The Power of The Mind in Childbirth

Published 03 September 2021 at 18:41

Tickikids Blog Singapore >  Digest >  The Power of The Mind in Childbirth

When it comes to thinking about giving birth, most people are fearful of labour pain, anxious about the whole process of childbirth even for experienced parents. Some women plan to take epidural even before labour begins. 

All these self-doubts are caused by women being told lots of horror stories about childbirth by people around them. Pregnant women’s ability to give birth naturally is often being “discounted” by their caregivers. There are a lot of misconceptions about childbirth. Positive birth stories are seldom being shared. 

Photo Credit: Adobe Stock

Is Childbirth Scary?

Childbirth can be scary when you are not informed of the situation and when you do not prepare for parenthood. It can be scary for the husband too. Fortunately, there is a proven natural childbirth method called HypnoBirthing®-The Mongan Method that equips couples with a comprehensive childbirth education enhanced by hypnosis. Certified HypnoBirthing Educators train expectant couples to use the Power of the Mind to give birth comfortably often without the use of chemical pain-relief. The one that Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton learned in order to stay comfortable when she gave birth to her three children of the royal family.

When expectant couples learn the normalcy of childbirth, trust birth, properly trained by Certified HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educators in 5 lessons, and practice the HypnoBirthing regularly, they often report that their births are comfortable and that they welcome their baby in a gentle, healthy and quiet way without screaming and yelling in the birthing room. Witnessing calm birth inspires her husband as he plays a big part during her pregnancy and the birth process.

For the past 10 years, I have been training expectant couples to expand their mind, instill growth mindset in preparing couples in their journey into Parenthood. Many expectant couples turned from self-doubt into “I Can Do It” attitude. One HypnoBirthing mom said, it is the HypnoBirthing mindset she had since her first birth keeps her going by finding solution when she faced with adversity in her second pregnancy.

Julie, a first-time mom shared her thought that her husband did better than her as he knew what to do in labour to support her as a team. So, often baby is calmer when the labouring mother’s nervous system remains calm, and she relax through her labour surges instead of fighting the body. Eventhough Julie was induced due to her health condition, she was in control of her labour surges and gave birth to her baby without pain and without epidural. This is what families are looking for, to provide their baby good beginnings leading to better family future health.

Christopher, a fourth-time dad initially thought his wife was crazy wanting someone to hypnotise her so that she could give birth to their fourth child. When Christopher learned that their first three children could have been brought into this world in a more gentle drug-free way, he was stunned by the truth. After witnessing his wife gave birth to their fourth child totally without being induced, he was amazed. HypnoBirthing saved him medical cost and the stress of the unknown. 

So, what exactly is HypnoBirthing?

HypnoBirthing – The Mongan Method is founded by the late Marie Mongan (known as Mickey) in 1989 when she was teaching her daughter and a few other pregnant women how to give birth without any use of chemical drugs including pharmaceutical pain relief. But rather these women are taught self-hypnosis techniques to enter a state of deep relaxation, the feel-good hormone endorphins is activated to reduce pain in the body. It is an evidenced-based childbirth education enhanced with hypnosis techniques. It is recognized by hospitals as a pain relief childbirth method.

The philosophy of birth is not supposed to be painful, come from Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician who wrote the "Fear-Tension-Pain syndrome" in the book Childbirth Without Fear in 1944. When a labouring woman is free of fear, she is deeply relaxed, she can give birth comfortably. Often without severe discomfort. Hypnosis releases perceptions of fear in childbirth, hence reduces involuntary tension that resists the uterine surges in labour. Therefore, what the labouring mother feels is tightening with pressure but not pain. Giving birth is not about the woman’s pain threshold level, but her ability to relax. And that relaxation is a trained skill for many people.

What is hypnosis in childbirth?

Many people are put off by the name hypnosis thinking that the recipient will not be in control. The fact is, you are aware and always be in control during hypnosis and deeply relaxed in both mind and body. Hypnosis does not put you in a state of trance but so relaxed that it feels like you are falling asleep but not actually asleep. Hypnosis is a natural state that all of us fall into every day. Such as the time before you fall asleep, and right before you wake up. Day dreaming is a state of hypnosis as well. You can hypnotise yourself or be hypnotized with if permission granted. When a woman enters hypnotic state during labour, she taps into her natural relaxant endorphins, which put her into a state of deep relaxation. Hence, her mind and body work in harmony. 

Why is HypnoBirthing the most desirable birth preparation course for expecting couples be it first-time or experienced parents in Singapore? 

Many experienced parents described their birth as traumatic birth mostly under prepared and that parents are not informed with the right information. HypnoBirthing bridges science and nature. 

• Firstly, HypnoBirthing Comprehensive Childbirth Education inspires parents to approach birth with confidence instead of fear and anxiety. Parents relearn the natural process of birth and trust that a woman’s body is made to give birth vaginally. Rather than feeling helpless, couples will empower themselves to find solutions to their challenges. Create a birth plan and build their birth team. 
• Secondly, HypnoBirthing® dives deeper into the topic of pre-birth parenting by understanding the consciousness of your baby in the womb. Hypnosis session connects the family and brings you closer together.
• Thirdly, HypnoBirthing teaches parents self-hypnosis techniques to reduce stress and anxiety during pregnancy, stay relax throughout labour and birth, and reduces postpartum complications. This is how you can achieve a calm and relaxed birth, it is stress-free for the husband.
• Fourthly, HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education’s bonus Hypnosis Fear Release sessions free the mother and the father/partner from fear related to childbirth. Hence, women in labour often describe their sensation as tightening, pressure, cramps or she just feels like shitting.

Study shows that it is the comprehensive childbirth education and various hypnosis techniques that reduces a great deal of fear and pain in labour.

Women can give birth without severe discomfort. When you set yourself for success, remove your fear of success, you have win half the battle. The power of the mind is free for you to use. If you are looking for a childbirth classes where you can learn to stay calm, be in control, want your partner to enjoy the birth experience and wanting to welcome your baby in a gentle manner, HypnoBirthing course is for you.

About the author

Kong Choon Yen is a mother of two boys. She helps couples to regain clarity in creative parenthood as a Certified HypnoBirthing Educator, a Birth Doula and an Infant Massage Instructor. She was invited to a media interview feature in Channel 8 Baby Steps Episode 2 in 2015. Yen is trained in various growth model of care that balance nervous system with Gentle Bio-Energetics Body Therapy & PSYCH-K Change Process that transforms stress into success. Yen is a speaker and a Conscious Leader with GoGlobal Business School, and an author of an International Bestselling Author book 'Yes I Can! 16 Success Secrets from Inspiring Women Around the World'.