Benefits of Hypnosis for Caesareans

Can HypnoBirthing be beneficial to someone who has special circumstances or who must have a C-section?

Medical assistance and intervention do have a place and are sometimes necessary. HypnoBirthing™ helps eliminate unnecessary intervention and puts the power in the hands of the expectant mother and father, as they trust in the body's natural ability to birth gently and easily, and free of fear.

When medical interventions are necessary e.g. the caesarean, it can be a life saving wonder that saves mother and baby’s lives. When birthing mothers require a caesarean section, many HypnoBirthing™ techniques are useful in helping mothers and birth companion, keep mothers calm and relaxed. HypnoBirthing™, the Mongan method, is a comprehensive antenatal course that will empower you to achieve the birth journey, and outcome that you desire.

If you are facing a necessary Caesarian, HypnoBirthing™ techniques will see you through in many ways. You don’t have to “go it alone”

Many HypnoBirthing mums, who have intervention, find that HypnoBirthing really helped - even if they were induced, or ended up with a caesarean. The aim of HypnoBirthing is not a completely pain-free and picture-perfect 'natural' birth (although in large number of low risk women that is possible). It is to have a calmer, easier, more comfortable birthing process - where you are in control of what you can control – and in a way that most mirrors your circumstances.

HypnoBirthing focuses on relaxation, bonding and the ways in which you can truly enjoy meeting your babies for the very first time. This can make a profound positive difference in the way you birth, and view your birth.

HypnoBirthing Is Beneficial to Moms Who Must Have A C-section — Written by Sharon Gourlay, Lancaster, Ohio:

As a mother who must have C-sections I used the HypnoBirthing™ techniques throughout my pregnancies with my two daughters, Samantha and Isabella; and HypnoBirthing™ helped me in several different ways:

We owe a great deal to Leila and her teachings and we feel blessed to have had such a wonderful experience.
Eleanor in Epsom, Surrey

Prenatal Bonding

HypnoBirthing™ encouraged me to connect with my unborn child. After having several traumatic pregnancies I found it hard to bond with my baby. By singing, talking, and being consciously aware of my child I found a positive connection to my baby. I wasn't living in the past I was engaging the present through various creative bonding techniques. HypnoBirthing™ embraces the idea of prenatal bonding and this is helpful to ALL mothers.

Breathing Techniques

Why would I need to learn breathing techniques if having a C-section? The point of the breathing techniques for a mother having a C-section is to help slow the body down. Why do you want to do that? Nerves and stress can impact the mother's ability to take anesthesia and impact her surgery. Using the breathing techniques can help facilitate the body accepting the anesthesia easily. It allows a Mom to relax and use hypnosis effectively. Breathing deeply can be a quick way to calm oneself to be consciously present in the moment without stress. This is an effective tool for parenting, breast-feeding, and life.

Rainbow Relaxation

The Rainbow Relaxation CD is the HypnoBirthing Program CD and it was created with the primary purpose of helping Mom to relax and be able to use her natural expulsive reflex. However, there are so many more ways in which the Rainbow CD is helpful. It can be used for prenatal bonding, getting better in tune with your body, and just relaxing. If you are relaxed before, during, and after surgery your recovery will be easier, quicker, and hopefully filled with less pain or no pain at all. Donald Curtis said "Relaxation means releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one's being". The relaxation that this CD helps foster is a deep feeling of relaxation that is critical post birthing for being an effective parent and again with breast-feeding.

Birth Preferences

You might think, “I am having a Cesarean Section so I have no Birth Preferences, right?” That is not true at all. In HypnoBirthing™ we go over all of the various areas that a vaginal birth preference document incorporates. There is no reason that the same principles used to create a vaginal birth plan cannot be used for a C-section birth (Pre-Admission, Admission, Prior to Surgery, Surgery, Recovery, and Baby Options). If you must have a C-section, we encourage you to research your options for anesthesia, surgery, and recovery. There is even a family friendly gentle C-section procedure that was developed in England for OB's to use that mimics some of the sensations of a vaginal birth for the baby. We can provide you with that information to present to your doctor. Most of all we encourage open communication between you and your care providers. That includes your entire health team to include OB/GYN, Interns, Labor and Birthing Nurses, Anesthesiologist, and post care nurses.

Fear Release

In HypnoBirthing™ we incorporate a fear release session to help mothers to leave their fears behind and feel empowered going into their births. Just because you are having a C-section does not mean you cannot be empowered. Having a baby can cause parents to have some serious fears. If you couple those fears with that of the major surgery of a C-section you have a parents who are stressed, worried, and not relaxed to welcome their baby into the world. Doing the HypnoBirthing™ fear release exercise can open communication up between couples, allow them an opportunity to resolve concerns, and participate in an exercise that helps them to release their fears. Through releasing these fears we are able to have parents who are calm and confident. This is a solid base to begin their adventure into parenting.

Knowledge and Education

Through taking the HypnoBirthing™ class parents are encouraged to investigate their choices in birthing. They are taught how to ask questions of the birthing team in a respectful manner while being clear that the birthing energy is their own. They are good parents first before being "good patients". Learning as much as possible is important when presented with a special circumstance or a surgical birth. Parents are exposed to options to help empower and educate them on alternative holistic approaches that can be beneficial. Some of these holistic approaches can include hypnotherapy, acupuncture, herbal remedies, prenatal massage, and even reiki.

Hypnotherapy

Hypnotherapy can have a huge impact in helping a mother through a C-section and during recovery. Many HypnoBirthing practitioners are hypnotherapists themselves. This can help a mother in many ways. Parents who use hypnotherapy for pre- and post-surgery preparation find their anxiety is reduced. They are calm, and confident which promotes healing and a speedy recovery. Hypnosis will help to reduce pain and discomfort after surgery. It will help reduce bleeding during and after surgery, which is helpful for mothers recovering from birth. Many moms report that it reduces the need for postoperative drugs so they can breast feed without worry of drugs passing through to the baby. From a recovery perspective, I was able to walk after my C-sections between 3 and 5 hours after surgery. I had very little discomfort, and my incisions healed rapidly.

Every best wish! x

Subscribe to InspiringBirths

* indicates required