 Frequently Asked Questions about
Hypnobabies
Answers
What is Hypnobabies®?
Hypnobabies is a method of childbirth
preparation that uses hypnotic techniques,
imagery and visualization to re-program the
inner mind in a very positive way, and eliminate
pain and fear from the birthing experience. This
is different from any other kind of hypnotherapy
or childbirth education that you will ever do!
With adequate preparation, and in the absence of
complications, hypno-mothers have little or no
pain and shorter, easier births.
Childbirth hypnosis classes are not all the
same. Investigate before you sign up and
choose the course that best suits your needs.
Hypnobabies is a highly successful program of
hypnosis for childbirth, based on the work of
Gerald Kein and his Painless Childbirth program.
We have also had some wonderful input from
Richard Widmeier's New Concepts on Painless
Childbirth, and some excellent visualizations
from Dr. Gayle Petersen and Shelley Stockwell,
PhD. We are grateful to them for their generous
contributions. We also have resources in our
program from many other talented and gracious
authors, which gives Hypnobabies a well-rounded
approach to childbirth education.
Back to Questions.
How is Hypnobabies® different
from other hypnosis for childbirth programs?
This page explains the Hypnobabies
Advantage. Each hypnotic childbirth program has
its strengths and I feel that any hypnosis is
better than none. You will want to make sure
that you choose the right course for your needs
and goals regarding this baby's birth.
Back to Questions.
Will it be painless?
Although the Hypnobabies success rate is the
best that exists in the childbirth hypnosis
field, I cannot promise you a completely
pain-free birth experience. Around 70% of moms
who use Hypnobabies report painless/very
comfortable labors and births with another 15 - 20%
saying their births were not painless, but still
quite manageable. There are many things that
will affect your success, especially your
choices in childbirth and your
commitment level. If you take your Hypnobabies
training seriously, practice your hypnosis cues,
and continue to do your maintenance work until
the baby comes, you will be amazed and thrilled
with your birthing and create fascination and
happy surprise all around you as you use your
Hypnobabies techniques! If you do the
Hypnobabies program as outlined, you have a very
good chance of giving birth without any pain.
Hypnobabies works, so work the program! ☺
Back to Questions.
What if it doesn't work and I feel
pain?
One of the great aspects of the Hypnobabies
program is that it is a complete
childbirth education course. Hypnobabies teaches
you all about things that help make birth easier
and more comfortable: optimal fetal positioning,
positions for labor and birth, stages of labor,
the belly lift (which helps when a mom feels
back labor), massage, vocalizing, and birth
balls, among other things. Hypnobabies includes
many traditional "pain-coping" techniques, but
presents them in a hypno-friendly way as
"comfort measures".
During labor if a mom feels like hypnosis isn't
doing as much as she'd hoped for her comfort,
she can always draw from her knowledge of other
ways to increase comfort (massage, water,
positions, etc.). (Of course, the majority of
Hypnobabies moms who find that the hypnosis
does work well for them still enjoy
employing these other techniques, too.) Even if
a mom isn't totally comfortable using her
hypnosis techniques, she still has an enormous
amount of practice in relaxation and deep,
abdominal breathing--both of which do much to
alleviate pain!
The worst-case scenario is that a mom will have
spent six+ weeks filled with daily relaxation,
positive affirmations about natural childbirth,
bonding time with her baby and her partner, and
education about birth options and normalcy. The
time spent focusing on this unique pregnancy and
baby is valuable no matter what ultimately
happens at the birth.
What I hope for each of my students is that they
leave my classes filled with the confidence and
education they need in order to do whatever it
is they need to do to give birth to their
babies. There are no failures, just mothers
giving birth. ☺
Back to Questions.
When
is the best time to take Hypnobabies during my
pregnancy?
You may take Hypnobabies classes at any time
prior to giving birth provided you start the
program 6 weeks or more before your estimated
due date. Keep in mind that once you finish the
course you will need to continue to maintain
your hypnosis techniques through daily practice.
