001;50:441-443.