HypnoBirthing ® the Mongan Method is based on the premise that mother and nature absolutely knows best and that we, as women, don’t need technology to birth and care for our babies.

 Ian Laing, a consultant neonatologist, at the hospital where a 20 oz. baby girl was born and survived after her mother placed her on her chest giving her skin to skin certainly agrees with this sentiment.  The attending doctors had given up on the survival on the baby.   Doctor Laing stated “all the signs were that the little one was not going to make it and we took the decision to let mum have a cuddle as it was all we could do.” 

“Two hours later the wee thing was crying.  I have never seen anything like it in my 27 years of practice.  I have not the slightest doubt that mother’s love saved her daughter.  She had done it all on her own- without any medical intervention or drugs.”

What the mother did was place her daughter on her chest because she didn’t want her to be cold.  When a parent holds their baby on their chest-skin to skin, it is referred to as Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC). 

HypnoBirthing parents are urged, as part of their birth preferences, to demand that their baby is placed in a skin to skin position immediately after birth.  This facilitates bonding and understanding between the newborn and his parents and thus creates a corner stone for baby’s healthy development both physically and emotionally.       

The benefits for all babies on KMC are that they stabilize faster on skin to skin care than in the incubator.  KMC babies have stable oxygen rates and breathing.  The heart rate is stable and the temperature is most stable on the mother.  In skin to skin care the mother’s chest automatically warms to warm a cold baby, and the mother’s core temperature can drop if her baby has a temperature.

This is a marvelous example of how the excellence of a natural system is far superior to medical technology and intervention.

 You can read more about KMC at kangaroomothercare.com and you can find a certified HypnoBirthing practitioner at the official HypnoBirthing site HypnoBirthing.com.

As many men will tell you, women have a logic all of their own.  It’s possible that the mention of special woman logic is intended to “explain” in a slightly condescending manner, some of the “unusual “actions women practice.  Be that as it may, men and women are definitely different from each other which is an excellent arrangement considering that nature has assigned vastly different roles to the two genders.

 It is fine to discriminate between the genders in terms of function, but it’s pointless to assign value with the intent to name one gender “superior” to the other.  Both complement each other and thus form a harmonious whole.   

The conception of a baby usually requires a man and a woman cooperating, but so far, giving birth is solely the provenance of the woman.  Women’s bodies are supremely designed for conception and birth.  However, our modern culture with all its’ tremendous gadgets and inventions, is suggesting that a birthing woman “belongs” in a hospital where she can be monitored to make sure her birth progresses on schedule and that she and her baby is safe.  

HypnoBirthing the Mongan method teaches that pregnancy and child birth are non medical events and that a healthy mother with a healthy baby can safely birth her child in a location of her choice. By taking HypnoBirthing classes the mother learns to overcome the “fear tension pain” syndrome by practicing special breathing techniques and self hypnosis with the result, that her birthing is pleasant and positive for all involved. 

Increasingly the word about HypnoBirthing is spreading.  One of the most recent events is an interview with HypnoBirthing Child Birth Educator (HBCE) Stella Greenhalgh in the online publication Momlogic.com.  The article gives a nice overview of HypnoBirthing in addition to a reference to Bakersfield Hypnobirthing.com where people can learn additional information.

Likewise people can access the HypnoBirthing website associated with the HypnoBirthing Institute to find local practitioners, read great birth stories and a wealth of other interesting material.

Indeed HypnoBirthing is Momlogic.

On this mother’s day eve I’m finding myself once again reading passages in Marie Mongan’s book HypnoBirthing®  as I’m reflecting on babies, motherhood, fatherhood, and the world where all of us live.  I just finished ordering ten copies of the book from the HypnoBirthing Institute in preparation for my upcoming child birth classes and I fully expect that I’ll need every one of the copies in short order.

A passage that caught my eyes reads as follows: “In the early 1990s, the House of Commons in England officially mandated that the needs of birthing mothers be the central focus of maternal health care and that maternity services be fashioned around them, not the other way around.”  What a delightful concept, but sadly quite different from main stream maternity care in this country.

