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Published in “Washington Parent”, July 2005
When
bringing a child into the world, taking care of ourselves is our joy and
our duty. We must learn,
and put into practice, good breathing, exercise, diet, relaxation and
positive thinking. These are the necessary foundations for our bodies
and minds to be healthy and to work in harmony for a positive pregnancy,
birthing and parenting. Yoga, a comprehensive, holistic, self-care
system, offers guidance and methods in all of these areas.
HypnoBirthing® complements yoga beautifully. It tells us very
convincingly why and how to rid ourselves of the notion that birth is a
dangerous, painful process to be feared, and teaches relaxation and
natural breathing techniques to bring the baby into the world in the
calm and gentle way that nature intended.
“Nothing
disturbs the course of natural labor more than fear.
That is a known and well-proved scientific fact,” wrote Dr.
Grantly Dick-Read in Childbirth Without Fear, 1944. 1
Dick-Read is the father of natural childbirth according to Marie
Mongan who developed the HypnoBirthing® Program in 1989 based on his
work.2 Eliminating fear is the first step in the program,
because couples learn where the fear of childbirth comes from and its
effect on labor and the baby. “Tense
woman, tense cervix; relaxed woman, relaxed cervix,” said Dick-Read.
Fear releases catecholamines – constrictor hormones – as part
of the fight/flight response of the body. That not only prolongs labor
and causes pain while the uterus tries to pull open tight muscles, but
can lead to fetal distress as the oxygen supply to the uterus is
reduced, contractions become more violent and labor drags on.
HypnoBirthing® mothers learn to be calm and confident during labor and birthing, and
they learn skills in physical and mental relaxation.
Not in a trance, they are very present, keen observers of the
process that is taking place in their bodies.
The hours of practice with breathing, relaxation and
visualizations induce the release of endorphins (our body’s natural
anesthesia), creating the conditions that allow the mother to open up
first and then to quietly breath the baby down to crowning and into her
waiting arms.
It’s
not only about calm mothers and easier birthing – it’s about calm
babies!
Yoga
and HypnoBirthing® practices “teach” relaxation to the baby by
circulating endorphins and reducing stress during the pregnancy.
Also, parents are encouraged to connect with their unborn baby so
there is a strong bond of love even before the birth.
There are plenty of ways to do this according to prenatal
psychology experts. Singing,
talking, playing music, reading, stroking, etc., all help mothers,
fathers and siblings know that the baby is real and already part of the
family. Imagining what it
is like to be your baby in the womb is also very effective.
For example, if you have had an argument or see a violent scene
on the news and then realize your baby heard that, too, your best
motherly instincts come forth to try to prevent future exposure to
negative stimulation and to assure your baby that it has nothing to do
with him/her. When this
kind of connection is made, parents realize more profoundly how
important this stage of life is, and become advocates for a positive
environment for the pregnancy and birth of their child.
Bonding,
conscious relaxation and a peaceful birth all contribute to baby’s
consciousness leaving an indelible imprint on the psyche of this soul to
whom life is being given.
The
sooner we start the greater influence we have as parents
Yoga
and HypnoBirthing® both help develop inner awareness, healthy habits and
ways to handle stress, large and small. All are critical for good
parenting.
At
conception, the state of mind and emotions of the couple, the
environment and even the food eaten affect the constitution of the seed
planted and the womb that will nurture the growing child.
The
nine months of gestation are a critical time of development of the new
life not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
The science of pre- and perinatal psychology has revealed the
secret life of the unborn child, which is also the title of a book by
Dr. Thomas Verny, founder of the Association for Pre and Peri-Natal
Psychology and Health – APPPAH3. This field of study has
blossomed since the 1960s, when scientists and psychologists were first
able to look into the womb to register babies’ responses to stimuli.
We now know how the mother's feeling and environment directly
affect the baby. In a
nutshell, her happiness, contentment and love cross the placenta giving
her baby these same qualities, which, when endowed at this stage of
development, serve as a foundation for the child’s whole life.
The child’s view of the world then reflects these qualities.
The world is a place of happiness, abundance, harmony,
cooperation . . . peace. Conversely,
a negative womb experience and birth can lead to a fearful,
discontented, disgruntled, contentious person who finds it hard to be
happy in any situation in life or to give happiness to others.
“We
have acquired the conviction that any violence which greets a baby in
the womb and around the time of birth is a deep form of conditioning
which acts like a template for relationships. This conditioning may well
affect a person's physical and mental health for decades to come,”
4 said David Chamberlain, Ph.D., in the introduction to the
section on “The Origins of Violence” on the website of APPPAH.
“Babies do remember birth,” said Marie Mongan, founder of HypnoBirthing®
® The Mongan Method. (Babies Remember Birth was
the original title of Chamberlain’s book, now called The Mind of
Your Newborn Baby 5.) The experts are careful to point
out that the most important thing for parents is that the baby is wanted
and loved. Everyday
stresses and strains will not negatively affect the baby’s
psychological development, and even serious difficulties that may arise
are overcome if the mother handles them reasonably well and the baby is
showered with love and acceptance.
How
can we create a positive pregnancy and birth?
Prenatal
Yoga is an excellent tool for practicing proper breathing, relaxation,
exercise, diet and positive thinking.
Mothers should practice yoga regularly for the best results.
A weekly or biweekly class gives the opportunity to learn the
techniques, to tone and build strength in the body and to unwind on a
regular basis. Home
practice of any or all of the aspects of yoga help incorporate healthy
habits into daily life. Yoga
helps expectant mothers sleep better, breathe easier, feel more
comfortable in their pregnant bodies, tune in with the unborn baby and,
perhaps most important, build confidence and trust.