If you choose to take the course early in your
pregnancy, realize that you still must commit to
practicing every day until the baby comes.
Many women find that starting their Hypnobabies
classes toward the beginning of their third
trimester (around 30 weeks) to be an ideal time, but you will know
what works best for you.
Here is a chart you
can use to help figure out when would be the
best time to start.
Back to Questions.
What is your
cancellation policy?
All deposits are non-refundable. Due to high
interest levels in my Hypnobabies classes, I
frequently turn away students once a schedule
course is full. Therefore, enrolled students who
cancel within 24 hours of the start of the first
class or during the course of a class series
still owe the remaining course balance.
Enrolled students who cancel over 24 hours prior
to the start of the first class in a series will
lose their deposit, but not owe the remaining
course balance. Please be courteous. I
may have students on a waiting list interested
in filling cancellations and it is most helpful
to be able to notify them with time to spare.
Back to Questions.
What is your class schedule?
My class schedule is posted
here. I
update it as my classes fill. Classes do tend to
fill a month or more in advance!
Back to Questions.
Where is your pricing
information?
My prices are listed
here.
Back to Questions.
Where are Hypnobabies
classes held?
My Hypnobabies classes are held in Provo,
Utah. You can find Hypnobabies instructors in
other areas by visiting the
Hypnobabies website.
Back to Questions.
How
does it work? Will I be using mind tricks or
distraction?
Hypnobabies is a highly successful program of
hypnosis for childbirth, based on the work of
Gerald Kein and his Painless Childbirth program.
Rather than using mind tricks or distraction
techniques, you will learn hypno-anesthesia
techniques that will allow you to create and
control your own anesthesia while birthing.
Hypnobabies teaches a variety of techniques to
relax and enter hypnosis instantly and create
anesthesia while still allowing you to open your
eyes and move or talk while remaining
comfortable in hypnosis! Other childbirth
methods teach wonderful relaxation techniques
for use during birthing. While relaxation does
help reduce discomfort, many women find
hypno-anesthesia techniques to be much
more effective (as is evidenced by the very high
percentage of Hypnobabies moms reporting
painless childbirth).
One of the best aspects of this class is that
you will be able to eliminate the fear that
causes tension and pain in birthing, a necessary
step for any woman soon to give birth. Fear
causes tension, which is a source of pain while
birthing.
Back to Questions.
What factors impact a woman's
success using Hypnobabies?
There are four main aspects to success using
hypnosis:
1) Releasing fears about birth. Hypnobabies
students get a recording so that they can listen
to a fear release as often as they want to or
need to. It's really great to listen to in early
labor as well.
2) Reprogramming your beliefs about birth. We
are taught from a very young age that birth is
dangerous, scary, excruciatingly painful, etc.
Hypnobabies childbirth scripts and recordings
give suggestions for fast, easy, comfortable
birth. While a positive attitude regarding birth
certainly is something you need, you also need
to take care of your innermost beliefs, which
are housed in the subconscious. If those inner
beliefs still hold on to "yeah, but birth hurts
really bad" then that's how it will be
experienced. In order to experience a
comfortable birth you have to believe, at your
core, that it's a real possibility. Daily
practice is essential so that your mind is
constantly getting reinforcement for the new
beliefs regarding fast, easy, comfortable birth.
The mind is lazy and will revert back to its old
way of thinking if we don't constantly feed it
positive food for thought. Once you start your
hypnotic childbirth studies you will find the
most success if you commit to practicing every
day until the baby is born.
