If I had to single
out one pregnancy decision that most profoundly affected my birth,
it would have to be the decision to take HypnoBirthing
® Childbirth
Education classes. As a first time mom I had no idea what to
expect during labor. (Unless, of course, you count the
dozens of horrible labor stories that well-meaning friends and
family members felt compelled to share with me). I sincerely
wanted to have a natural, non-medicated birth. It wasn't
childbirth I feared, it was hospitals, needles, and medical
interventions in general. Every time the subject of natural
childbirth came up
though, my friends were quick to tell me how insane I was.
"Just take the d
rugs, why torture yourself" they'd say.
Still, I
knew in my heart that childbirth was supposed to be different and I
was determined to find support.
I was so excited to find HypnoBirthing
®
and to learn that, YES, childbirth can be a beautiful, calm and
peaceful experience - without drugs.
Keep in mind, the goal of HypnoBirthing
®
is not "pain-free" labor or
"drug-free" labor . The goal of HypnoBirthing
®
is
to teach mom and birth companion to be relaxed and in control
throughout the labor & birthing process, regardless of the
circumstances. This turned out to be key for us. As it
turned out, we didn't get to have the natural labor we had
"planned" on. We had some special circumstances
that led to my labor being artificially induced with Pitocin.
Every hour, they cranked up the Pitocin, resulting in 18 hours of very strong, drug-induced
contractions (with no pain medication) I was only at 4 centimeters.
To make a long labor story short, I ended up with a cesarean
birth.
Clearly, not the
birth we had dreamed of. But in spite of all the unexpected
turns, I still had a wonderful and magical birthing
experience. I was able to stay calm, relaxed throughout
many, many hours of intense contractions - without pain medication.
And, when
it came time to discuss things like "huge needles" (the
epidural) and "major abdominal surgery" (cesarean), I didn't freak out, like I
otherwise would
have. Instead, my husband and I calmly discussed the pros and
cons, then made the necessary decisions.
Just before the
surgery, as I was lying on the operating table, I began shaking rather violently from the drugs. The
nurse said it was "normal" and the shaking would "stop on it's own in 2 or 3
hours". Ugh! 2 or 3 hours!! I asked my husband
to use some of the hypnosis techniques we'd learned in class to try
and slow down the shaking. Sure enough, in a matter of moments
the shaking STOPPED. Keep in mind, these were drug-induced
shakes that normally last for 2-3 hours! It was very
cool.
During our HypnoBirthing
®
practice, we'd incorporated the suggestion that I
would recuperate quickly and easily from childbirth. That turned
out to be a real bonus in recovering from the cesarean.
Assuming I would need them, the doctor sent me home from the hospital with a
full bottle of
pain pills and a giant bottle of 600mg Ibuprofen. I never had
to take a single pill. I was a bit sore from the incision and I
walked gingerly for a few days, but I simply didn't experience the
kind of pain that required drugs - not even an Ibuprofen. When
I mentioned this to friends who have had cesareans they were
shocked. One gal who experienced a lot of pain after her
cesarean said "Girl, I was popping pain pills like candy"
Needless to say, I was so impressed with the HypnoBirthing
®
method that I became a
certified
Instructor.
Whether you're a first time mom-to-be or you'd like
to improve upon a previous childbirth experience, you might
consider HypnoBirthing
®
your next baby.
My
family and I have relocated to the Dallas, TX area but if you're in
San Diego, I highly recommend classes with Jo Kilburn, certified
HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator. Visit her
website: www.PreciousBirth.com
for class schedule & enrollment information. Jo can be
reached by phone at: (760) 473-1761 or via email: jo@PreciousBirth.com.
Tell her Carolyn sent you!
To find a HypnoBirthing
®
instructor in your city,
visit
the HypnoBirthing ®
Institute website at http://www.HypnoBirthing.com
