Can HypnoBirthing® help mothers who must have a Cesarean Section?

Can HypnoBirthing® help mothers who must have a Cesarean Section?

My answer to this question is always a resounding YES!

As a mother who must have C-sections I used the HypnoBirthing® techniques throughout my pregnancies with Samantha and Isabella. HypnoBirthing® helped me in several different ways:

Prenatal Bonding
HypnoBirthing® encouraged me to connect with my unborn child. After having several traumatic pregnancies I found it hard to bond with my baby. By singing, talking, and being consciously aware of my child I found a positive connection to my baby. I wasn’t living in the past I was engaging the present through various creative bonding techniques. HypnoBirthing® embraces the idea of prenatal bonding and this is helpful to ALL mothers.

Breathing Techniques
Why would I need to learn breathing techniques if having a C-section? The point of the breathing techniques for a mother having a C-section is to help slow the body down. Why do you want to do that? Nerves and stress can impact the mother’s ability to take anesthesia and impact her surgery. Using the breathing techniques can help facilitate the body accepting the anesthesia easily. It allows a Mom to relax and use hypnosis effectively. Breathing deeply can be a quick way to calm oneself to be consciously present in the moment without stress. This is an effective tool for parenting, breast feeding, and life.

Rainbow Relaxation
Rainbow relaxation was created with the primary idea of helping Mom to relax and be able to use her natural expulsive reflex. However it can be used for prenatal bonding, getting better in tune with your body, and just relaxing. If you are relaxed before, during, and after surgery your recovery will be easier, quicker, and hopefully filled with less pain or no pain at all. Donald Curtis said "Relaxation means releasing all concern and tension and letting the natural order of life flow through one's being". The relaxation that this CD helps foster is a deep feeling of relaxation which is critical post birthing for being an effective parent and again with breast feeding.

Birth Preferences
I am having a Cesarean Section so I have no Birth Preferences, right? That is not true at all. In HypnoBirthing® we go over the various areas that a vaginal birth preference document incorporates. There is no reason the same principles used to create a vaginal birth plan cannot be used for a C-Section birth (Pre-Admission, Admission, Prior to Surgery, Surgery, Recovery, and Baby Options). We encourage you to research your options for anesthesia, surgery, and recovery. There is even a family friendly gentle C-section procedure that was developed in England for OB’s to use that tries to mimic some of the sensations of a vaginal birth for the baby. We can provide you with that information to present to your doctor. Most of all we encourage open communication between you and your care providers. That includes your entire health team to include OB/GYN, Interns, Labor and Delivery Nurses, Anesthesiologist, and post care nurses.

Fear Release
In HypnoBirthing® we use fear release to help mothers to leave their fears behind and feel empowered going into their births. Just because you are having a C-section does not mean you cannot be empowered. Having a baby can cause parents to have some serious fears. If you couple those fears with that of the major surgery of a C-section you have a parents who are stressed, worried, and not relaxed to welcome their baby into the world. Doing the HypnoBirthing® fear release exercise can open communication up between couples, allow them an opportunity to resolve concerns, and participate in an exercise that helps them to release their fears. Through releasing these fears we are able to have parents who are calm and confident. This is a solid base to begin their adventure into parenting.

Education
Through taking the HypnoBirthing® class parents are encouraged to investigate their choices in birthing. They are taught how to ask questions of the birthing team in a respectful manner while being clear that the birthing energy is their own. They are good parents first before being “good patients”. Learning as much as possible is important when presented with a special circumstance or a surgical birth. Parents are exposed to options to help empower and educate them on alternative holistic approaches which can be beneficial. Some of these holistic approaches can include hypnotherapy, acupuncture, herbal remedies, prenatal massage, and even reiki.

Hypnotherapy can have a huge impact in helping a mother through a C-section and with recovery. Normally a HypnoBirthing® practitioner is aware of hypnotherapists in their area or they may be a hypnotherapist themselves. So this referral can help a mother in many ways. Parents that use hypnotherapy for pre and post surgery preparation find their anxiety is reduced. They are calm, and confident which promotes healing and a speedy recovery. Hypnosis will help to reduce pain and discomfort after surgery. It will help reduce bleeding during and after surgery which helpful for mothers recovering from birth. And it reduces the need for post operative drugs so mothers can breast feed without worry of drugs passing through to the baby. From a recovery perspective I was able to walk after my C-sections between 3 and 5 hours after surgery. I had very little discomfort and my incisions healed rapidly.

In my practice, Sacred Beginning, I encourage mothers to take both HypnoBirthing® and use our hypnotherapy/reiki packages to help foster a relaxed pregnancy, a confident mother, and a calm/peaceful baby. Having a C-section is a must needed procedure for some mothers and babies. In a society of ever increasing incidents of unnecessary Cesarean Sections it’s good to know that if you must have a C-section there is a way to ensure your birthing experience can be one of positive empowerment.

Contact us today for more information at info@sacredbeginning.com or visit our website www.sacredbeginning.com.

Laboring Smoothly

No matter what type of birth you desire whether it be home, hospital, birth center, with or without medication….it is a common goal to want to labor less. Karen Bannan in the most recent issue of Parents Magazine (May 2009) wrote an article “Labor Less”. These various steps help pregnant mothers labor more smoothly. Coincidently, these are all things that we teach about in HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Education Classes. I have listed the points and some others for consideration.