3) Deep physical relaxation. The first two items
take care of the mental aspects, for the most
part. For the physical, you need to know how to
deeply relax instantly, especially all around
your uterus. Hypnobabies goes further than basic
relaxation and teaches you how to create and
direct your body's natural anesthesia
(endorphins) with very powerful hypno-anesthesia
techniques. Hypnobabies also teaches Eyes Open
Childbirth Hypnosis, which allows Hypnobabies
moms to be much more active while staying
comfortable and relaxed. Movement helps the baby
rotate and descend into the pelvis and helps you
to dilate more evenly and quickly. Again, daily
practice is essential for maximal benefit so
that you really know what your body feels like
when it is totally relaxed and comfortable and
you can reach that deep relaxation instantly.
4) Your choice in birth location (hospital,
birth center, home) and birth provider (doctor,
midwife, etc.). Women who give birth in an
environment that is supportive of their
childbirth goals tend to have easier, more
comfortable, and more joyful births. Read
Burger King and
Birth: Have it your way! for further
discussion on the impact of your choice in birth
location and provider.
Back to Questions.
Should I take Hypnobabies
classes if I'm planning on using medication?
Hypnosis is a tool. Medications are other tools
available for you to use. You make the choice
that is right for you. However, you will be most
satisfied with the results of your Hypnobabies
training if you fully commit to doing the
program as outlined. It's just like wise
Master Yoda said, "Do or do not, there is no
try." ☺
Back to Questions.
I have a low pain
tolerance. Will Hypnobabies work for me?
Using the deep relaxation and hypno-anesthesia
techniques taught in Hypnobabies classes you
will know how to create and control your body's
own natural anesthesia so that you will reduce
or even eliminate pain while birthing. Where
there's little or no pain, even us pain wimps
(yes, I'm one myself) can joyfully experience
natural childbirth.
Back to Questions.
Why should I take an
independent Hypnobabies class instead of a hospital
prepared childbirth or other independent class?
Hypnobabies classes differ from hospital or
other traditional natural childbirth classes in
several key ways:
-
Most childbirth classes teach that
pain--excruciating pain, even--during
childbirth is inevitable. They give you
ways to cope with the pain. Hypnobabies
classes teach you that pain during
childbirth is not inevitable. While
most childbirth classes teach that the more
relaxed you are, the less pain you will
have, Hypnobabies classes teach you how
to actually create and control your own
hypno-anesthesia, which will reduce or even
eliminate pain while birthing. Although the
Hypnobabies success rate is the best that
exists in the childbirth hypnosis field, I
cannot promise you a completely
pain-free birth experience. Around 70% of
moms who use Hypnobabies report
painless/very comfortable births. These
moms worked the program, so the program
worked for them. Occasionally, a few moms
who have practiced diligently will
experience some discomfort. This does not
mean that they failed and most will report
that they are still very satisfied with
their birth experiences and how Hypnobabies
worked for them, especially given the
wonderful effect relaxation has on
pregnancy. Sometimes nature gives us the
unexpected and a painless birth is no longer
a physical possibility. Hypnosis still works
wonderfully for keeping a mom focused and
calm, no matter what turn her birth may
take. I know this from personal experience.
-
Independent Hypnobabies classes teach you
how to plan the birth you want, not the
birth that someone else might expect you to
have. We teach you to remember that this is
your experience and your baby's one
and only birth. Hypnobabies covers a lot of
consumer information, including the benefits
and risks of the more common medical
interventions in American birth today. Women
who have full information about their
prospective choices will make informed
decisions and have fewer regrets. If you don't know your options,
you don't have any!
-
Hypnobabies works wonderfully with a "coach"
(we call them Birth Partners) or alone. All
hypnosis is self-hypnosis and your own
personal commitment and practice as the one
giving birth will have the greatest
impact on your experience. With Hypnobabies
your Birth Partner(s) will be very
knowledgeable and experienced in aiding your
comfort and hypno-anesthesia. If you do
not have a partner (or friend or sister
or mom) to attend classes with you, consider
hiring a
doula (professional labor support
person) to be with you during your birthing
time. I will be more than happy to help your
doula to understand how best to help you as
a hypno-mom and your doula is welcome (and
encouraged) to attend classes with you.
