The Mind/Body Connection

In childbirth preparation, as in life, what we deeply BELIEVE to be true affects the outcome of our goals, as we already know that the mind will produce that which you dwell upon most, and works towards producing that for you. This is simply the well-known “self-fulfilling prophecy”; what you believe becomes your reality. And since our minds can only follow the path we provide for them, two distinctly different belief systems cannot coexist in our minds. The mind is forced to choose one or the other.

You may have heard it said that we only use 10% of our brain; hypnosis is a way to get access to that other 90%. In hypnosis you access your subconscious, the suggestible more powerful part of your mind where real, lasting change takes place.

We all see and hear specific messages which we perceive as positive and encouraging, or negative … on both conscious and subconscious levels. At the conscious level, we may even think that a more negative or incongruent message is not that harmful, since we may think we can simply disregard it immediately … however our subconscious mind is always listening/absorbing, and will take everything it hears LITERALLY to construct our view of reality, like a small child. Our inner mind files that information away, to create our belief system (or to reinforce a currently existing belief system through repeatedly hearing the same information). When it comes to childbirth, the more positive and encouraging the woman’s belief system is, the more positive her birth experience is likely to be.

1. Our thoughts create our beliefs

2. Our beliefs create our feelings

3. Through the mind/body connection, feelings produce chemical reactions in the body, and change behavior, which in turn impacts positive or negative choices that are made
   

The mind/body connection’s influence on the course that a childbirth takes, can result in outcomes that are wonderfully satisfying…devastatingly disappointing…or anything in between

The conscious mind needs to be fed positive “food” about childbirth consistently, since the subconscious mind is always listening and creating, and reinforcing our belief systems. Every word in our student manuals, handouts and hypnosis scripts (and, therefore in every Hypnobabies audio track) contains language that trains, supports and reinforces the concept that birth can be easier and more comfortable, and literally RE-CREATES the expectant mother’s belief system about childbirth, consciously, and subconsciously. Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis classes teach that childbirth can be easier and more comfortable, and students learn to REPROGRAM their minds and bodies for what they DO WANT, not what they don’t want (fear and pain) during their Birthing Time.

So when a woman BELIEVES that childbirth can be easy and comfortable (and of course if she also learns, practices and uses Hypnobabies as the program was designed), she can she achieve exactly that! If she chooses to believe the “easier and more comfortable” premise, she will think positive, encouraging thoughts about what birth could be for her … which will produce feelings … that will facilitate the mind/body connection to:

1. Create chemical reactions in her body which support a healthy, stress-free pregnancy and she will anticipate her baby’s birth with excitement and joy instead of fear

2. Automatically exhibit behavior that supports her making positive, empowering choices for her baby’s birth; since she’s coming from a mindset of balance and confidence instead of fear

Read more about the power of words and a positive mindset in childbirth

Fear plays a role 

In other cultures, childbirth is regarded as a natural, normal event in a woman’s life. The birthing woman is supported by other women, and young girls are often present to witness the event. In this way, birth is celebrated and honored. These young girls then grow up with the belief system that birth is a positive event and their expectations of childbirth reflect their attitude. As a result, their births are similar to their predecessors…without pain and fear.

They develop a POSITIVE EXPECTATION of childbirth.

In our (American) culture, expectations about childbirth are very much the opposite. For many generations we have been told that delivering a baby will be untold hours of painful, agonizing work, to be faced with FEAR and trepidation. We have all heard stories from well-meaning friends and family that sent shivers up our spines, and so the legacy continues.

We experience PAIN in childbirth, in part, because we very much EXPECT to!

FEAR/TENSION/PAIN Cycle

• Fear during birth can create tension, which creates pain, then more fear and the cycle continues.

• Fear and anxiety can also create adrenaline production in the body, causing birth to stall or become dysfunctional, a common reason for Cesarean section surgical birth.

FREEDOM from fear can make a difference in the birthing experience.

In Hypnobabies, the expectant Person is taught:

• to surround herself with only encouraging people and messages,

• to create a POSITIVE, NEW view of childbirth and the expectation that her birthing will be a beautiful, peaceful experience.

• FEAR CLEARING sessions, which are integral to this process, as they allow the mother to address fears, work through possible solutions and then release them.

When learning how to use hypnosis for childbirth, you are taught

how the vertical and horizontal uterine muscles work efficiently together when the body is deeply relaxed. The depth of RELAXATION needed to facilitate an easier, more comfortable birthing can easily be achieved with hypnosis. Women learn these skills in classes and practice them at home every day until the baby arrives.

By learning and practicing Hypnobabies Childbirth Hypnosis, a Person:

• is able to enter into self-hypnosis instantly, and create thier own NATURAL ANESTHESIA and direct it to wherever she needs it.

• has total CONTROL over thier body, and is an active participant in thier birth process.

• is AWARE of everything around them, and as birth progresses, they naturally go deeper inside themselves, TRUSTING in thier body’s innate ability to give birth with EASE and COMFORT.

• programs thier own mind to give themselves exactly what she needs