Hypnosis and Mindfulness for birth are not just for low-risk births. Hypnosis, in particular, is very effective as at therapy for surgery, it can reduce anxiety, increase satisfaction and reduce recovery times. It is also perfect for managing any fears you have and being able to stay calm in moments of worry. The time you take preparing means that baby is benefiting from the reduction of stress hormones in pregnancy, which can make a positive impact on their brain development for life – well beyond birth.
Mindfulness and Connection
Mindfulness is superb for enabling you to connect with your body and your baby at a deep physical and emotional level in the hours leading up to the birth, which can have a powerful effect on your experience of birth.
Infant Feeding
Mothers who have prepared using hypnosis with Mindful Mamma for a gentle caesarean comment on how calm their babies are and they seem to have fewer problems with breastfeeding. Being relaxed before birth can have an impact on the quality of your milk and your let-down reflex, so optimising your internal and external environment can really help to give you the best opportunity to breastfeed, if that’s what you want.
Every birth is a birth and every birth should be meaningful in a positive way
When you prepare for a caesarean with mindful hypnobirthing you prepare a gentle caesarean for baby and a positive experience for you and your partner. Whether you have a caesarean or a physiological birth, you are birthing your baby. You have carried your baby for 9 months, you’ve done the hard part! Instead of surrendering your choices when it comes to caesarean birth, it’s certainly worth considering that how your baby is born can be affected by the choices you make. And you do have choices, even if you are having a caesarean birth.
If you are having a caesarean birth you can prepare mindfully. You can learn to find a calm centre, to feel connected with your body, you baby and the experience – without fear.
So What is a Gentle Caesarean?
Research by Prof Fisk explores how you can be very relaxed as you receive your anaesthetic, you can
- request to have the lights down
- have your own music on
- under certain circumstances, request for your baby to be born slower and in a way that mimics a vaginal birth.
- request delayed cord clamping
- have the drapes lowered so you can announce the sex of your own baby.
- ask for immediate skin to skin before weighing.
It’s often little things like requesting that monitoring pads are to the shoulders and back so that your chest is ready for skin to skin. During your workshop, your practitioner will be able to signpost you to research and resources on gentle caesareans so you can tailor the perfect plan for you.
Private Workshops
It may be more appropriate for you to do a private course with a practitioner who is trained to prepare you in this way. We have a well-researched framework that integrates, hypnosis, mindfulness and birth planning. Your practitioner will be trained to work within this framework, to create a tailor-made approach for you. This is a reflective approach so your practitioner will also explore your feelings around the birth and work with any fear, concerns or unresolved feelings either you or your partner may have.
How to Book
- visit our find your nearest practitioner
- Enter your location
- select the category ‘Gentle Induction and Gentle Caesarean Practitioner’
- visit the practitioners’ profile(s)
- contact them to arrange times, dates and fees
The Mindful Hypnobirthing Way
- Listen to the Mindful Mamma Preparing for a Caesarean Birth hypnosis mp3 throughout pregnancy
- Learn some simple mindfulness exercises and connect daily with your baby
- Read the affirmations daily
- Learn about gentle caesareans and have a discussion with your consultant
- Ask for immediate skin to skin
- Use hypnosis and mindfulness post-birth to manage pain and discomfort
- Hypnosis mp3s to stimulate milk and confidence in breastfeeding
Further reading and research
The natural-caesarean: A woman-centred technique http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2613254/
An article in the Guardian describing an experience http://www.theguardian.com/society/2005/dec/03/health.medicineandhealth
Affirmations
- I nurture and support my baby as he/she grows
- I feel relaxed as I prepare for my baby’s birth
- I connect with my baby while I relax and turn my attention inwards
- I prepare myself confidently
- I know that the decisions I make are the right ones for my baby and me
- I am looking forward to holding my baby in my arms
- I am confident that as I relax and trust my body my milk comes in
- As I relax and let go my body heals itself quickly and comfortably