-
I, as an independent childbirth educator, am
not employed by a hospital and can therefore
teach facts that may or may not be in line
with hospital policy. The hospital can't
fire me as a childbirth educator because I'm
hired by you, not them.
Back to Questions.
Should I take a live class or order
the Hypnobabies Home Study course?
If you live in an area where you have the option
to take a live class, that is recommended. The
live Hypnobabies class has advantages over the
home study course. A live class gives you the
opportunity to interact with other students and
an instructor who can answer your questions as
they come up. Attending a class will motivate
some students who may not exercise the
discipline necessary to complete a home study
option (Birth Partners generally benefit from
live classes in particular). There are elements
of a live Hypnobabies class that are not
included in the home study option due to the
restrictive nature of packaging a course for
self-instruction. Live Hypnobabies classes are
simply a lot of fun, too! The Hypnobabies Network
strongly encourages taking a live class if there
is one available near you because more is
included in the course. Click the link to see
the
differences between the home study and live
course.
If you live too far away from an instructor to
feasibly take a six week series of classes, you
might consider contacting the nearest instructor
to see if you can come to Class 6 after
completing the home study course so that you
can participate in the Birth Rehearsal and watch
the Hypnobabies birth videos.
Back to Questions.
Do I need a partner?
No. Hypnobabies works wonderfully with a "coach"
(we call them Birth Partners) or alone. All
hypnosis is self-hypnosis and your own personal
commitment and practice as the one giving birth
will have the greatest impact on your
experience. However, if you are going to have a
support person be with you as you birth, it's
best if he or she knows how to help so that he
or she doesn't unintentionally hinder your
efforts. This is why partners (or another
support person) are encouraged to attend the
classes as well. With Hypnobabies your Birth
Partner(s) will be very knowledgeable and
experienced in aiding your comfort and hypno-anesthesia.
If you do not have a partner (or friend or
sister or mom) to attend classes with you,
consider hiring a
doula (professional labor support person) to
be with you during your birthing time. I will be
more than happy to help your doula to understand
how best to help you as a hypno-mom and your
doula is welcome (and encouraged) to attend
classes with you.
Back to Questions.
I have fast labors. Will
Hypnobabies work for me?
Obviously your body is already very comfortable
with opening to birth your baby. Short labors
can be more intense, which is why Hypnobabies is
so great. Using your Hypnobabies skills, you'll
be able to create instant relaxation and hypno-anesthesia
so that the experience of your labor--even if it
proceeds quickly--will be more comfortable and
less intense.
Back to Questions.
I have long labors. Will
Hypnobabies work for me?
Labor lengths vary greatly from woman to woman
and many factors come into play, only some of
which can be controlled. Genetics and your own
body's ideal birth progression rate are what
they are. You can't change them. Other factors
that come into play are your choice of provider
(a supportive provider will allow you to relax
and feel safe), your choice of birthplace (an
environment in which you feel safe and relaxed
will allow you to open more easily), fetal
position (babies can be encouraged to adopt
optimal position, but sometimes babies persist
to present awkwardly), your beliefs about birth
(fearing birth or believing birth to be safe and
normal), and your level of relaxation during
labor and birth.
Hypnobabies teaches about all of these other
factors and focuses heavily on the last two:
releasing fears about birth so that you can
relax and teaching you how to relax and
create hypno-anesthesia instantly so that your
labor will be comfortable. You will learn in
class how your body works more easily and
quickly when you are relaxed. Hypnobabies moms
typically see a reduction of labor length
because they are so relaxed. Even if your labor
is longer than average, Hypnobabies will allow
you to perceive the time as passing quickly and
will help you from becoming fatigued.
Back to Questions.
I'm a first-time
mom. Will Hypnobabies work for me?
Yes. Hypnobabies works
wonderfully for first-time mothers. The great
thing about giving birth for the first time is
that you don't have past experiences to create
certain expectations. You can adopt positive
beliefs about birth more easily and can make
good decisions to create a positive birth
experience without having to go through a
negative experience first.
