Frequently Asked Questions

Hypnobirthing uses relaxation techniques and hypnotherapy to help achieve calm and more positive birth experience. It teaches how body and mind can work together in a way that is efficient and comfortable as nature intended. Hypnobirthing teaches different techniques mom can use to relax her mind and body and get and stay in her own birthing ‘bubble” and let her body do the job it is built for – give birth to a baby. Once women find out what causes pain they quickly realize what needs to be done to reduce or eliminate it. Some hypnobirthing women have had painless birth or one that they could easily manage.

The ”hypno” part refers to the hypnotherapy*. In this course it is used to replace a negative mindset about birth with a positive one, reduce or let go of fear and anxiety that many women have about birth, and build confidence and calm within you. It also gives you knowledge about the physiology of birth. You will learn how to relax your body and mind. The course of labour can not be predicted, nor are there any guarantees that everything will happen the way you wanted , however you will be equipped with different techniques and tools that you may use to help you stay relaxed, calm and comfortable as much as possible regardless of what turns your baby’s birth may take and potentially avoid unnecessary interventions.

Combining all this together you can have a positive and empowering birth where you feel like the pilot rather than a passenger during your baby’s birth.

Hypnobirthing can be beneficial regardless of the type of birth or what medical interventions may be used during the course of labour. It can be beneficial for women undergoing C-section.

Your birth partner will learn ways to help you during birth.

*This course does not include an individual hypnotherapy session to address personal problems. It is certainly not a stage hypnosis either.

Some of the benefits are:

1. The techniques you will learn during the course will help reduce or eliminate anxiety and fear about giving birth. Anxiety, fear and negative thoughts are definitely not your companion in labour. Fear, anxiety, stress can increase tension and the intensity of pain, slow down the labour or stop it completely, which in turn increases the risk that medical interventions are needed and you might find yourself in the cascade of such interventions.
2. You will learn how to relax your mind and body to help labour progress naturally, quicker, smoother and easier.
3. You will learn what causes pain in labour and what to do to reduce or eliminate it.
4. Feel in control*, feel like you are in the driver’s seat rather than a passenger.

*Nobody can control birth. The only thing we can control are our own thoughts. But ”control” here means that the birthing mother knows how to help the natural birthing process go on, she knows her options and makes the best choice for her self and her baby.

5. Many moms have said that hypnobirthing has helped bring her and her partner closer together as the support person (who often is the life-partner of the mom) actively engages during the birth and the run-up to it. However, some moms do not have a support person or one that would want to actively engage and that is OK too, you will benefit from this course as much.

Since your support person has participated in the hypnobirthing course, they have learned how to help you practically, what you want, what you do not want about your birth and is your advocate throughout the birth. They can also help you learn and practice the hypnobirthing techniques during pregnancy. Your support person can help create the right environment and remind you of the tools and techniques available to you.

Nobody ever can promise you that. Pain is subjective. However, when women learn what causes pain in labour they also understand what to do to reduce or eliminate it. Many hypnobirthing moms have reported pain-free birth or one that they were able to manage easily. That does not mean that they felt absolutely nothing and slept through the labour. Hypnobirthing mothers may still experience sensations what they often describe as tightening or pressure; but using the knowledge and techniques you will learn in the course, you can avoid the excruciating pain that is often reported by women who have prepared for their birth differently or not prepared at all.

You are definitely not going to be unconscious during self-hypnosis. Hypnobirthing moms are deeply relaxed, but they are aware. They can  talk, move or change positions if they want to. They are often in their own ”bubble” and focus on staying there, so they may not notice or be disturbed by people around them. They also often report that the time passed quickly.

Majority of women start the course during their 2nd trimester. This gives enough time to learn, practice and get into the right mindset so that on the birthing day you can simply use what you have learnt without thinking.  However, it is never too late, this course can be beneficial even days before birth. In this case you would best benefit from a private 1:1 course.