 Being from Europe myself, more specifically Danish, I grew up knowing that child birth was a natural event that did not require massive medical intervention except for in exceptional cases.  I was also familiar with midwives and always felt that the mother was the driving force in the birthing event.

 Imagine my surprise when I came to the US ready to give birth to my first son and they wanted to give me anesthesia followed by pain pills after the birth!  Naturally I refused and gave birth to a boy weighing 8lbs 7 ounces without difficulty.  I was also able to breast feed my baby right away to the surprise of the nurses who evidently harbored the impression that breastfeeding was difficult.  My son and I didn’t know that so we followed our natural instincts and everything was fine.

I chose to become a HypnoBirthing® childbirth educator because I want to help other mothers find the freedom of choice I enjoyed.  I want all babies to be born in a calm and relaxed manner so they can grow up and develop into strong, creative, smart, level headed people each reaching their full potential.

Having expressed my opinion I know wish all mothers and potential mothers a HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.

A recently released study found, after examining 160,000 children,  that babies born at 34 to 36 weeks were 36 percent more likely to have developmental delays including learning difficulties in kindergarten than those born during the 37^th to 41^st week of pregnancy.  

These findings are significant because they support arguments against scheduling Cesarean section births more than a few days early.  Cesarean sections are often scheduled for convenience to accommodate the mother’s or the doctor’s agenda.  Up until now there was suspicion, but no evidence to support that “late preterm” infants (children born at 34 to 36 weeks) might have behavior and learning difficulties.  The study found that slightly more than 4 percent of late preemies had developmental delays, versus nearly 3 percent of the other infants.  This indicates that about 14,000 of about 360,000 late preterm children born each year are affected.  

The new results add to the evidence that even in late pregnancy, “maturation is a continuing process” said Dr. William Engle, a pediatrics professor at Indiana University medical school.  Dr. Williams, who was not involved in the study, further stated “there doesn’t seem to be some magic gestational age where development stops.”

Until recently, babies born up to a month early were referred to as “near term” infants, but recent studies have shown that they may develop problems shortly after birth that are similar to those affecting very premature babies.  These include breathing difficulties, problems regulating body temperature and jaundice.  

To HypnoBirthing® practitioners these findings are not a surprise.  HypnoBirthing teaches that nature is the most excellent guide for the length of a healthy pregnancy.  Each baby is different and each birth is different. 

I’m personally acquainted with a pair of siblings who clearly demonstrate the difference between an early C- section and a natural HypnoBirthing birth.  The oldest child was born by an early C-section and he is receiving special pre kindergarten help because he has difficulty concentrating and learning.   His mother was wise in getting him the early help and there is good reason to believe that he will benefit from the intervention.   His sister is a HypnoBirthing baby who was born at full term.  She is a calm and smiling baby very interested in the world around her and she is developing excellently.  Her mother reports that the difference between her children’s temperament and behavior is profound and that she feels the early, forced birth of her first child might be instrumental in causing his present difficulties.

As I arrived to work this morning I noticed a young boy and a woman, probably his mother, hurrying out of the hospital where I am employed.  They were moving rapidly and the woman was holding the boy’s hand.  That she was holding his hand didn’t strike me as surprising, but I did take a double take, when I realized, that the boy had his arm in a blue sling.  The woman was clasping the hand of the arm in the sling, with the result that the arm was far from the position where the sling would have placed it and the sling was hanging loosely and useless from the boy’s elbow.

 The boy did not appear to be in pain.   His facial expression seemed to be one of concentration and his little legs were pumping rapidly to keep pace with the fast moving long legs.

  I surmise the woman had brought the boy to the hospital for medical attention to his arm and that if asked, she would declare he was getting plenty of support.   Indeed all the signs of support were evident: the woman, probably the mother, had demonstrated her concern for the well being of the child by bringing him to a medical facility, he was wearing a sling on his arm, and she was ensuring his safety by holding his hand.