Back to Questions.
I've had a baby
before and it really hurt. Will Hypnobabies work for
me?
Yes. Hypnobabies works
fantastically well for women who have given
birth before. The great thing about having given
birth before is that you have a good sense of
what you liked and what you didn't, which helps
you make more focused decisions the next time
around. Hypnobabies helps you release your
fears, anxieties, and limiting thoughts about
birth which in turn gives you the ability to
relax deeply--a skill you maybe didn't have when
giving birth before. Hypnobabies also gives you
powerful hypno-anesthesia techniques which
enable you to give birth very comfortably. With
your new Hypnobabies skills your future birth
experiences will be profoundly different from
past birth experiences.
Back to Questions.
I'm very analytical. Will
Hypnobabies work for me?
Yes. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. If you want
to reach a state of hypnosis, you will. If you
believe Hypnobabies will work, you choose to
allow it to work, and you practice
the techniques, it will work. Hypnobabies works
for all types of thinkers, learners, and
personality types. The smarter you are, the more
effective hypnosis is.
Back to Questions.
Will I be in a trance or
disconnected from the experience?
No. Think about a time when you were lying in
bed, not quite awake and not quite asleep,
either. It's a very peaceful, relaxed
state. You're aware of things going on around
you (such as music playing, the wind blowing,
traffic outside, etc.), but you just don't
care. You could wake up if you wanted to or if
you needed to, or you could go to sleep. This is
the place Hypnobabies teaches you to reach
during your birthing. You will always be aware
of what's going on around you. Using the
hypnosis techniques taught in Hypnobabies you
will always be relaxed with hypno-anesthesia
flowing exactly where you need it, even when you
choose to open your eyes and move around.
While using Hypnobabies, you will be in a
heightened state of awareness. You will feel
more in tune with yourself and more connected
with your baby. You will not be passive. You
will feel the power of your uterine muscles as
they surge with each birthing wave, these
sensations will simply be free of
discomfort. You will be in tune with your
instincts and will do what your body tells you
you need to do.
Back to Questions.
Will my mind be under someone
else's control?
No. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. No one can
guide you into a state of hypnosis unless you
want them to. Once in a state of hypnosis, no
one can tell you act in a way contrary to your
core values or cause you to believe something
that goes against your core beliefs. It's up to
you to choose which suggestions you will accept
and which suggestions you will reject. If
someone tried to manipulate you into doing
something that you didn't want to do, you would
come out of hypnosis instantly. You are always
in control. You are welcome (and encouraged) to
listen to each of your Hypnobabies CDs in a
normal waking state prior to listening to them
for guided hypnosis. This will allow you to know
exactly what suggestions will be given.
Back to Questions.
I'm a Christian. Is Hypnobabies
against my religion?
No. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. No one will
be exerting mind control over you to get you to
do evil things. As a Christian myself, I believe
that hypnosis is a wonderful tool given to us by
God. That said, if you do not feel comfortable
with the idea of hypnosis even after learning
more about it, another childbirth education
course would be a better fit for you. If you are
a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints,
this brief statement may help you.
Back to Questions.
Should I take Hypnobabies
if there's a good chance I'll be having a cesarean
birth?
Hypnobabies has recently developed a Cesarean
Birth preparation program using hypnosis so that
moms giving birth surgically can also do so
calmly and joyfully. Please contact the
Hypnobabies Network for more information or to order
the program. As an instructor I teach
Hypnobabies live classes only. To order additional
materials or the home study program, you must
contact the Hypnobabies Network. (714) 952-BABY
(2229)
Back to Questions.
I'm less than 6 weeks away from my
due date, what can I do?
Call Kerry (the creator of Hypnobabies) at 714
952-BABY (2229). She has a set of CDs called
Joyful Birthing that can be ordered for $35.
Back to Questions. |
