Hypno-Labor Birth Preparation - An excerpt from my course

Today I thought I would share a small portion of the Hypno - Labor course I am creating.  This portion is about things you can do to prepare before and during labor to help it be the best experience possible.  There is more to this in my course, but this is what I have written thus far for this section that I am sharing with you of my course.  Enjoy!

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What does it mean to be in LABOR?

According to Dictionary.com Labor is a “productive activity... (to) exert one's powers of body or mind... (in a) job or task to be done... (that takes) physical or mental work, especially of a hard or fatiguing kind.”

Labor is just a job to be done that will take some work. Not all work is hard, long, and frustrating though. In fact much work is fun to do, and nearly all work has the potential to be peaceful and even relaxing. For example a big task that most Americans have to face regularly is doing the dishes. This is one of those household chores that I usually just dread, and because of the way I feel about it, it's hard to do them sometimes. However, there have been plenty of days that I have woken up rejuvinated from a good nights sleep and been happy about digging into working on the dishes. On these days when I've had the good attitude and just went at it, it wasn't emotionally painful to do them at all, but instead was methodically relaxing. Even though birth is a very different task it can have the same effects, dependent upon personal expectations and perceptions brought into the labor by the Laboring Mother and those closest to her or who are attending her labor.

Instead of viewing birth as this painful and dreaded task thats gotta be done at some point in pregnancy, if we can switch our thought process to think of it in a positive light then it will be much more rewarding easier on us in that pivotal moment. There are many aspects of staying positive though, especially when performing a task that takes so much from us in every aspect: emotionally, spiritually, & physically. Knowing that we need to use all these areas in the laboring process, it only makes sense that we should also individually prepare in each one of those areas. If we only prepare in one or two of these areas we may find ourselves unprepared for unexpected feelings or events during the labor. This being the case, it is good to learn all the coping strategies and problem solving solutions available naturally to prevent unexpected stressors that will hurt or inhibit the labor.

Spiritually Prepared Birth – Turning It Over to Christ

The labor of birth is the most empowering and noble of any work or accomplishments. Creating a child through procreation and then birthing that child into the world is the closest act we have in this world to being like unto God. It can be related to Christs atonement very easily as well. An amazing woman who was with child told me of her birth story and how she turned to Christ. Her story will change the way I look at birth forever. She talked of how she felt a spiritual presence so strongly and then when things started to become very difficult for her that feeling left for a time. She related that to when Christ suffered on the cross the spirit of his Father had to leave him for a time too, and that she felt great pain and suffering just as Christ had to bear (though not to the extent he had to bear it). It is so true that birth can be related to Christs Atonement in so many ways. May I add to what she said that the blood spilt during birth also can symbolize the blood that Christ spilt for us. This was a powerful experience for her and similar experiences have happened to other women I've spoken to, though her's was the most powerful one I've heard. The other way to look at birth in relation to Christ is that he has given us great power by suffering the atonement. He came to this earth that we may learn of him and follow him to make it to our own Celestial Glory in the next life. He can literally take away our pains and sorrows, be they emotional, spiritual, or even physical. He has given us the power of the priesthood which is the power of God used under the proper authority. As children of God we all carry many of his attributes and have more power than we typically think of. As we turn to Christ as our Father in Heaven has asked us to do, it strengthens us spiritually, which in turn can help us more easily strengthen ourselves emotionally and physically as well. Naturally our bodies are synergistic, so when one area like our spirituality is suffering or in need the other areas can start to suffer as well. This is true when the other areas start to decline as well for causing our spirituality to weaken.  So if we can let go of our fears and have full faith in Christ, it gives him the opportunity to give us the kind of birth that we truly desire.  If we work on being well rounded and spiritually sound in preparation for birth, then it can help us have a discomfort free birth, even a comforting & empowering one.

Emotionally Prepared Birth – Positive Mind-Set, Meditation & Self-Hypnosis

The 4 Laws of Pain Free Birth

1)Psycho-Physical Response: Body has chemical physical response for each thought.

2)Harmonious Attraction: When we direct our thoughts in a positive direction such as glass half full rather than half empty, we improve the quality of what will happen and how it will affect us.

3)Repetition: The more we practice and repeat what we want to achieve, the better we will be at it; not only through our conscious mindset and physical condition, but also through our subconscious power.

4)Motivation: You can do anything if you are motivated enough and simply allow it to happen.

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The Power of Words

Words have a very great power over us as people. It is our key source to communicate with others, but also helps us internalize and face what we feel within ourselves as well.

If we use words that symbolize or feel scary to our inner subconscious selves than our body will respond defensively. That is the reason it can be so empowering to practice using words that are more positively geared.

A good example of this is to refrain from using the word pain when talking about birth or contractions but rather focus on using words like strong sensations, tension, or pressure. In regards to contractions specifically words like surges or waves may be preferable to keep the subconscious working its magic.

To help the subconscious keep your body free from pain, focusing on what you feel rather than just thinking "oh this hurts" is very important. When you feel discomfort then changing positions can increase your comfort and your babies comfort. This discomfort is actually a healthy signal to you that moving into a different position can be more beneficial to your body. So if you start to feel discomfort, you can move and change positions, however also step back and observe what you are feeling as you do this. "I feel the baby moving into my pelvis…. I feel myself opening up for my baby… I feel the baby moving down and turning… I feel a wave of tightening move into my muscles like the tide, then move out as I breathe…"

Practice makes perfect so its important to practice 15-30 minutes per day. One way of practicing in the evening is to play the visualizations right before bed or even while asleep when your subconscious seems the most active.

