Hypnobabies FAQ

(Answered by Kerry Tuschhoff, Founder of Hypnobabies)
Q) When in pregnancy is the best time to begin learning Hypnosis for Childbirth?

A) Anytime! Some women find that they want to start early in their pregnancy, as soon as they have decided on a natural childbirth, which does help them to stay more relaxed and comfortable and this is obviously good for mom and baby's health. Others feel that they want to start later on, at about 7 months as they are able to devote more time to the program (approximately 30 minutes a day and up.) Be aware that your childbirth hypnosis CDs/tapes and scripts need to be done regularly all the way until your baby comes, so you will need to decide how much time and effort is manageable for your family.

Q) I heard a critique of Hypnosis for Childbirth that it takes women away from their birth experience; does this teach women to distance themselves from the labor and birth?

A) Great question! I know there are those who believe that the pain of childbirth is empowering and that we should never seek to diminish it, but I firmly believe that a woman experiencing agony in labor during natural childbirth without hypnosis, or a woman groggy from narcotics during a medicated birth, (I've done both) do not make her any "closer" to the birth experience itself, much less empower her in any way. The trauma that can be caused by birthing pain during labor is seriously negative, and all most women want to do is get away from it; make it stop, go home. A woman can't even feel her labor with an epidural and so cannot connect with it.

Hypnosis allows the woman to actually tune completely inside of herself, where her own incredible strength truly lies, feel every contraction, every move of her baby, and be hyper-aware of everything going on, while being confident, relaxed and comfortable, even joyous, and I cannot imagine being closer to birthing than that.

Q) Do I have to take a class to be successful?

A) There are several ways to prepare for childbirth using Hypnosis. One way is to take a childbirth class that is specifically geared to using hypnosis for elimination of fear and pain, such as Hypnobabies. You can also choose to engage in hypnosis sessions with a qualified hypnotherapist who has a good program already developed just for childbirth. You will want to make sure that you receive CDs/audio tapes to use at home as well as your office hypnosis sessions if you choose this way, so that the hypnotic suggestions will be reinforced constantly.

Another option is to study on your own, and be aware that you will need the right tools to do this with. Hypnosis for Childbirth Home Study Courses must contain at least 6 CDs/audio tapes, a cue for entering hypnosis, deepening techniques for practice with a Birth Partner or Doula and detailed explanations of how hypnosis works with childbirth, as well as a scheduled practice regimen.

Q) Must I have a partner to do this or can I do it alone?

A) It is always nice to have someone to help you as you prepare for the baby's birth, but if this is not possible, you can still achieve a comfortable birthing by studying on your own. Just make sure that you have all of your hypnosis scripts on CD or audio tape and use them every day.

Q) What "hypno-tools" should a good childbirth hypnosis class have?

A) An excellent class will have an instructor who has a background in childbirth education, so that you will not have to take another type of childbirth class that may indeed be opposite in philosophy than your hypno-class, and which may show birth videos imparting negative messages to your subconscious mind. The instructor should also have training in hypnosis so that they can help you with any personal issues or hypnotic depth problems that may arise.

The class will include at least 14 hours of instruction, and have a childbirth hypnosis session in each class. You should be given a modified version of the hypnosis script for that session to take home with you to practice with, and the course should include at least 3 CDs or audio tapes that have real hypnosis sessions on them, one of which is a Fear-Clearing session. Interviewing your prospective hypno-teacher ahead of time and asking about these things will help you decide whether a class or a home study course will be right for you.

Q: I have been planning to use many upright positions during my labor, but all I have seen are video tapes of women using hypnosis for childbirth that are just lying down. Do I have to be immobile for my birth to maintain my focus and concentration?

A: No! You can choose a birth hypnosis program that uses techniques that allow you to walk, talk and move and still be completely comfortable and deeply in hypnosis. You will be free to choose any positions that work best for you and your baby. Ask any prospective instructor or hypnotherapist about this before choosing a program or class. Hypnobabies has these important techniques and we call it, "Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis". Excellent!

Q: What is the difference between Hypnobabies and Lamaze?

A: In Hypnobabies we do only deep abdominal breathing and use hypnosis for comfort, relaxation and confidence; there are no distraction-type breathing exercises that could lead to hyper-ventilation. Our techniques are deep self-hypnosis cues, CDs or audio tapes and medical hypno-anesthesia, producing a state of the deepest physical, mental and emotional relaxation possible, along with post-hypnotic pain elimination. Hypnobabies is a *complete childbirth program*, and completely replaces courses like Lamaze, Bradley, Birthing From Within, etc.

Hypnobabies students are expectant couples who want to have an unmedicated birth experience with as much comfort as possible and are willing to use the power of their own minds to achieve this. Successful Natural Hypnotic Childbirth!!