This encounter reminded me of a pregnant woman about to give birth.  Well-meaning and concerned relatives want to take her to the hospital for expert treatment.  While in the hospital she’ll be exposed to increased amounts of support” by eager medical personnel who want to prepare for the absolute worst case scenario.  During this process the woman responds to the growing tension surrounding the birthing by becoming stressed and confused.  Her increasingly tight muscles fight against the normal birthing reflexes and she tries very hard to keep up with the “experts.”  

A situation like this can be avoided by education and practice.  Any HypnoBirthing ® student is prepared to take control of her birth.  She understands her options and she knows what to expect.  It’s possible that she chooses to birth at home or in a birthing center.  She might need a Cesarean section or some other form of intervention, but she and her birthing companion will make sure, that she receives true support because she knows she has choices.  She also knows that she is in control and that the support she receives will be real support because it’s based on her needs and wishes and the circumstances surrounding the birth.

Women have been made to fear birth and don’t believe in themselves.  How sad this sentence is and the more so because it’s true and it describes a very unnecessary and unnatural situation.

Approximately seven months ago a British woman gave birth to her third child at home and unassisted.  She reports that this baby, a boy, is by far the calmest of her three and she strongly believes that his demeanor is a reflection of the calm surrounding his birth.  She also stated that Jacob’s birth was her “easiest and most enjoyable delivery.”  The birth lasted five minutes, Jacob weighed 7 lbs 10 oz and he was in perfect health.  His two older siblings were born in a hospital and most likely the mother had planned on having at least assistance with this birth as well.  However, nature took over and the little boy arrived exactly at the time of his choice.

By her own testimony this mother was better of at home.  She avoided being stuck in a bed, she was in familiar surroundings, and nobody interfered with the birthing process.  Clearly her body knew what to do, which is exactly what we teach in HypnoBirthing® classes.  We tell mothers to trust birth and to follow the lead of their body.  We also offer strong support towards the mother having the birth of her choice.  It is our belief that nature knows best and we prefer that a woman gives birth to her child in a manner of her choosing to preserve and enhance the well being of herself and her baby.  

Breastfeeding appears to be a hotly debated subject with the pro side just as vehement as the con side and each group somehow giving the impression, that breastfeeding an infant is a radical act. 

I have difficulty recognizing breastfeeding as “radical” just like I have some trouble understanding why a lactation expert is needed.  In my opinion breastfeeding is a bodily function that happens in response to specific stimuli and does not require conscious thoughts.    However, given that women, at least in our culture, seem to have forgotten something about how marvelously well their bodies are suited for child birth and lactation I’m heartened to know that lactation specialist exist.  I’m also delighted to be part of a child birth education group that teaches HypnoBirthing® the Mongan Method to expecting mothers and I happily embrace anybody who is willing to support pregnant women.

I also find it comforting that scientist continue to study mothers and their babies.

A recent study published in the American Journal of Pediatrics March 2, 2009, entitled:  “Does Breastfeeding Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome?”  examined the association between sudden infant death (SIDS) and method of infant feeding.  It was discovered that babies who aren’t breastfed are twice as likely to die of SIDS.  The study included 333 cases of SIDS and 998 age-matched controls in Germany, from 1998-2001.  The researches controlled for various factors and suggested a mechanism which could explain a causal relationship between breastfeeding and SIDS prevention.

Most infants who die from SIDS are between 2 and 4 months old.  At this age, a maternal acquired immunoglobulin G is low and the infant has not yet begun to produce large amounts of its own immunoglobulin.  Breast milk contains immunoglobulin and cytokines, which may help stave off infections which are believed to contribute to SIDS.  It has also been shown that breastfed infants are more easily aroused than formula fed babies, another mechanism which could help prevent SIDS.

After the age of 4 months, infants are at a lower risk for SIDS and the older they get, the more their risk declines.  Consequently the researchers recommend that all babies be breastfed until six months of age at a minimum.

From the perspective of a HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator this study confirms what we already know namely that nature’s way is the best.  I sincerely wish that all babies will be born free from intervention and that they will be fed the way nature intended.