CREATE A BIRTH PLAN
Communication is key when trying to ensure that your desires for your babies’ birth get communicated to your doctor, midwife, hospital, birth center, doula, labor and delivery nurses, and medical team. This document should not be a list of unreasonable demands but instead a well thought out idea of how you envision your birth proceeding. You should consider options for Admissions, Triage, Labor, Delivery, and for your baby. Think of this document as a “Wish List”. When considering options I would list items that are deal breakers i.e. meaning those items that you feel strongly about. An example- most mothers walk to their labor room, do you really need to note you do not want a wheel chair? However, if you are a breast feeding mother it is probably a deal breaker to give your baby a bottle. Think about what you are listing and be reasonable.
You should also make sure that this document is created mid-pregnancy. You can make revisions to it as your pregnancy develops. Make sure your doctor/midwife have gone over the document and understands how you want your birth to progress. They can be a good resource when creating your plan and discussing hospital policies etc. You can investigate many of your birthing options in various books.

Some suggested are:
• HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie F. Mongan
• The Birth Book: Everything You Need to Know by William Sears
• Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin
• The maternity sourcebook: 230 basic decisions by Wendy Lesko

GET MOVING
Changing position can reduce the length of labor. Mendez-Bauer and Newton (1986) state: “duration of labor from 3 to 10 cm cervical dilation was about 50% shorter in patients who alternated supine and standing, standing and sitting positions.” You learn more about various positions from this link: http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/parented/pain/positions.htm. In this article they point out that through movement and standing you can get increased comfort, reduced pain, and an enhanced sense of control. Through changing positions there are important effects to the baby. These impact the shape and size of the pelvis which can give the baby’s head an assist to move to the optimal position for descending during the first state of labor and helps the baby to rotate easily during the second phase of labor.

What are some other options for movement? Belly Dancing is GREAT for labor. It has been said that Middle Eastern women used this dance to help with labor. Walking of course is something women have known for a long time helps move labor along. Recently this was validated by the Cochrane review. Yoga is another great movement to help move labor along. In the Central Ohio area you can take prenatal yoga classes many places. The one instructor I highly recommend is Beth Gupta. She herself has used the yoga for the birth of her little one so she has first hand experience on the best poses and how to use them during labor.

DON’T LOOSE SLEEP
According to Ms. Bannans article a “2004 study indicated (University of California at San Francisco School of Nursing)women who averaged less than six hours of sleep a night in the third trimester have significantly longer labors and are 4.5 times more likely to need a C-section”. Some suggestions for a better nights sleep while pregnant:

• Get a body pillow and try some supported positions with lots of pillows to help keep you in a comfortable position.
• Try meditation or a guided visualization to help you rest.

WAIT IT OUT
Where would you rather labor; with the comforts of home or in a sterile hospital room? Laboring in an environment that is safe, secure, comfortable, and familiar allows our labor to progress easier and quicker than in a strange environment. Just as in the animal kingdom our bodies react to a different stimuli and labor can stall or slow down dramatically if we are not comfortable in our birthing environment.

Ina May Gaskin suggests that women bake cookies to help them pass the time while laboring. It helps distract the mother and she stays at home a little longer so that she progresses quicker than at the hospital. The bonus of baking those cookies is that you can take them to the hospital to give to your nurses. It’s always nice to give them a little “something” for helping you on this most important day. When you do transition to the hospital or birth center you may need a little of time to get assimilated to your environment. Have your birthing companion turn down the lights, light a candle, turn on soothing music, and set the stage for a comfortable setting to birth your baby.

Remember to ask your midwife or doctor when they want you at the hospital/birth center. It can vary depending upon your individual circumstances.

TRY MASSAGE
Perineal massage is something we discuss in our HypnoBirthing Childbirth Education classes. This is an important “assist” for first time mothers. The area between the vagina and rectum can actually tear during birthing if this area is not stretched prior to birth. Do yourself a favor and avoid the episiotomy by starting this massage daily around 36 weeks. This activity is often hard for the mother to do on her own so it’s more of a “team activity”. Go to http://www.midwife.org/siteFiles/news/sharewithwomen50_1.pdf to learn more. As always you should ask your care provider when they want you to start perineal massage. Women with an incompetent cervix or some other high risk issues should avoid doing perineal massage.


STAY ON YOUR FEET
Gravity is a friend to a laboring mother. Think about trying to get ketchup out of a bottle laying down….would it work? According to Bannan article there was a 2004 study in The Netherlands that showed sitting or squatting resulted in shortened first and second states of labor. The same study showed that woman who remained in the prone position had a higher incident of episiotomies and instrument deliveries. There are different positions that women can use to birth in the vertical position. To learn more go to http://www.transitiontoparenthood.com/ttp/parented/pain/positions.htm.


USE RELAXATION TOOLS
Of course as HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Educator and Hypnotherapist I truly advocate for mothers to learn some relaxation method. According to a 2006 Cochrane Review Study women who used self hypnosis or relaxation exercises during labor were more satisfied with their pain management. In our HypnoBirthing® surveys women are over 97% satisfied with the method for childbirth! That is an encouraging statistic. You can go to my website to find more books that will help you use visualizing and hypnosis in pregnancy. There are various methods of relaxation tools and classes out on the market for parents to use:

HypnoBirthing® Childbirth Education Classes
http://www.sacredbeginning.com/index_files/Page749.htm
http://www.hypnobirthing.com/findapract.htm

Meditation
http://www.expertvillage.com/video/128235_labor-pain-relief-meditation.htm
http://www.pregnancystore.com/labor_and_birth_preparation_cd.htm
http://www.earthmamaangelbaby.com/products/product_pages/labor_ease/Natural%20Labor%20Companion%20CD.php

Self Hypnosis or Guided Hypnosis
http://www.blissfulbirth.co.uk/birthhypnosismp3.php
http://www.vickibennett.com/audio.html

Guided Visualizations and Imagery
http://www.socalbirth.com/shelly/hypnosis.html
http://www.moondragon.org/pregnancy/guidedimagerylabor.html


HIRE A DOULA
One important factor in helping a mother to “labor less” that was overlooked in the Bannan article was hiring a doula. According to an article written “The Benefits of Hiring a Doula for your Birth” by Kathriana Bishop the following was noted:


“In their book, Mothering The Mother: How a Doula Can Help You Have a Shorter, Easier, and Healthier Birth, Marshall Klaus, John Kennell and Phyllis Klaus summarize scientific studies which have been carried out on the advantages of doula-assisted births. The evidence cited is drawn from six randomized, controlled studies. Two studies were carried out in Guatemala, the first one with 136 women, and the second with 465 women. One study took place in Houston (Texas) in the United States with 416 women. A further study involving 192 women was carried out in Johannesburg, South Africa. The fifth and sixth studies were done in Helsinki, Finland and in Canada.

