About Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing allows you to experience birth in an atmosphere of calm and relaxation,
so that the birthing muscles of your body can relax and gently open as nature intended.
If you are experiencing fear and therefore tensing the muscles in your body, your body
will work against you and labour times can be much longer, more painful and can lead to
medical intervention. Hypnobirthing will teach you tools that can help you to relax and
therefore help you to have a more comfortable, positive birthing experience.

If the birth is calm, gentle and drug free for you, it’s also calm, gentle and drug free for
your baby, so this little person arrives in the world alert, and with a mother who is alert
and ready to receive it lovingly and attentively. Birth is the most formative experience
of our life, and that first relationship your baby forms, will in turn, affect every other
relationship throughout its life. Also, because Hypnobirthing babies have no trauma to
recover from, they tend to be more calm, serene and content.

How did Hypnobirthing Start?

Probably the person accredited with the origin of the term Hypnobirthing is Michelle
Leclaire O’Neill in 1987 (www.leclairemethod.com), who authored books on the
subject including “Hypnobirthing the Original Method”. Her work was based partly on
previous research by the English obstetrician Dr. Grantly Dick Reid. Marie Mongan who
founded the US based Hypnobirthing Institute was also instrumental in the spread of
Hypnobirthing.

What is Hypnosis?

Hypnosis is a naturally induced state of relaxed concentration – a state of mind and body
in which we communicate suggestions to our subconscious mind. This part of our mind
influences what we think, how we feel, and the choices we make. It can actually control
pain. There is no magic to achieving success with self-hypnosis. Almost anyone who
chooses to can reach deep relaxation and redirected focus.

When it is time for your baby to be born, you will be fully awake and involved.