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What is HypnoBirthing® -- the Mongan Method?
HypnoBirthing is a complete childbirth education program. HypnoBirthing teaches you to enter a totally relaxed state and allows you to experience the contractions of childbirth as pressure or tightening rather than pain. Because of this distinction we call contractions ~ surges. HypnoBirthing's philosophy believes that birth doesn't have to hurt, muscles doing their job properly do not hurt and the uterus is just one giant muscle, therefore a laboring woman shouldn't feel pain, the cause is psychological rather than physiological.
How Can the Pain of Labor Be Psychological?
Fear stimulates the production of adrenaline. Adrenaline causes the uterus to tense and blood to flow to the extremities leaving the uterus with insufficient oxygen, which in turn causes the pain commonly felt during a contraction. To remove fear is to remove pain. In HypnoBirthing you will be taught to experience a “surge” rather than a contraction, you will be working with nature, not against it, in a calm and fearless state of mind.
Can Anybody Benefit from HypnoBirthing?
Yes! With time, patience and practice HypnoBirthing will work for anyone. Some may find they are more susceptible and may find that the effects are much stronger for them, but HypnoBirthing can benefit anyone!
What Is Hypnosis?
Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation, combined with highly focused attention, as if we are zooming in the lens on a camera. It is a state of mind and body in which we communicate suggestions to our subconscious mind. This part of our mind influences what we think, how we feel, and the choices we make.
Am I Asleep or in a Trance During Hypnosis?
No, you are not asleep or in a trance during hypnosis. You are in a state of deep relaxation. You must still be conscious in order to hear the suggestions. It feels very similar to the first five minutes when you fall asleep. You may hear the dog next door barking or be aware of someone else in the room, but you don't want to open your eyes or move. However, if you had to open your eyes and get up, you could, because you are not asleep and are always in total control.
Can Anyone Go into Hypnosis?
There is no magic to achieving success with self-hypnosis. Anyone who chooses to can reach deep relaxation and redirected focus. Most people enter into a mild hypnotic state several times a day without realizing it, such as when driving a familiar route without thinking about it or when “zoning out” while engrossed in a movie or book.
Can I Be Too Strong-Willed to Be Hypnotized?
Many people believe only weak-minded or gullible people can be hypnotized. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, the reverse is true – intelligent and strong-willed individuals are generally very successful with hypnosis. However, success with hypnosis has little to do with willpower. Rather, it relies on your ability to use your imagination, listen and follow directions.
Will I Still Be In Control?
Yes! Lots of people worry that HypnoBirthing will be similar to stage hypnosis or the ones seen on TV where people are made to impersonate chickens and the like. The fact of the matter is, no hypnotist can ever make you do anything you don't want to do. People do funny things for a stage hypnotist at a comedy club because they volunteer to go on stage; they expect the stage hypnotist to ask them to do funny things. If they really don't want to listen to the hypnotist's suggestions, they don't. For example, if a hypnotist asked you to do something immoral or unethical (such as hit somebody or rob a bank) you would reject the suggestion. You have the same free will to reject "silly" suggestions at comedy shows.
With HypnoBirthing you are in complete control and you will remain lucid throughout the whole birthing experience, just very very calm. After the birth, most HypnoBirthing moms talks about experiencing this birth much more than the previous ones. Because a HypnoBirthing mom is very much aware of the surges and in tune with her body, she works with her body and surges instead of trying to run away from them during labor.
What If I Have a Medically Necessary Induction or Cesarean Section – Will It Still Benefit Me?
Yes! HypnoBirthing isn't just about natural, drug-free, vaginal births, it can be used for any type of birth experience! It is wonderful at helping prepare you for the birth itself, but the benefits do not end there. HypnoBirthing can help you experience a happier, more relaxed pregnancy, will help with bonding with the baby, with breastfeeding and with life after the birth.
During Birthing, Do I Hypnotize Myself or Do I Have to Have Someone Else Hypnotize Me?
All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. You will learn techniques that easily bring you into the optimal state of relaxation. During labor, your birthing muscles work in perfect harmony – as they were designed to do – when your body is relaxed. All you need to do is to stay deeply relaxed so that tension doesn’t get in the way to interfere with the work of your birthing muscles. Your body and your baby know what to do, just like they know what to do to conceive and grow from a single cell to a little human being. You will either stay in a deeply relaxed state on your own, or your birthing companion can help you to remain relaxed and focused by providing comfort measures and gentle encouragement.
When Should I Start?
We encourage moms to take this course as early in their pregnancy as they wish because the class is full of information that's so helpful to your pregnancy and understanding the amazing preborn baby you are nurturing.
Does My Partner Have to Come Too?
Ideally your partner will come with you, HypnoBirthing is designed to be taught to couples, this could also be a female friend or relative though.
If I Learn HypnoBirthing Am I Guaranteed a Pain Free Labor?
60% of HypnoBirthing moms give birth with no need for pain relief at all. A further 20-25% only uses milder forms of pain relief. One thing is for sure though, even if you do require some form of pharmaceutical pain relief, your birth will definitely be calmer and more positive!
Does HypnoBirthing “work”?
Between October 2005 and November 2006, 596 parents’ birth reports were sent to the HypnoBirthing Institute. Of the 596 birth reports, 99 were from outside the United States. The information presented here was derived from the 497 birth reports from
HypnoBirthing® couples in the US. The most comprehensive data currently available on birthing in the United Sates are from Listening to Mothers II Report of the First National U.S. Survey of Women’s Childbearing Experiences. New York: Maternity Center Association, October 2006. www.maternitywise.org/listeningtomothers/ (hereafter abbreviated as LTM II.) Limited data is also available from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2004 (CDC.) Therefore, data from those reports were used in order to have a comparison for the data from HypnoBirthing couples.
HypnoBirthing® mothers experienced surgical birth (Cesarean section) at a much lower rate than that reported by LTM II or the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 17% of HypnoBirthing® (HB) mothers birthed via Cesarean section, compared to 32% of the mothers in LTM II. The CDC reported the Cesarean rate for all births in 2004 was 29.1%. HB data does not differentiate between primary and repeat Cesareans.
Labor interventions: HypnoBirthing® mothers used far fewer
interventions during their labors than other mothers.
Satisfaction: Nearly all HypnoBirthing® mothers were highly satisfied with HypnoBirthing®; 80% were highly satisfied with their care provider.
Sense of Well-being: Ninety-four percent of HypnoBirthing® mothers reported feeling very healthy after the birth.
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