A ROMANTIC OR INTIMATE
ENVIRONMENT IS USUALLY
BEST TO ASSIST IN
HYPNOBIRTHING – LOW
LIGHTS, SOFT SOOTHING
MUSIC, COMFORTABLE
SURROUNDINGS.
What kind of environment is best for hypnobirthing?
We usually say a romantic or intimate environment is usually best to
assist in hypnobirthing – low lights, soft soothing music, comfortable
surroundings etc; but it is really up to the individual woman as to what she
wants and finds conducive to calm and her practice. At Pindara, we are able
to give control of the environment over to the mother so she can create her
own personal space using music, lighting, aromatherapy and warm water
immersion if she desires.
Is hypnobirthing for everyone?
I would say any woman can hypnobirth, but it isn’t something everyone
will want to do. It very much depends on the individual. Hypnobirthing can
be used effectively in any birth experience – natural or caesarean section.
The techniques learned can help a woman stay calm and focused in either
situation. It is important to be clear though that people can and do experience
varying degrees of success with hypnobirthing.
Do you need to practice hypnobirthing or can you decide when you go
into labour that you want to hypnobirth?
You definitely need to practice hypnobirthing. It is not something you can
just pick-up on the day. Hypnobirthing is a learned and practiced skill. Well
before the birth, mothers will practice being in a calm and deeply relaxed
state, almost so that it becomes muscle memory, enabling you to recall that
state of relaxation and place yourself there in whatever circumstance. Often
mothers will listen to a series of recordings that they will practice to and
when it comes time for birth they will play these recordings which then
trigger the practiced state of relaxation and calm.
What is the midwife’s role in hypnobirthing?
To support the mother in any way we can. We can be as hands on or as hands
off as the mother would like. Birth is a very individual experience.
Would you recommend hypnobirthing to expectant mothers?
Most definitely, because staying calm is the key to coping with labour and
birth, regardless of whether you use pain relief or not, decide to have a
C-section or choose natural birth.
58 Pindara Magazine
ISSUE 14 | 2018