FAQ

What is Birthbody?

BirthBody is a mind-body preparation approach to pregnancy and birth.

Why do you use the term BirthBody?

BirthBody is a metaphor for your body’s amazing ability to give birth. BirthBody is based on your body’s physiology - what’s inside and how it works, BirthBody is a state of mind-body that you can experience before birth begins.

Is BirthBody a Programme?

No. BirthBody is not a programme; it is a preparation approach, shaped to your own (and your birth partner’s) needs.

What is the BirthBody approach?

This approach is based upon your body’s birth physiology.

What’s inside, how it works, and how you can help it do it’s best. Physiology, combined with conscious and subconscious learning.

Conscious skills and techniques include;

• Active Birth,
• Breathing,
• Mental preparation natural pain relief,
• Optimal foetal positioning and relaxation skills and techniques.

Birth-Hypnosis allows subconscious learning of your BirthBody state of mind-body. These are combined with the knowledge, skills and experiences that you have already acquired.

Why do BirthBody sessions include relaxation and hypnosis?

Your ability to relax will help reduce pain caused by tension. Birth-Hypnosis offers a deeper mind-body relaxation and enables you to experience the state of mind you are likely to experience during birth. You cannot practice giving birth, but you can practice being in the state of mind that helps you to give birth with the support of your body’s natural pain relief. Women who are not familiar with this state of mind, may not recognise the deeper control that the hypnotic consciousness their BirthBody offers and may attempt to “pull” themselves Into more familiar conscious awareness.

Can everyone experience hypnosis?

Yes. Birth-Hypnosis is based upon your natural hypnotic ability. This is the natural state of mind-body that you experience during birth. In this state you are focused, alert, aware and calm. Most woman (and birth partners) find this a pleasant, relaxing state.

What are the benefits of using birth-hypnosis?

Some of the benefits of birth-hypnosis include: relaxation, altering your perception of time and pain, accessing the state of mind you are likely to experience during birth. Research and women’s experiences suggest that you may experience a shorter and less painful birth with birth-hypnosis.

How is BirthBody different from programs based on hypnosis?

In a program-based approach, you are learning the program and making it work for you. Some programs rigidly rely on hypnotic techniques that may not be suitable for you. This approach starts with you - what you already know and have already experienced and we build upon that. You learn additional information and skills that are based on your natural ability and individual needs.

What’s the difference between group and private BirthBody sessions?

Group sessions include group and paired discussion to explore your concern sand your hopes and fears. While there is less focus on your individual concerns, there is the chance to share with and learn from others. In private sessions, the focus is entirety on you (and your birth partner), your baby and your pregnancy and birth. Your first session will include more time for us to explore your concerns and your hopes and fears. Also, if you have one, we will review your birth plan.

What happens in a BirthBody session?

Your first session begins with discussing your hopes, your concerns, your worries and fears. We will then begin to reduce your worry and fear with information and relaxation, combined with the knowledge, skills and experiences that you already have inside you.

You will learn about your BirthBody - your body’s physiology

What’s Inside and how it works and how you can help it do its best.

You will experience a series of exercises, which will assess your relaxation response and help us discover your natural hypnotic ability. If you are interested, you can then learn how to experience and use birth-hypnosis. This enables you to access the state of mind you are in during birth; a calm, focused, alert and aware state.

What happens in subsequent BirthBody sessions?

Subsequent sessions will follow a similar pattern - building your understanding of your BirthBody, deepening your relaxation response and increasing your hypnotic ability with birth-hypnosis in anticipation of contractions and your body’s birth process.

After an initial session (group or private), you can continue to attend private sessions, each of which will include a deepening of your understanding of your BirthBody - your body’s physiology - what’s inside and how it works and additional things that you can do to help it do its best. You will practice your BirthBody awareness along with mental preparation and visualisation to create a mental rehearsal of birth. Each subsequent session will include relaxation, self-hypnosis and a birth-hypnosis session which is taped; offering you the chance to practice outside of sessions, both self- hypnosis and birth-hypnosis with your individually created hypnosis tape. You will also be able to borrow books from the BirthBody lending library.

Are the skills I’ll be learning just for pregnancy and birth?

No. Although the focus of BirthBody session is to prepare you for birth, the mental preparation and relaxation skills you learn will last a lifetime. After your baby’s birth, your relaxation skills will help you (and your partner) and your baby to be calm. If you choose to breast feed your baby, your relaxation can aid breastfeeding. You will learn techniques to help you feel rested even if you experience broken sleep - a common complaint of new parents.

How many sessions will I attend?

The number of sessions attended is up to you. You will be given feedback and suggestions to help you decide. Ideally, you will attend session until you feel confidant and ready for birth. The number of sessions depends upon a number of factors. Some factors for include: what you already know, the kind of birth you are aiming for, your previous experience(s) of pregnancy and birth, how much fear you are experiencing, your desire to use or avoid medicated pain relief, where you are giving birth, who will be with you and other individual needs.

What is the average number of sessions women attend?

Most women will get the skills and experiences they need in three sessions. Individual factors may mean that you attend fewer or more sessions.

I’ve been doing other preparation; can I still use this approach?

