Childbirth is an exciting part of many women's lives.
Even so, pregnant women commonly experience fear or worry as birth approaches.
Getting ready for-and going through-birth can be anxiety-free if women (and their partners!) are feeling relaxed and comfortable.
EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) and hypnosis for childbirth are effective, non-invasive tools that help women achieve peace and calm before, during, and after giving birth.
They provide simple, accessible tools one or both parents can use to create a positive beginning for themselves and their new baby.
EFT builds your confidence during pregnancy.
Emotional Freedom Technique is a practice based on the meridian points of traditional Chinese medicine.
EFT combines gentle tapping with important affirmations related to the upcoming birth.
Clients can use EFT techniques at home throughout their pregnancy.
EFT provides a quick and easy way to reduce fear and, most importantly, to build a woman's confidence in her body's ability to give birth.
EFT helps increase expectant parents' coping skills, creating a positive state of mind for moving through pregnancy and childbirth, and welcoming a new baby into the family.
Hypnosis for childbirth helps you navigate labour peacefully.
Hypnotherapy is based on easy relaxation and visualization techniques that enable women to harness the incredible power of their subconscious to bring their baby into the world.
Using hypnosis for childbirth, women exert a remarkable degree of control over their minds and bodies, allowing for reduced pain, fear, and anxiety during labour.
A totally calm state is created in the chemistry of the body; the muscles relax so deeply that fear, tension, and resistance melt away.
Clients using hypnosis have described the pushing phase as "flowing into the world on a soft cloud of relaxation.
" The baby often enters the world with just a few pushes.
While experiencing this peace, women are still aware and fully in control.
A woman who would like to use hypnosis for childbirth will usually have several sessions with a hypnotherapist leading up to her due date.
In my practice, clients attend four sessions beginning at 28 weeks.
Women can, however, still take advantage of hypnotherapy closer to their due date-ideally before 36 weeks.
I usually work with women one-on-one but partners are welcome.
During the course of these sessions, I ask women and, if possible, their partners to watch videos of two hypnotherapy-assisted births.
The heart of each 1-1.
5 hour session with me consists of learning and practicing quick self-hypnosis techniques and a minimum of five major hypnotic pain-management tools.
In addition, women learn how to enhance the mother-baby connection, how a partner can assist with hypnosis, and how hypnosis can be used afterwards in all areas of life as a new mother.
While most of my clients are interested in using hypnosis for childbirth, hypnotherapy techniques can also be used during pregnancy to alleviate the discomfort of back pain, morning sickness, headaches, insomnia, and breech positioning.
Not only is hypnosis in childbirth safe and non-invasive, there are many important advantages.
Research shows that using hypnosis during childbirth reduces the length of labour for first babies from an average of 18 hours to 10 hours.
Second-time births with hypnosis are also much quicker, averaging 4-6 hours or less.
Women who use hypnosis during labour typically achieve birth with out the use of pain medication.
Hypnosis makes the birthing experience much calmer, which leads to a less stressed new baby, a less exhausted mother, and a really powerful bonding experience for the new family.
Hypnosis is an excellent option for any pregnant woman who is looking for a non-invasive way to welcome a child into the world.
EFT and hypnosis for childbirth are effective in any birthing situation.
Check when you call-most hypnotherapists who offer hypnosis for childbirth will work with pregnant women whatever the situation; if they are giving birth with a midwife or physician; in a hospital or at home; or, at high or low risk.
Both EFT and hypnosis can benefit women with added stresses, for instance, giving birth to twins or planning a vaginal birth after a cesarean birth.
Moving forward with EFT or Hypnosis for Childbirth.
As a first step, women might want to discuss options with their current healthcare provider.
Some healthcare practitioners have knowledge of EFT and hypnosis techniques-I regularly provide seminars, lectures, and workshops to childbirth educators, parents, hypnotherapists, midwives, nurses, and doctors-or, if not, they may be able to recommend the services of someone who knows.
EFT practitioners and hypnotherapists who work with pregnant women are not that common, unfortunately.
Check the website http://www.
emofree.
com for EFT practitioners in your area.
Because hypnotherapy is unregulated, it is important to choose a hypnotherapist who has been certified by the National Guild of Hypnotherapy.
Some practitioners exist who have been trained in HypnoBirthing-hypnosis for childbirth specifically-but not in hypnosis as a whole.
I would recommend finding a practitioner who has been trained in as a certified hypnotherapist who offers, or specializes in Hypnosis for Childbirth.
Most hypnotherapists will offer an initial consultation free of charge, which gives you the opportunity to ask questions, and to decide if you feel comfortable with him or her.
Costs vary a little in the hypnotherapy community; as an example of price, my services run at $400 for four individual sessions.
Hypnotherapists may also provide clients with materials, for example, my services include five CDs women can listen to at home.
Some hypnotherapists may offer group sessions at a reduced rate.
Contact me with any questions related to EFT and hypnosis for childbirth!