2023 Author: Jessica James | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-05-21 03:31
What is this method and why more and more women are becoming "hypnomam"? The mother of two children Vera Trakhimovich tells about her experience of such childbirth after a cesarean section and a frozen pregnancy.
Difficult first birth
When I was 10 years old, my brother was about to be born. I remember my mother with a huge belly and terrible heartburn was lying on the couch, and I came up and asked: "Mom, does it hurt to give birth?" The answer is not meaningful: I was just sent to play in my room. And further attempts to somehow talk were stopped.
Now I understand the logic of my mother's behavior. After all, it was so accepted: childbirth in the mind of a woman was perceived as something embarrassing and embarrassing to talk about. That which one wants to leave behind the closed doors of the chamber and not remember.
The association "childbirth - pain" has generated a lot of fears and stereotypes. Among them is the one that the doctor plays the "first violin" in childbirth, and a woman must follow all instructions, even if it is even more uncomfortable.
Listen to the doctor. This phrase was pronounced as a refrain throughout my first pregnancy. And I listened, completely trusted. As a result - a planned cesarean for non-absolute indications. There was no certificate from an ophthalmologist, and it was easier for the doctor to carry out the operation without even waiting for the contractions, than to give me a chance at least to try to give birth myself. In principle, no one worried about my desires.
Vera Trakhimovich with her son
Yes, the planned cesarean went well: everyone is healthy, everyone is happy. But for some reason, the thought that "if you give birth again, then only an operation" did not give rest.
When I got pregnant for the second time, and the child froze, fears increased. How soon will I see two stripes again? Will it work? Have to agree to a caesarean, if only everything was fine?
These questions and the unknown, on the one hand, frightened, on the other, they motivated to read, learn, search.
It turned out that the relationship "doctor-obstetrician in childbirth" is becoming more and more based on trust every year. Many maternity hospitals no longer have that old hospital renovation, terrible chairs, and a single scenario for a woman in labor.
The principle of the most natural childbirth operates, when the woman herself decides how she wants to give birth, discusses all the wishes with the doctor, down to the details. When the umbilical cord is cut, in what position to experience attempts and how much medical intervention is acceptable - all this the expectant mother includes in the so-called ideal birth plan and comes with it to the obstetrician. And, yes, you can now also choose a doctor who will suit you and please you.
First there was fear
When the third pregnancy came, I immediately began to set myself up for a natural birth after a cesarean. I read profile blogs, subscribed to obstetricians, listened to online lectures.
The only thing that prevented me from enjoying my pregnancy 100% was fear. It was scary to let the older child go with the nanny, it was scary to drive a car at a speed of more than 60 km per hour, it was scary to leave the child alone in the room (what if he opens the window himself and falls out?). It got to the point of absurdity: I was scared to travel by train. It seemed that the car was swinging strongly and was about to go off the rails. Sometimes at night I cried: as I imagine that something will happen to the child in childbirth - tears like hail.
Against the background of an increased fear of everything and everything, at 33 weeks I managed to break my leg. Should I write that the fear of repeated cesarean increased?
All autumn I lay at home and did not go anywhere: such was the quarantine rehearsal. It was during this period that my close friends gave me a course on hypnology. I heard about this method of mild hypnosis in childbirth from other mothers, but did not pay much attention. But once they gave it, I decided to go through.
What is hypnorod
Basically, these are three in one:
- psychological preparation for childbirth
- mild hypnosis or self-hypnosis for relaxation during labor
- the idea of a comfortable natural childbirth
Of course, in words, everything sounds very nice and simple. But it takes diligence and great desire to truly immerse yourself in the method.
I didn't know anything about this, but the words of a specialist that there was no magic and shamanism in the course, and everything was built on self-belief, working out fears and teaching relaxation techniques, somehow immediately put me at ease. I recited affirmations every day. I made a plan for an ideal birth, read stories of mothers who gave birth after cesarean and who liked their birth. She listened to hypnosis audio tapes at night and learned to relax, visualize and calm her mind. There were also breathing techniques.
Gradually the association "childbirth - pain" turned into "childbirth - peace and comfort".