As reported in the Danish newspaper “Politiken” March 1, 2009.  An increasing number of pregnant Danish women are requesting to birth by elective Cesarean Section because they are afraid to birth naturally.  This is a strange development in a country where women traditionally are encouraged to birth accompanied by a midwife and birth is considered to be a healthy event. 

The rise in requests for elective C-Sections has prompted a group of specially trained midwives to help the women resolve their fear with the result that the requests have dropped 50 percent.  Midwife Benthe Dandanell is very pleased with this development because as she states: C-Sections are not without risks for mother and child.  One of ten babies born by C-Section develops breathing complications and the mothers run the risk of developing blood clots in their lungs or legs. 

Ms. Dandanell has developed a “birth contract” where the midwife promises the mother that she will have a C-Section, if the birth for some reason, does not progress according to expectations.  The contract has proven to instill sufficient confidence in the pregnant mother to allow her to trust birth and her body and thus avoid surgical intervention. 

Ms. Dandanell noted that the request for C-sections rose from 3, 2 percent five years ago to 19, and 4 percent today.    Professor Lidegaard, who conducted the research, is suggesting that the women increasingly have become unfamiliar with their body and its’ natural functions and that they are afraid to lose control. 

The birth contract addresses these subjects and an increasing number of birthing institutions have developed birth contracts based on Ms. Dandanell’s model.  Ms. Dandanell stated that the goal of the contract was not to reach a particular figure, but to help the woman have a positive birth experience. 

Ms. Anne Mette Holme Bertelsen, anthropologist, characterizes a”positive birth” as a birth where the woman understands what and why her body is doing what it’s doing.  As such the birth contract is an excellent tool for helping the mother understands her birth.

Unfortunately, several doctors are of the opinion that the birth contract is “nonsense” and totally unnecessary.  They offer an explanation of the possible negative side effects of a C-Section to their patients and opine that any further explanation is superfluous.

HypnoBirthing® child birth educators very much support the birth contract and its’ goal to help birthing women learn their body and its functions and consequently have a positive birth.

My water broke at about 12:30 am on the morning of Dec 20^th (10 days before “due date”). This was nice since I then had some warning before going into labor. I was not able to go back to sleep right away because I was excited about the baby coming. I was not having any surges yet. I sent some e-mails and closed up some things for work that night while I waited for the surges to start. Finally I went to bed about 3 am and deeply relaxed. As soon as I achieved deep relaxation I had a strong surge (around 3am). I continued to have surges as long as I was relaxed, but only about every 30 min or so. I slept a little between surges. At 7am I woke my husband and called a neighbor to keep our 3-yr-old daughter. We dropped her off at 7:45 with our neighbor and headed for the hospital. (When I called my midwife the night before she said I could come into the hospital in the early morning—she suggested 6am but I didn’t want to call my neighbor that early if I didn’t need too). On the way to the hospital I suggested we stop at the grocery store. My husband said, “are you serious?” but stopped for me anyway. We shopped for snacks for the day. A sandwich for him, yogurt for me, and doughnuts for both of us. I got my favorite doughnut to celebrate after the birth since I should no longer have gestational diabetes then. Before we got to the checkout, I informed my husband that I had 4 or 5 surges since we arrived at the store. He raised his eyebrows and with wide eyes said, “then they are coming every few minutes! We better get going!” I told him, “I think we still have time, I’m still pretty comfortable”. I am amazed now at how calm I was. I would walk around the store and just stop and breathe and relax whenever I had a surge. I called my doula, Joleen, and she said, “I guess we’re going to have a baby before Christmas after all” and I thought, “We’re going to have a baby before noon!”