All participants were primiparas (a medical term used to describe women who are giving birth to their first child). All participants were in good overall health and had had uneventful pregnancies. They were invited to participate when they were admitted into the hospital in labor. The Guatemalan doulas were trained in a 3 week course. In the South African study the women were untrained lay-women. The doulas were asked to stay with the laboring women constantly. They were instructed to use touch and verbal communication focusing on three primary factors: comfort, reassurance and praise. All of the doulas in the study had experienced regular labors and vaginal births.

In all the above studies, the doulas used soothing words, touch and encouragement. They explained the procedures as they occurred and translated medical terms into laymen's terms. The results of the studies were as follows:

• Reduced the overall cesarean rate by 50%
• Reduced the length of labor by 25%
• Reduced oxytocin use by 40%
• Reduced the use of pain medication by 30%
• Reduced forceps deliveries by 40%
• Reduced requests for epidural pain medication by 60%
• Reduced incidences of maternal fever
• Reduced the number of days newborns spent in NICU (neo-natal infant care unit)
• Reduced the amount of septic workups performed on newborns
• Resulted in higher rates of breastfeeding
• Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal confidence
• Resulted in more positive maternal assessments of maternal and newborn health
• Resulted in decreased rates of postpartum depression

Klaus and Kennel speculate that the mere presence of a doula had a beneficial effect on the emotional state of the mother, resulting in a decrease in catecholamine’s (adrenaline). This relaxed state allows uterine contractions to be more effective and reduces the occurrence of compromised uterine blood flow”.

In the Central Ohio area you can learn more about doulas at:

http://www.hopewellperinatalcenter.com/doula.php
http://www.birthworkers.com/faq.htm

We hope you find this information helpful during your pregnancy. If you have any questions please free to email us at info@sacredbeginning.com.

Who am I now that I have children?

"You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you". ~Desmond Tutu

I look at my girls in amazement each and every day. They inspire me to be a better human and mother.

Recently I have felt like a horrible mother because I have over extended myself to the point of not being "present" with my girls when at home. I am always busy doing this or that for someone else. I am having such a hard time finding that work/life balance thing because my work has always been my life. My computer is on and I find myself responding to emails and just doing.

My house is something I always took pride in. Now I find it falling down around my feet. Having children redefines the word "clean". There are some choices that I make as a mother....do I put clothes on today or just wear jammies? Should I wash my hair or make sure the girls are dressed? I always decide in their favor and I am falling down around my feet. There was a time I wouldn't ever leave the house with unwashed hair and little makeup. What happened to me? How did I get ran over on the road to having children? I know as a mother I need to be here for my girls but shouldn't there be a way that I can still be a woman and a mother?

I love my family. I love my husband. I love my job. I love the causes I volunteer for. Somewhere a line must be drawn. Somewhere there is a way to do it all, right? WRONG.......Hence a family meeting coming up this week so we can decide how to handle this all together. Some topics to include....getting the girls on a better schedule, finding time for me each day, organizing the house so that it works for a family and NOT a couple, a new nap routine, a new bedtime routine....and who does what chore.

I am praying that this is a step in the right direction for my energy levels, sanity, and creating a better solid base for the family.

Being a mother is an amazing journey but it is not my only path. I need to have time for myself and for others besides my children. Some may think this is foolish and others may think it selfish. I just think there has to be a better way. I deserve to find a way that works better and so does my family.

Quotes to Inspire

The Journey and Path Taken

Cesarean Section - Major Sugery!

(my C-section with Samantha)

Have you ever considered what happens when you have a Cesarean Section?

Some interesting statistics were released from the CDC (Centers for Disease Control). Did you know that the Cesarean rate in the US has increased by 2% in one year to 31.8%. Over the past decade that rate has gone up 50.7%! The World Health Group has recommended that a countries Cesarean Section rate be below 15%. In Ohio where I reside the rate is currently 29.8%. Incredible!

Some women such as myself have no other options but to have a Cesarean Section because of various issues (high risk issues, incompetent cervix, placenta previa, etc.). Other mothers choose to have a Cesarean Section. And some mothers have a Cesarean Section due to complications associated with failing to progress in a vaginal delivery. No matter what the reason every woman should be educated on what happens during the surgery. Your provider really should review with you what happens with this surgery. Cesarean Section is a major abdominal surgery. My high risk doctor was especially helpful in explaining things and helping me feel like Ihad some choices in how I birthed my children even though we were constricted to a Cesarean Section.

I don't judge mothers who have elective C-sections because we all should have the right to choose our birthing method. However, maybe if more mothers understood what happened during the surgery, the recovery period, AND the future implications on their reproductive health more women would choose differently.

Below is an article on what happens during the surgery. I will include under another blog the recovery issues. I hope you find the below informative and helpful.

Love and Light,
Sharon Gourlay C.Ht, HBCE, HBIMI, BA, RMT

Cesarean Section - What Happens During Surgery

If the mother is to be conscious, an anesthesiologist will inject spinal or epidural anesthesia (usually fentanyl, a derivative from the opium family; and bupivicane, a derivative from the cocaine family) into the mother’s back or epidural space (between the vertebra) via a thin catheter. Vomiting and/or dry heaves may occur as a reaction from the narcotics, as may uncontrollable shivering. A catheter is inserted into her urethra to allow urine to be eliminated.