Breathe and visualize
When at night I felt the first contractions, I did not worry or run to the hospital. I just noted this fact and went to bed again. When the waves became regular by morning, approximately every five minutes, my husband and I removed my cast, took a crutch and went to the hospital.
I managed to get to the maternity ward at 10.30 am, an hour and a half after arrival, just when the sensations became intense, the contractions were strong enough when opening 5 cm. It was comfortable for me to lie on my side, on each wave I inhaled and exhaled slowly, as taught in course. At the same time, I imagined that I was a boat, swinging on big waves: up and smoothly down … For some reason, this particular picture calmed me, relaxed and even rocked me to some extent. It seems that at some point I even fell asleep, because I missed the arrival of the interns.
At 12.00 a doctor came and was surprised: the opening was complete. And at 12.20 a daughter was born on the exhale, as it should be in hypnorods, without any encouragement from the midwife.
"Perfect childbirth", - summed up the doctor. “This is the best thing I've done in my life,” I thought. And this would not have been possible without psychological preparation.
Specialist comment
Anastasia Ivanova
Psychologist and specialist in hypnosis, author of the course "Hypnorods"
Childbirth is a very important stage in a woman's life. As with any event, it is worth preparing for the birth of a baby. And mild hypnosis is a tool that will help you walk this path with love and peace. Without a psychological study of fears and getting rid of prejudices about childbirth, it is impossible to relax as much as possible during the waves of contractions.
They say correctly: “Everything is in our head”, which is why it is so important to tune in correctly even during pregnancy. The point is that mild hypnosis (for example, with audio recordings by a hypnosis specialist) and self-hypnosis help to calm the mind, relax muscles, as a result, childbirth is harmonious and as natural as possible. A woman, as it were, plunges into herself, understands her body better. This was noticed back in the 19th century and the topic was researched for quite some time. But the real popularity and wave of interest in hypnosis in childbirth was associated with the work of a hypnologist. She was able to explain to women in simple language that the state of mild hypnosis is useful and does not at all contradict the ideas of natural childbirth.
How does it work in practice?
Immersion in hypnosis is the task of abstracting from reality for a while and concentrating on yourself. Initially, this is the primary state of lightness. Then the woman will experience more and more relaxation, the body seems to become limp, and gradually there is an effect of heaviness, the inability of the body, even some kind of detachment from it.
You can immerse yourself in hypnosis using various techniques. As an example, I will give a calming breathing technique that can be used on waves during contractions.
This is the starting technique. Its task is to teach you to plunge into a state of surface hypnosis anywhere and at any time. The most important thing at this stage is concentration of attention. In order for concentration to be as effective as possible, it is important to do three preparatory steps.
The right place and time
At the very beginning, practice only where and then where you are comfortable, where you can devote time to yourself. It is advisable not to be distracted. Unplug your phone and alert family members that concentration is important to you.
Comfortable posture
You can dive while lying, sitting, half-sitting. Your task is to make the body go limp completely. Will it be comfortable for him to go limp where you are? Are your arms, legs passive? Is your back comfortable? You do not need to choose any special asana from yoga or other meditation practice, where you sit with a straight back and crossed legs. It is important to choose a position in which you would like to fall asleep or relax very deeply.
Mind tuning
The mind needs to be interested in practice, which is why hypnomics use such a self-hypnosis text to prepare the mind for relaxation.
“I am doing this exercise to prepare the mind and body for a gentle, comfortable birth. I want to develop the skill of immersing myself in a comfortable state of hypnosis in all circumstances. I want my mind to learn to be calm and trust the flow of life. I want my body to be relaxed and pliable during labor."
For many mothers, before immersion and relaxation, the mind begins to whisper: “And what did your son wear to the street? Did he even take the hat? And what to cook for dinner? " Usually a few quiet breaths are enough, a few repetitions of the affirmation above, and the mind begins to calm down and relax.
In Russia, hypnosis is supported by the community, more and more midwives are taking professional courses, and some maternity hospitals are testing VR glasses with audio recordings of soft hypnosis. Therefore, you should not be afraid of this method.