We arrived at the hospital and got checked in. I think I got to my room about 9am. The midwife offered to check my cervix, but said she didn’t have to yet, so I declined. About 10:00 I ate some of my yogurt and about half of Dan’s sandwich. After that the surges got stronger. I really felt it in my lower back. Dan put pressure on my lower back and that helped. I felt like I was having trouble relaxing, but Dan and the nurse assured me that I looked very relaxed. Dan offered the iPod, where we had the relaxation recordings, but all I did was put the earphone on my ear and I did not turn it on. It seems the sensation of that on my ear was enough to help (I had practiced with the iPod at home). The surges were very intense by then and were coming closer together. I asked Dan to run a bath for me. I needed his help getting out of bed and walking to the bathroom. I got one foot in the bath and decided I’d better sit on the toilet first. I sat on the toilet and felt the baby descending. Dan said I looked scared at that point, but I just remember being surprised and thinking, “I have to get back to bed!” Dan helped me back to the bed and I crawled in on my hands and knees and ended up staying in that position. I started to breath the baby down. I was aware that the room was filling up with people, but I tried to stay focused on breathing. I would rest between contractions so I ended up more in a position of elbows and knees, but my knees were tucked up kind of close to my elbows and the head of the bed was raised, so that I was pretty horizontal. For about 15 minutes I think, I breathed the baby down. That is when the midwife checked me for the first time. She said I had a tiny bit of cervix left. After that I felt an uncontrolled need to push and I did. I groaned and might have yelled a bit, but I also spoke to myself and my baby. I remember saying, “get out!” and “You can do it!” and “almost there!” After his head came out I rested. I was glad at that point to remember some of the videos from the hypnobirthing class where the women had rested at this point. I needed to rest, and I also needed to know it was okay to do this. I still had to push very hard to get his shoulders out after that and he did have some bruising, but I think this is just because he was such a large baby. He was born at 10:45 am. The midwife passed him between my legs so I could look down and see my baby crying. I remember thinking “he looks healthy” because he was crying well. I rolled over with help and held my baby on my abdomen and we waited for the cord to stop pulsating. Then I cut the cord. This is something that I had wanted to do with my first child, but by that time I was too tired to do so. This time I remember being so glad that I actually had some energy left after the birth! I told everyone in the room “wow, that wasn’t so bad!”

I also realized at that point that my husband and I were able to do this largely on our own. Because things happened so fast, our doula arrived at the end while I was already pushing. We were not alarmed by this or concerned. I felt very prepared. I could tell immediately after that my recovery would be easier and swifter than it was with my first child (and it has been!)

OK to share.

Joleen

Rumor has it, or maybe it’s conventional wisdom, that a woman who delivers her baby by Cesarean Section absolutely must deliver any subsequent babies by surgical means as well.  This bit of birthing “fact” is puzzling to at least one obstetrician /gynecologist (OB/GYN) Dr. Mark Landon, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at the Ohio State University Medical Center.  Doctor Landon asked: “How can a hospital say it can handle an emergency C-Section due to fetal distress yet not be able to do a VBAC?” 

VBAC is a term that denotes a vaginal birth after cesarean.

Presently it appears that some women in the public lime light schedule elective C-Sections to accommodate their schedules.  This might indicate that women prefer the “convenience” of birthing by surgical intervention.  However, not all women choose to deliver their babies by having major abdominal surgery.  On the contrary, a growing number of expectant mothers including those who had a previous C-Section prefer to give birth as nature intended and are insisting on a VBAC.  These mothers are met with considerable resistance from hospitals who don’t necessarily have an official policy against VBACs but are reluctant to admit a woman who wants a VBAC because the obstetricians refuse to perform them.

This situation seems really strange in view of several factors such as today’s  restrictive economic climate of shrinking health care dollars,  the increased focus on premium health, and the expanding demand for organic foods.  From this perspective VBACs should be promoted and encouraged by health care providers and the insurance companies as a vaginal birth is less expensive than a surgical birth and far less risky to the health of the mother.

HypnoBirthing® supports the mother’s choice for her birthing.  She is encouraged to listen to her body and to learn to trust birth.  We refrain from giving medical advice because we are child birth educators and strive to educate our parents to make informed choices.  We have deep respect for all helping professionals and we know our scope of practice.   We also know beyond any doubt that birth is beautiful and natural and that babies deserve to be treated with dignity and respect during the birthing process.