In a sterile operating room, with a surgical team in "scrubs", masks, hair net, and gloves, preparation continues with strapping the mother’s arms, crucifix-style, to an operating table. A nurse starts an IV with fluid and/or narcotics (usually demerol or stadol, a derivative of the morphine family), and an anesthesiologist applies oxygen and/or general anesthesia. A curtain is hung between the mother and her lower body to prevent her from seeing the surgery. Her belly is laid bare and she is completely naked, save for a hospital gown that is now pulled up to her neck or just below her breasts. Her belly and pubic area are rubbed with a 10% Povidone-Iodine solution (a.k.a. "Betadine") and her pubic hair is shaved. A sticky plastic drape is laid over her belly to stabilize her skin.

A horizontal incision is made with a scalpel, just above the pubic bone where the pubic hair begins, slicing through five layers of skin, tissue, and muscle: 1) the derma, or outer layer of skin and 2) fat; 3) the fascia, the tough, thin layer that supports the muscle; 4) the rectus muscle, which is manually separated with the fingers down to the pubic bone; and 5) the peritoneum, the shiny layer that encases the entire abdominal cavity. Suction is applied to absorb excess blood. A metal "spatula" known as a bladder blade is inserted to pull back and protect the bladder. Another "spatula" known as a retractor is inserted at the top of the incision and/or on the sides, and are pulled back tightly to enlarge the incision, usually by two surgical assistants. Another incision is made into a sixth layer, the uterine lining, taking care not to cut the bladder, causing infection. Suction is again applied. Sponges and gauze are used to blot blood and fluid pooling in the abdominal cavity.

The mother may feel intense pulling and tugging to dislodge the baby’s head from the pelvis. If vertex, the baby is pulled by the neck backwards out of the pelvis and then by the head through the incision in the uterus. The baby’s nose and mouth are then suctioned to remove any amniotic fluid, mucous and/or meconium from the airway. The remainder of the baby’s body is pulled from the mother’s uterus through the abdominal incision, taking care not to tear the uterine or abdominal incision wider.

The umbilicus is clamped and cut immediately and the child may be held up over the curtain for the mother to see before being taken to a warm table to be suctioned further, toweled off, footprinted, weighed, measured, tagged and wrapped in a blanket and hat. Pitocin and/or methergine is immediately injected into the mother’s IV to begin contractions of the uterus to aid in the removal of the placenta. The remaining umbilicus is then pulled and the placenta is scraped off the uterine wall by hand to tear away the placenta from the uterine wall. The placenta is removed and examined to ensure all pieces are intact. The uterus is then removed from the mother’s body and placed on her stomach for the incision repair. One set of stitches is made in the wall of the uterus, then a second layer of stitches in the outer lining. The uterus is then pushed back through the abdominal incision and into the mother’s body. Sponges and gauze are counted to ensure none are left in the surgical cavity. The abdominal cavity is irrigated with water to flush out bacteria (to prevent infection) and check for bleeding.

Approximately 1000cc of blood is lost during the procedure. A layer of absorbable stitches are made in the rectus muscle, another layer of sutures are made in the fascia. The plastic drape is pulled away from around the abdominal incision and another set of absorbable sutures or staples may be used for the outer layer, usually removed three to five days later by a nurse. A second dose of demerol may be injected into the mother’s IV to aid in relaxation as she is wheeled into recovery to hold her child when the physician allows it. Again, the mother may experience dry heaves and/or uncontrollable shivering and chills.

Within 24 hours, the urine catheter is removed and she is allowed to stand and perhaps walk to the bathroom or shower. Within three to five days she is discharged and permitted to return home, with a check of her incision in two weeks. If infection or seeping occurs, antibiotics may be prescribed. Incision pain may occur constantly or intermittently for up to a year. Feeling may be regained on the incision site, or nerve damage may result in permanent lack of sensation. Her ability to birth normally in the future may be called into question.

For video of a cesarean section, contact The Learning Channel at (800) 544-1717 and request a copy of the video, "The Operation: Cesarean Section."

Photos courtesy of Sabrina Cuddy, Photographer Mike Cuddy

This may be copied and distributed with retained copyright.
© International Cesarean Awareness Network, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Parenting a Memory

"The death of a baby is like a stone cast into the stillness of a quiet pool; the concentric ripples of despair sweep out in all directions, affecting many, many people". — De Frain,1991

The phrase parenting a memory is a foreign concept for those families whom have never lost a child. Most families dreams of parenting a child is a reality. They have a child to guide, nurture, and love. For those parents whom have lost a child either through neonatal loss or later on in childhood that reality is so different. These parents had the same hopes, dreams, and aspirations that other families have for their children but unfortunately feel as though they are invisible. They feel invisible initially because friends and family are afraid to talk about the child lost. They feel as though if they don't talk about the baby or child they can stop the hurt or avoid an uncomfortable situation.

Holidays, anniversary dates, or even mother or father days are celebrated in a different spirit than those whom never experienced such a loss. In neonatal or child deaths, families actually had a short tangible time frame where they held their baby in their arms. Prenatal and Postnatal bonding happened. That is to say its different than miscarriages and stillbirths. Of course each loss carries its own unique horrible pain, and grief. I am in not indicating that one grief is more painful than another. I am saying that each is unique in that the aftermath is handled a bit differently.

So what is parenting a memory? First, for the parents of the child it is remembering milestones, anniversaries, and finding a way for their babies life to be remembered, respected, and have meaning. Second, supportive grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends participate in remembering these milestones. It is emotionally and spiritually helpful to the parents. This includes being supportive listeners.