Yes. This approach starts with you - what you already know and have already experienced and we build upon that.

How late can I be to come to a BirthBody session?

Come to sessions at any stage. Even a single session just before (or even after) your due date can help you feel more ready for birth.

Can I come to sessions on my own?

Yes. You can attend some or all of your sessions on your own.

Can I bring my partner, birth partner or Doula with me?

Yes. You can attend sessions with your partner / birth partner or Doula or both. It can be a good idea for the person (or people) who will be with you to attend one or more sessions.

What if I don’t want a natural birth?

Can I still use this approach? Yes. This approach supports the choices that you (and your partner) decide are best for you and your baby.

If I decided to: have an epidural, caesarean section or use pain relief, is there any point using this approach?

No matter what kind of birth experience you are aiming for, it’s good to be prepared for something different. The skills that you learn will prepare you to keep calm and in control, whatever your experience. You and your baby will start to enjoy the benefits of relaxation as soon as you begin. After your baby’s birth, your relaxation skills will help you be a calm parent.

I have been using a programme, but I don’t feel as confident as I had hoped. Is there any point coming to a BirthBody session?

Definitely. We will review and add to the information, skills and techniques that you have already learned to ensure that you feel more confidant and in control. We will also make sure that you experience your natural hypnotic ability. If you want a tape to practice with, we will book either a two hour single session unless you choose to attend more than one.

What are the benefits of using this approach?

The main benefit of using this approach is that you will be active and involved each step along the way. When you are doing everything within your control, you are more likely to have a positive experience of birth, whatever the outcome. It is impossible to predict what your own experience will be.

How will I use what I learn during the birth?

You will have learned skills and techniques that you may find helpful during your birth process. You will be encouraged to listen to your BirthBody, trust your self and your instincts. When you experience your birth process you will use your conscious awareness, responding to how you feel, moving and breathing into comfort and relaxation. When you drift inside your BirthBody, you experience your subconscious learning and access a deeper control - the part of you that knows what to do. Some women work together with their partner/birth partner/doula. Some women report listening to their tapes during their birth process - on the way to hospital, when they need to rest or when they lose focus. Some women go inside themselves. Usually, women report using different things to help at different stages of their birth process.

What feedback do you get from people who come to BirthBody sessions?

Some of the feedback received from women:

• Less fear,
• Feeling more relaxed.
• Surprised to find that they can relax.
• Feeling calmer.
• Experiencing better sleep.
• Feeling more positive about the birth.
• Looking forward to holding their baby.
• Knowing what questions to ask hospital staff.
• More confidant about standing up for what they want.
• Finding the strength needed to cope with contractions.
• Breathing their babies out.
• More in control.
• The baby seems really calm.

Here are some of the things women have reported:

“I think the preparation we did really made a difference”,
“I just went with the contractions and it was fine”.
“It was just like I imaged”.
“It was as if my body took over and my mind just got out of the way”.
“I used the birth ball a lot, I really lost myself in the rhythmic rocking”.
“I felt in control, and when it got on top of me, I just knew what to do”.
“All I used was gas and air”.
“I actually could have done it without the epidural; next time I will do without one”.
“When they suggested induction, we tried some of the alternatives, and I managed to get going again”.
“The midwives said that I would need something to help with the strength of (induced) contractions, but I just went inside my BirthBody, into that hypnotic state, and I was fine”.
“It was hard not to focus on the needle and the IV, but I did my breathing, did some self hypnosis and I coped better than I thought I would”.
“The midwives said that they didn’t know how I was managing (posterior labour) without any intervention for so long”.
“I don’t know how I would have coped with the placement of the epidural without my self-hypnosis”.
“The birth wasn’t how I was hoping, but the minute I saw him I was filled with relief, we were fine and I could get on with the next stage, being a mum”.
“We were disappointed when the baby didn’t turn, but we knew that we had done all we could to help her turn, so we were more accepting, disappointed, but accepting of the caesarean”.
“We were so pleased to have avoided a second c-section, we all just kept calm with breathing and I did some visualisation to get into a really deep hypnotic state- the midwives said it obviously helped”.
“This baby is just so chilled out. I’m sure all that relaxing has made a difference.”

What kinds of people come to BirthBody Preparation sessions?

There really is no typical sort of people attending BirthBody sessions. Most women are first time mothers, though sometimes women attend sessions if their previous birth was not what they hoped it would be. Often women have worries and fears that are keeping them from enjoying their pregnancies. Some women describe themselves as naturally tense. Some women or partners have specific phobias or fears. Some women (and birth partners) are worried about the pain of contractions. Some women seek out an approach based on birth-hypnosis anticipating an easier time. Sometimes a friend or health professional recommends birth-hypnosis /BirthBody sessions. Some women have detailed birth plans, or strong ideas about what they want (or don’t want) while others take a ‘wait and see’ approach.

If a woman or her baby has a condition or problem that dictates a certain type of birth (that they might not otherwise choose), some women decide to do some preparation to make sure it is a positive start. Some women have previously had a caesarean birth and want to experience a vaginal birth after caesarean (VBAC). Some women come back again because their preparations with birth-hypnosis made a real difference and they want to make use of it again.