Previous bouts of depression, a lack of social support, low self-esteem and a stressful pregnancy all increase the likelihood of postpartum depression according to a study, which appeared in the Archives of General Psychiatry. The study was performed at the University of Irvine, Ca and involved 100 female subjects. That factors such as lack of social support, low self-esteem, and previous depression lead to post partum depression is not surprising considering, that a non-pregnant person experiencing the same conditions minus the pregnancy also is very likely to go into depression.
The study did discover that a mental condition, namely stress, triggered a physical condition specifically the release of the hormone corticotrophin or CRH. CRH is normally produced in tiny amounts by the hypothalamus in response to stress. In pregnant women the placenta pumps out 100 times more CRH than is normally produced in the hypothalamus. Levels of CRH and other hormones drop after the mother gives birth and it believed that the drop creates havoc with the endocrine system.
CRH triggers a cascade of reactions in the pituitary and adrenal glands that culminates in increased output of stress hormones like cortisol. Previous research suggested that an overactive stress response may trigger depression.
The result of these studies in addition to the discovery that the brains of suicide victims contain elevated levels of stress hormones suggests, that stress prevention is an attractive treatment component of an anti depression protocol.
HypnoBirthing® the Mongan Method teaches the mothers deep relaxation. They are taught to go deep within their bodies by the use of self hypnosis. Self hypnosis is achieved by daily practice and by listening to the Rainbow relaxation CD. The fathers or birth companions are strongly encouraged to participate in the practice as they are an important part of the birth.
The benefits of HypnoBirthing go beyond the birth. Conditions such as pre-eclampsia for instance can be prevented by careful attention to diet, exercise and relaxation. HypnoBirthing is a holistic philosophy for life and the HypnoBirthing child birth educators center their teachings on the mental and physical health of the family
Posted by: Stella
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HypnoBirthing