How do these goals get accomplished? How can we parent a memory? There are many ways to celebrate the memory of the life of the baby or child:

Going to the grave and reading a story
A birthday or holiday celebration
A poem, angel, or other memento given during a holiday i.e. an ornament for the tree
Planting a memory garden
A balloon release at a park, cemetery, or elsewhere
Purchasing jewelry– rings, necklaces, bracelets, and earrings in remembrance of a lost child.
Stain glass ornaments, wind-chimes, sun catchers, dream catchers, and even decals are available to be personalized as a gift for families.
Listening to the parents talk about their hopes, memories, and dreams for their child.
During the holidays send a memorial tree to be planted, send a candle to be lit in memory, choose a journal or album for recording memories
Find a book that might be helpful through out the grieving process.
Create a garden stone engraved with a special saying.
Send a flower vase which could be filled with flowers on the difficult days of the year.
Write a letter or share a poem with the family in remembrance of their little one
Create a care package with a selection of comfort gifts during different holidays or anniversaries.
Create an inspirational collage

Keep in mind that as humans we truly aren't supposed to bury our children. We are supposed to outlive our children. This loss is truly devastating because of the reoccurring pain that happens through the years. We assimilate the grief into our lives and learn to live with it in our lives. The support of community, family, and friends are necessary to the survival of many parents. Because of the intense feeling of grief associated with the death of a child and the serious risk factors to parents (suicide, depression, and other health issues) it is critical to learn to honor the memory of our lost children. As a member of our family called society we each have a responsibility to help each other. That includes taking a village to raise our children on this plane and remembering the children that have passed in heaven. William Shakespeare said Grief fills the room up of my absent child, lies in his bed, walks up and down with me, puts on his pretty looks, repeats his words." Imagine having your beautiful light of love extinguished and replaced by agonizing pain and despair.

If you could do just one kind thing for a parent in this despair, it would be to remember their little soul in any creative manner that you choose. You would be surprised at how much love and light you can spread one parent at a time.

Remembering my cousin Marko & Kim's baby who was recently born still ~ David Spencer

Birthing Dream

My dream is that every woman, everywhere, will know the joy of a truly safe, comfortable and satisfying birthing for herself and her baby” ~ Marie F. Mongan founder of Hypnobirthing® .

My questions to pregnant mothers are many. “What is your birthing dream”? How do you envision this very special day? If you are a first time mother what are your expectations and have you taken the time to educate yourself so that you can see your vision? What steps are you going to follow to achieve your dream? Remember birth is not a medical event! It is a completely normal and natural occurrence that most women can achieve without the assistance of the medical community. You are not sick. You are doing something completely miraculous, growing and birthing a human being into this world. How, where, when, and the details are up to you! Not your doctor.

Kim Wildner was quoted in her book Mother’s Intention: How Belief Shapes Birth “You are constructing your own reality with the choices you make...or don't make. If you really want a healthy pregnancy and joyful birth, and you truly understand that you are the one in control, then you must examine what you have or haven't done so far to create the outcome you want”. So a positive outcome results from positive input. Think about how birthing is portrayed in the media, movies, and in books. It is considered either dramatic or comedic. It is truly neither. This is an incredible journey becoming a mother. It is emotional, physical, and spiritual. You have to look for the positive sources of input. Birthing is beautiful. Your vision should allow that beauty to shine. Achieving the dream can be accomplished in many different ways. “Seeing is believing”. Visualization, Affirmations, and even a Dream Map can all have a very strong impact on reaffirming your intention to have your birthing dream. I ask my mothers to see their birth exactly as they want it to happen. They should journal their vision and when writing engage all of the senses! It will make it much more real— Put as much description into it as you can. Create and weave the story. Don’t write it like a grocery list. The more you can see yourself, feel yourself, engage all of your senses the better.

Smell -think about a scent you enjoy, it could be a candle or maybe the way your birth companion smells.
Taste - see yourself snacking on a favorite food to increase your energy.
Sight - see yourself having your perfect birth (using the Hypnobirthing techniques) holding the baby, or seeing the beauty of flowers in your room
Hearing - use your love of music in your story. What music is the soundtrack of your life?
Touch - think about your birth companions loving touch or how soft the baby will feel once you get to hold them. Then after you have completed writing the story, focus and meditate upon it frequently.

Add or subtract to it but keep the basic integrity of your dream together. You can do the same thing with a dream map. Basically you get a poster board, glue, and some magazines or other textures. You cut out those pictures, words, and phrases that support your dream. Once the page is complete place the map somewhere you can gaze upon it frequently. It will again help you to meditate upon your dream and to enhance the visualization meditation along with writing affirmations that will support your dream. Use affirmation phrases in creative ways that will help support and enhance your preparedness for birthing. Writing affirmations lends them power. By writing each out several times you are reinforcing its message.

Some suggested Hypnobirthing® Affirmations are: I am relaxed and happy that my baby is finally coming to me. I am focused on a smooth, easy birth. I trust my body to know what it is to do. My mind is relaxed; my body is relaxed. I feel confident; I feel safe; I feel secure. When writing affirmations you should always write in the present or past tense. Do not use the future tense. You want your mind to know it has already happened. Use the most positive terms you can. Never use negatives in affirmations. As you are learning to do affirmations, write them down so you will remember exactly what you want to say. Keep them short and very specific. Personalize them with your name. Always believe that what you are saying is happening. The more you believe, the stronger the affirmation. Being repetitive and persistent helps to set them in your head and in your unconscious being. Always have a specific time daily set aside for your meditations, affirmations and visualizations. This will help set a pattern for you so you will do them daily. “The vision that you glorify in your mind, the ideal that you enthrone in your heart- this you will build your life by, and this you will become”. ~ James Allen The more you make your birthing dream real, in full Technicolor, with all your senses engaged the easier it will be to trust yourself to relax and step right into your birthing imagery. So take the time to develop your vision and you will realize your dream for you and your family.

Liams Birth

Inspirational!

Anya's Home Birth HypnoBirth

Just Beautiful!