Physically Prepared Birth – Knowledge, Health, Actions & Coping Strategies

With knowledge comes power. In our society most people believe they can't do something unless they have all the knowledge needed. Though birth is possible with very little knowledge, it can still bring great comfort and relief. The more a woman knows and prepares the more options she will have to fall back on for things to do when things take an unexpected turn in labor

Dietary Tips for Optimal Results Pre-Labor

-Red Raspberry Leaf Tea - Daily will strengthen uterus and other organs along with correct hormones.

-The Master Cleanse - This is also known as the Lemonade cleanse. It has shown to help all the organs function more efficiently and smoothly as well as help the elasticity of the pelvic floor to prevent tearing. This is 10 days of any teas or supplements that are desired but also no food other than the drink. The ingredients are fresh lemons (organic if possible for best results), Grade B Maple Syrup, Powdered Cayenne Pepper. It is either half a lemon or 2 Tablespoons of fresh pressed lemon juice with 1-2 Tablespoons Grade B Maple Syrup and 1/10 tsp. Cayenne mixed into 10 oz of good water. Drink as often as hunger indicates and feel free to drink water and take other supplements as needed.

-Omega 3,6,&9 Supplement - Daily to improve health and increase tissue elasticity.

-Perineal Stretching - Daily with the help of a Latex glove while sitting on the toilet put primrose oil (helpful to scarred tissue especially) on the glove and then rub the tissues in the perineal area. Every part of the tissues down there just needs a good massage and it really prepares it to stretch a lot more easily.

-Breathing & Meditation - The more practice with this the gentler the birth can become.

-Eating a Nutritious Diet Full of "Super Foods" - When your diet includes all the micronutrients that are needed to perform at its fullest through the healthiest foods you are setting yourself up for success in so many ways.

Dietary & Other Tips for Optimal Results in Labor

-Red Raspberry Leaf Tea - 1 Quart Freshly Made : Drink entire quart when desiring to push labor along at home or right when arriving to the hospital. This will take away discomfort and help the uterine muscles function more fluidly so that the labor is spead up substantially.

-Eat during labor to sustain the right amount of energy (but only light foods).

-Drink in labor - Don't let yourself get dehydrated. Warm teas or warm "Lemonade" from above have been used in asian culture to help the laboring woman not become dehydrated and stays down easier for most women.

-Perineal Stretching - This can just give an extra boost to the tissues down there so they have an easier time stretching.

-Warm Perineal Warm Wash Cloths - These can be put on while in labor before it is strong enough to push. The warmth helps the tissues open more quickly and easily.

-Dim Lights - Helps relax the situation so that stress cannot inhibit the labor.

-Soft Music or Nature Sounds Playing - Also is a relaxing way to help stress stay out of the birth process.

-Essential Oils Diffusing - Using a relaxing essential oil in a diffuser during labor such as lavender oil can be very relaxing to the spirit, helps with alertness of the mind, and also gives the mothers body some great health benefits.

-Relaxed and Comforting words and touch from birth coach - These have a very powerful effect on the mind and are extremely important.

-Breathing & Meditations - More than anything else, our bodies need oxygen through the blood to function properly. This makes it crucial to have a constant awareness of our deep breathing to & for the baby.

-Affirmations/Mental Coaching Statements - Our mind is one of the most powerful tools we use in birth. That is where the signal that we should have pain vs. pressure comes from and if we are scared this causes our mind to send a signal to the rest of the body that something is wrong and then the muscles start working against each other instead of together. This causes pain and cramping. However with the proper mindset & positive affirmations along with some of the previously practiced self-hypnosis techniques all that nature requires us to feel is pressure from the uterus pushing the baby through the birth canal.

-Light Touch Massage - This creates a chemical reaction in the body creating natural pain relievers 200x stronger than morphine along with oxytocine which will help labor progress.

-Pressure Points & Acupressure - These are a good coping technique to release more feel good hormones and inhibit pain. Essential oils such as Lavender may also be used on these points if desired.

-Movement & Positioning - This makes all the difference in the world. If your body isn't working optimally in a certain position there will be discomfort which is a big signal to change positions so that it can be optimal for the birth. This can include many types of movement and positions including those recommended by those who use belly dance in birth.

-Making Primal Noises - Surprisingly this can make the labor function better. There is so much momentum going through the laboring body that doing deep primal sounds can direct the energy and pressure where it needs to go better and helps the mother release some of the tension and adrenaline as well. This is usually only done during or right before the pushing phase of labor.

-Special Attire - Some women prefer no clothing as their adrenaline starts to kick in during labor, however there are many who prefer to have something on. If you know you are one of the latter, or do not know how you will feel I highly recommend that you think about finding a special birth dress. There are birth skirts meant to be taken off once the baby has almost arrived but even better than that is a dress that is low cut and stretchy enough to nurse right after birth if that's desired, is short enough to not get in the way and long enough to feel covered, but most of all makes you feel beautiful for this amazing moment. This can be a great help to many women to help release tensions so that the birth will flow better and be more empowering.

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That was just part of Chapter 1, I hope you all enjoyed it and that in someones preparation for birth that it can help.  My last birth (3rd child), was completely pain free due to the techniques I used and I have developed a great love for birth because of it.  My hope is that one day every woman will be allotted the knowledge and opportunity to have the perfect pain and discomfort free birth that those of us that want children desire.