© 2010, Carol Peterson, ICCE, CD(DONA) Erie, PA

Birth Journeys

Carol Peterson, ICCE, HCHI, CD(DONA)

Instilling Confidence in Birth Since 2004

814-899-7722  * cbecarol@yahoo.com * Erie, PA

 

Relaxation and Birth

by Carol Peterson, ICCE, CD(DONA), June 2010 Newsletter

 

Relaxation and birth go hand in hand.  When a mom accepts her birth and is willing to turn herself over to it, her mind will clear and relaxation becomes easier.  In turn, the layers of uterine muscles can work in harmony to gently dilate the cervix, allowing baby to arrive.

 

In a mom that is tense, the body produced adrenaline, which is not a helpful hormone for birth.  In addition, the body becomes selfish, using oxygenated blood to fuel a system on overdrive, ignoring the hard working uterus.  The results can be inefficient contractions, a hysterical and exhausted mama, and a birth that is not ideal.

 

But, how does one relax during birth?  And how do different classes compare?  Let's look at these questions as we explore this very important topic.

 

It depends in the approach.  In traditional childbirth classes, including my own, we focus on distraction as a way to occupy the mind.  This includes focusing on the breath, using simple visualizations to guide mom into relaxation, and using comfort measures such as the shower and massage to lessen pain associated with birth so that mom can relax to the best of her ability.  Some moms seem to have an innate ability to make this work for them, simply coasting along through their birth, following their breath.  However, I know that many of you moms out there reading this are thinking "Well, that was not me."  If this describes you, you are not alone.  In my traditional class we spend about 20 minutes in several of the classes on learning what it feels like to relax.  From there, each couple is expected to use the scripts in the books to practice relaxation for 15 minutes a day.  Very few, however, actually do it.

 

There seems to be a misconception that mom will just "get it" during her birth.  Nothing can be farther from the truth.  If mom has not integrated relaxation into her mind by the time she gives birth, then she surely won't just "get it" when the time comes.  It is like trying to pass a final exam with an A when only studying for 20 minutes once a week.  Some people can get by just fine by doing this, while others cannot.  Likewise, some moms have that innate ability, while others do not.

 

In Hypnobabies, we use a different approach.  Even before the first day of class, moms are expected to work daily following a script on CD so that they can be prepared to start class.  From there, they are literally reprogramming their minds to accept that birth does not need to be painful, and that instead of pain they will feel only pressure.  They still feel.  This an important point.  It is not that their bodies are numb, rather, they feel varying degrees of pressure, sometimes mild, sometimes intense.

 

Rather than use distraction, we teach moms to use their minds to be in-tune with their bodies, and their babies, both prenatally and during birth.  Along with re-framing birth, Hypnobabies families work together, 3 times a week (if a partner is present) on helping mom achieve the deepest relaxation possible. The remaining days, mom works on a Deepening CD that helps her to deeper her relaxation, so that when the time comes, she is able to relax even more deeply than the first day of class, even during her birthing time.  (read more)