HypnoBirthing/Water Birth

WOW!

HypnoBirthing Parents Catch own Baby!

Amazing!

Fabi's Homebirth

Beautiful!

HypnoBirthing Aline

This video is to help inspire my HypnoBirthing Parents.

HypnoBirthing Advantages

For most of their lives, women have been inundated with the negative stories of other women’s birth experiences. Everyone, from their mothers, sisters, aunts, cousins, friends, and even strangers, wants to tell them the horrors of giving birth. They have been conditioned to believe that excruciating pain is associated with birth; & women today hold an unprecedented fear of giving birth. This extreme fear causes their bodies to become tense, which prevents them from easily performing the normal, physiological function of birth. The result?—exactly what they feared most--long, painful, disappointing birthing.


People who are drawn to HypnoBirthing have long been searching for a way that helps women give birth as calmly, safely, and gently as possible. Until HypnoBirthing® was founded, it seemed almost unattainable.


Through a very simple program of self-hypnosis and education, women learn to release emotions tied to fear-based stories and misinformation, and they are helped to see birth as normal. They learn to trust that their bodies know how to bring their babies into the world in the calm and gentle way that Nature intended.


Hypnobirthing® has many advantages including the following:

* Teaches deep levels of relaxation to eliminate the fear that causes tension and, thus, pain

* Greatly reduces and often eliminates the need for chemical painkillers and drugs

* Shortens the first phase of labor & leaves mother alert, fresh, awake and with energy

* Helps keep oxygen supplied to baby during birthing

* Reduces the need for an episiotomy

* Reduces and often eliminates fatigue during labor

* Empowers parents with techniques to achieve a gentle, calm birth for themselves and their baby

* Gives the birthing companion an integral role in the birthing

* Embraces the concept of pre-birth parenting

* Teaches breathing techniques that allow a woman to gently breathe her baby into the world without the violence of hard, physical pushing.


At Sacred Beginning we offer Private Hypnobirthing® Classes in our parents homes AND Small Group Classes at CHOICE in Columbus. These individual classes allow us to focus on your specific needs and learning styles. Hypnobirthing® Classes are held in four - three hour sessions. If interested in scheduling a class; phone or email us at 740-687-5506 or info@sacredbeginning.com. You can also visit our website for our current class schedule at www.sacredbeginning.com.

Relaxation Meditation for Pregnancy after a Neonatal Loss, Miscarriage, Stillbirth.

(Picture is of a mother getting Reiki which is a very relaxing holistic therapy).

Being pregnant after a neonatal loss, miscarriage, or stillbirth can be one of the most stressful times for a mother. Because the unexpected pain and grief was the previous result women feel their innocence has been robbed. They loose trust in their bodies, mind, and in any higher power. There are studies that substantiate the more stress a mother is under the higher possibility of a negative outcome. It is essential for mothers to take their subsequent pregnancies one day at a time and reduce the stress in their lives. In reducing stress they should be able to regain trust in their bodies and the pregnant/ birthing process.

So how can I do that you ask yourself? The key is finding a way to quiet your mind. By doing this you are able to connect to your body and your baby. An effective way of doing this is through meditation, visualization, and hypnosis. Below is an example of a meditation that can be performed through out pregnancy. The benefits of this meditation is that it encourages self care, prenatal bonding, and allows you visualize a positive healthy pregnancy/birth.

In order to prepare for this meditation you should spend some time writing about:

• Why you wanted this baby?
• What type of parents you will be?
• Envision how your pregnancy and birthing will go (healthy, no bed rest, eating healthy, exercising, bonding with the baby, how long your birthing will take, the type of contractions you will feel etc.
• Do you feel safe, secure, and loved?
• Do you feel connected to your little one or do you have a protective shell built up?

Stretch out on your bed supported by body pillows so that you are comfortable. Breathe normally but focus on your breath in and out for about 10 breaths. This should have a calming effect on your anxiety and stress.

Now we want to relax your muscles from the top of your head, down to your feet.

Close your eyes and start by focusing on the muscles in and around your face. Feel each muscle around your eyes, cheeks, forehead, chin, and jaws completely becoming loose and limp. Feel the stress draining from your head down to your shoulders.

Now focus on your shoulders and feel the muscles begin to become fluid, free of resistance, completely relaxed. All tension draining from the shoulders down your arms, hands, and fingers. Feel the muscles in and around your abdomen beginning to relax like loose wet spaghetti noodles.

All tension is now draining from your abdomen down into your hips, and down now into your knees. Again your muscles, cells, and nerves all relaxing in harmony. Feeling the lovely feeling of the leisurely lulling of your body into a comfortable state of relaxation.

And the tension continues to drain from your knees down into your ankles and out the sole of your feet. Feel the tension draining out of your body and puddling into the ground below you, being absorbed and carried away into the ground.

Now with your muscles all relaxed I want you to focus on connecting and bonding with the little one inside of you. Place your hands on your abdomen and gently stroke your baby. Visualize their tiny body and see the beautiful glow of their aura melding with yours. Mentally I want you to visualize breathing into your little one. Your hands are the conductor of your feelings and you are sending your baby love, peace, joy, and calm. See in your minds eye your baby growing into a healthy and strong, vibrant being. They are serene, beautiful, and so full of love. Let your little one know how much they are wanted and that they are a sacred being with an important place here.

Visualize the birth going exactly as you have planned it to go. See the birthing going smoothly with no difficulties at all. If you are working with a midwife or OBGYN see them being surrounded by angels knowing they can easily manage the birth of your beautiful child. Decide now how long your birthing will last (5 hours, 10 hours)? What will you feel (numbing sensation, tightening, or something else)? Think about your journal and make decisions on what your birth will look like. This is your birth, take control here while meditating and see it, believe it, and know you are able to do this easily, comfortably, differently than in the past. Honor your past and acknowledge your little one lost but know this time your birthing will be different.

