HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method : Emma and Gabriel’s
Birth Story
Jean-Claude Zekri CH, HBCE
HypnoBirthing® is a unique method of relaxed, natural childbirth,
enhanced by hypnosis techniques, that allows women to use their natural
instincts to bring about a safer, easier, more comfortable birthing in
a way that most mirrors nature. The following is an account of a classic
HypnoBirthing® experience.
When Emma happily learned of her pregnancy, she found herself in a dilemma
– should she opt for natural yet painful childbirth, or go the traditional
route of a numbing epidural?
Like most women, she dreamed of giving birth naturally – without
anaesthesia. The idea that such a beautiful process could be less than
joyful and gentle seemed baffling and illogical.
Yet, like most women, she had also heard the multitude of birth stories
from friends, neighbours, co-workers and family, and the verdict was woefully
unanimous – labour hurts!
Spooked and terrorized, Emma decided on an epidural. It wasn’t
until six months into her pregnancy, when tuning into a “Dateline
NBC” televised report on natural childbirth through hypnosis, that
Emma lit up.
It seemed after all, that labour did not HAVE to hurt. It could be what
she had always hoped and believed it should be – comfortable, dignified,
and drug-free.
On further research Emma found out just what birthing through hypnosis
is. It is called HypnoBirthing®, and promises an easy and serene labour
– just as nature intended. Indeed, those were the magical words.
This was just the kind of experience she was looking for.
But what kind of experience exactly is HypnoBirthing®? 28
Contrary to what one might think, a labouring mother is NOT hypnotized
into feeling no pain. Rather, it’s a method of natural childbirth
based on the premise that when a woman is free of the fear and tension
which cause pain, the body is then able to do what it was designed to
do: labour quietly and steadily.
Through a series of pre-natal classes and relaxation tapes, it is prepared
to achieve the deep relaxation needed for smoothly functioning birthing
muscles. As the Dateline report had stated, “it is not something
that is done TO you, but something you learn and get better at with practice”.
What Emma learned was how, in fact, the labouring uterus functions.
The myth and fear of a painful labour were dispelled and she emerged
with a new understanding of what birthing is truly about.
She was also taught how to breathe through her ‘surges’ (The
HB term for contractions), natural methods for triggering late or stalled
labour, optimal birthing positions and, through listening religiously
to her relaxation tape, learned to achieve instant relaxation.
When the big day arrived Emma had no clue that her labour had begun.
She felt fine and busied herself with her normal activities. Every so
often she would feel a slight ‘tightening’ of the uterus but
thought nothing of it.
Toward mid-afternoon, Emma began to notice that her tightening sensations
seemed to be coming on rather regularly. Her husband Gabriel decided to
time them ‘just in case’ and found that they came at 3 minute
intervals. Gabriel called the hospital.
Since Emma experienced no pain, the nurse responded that it didn’t
sound like ‘real’ labour, but to come on in anyway. Once there,
she inquired again if Emma was in any pain. Emma was not, and the nurse
left the room assuring our mother-to-be that pain would most definitely
happen, and to let her know when it did.
When three hours later the much-awaited pain had not set in, a trio of
nurses gathered round to discuss the situation. Emma continued to focus
on relaxing and peacefully breathing through her surges, ignoring their
loud references to the “p” word. She felt happy and confident.
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Emma asked not to be examined while she focused. Not understanding what
they were dealing with, the nurses backed off as though in the presence
of a rare animal.
Amused, Gabriel explained that his wife was having a calm labour with
the aid of hypnosis. Looking helpless, the women left the room.
When much time had passed and Emma’s labour still had not progressed,
the doctor was called in, told about the no pain situation and surges
still at 3 minutes apart.
It was decided to rupture Emma’s membrane, and on terminating the
procedure, the well-meaning doctor bellowed out a resounding and triumphant,
“NOW SHE’LL FEEL THE PAIN!”.
On hearing this, in spite of herself, doubt set in and Emma panicked.
Could it be that she hadn’t yet reached the point when it really
hurt? To make things worse, she suddenly heard screams from another labouring
mother down the hall. It sounded tortured to the point that Emma’s
heart rate flew up.
Gabriel reminded her of all she had learned, calming her down and giving
suggestions for deep relaxation. As Emma tuned out and went inward, gratefully
feeling each new surge tightening and pulling gently, she began to trust
again that all was well.
Labour progressed now at a normal and steady rate. Surges were strong
and sure, and the nurses drifted in and out, beaming at their special
patient, accustomed now to the fact that yes, Emma was in ‘real’
labour and no, there was no pain.
By 7:48 p.m. Emma began to shiver uncontrollably and felt a strong pressure
in her pelvic area. “Ah!” said the nurse, tossing a hot blanket
around her, “We’re almost there!”
‘Almost there’ was a signal to Emma to take on a squatting
position during surges, as she had learned that when upright, the labouring
body is in harmony with the pull of gravity and the coccyx swivels to
widen the pelvis. Surges continued to be smooth and comfortable. 30
By 8:28 pm. she felt a pressing need to push. She continued to breathe
her baby down, and finally, at 9:07p.m., roughly one-half-hour later on
a balmy June evening, Michael Jonathan was quietly born.
On thinking back, Emma is thankful and proud of the manner in which she
gave birth.
The nurses went back to their routine, happy for Emma’s easy labour,
and despite their disbelief, wondering if perhaps hypnosis may have had
something to do with it.