Yoga also helps to heal more rapidly after the birth, to reduce
or eliminate postpartum blues and to the have energy and stamina to cope
with the demands of mothering a newborn.
Water
Yoga deserves special mention as it is a superb way for pregnant women
and new mothers to work with the body and breath.
Water removes the extra weight of pregnancy yet is supportive
allowing stretching and breathing beyond ordinary limits.
After the birth, water yoga helps close and tone the body again
and has "direct effects on the nervous system, both calming and
stimulating."6 New mothers feel soothed and supported as
they strengthen and tone the muscles and joints of their postpartum
body. Ideally, the water should be warm, above 90 but below 98 degrees,
to allow for a slow paced workout and a deep relaxation at the end
floating on ones' back with supports.
Water yoga is safe and effective creating an anxiety-free relaxed
state for deep inner work and for connection with the baby who is in its
own warm watery world. (Many birth centers now have warm tubs/Jacuzzis
for birthing and in some places the birth can even take place in water.)
With
regards to the birth, let’s first define natural birth.
Natural birth means a birth free of drugs, free of medical
intervention and free of unnecessary noise and disturbance for mother
and baby. It means birth as
the beautiful, peaceful experience nature intended – as we usually see
in the animal world. Parents
who desire this should do whatever is necessary to practice healthy
habits, to educate themselves and to secure the best caregivers and
environment for natural birth to tke place.
Perhaps most important of all is to relax and enjoy the
whole process, to not let little things or even big things upset you, to
realize you are part of the sea of humanity doing what women have done
and will continue to do forever and to connect with the wonder and
mystery of the miracle of life.
To
achieve a natural, comfortable birth, some work needs to be done.
In ancient times, and even today in some cultures, women have
experienced birth without pain or discomfort.
In our culture and time, although there are some unique women to
whom natural birth comes naturally, most need to overcome programmed
ideas of pain and fear and to master relaxation techniques.
This is best done through a class with an instructor certified in
the Mongan method of HypnoBirthing®.
Of all the childbirth methods being taught now, HypnoBirthing® is
unique in its way of addressing fear – the source of pain –
and bringing calmness to the whole pregnancy and birth
experience.
Specifically,
HypnoBirthing® classes teach expectant couples how to release their
programmed fears and tensions of birth from their conscious and
subconscious minds by establishing a practice of simple relaxation,
breathing and visualization. It
is a natural form of pain management with no side effects for mother or
baby (except peace). It can
even shorten labor, eliminate fatigue during labor and effect a more
rapid postnatal recovery. Other
benefits are the integral role of the birth companion and, as we have
said, a positive prenatal state, which often provides for a more calm
and peaceful baby. What
better investment can you make: in your child’s future, your future as
a parent and in humanity?
Can
giving birth really be pain-free?
Some
HypnoBirthing® mothers experience pain-free births.
Most are able to manage whatever sensations they do feel without
stress or worry. Aimee Adams, midwife at the Maternity Center in
Bethesda (where about one-third of the clients use the method) estimates
that about 70 percent of the women do well with HypnoBirthing®.
“Everything is calmer – the mother, father, everyone in the room
compared to other birthing methods,” and “Babies born in a calmer
environment tend to be calmer,” she adds.
For others who might not do as well with the method when labor
actually starts, the midwives simply help the laboring mother along just
as they would with someone who hadn’t learned HypnoBirthing®.
Pain medication is always available if requested.
Birthing is hard work, yes, but with natural childbirth, and
especially the HypnoBirthing® method, the mother becomes co-creator
rather than turning her baby’s birth day over to others.
HypnoBirthing®
is growing in leaps and bounds nationally and internationally.
For example, in less than a year, more than 100 practitioners
have been trained in the United Kingdom.
Another
boon is that all HypnoBirthing® participants, expectant mothers and their
birth companions, learn techniques that are useful in any stressful
situation, such as driving in traffic, giving public presentations,
dealing with difficult people, dental work and, of course, parenting!
In
sum, women who practice yoga and couples who choose HypnoBirthing® can
look forward to the experience and watch the miracle of life unfold, be
alert and active in the process, greet their baby who is also alert and
active (if there are no drugs given during the birthing) and feel
empowered as parents in the creative process.
Natural childbirth enables the critical bond with the child
before, during and after the birth.
It is a holistic view of pregnancy, birth and life.
The
HypnoBirthing® logo says “taking the birthing world by calm.”
Yoga gives us the tools to find the inner peace that is both our
and our child's birthright . Parents can put their drop of peace into
the ocean of the world.
Linette
Landa (Lakshmi) teaches HypnoBirthing®, Pre-Natal Yoga, Women's Water
Yoga, and Mother/Baby and Family Yoga at the Shanti Yoga Center for
Harmony in Bethesda. www.schooloflife.org/mothers;
301-654-4899, x4
References:
- Grantly
Dick-Read, M.D. (1944); Childbirth Without Fear, The
Principles and Practice of Natural Childbirth. First Perennial
Library edition published 1970, Harper and Row, New York, NY.
- Marie
F. Mongan, M. Ed., M. Hy. (1992/1998); HypnoBirthing®: A
Celebration of Life. Rivertree Publishing, Concord, NH.
- Thomas
Verny with John Kelly (1981/1986); The Secret Life of the Unborn
Child. Dell, New York, NY.
- David
Chamberlain, Ph.D., Origins of Violence, Introduction.
www.birthpsychology.com. Association for Pre and Peri-Natal
Psychology and Health.
- Chamberlain,
David (1988/1998); The Mind of Your Newborn Baby. North
Atlantic Books, Berkeley, CA.
- Francoise
Barbira Freedman (2000); Aqua Yoga. Lorenzo Books, New
York, NY.
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