Now I want you to imagine holding your newborn baby in your arms and falling madly in love. You look beautiful, with glowing light all about you. Your eyes are sparkling and you feel relaxed, renewed, and confidant! You did this! You had your perfect birth – however you define it. You and your partner are holding your glorious baby in your arms. See yourself happy as can be knowing that you are a mother to this beautiful child.

Mentally commit to being the best parent you can be for this child. Know you are a loving and caring mother ready to meet the challenges of parenthood. Whenever you find yourself doubting about the pregnancy or birth go back to this mental picture. See yourself surrounded by white light holding you baby and sitting with your partner sharing the joy of the moment.

When you are ready……….return to watching your breath. Relax deeply and end your meditation.

I used this meditation when I was pregnant with Samantha and Isabella after the loss of Niko. It was an amazing powerful tool coupled with the Hypnosis and HypnoBirthing tools I learned.

Wishing you a peaceful and loving pregnancy and birth.

Love and Light,
Sharon Gourlay C.Ht, HBCE, HBIMI, RMT, BA

Ritual Conception

Have you ever considered the role of rituals in our lives and how they can make the ordinary, extraordinary? Growing up in the Serbian Orthodox Church I was surrounded by rituals in my life including: Church Liturgy, Baptism, Marriage, Greetings, Prayers, and even meal time rituals. Each of these customs made the event seem special and unique.

In the Hypnotherapy world, we find that women whom are experiencing fertility issues are stressed and caught up in a cycle of waiting to see if they are pregnant this month or next. Relaxation is key to getting pregnant along with getting the subconscious to get on board with the idea. First, how do we accomplish relaxation? Visualization, hypnosis, removing tension, & addressing fears are all key factors to allow conception to happen. Fear release work allows the practitioner to work directly with the mom-to-be to figure out what her fears of conception might be. Some common fears are financial concerns, fear of becoming a good mother, fear of loosing oneself, or even grief from a previous loss. Fear release work should be done with a qualified clinical Hypnotherapist who can work with you in a safe environment to help you in the process.

Conception rituals can help parents-to-be to make the sexual act more cherished (especially after you have repeatedly tried to get pregnant over and over again). It helps you and your partner to connect with the sacred and divine to bring the soul that is meant for your family, to you.

Below is an example of such a ritual that I found in the book “Rituals for Sacred Living” by Jane Alexander. Of course you can incorporate anything you believe, desire, or need into this ritual. Becoming parents from conception through birthing is such a beautiful sacred time in a woman’s life. We should do things to make the entire process a LIFE altering experience that connects us to the universe and the divine.

(This ritual does not guarantee conception but it will be a beautiful well thought out beginning).

Need: Pink or Rose colored candles// Lavender & geranium oils, and oil burner.

Ritual Details: Prepare the bedroom so it is clean and comfortable. Light the candles, and burn the oils. They foster love, peace, and happiness. Spend some time talking with your partner. Think about why you want this child? Are you committed to providing a loving, secure environment for them? Be quite clear in setting your intentions. Ensure you are not seeking a baby to support a difficult relationship or for selfish reasons. Talk about your love for each other; describe how you see each other as parents. Visualize yourselves with a child of your own. How would it be?

Now lie down and take several slow, deep breaths. Let yourself relax completely. Visualize your heart chakras glowing with pure golden pink light. This light expands to become a bubble of light. You gradually become aware of other bubbles of light all around you. Each one contains a soul preparing to descend to the earth. Watch as some of the souls come up to you as if they were curious. Each soul knows what she or he desires in life and is checking to see if you are able to provide the right environment. Send out a prayer that the ‘right” soul will find you. Send out all your love, hopes, and promises. You may have a sense that a soul has picked you—if not, trust it will happen if not now, in the future.

Come back to waking awareness and share your experiences with your partner. You could now give each other a massage. Make love in the most gentle, loving way possible. Keep the idea of that waiting soul in your mind, quietly inviting her or him to come into your lives.

IDEA: Work with a Hypnotherapist to enhance this visualization into a hypnosis script. Or record this ritual yourself if you have a hard time visualizing. Either way you both can listen to the visualization together which keeps you on the same page.


Inner Peace Creates Outer Peace. The more you are able to face your fears of conception, birthing, and parenting, the easier to conceive it will be. RELAX, the journey is beautiful and the destination fulfilling.

Love & Light,
Sharon Gourlay C.Ht, HBCE, HBIMI, BA, RMT

Selina Chew Malaysia Interview about HypnoBirthing

A TV interview on HypnoBirthing with Selina Chew, Certified HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator & HypnoBirthing Mom, as featured on TV3, Malaysia.

About HypnoBirthing

Motherhood, Conception, and RELAXATION

There is nothing more peaceful and relaxing for me than hearing the surf gently lap against the shore. Feeling the movement of the waves in my soul and visualizing the spray of the surf on my face makes me feel at peace with nature and God. Shouldn't our lives be lived in this peace and serenity the majority of the time?

Unfortunately in Western Society we are always racing; racing to the next appointment, racing to get to work, racing to get home, racing to beat the Jones, and constantly fatigued. As women we are impacted by this constant racing, trying to achieve, and become or be a super mama.

Some food for thought:
Miscarriages in the US occur in about Twenty Percent of all pregnancies!
About 9% of the reproductive aged population are infertile.
C-Section rates are increasing in the US to 30% of all births!

No one has been able to link ONE specific reason why these things happen. But if you review what the commonality link is between these issues you can see how lack of relaxation can impact the human body. Especially that of a mother or woman trying to conceive.

So what can you do in your life TODAY to insure more relaxation? Each of us has our own specific preferences for relaxation. Some common techniques: meditation, yoga, crafting, creative outlets, prayer, hiking, biking, and even hypnosis are all good ways to ensure relaxation in your life. Consider taking a day for yourself to enjoy YOU. You don't have to take a vacation somewhere, spending money to be relaxed. Go for a nature walk or sit on the beach and watch the waves. If you have a few extra dollars consider a spa day at a local spa, get a massage or reiki treatment. The endorphins released make you feel fabulous.

Relaxation can help your body and mind come together on a spiritual level so that you can conceive a child. Relaxation can help you maintain your pregnancy in a healthy way by allowing to slow down, connect with your baby and body. Did you know that endorphins created in a pregnant mother pass over to the baby? What a fabulous was to foster more prenatal bonding. Relaxation can help you when birthing through relaxed muscles which allows your baby descend without obstruction. This allows less stress on your body and baby which produces less pain and a happier baby being born. Relaxation is even key when breastfeeding. The more relaxed the mother the more relaxed the baby. Babies pick up on if their mother is tensed or stressed. This tension can cause a child that doesn't want to latch on or have some other issue while trying to learn breast feeding. It is critical to relax, let go, and allow the baby to connect and be nourished.


In summary the key to maternal health is - Taking time to smell the roses. Being a part of a deeply spiritual event as bringing another soul into your life, family, and the world is really something WORTH slowing down for.....So slow down, enjoy life, and RELAX ~ YOU DESERVE IT!.

Motherhood creative expression and dreams

Magical Momma and Banish the Bad Mood Creed Principals from Brandy Astwoods Series

• Creative Expression…..Art, Journal, Sing, Indulge in Outside Interests Banish the Bad Mood
• Have personal dreams and goals ~ Magical Mommas

I collect quotes on various subjects. You will find in my blogging I normally include a quote or two. I love the website www.gaia.com. They have an awesome quote collection. I was looking for quotes to inspire me the other day and was drawn to this one written by Laura Teresa Marquez:

“No matter the goal you have set -- if you have not quit, you have not failed.”

Recently I scheduled a free HypnoBirthing® Informational Seminar in an outlying community near where I live. I was so excited to give this presentation and looking forward to working with the women in this community. I prepared, advertised, and worked with my partner business getting ready for the big day. Finally the day had arrived and…………no one showed up. I felt like such a failure in that moment. And then I found this quote and it made me realize that I need to keep trying.

Being a Magical Momma we all have personal dreams and goals, right?

My question to you is have you written your goals or dreams down somewhere?

The key to manifesting our desires is to express them. In doing some research for this blog I found an awesome article on journaling called “Finding Yourself through Journaling” ~ http://hubpages.com /hub/A_Guide_to_the_Many_Ways_To_Find_Yourself. The word “journaling” evokes images in my mind of fifth grade childish visions, writing in a diary with hearts and locks. But after reading this article my image of what a journal is changed. You aren’t confined to just writing but expressing yourself through art, collage, writing, and including poems or even music lyrics you enjoy. The examples the author Toni Cyanbrock gave of her journal were so inspiring. She took the cover of her journal and used an ‘old photo of herself, some tissue paper, news print, and ink to remind her, "Don't Settle" because her journal is about self-discovery and personal growth”.

Journals help us to discover who we are. And after having a child its hard to know who this new person truly is. “The moment a child is born, the mother is also born. She never existed before. The woman existed, but the mother, never. A mother is something absolutely new”. ~Rajneesh Even after having more than one child!

The challenge is to meet this new woman and what better way than through creative expression. A recent challenge I gave to my HypnoBirthing® mothers was to develop their “dream of motherhood” on a dream board (aka…vision board, dream map). A dream board is a powerful tool to help clarify what your goals are and help you reinforce and achieve them. The Law of Attraction truly explains how this tool can help. Specifically, this Universal Law demonstrates how we create the things, events, and people that come into our lives. Our thoughts, feelings, words, and actions produce energies which, in turn, attract like energies. Negative energies attract negative energies and positive energies attract positive energies. By clarifying exactly what you desire you are able to envision your positive image and by focusing on it each day it helps you to bring it into reality.

Creating a dream board is not a difficult project. There is no right or wrong way to do this.

• First you should get a poster board, bulletin board, painters canvas or even a poster board frame as your base of the dream board.
• Collect images that inspire or motivate you. You can have a specific theme for your dream board OR it can be a collection or grouping of goals.
• Some places you can find these images are: Print Publications – Magazines, Newspapers, Old Books, & Advertisements. You will want Magazines covering different subjects: money/wealth, career, sport, adventure, health, cooking, spirituality/philosophy, fitness, fashion, travel etc. Try the following websites for images: http://www.images.google.com, http://photobucket.com/.
• You may want to purchase other decorative elements like ribbons, sparkles/glitters, material, special papers, and even stickers.
• Make sure you have good glue. You can use Elmer’s glue but I normally use Modge Podge Decoupage Medium. It seals in the picture so it doesn’t fall off of the canvas.
• Cut out your images and then use your creative abilities to design your board.

I have successfully used dreams boards to help inspire me to loose weight, achieve a sales quota in order to win a trip to the Bahamas & to be able to maintain a positive pregnancy.

Les Brown said "Your goals are the road maps that guide you and show you what is possible for your life." So what are your goals for motherhood, becoming a better you, and your future? The time is now to start visualizing, actualizing, planning, creating, and achieving YOUR DREAMS! What is stopping you? Nothing! You my fellow Magical Momma are unstoppable so go now and cut, glue, and journal your way into your dreams!

Much love and light,

Sharon Gourlay C.Ht, HBCE, HBIMI, BA, RMT

Conversation/Suggestion: Why not get your girlfriends together and have a dream board party? Spend the evening with a glass of wine, friends, and being creative. What better way to dream than among the stars who are your friends! If you need help pulling a party together contact me. As part of Sacred Beginning Services we help pull together Dream Board Parties.