It’s a common question and, if I’m honest, one where there is no one definitive answer. If we look back to the origins of Hypnobirthing, the term was created by a woman called Marie Mongan. She wrote the very first Hypnobirthing programme after her own personal experience of birthing in the maternity system in America. In fact, the word ‘Hypnobirthing’ in America is owned/copywritten by Marie Mongan of the Hypnobirthing Institute. However, the word is not under copyright in the UK and is used widely and is often used as a generic term for using relaxation and breathing techniques for labour and birth, but this is not how is was intended!
Firstly, it’s useful to point out that there is a big difference between Hypnobirthing techniques and a full Hypnobirthing course – they are not the same thing! Hypnobirthing Practitioners in the UK tend to use the word to describe a form of antenatal education that, amongst other things, teach specific relaxation and breathing techniques for labour and birth. It usually involves some education on the mind/body connection, the Autonomic Nervous System and the way fear affects your body functions. Most of the time practitioners provide tracks to listen to, to help you practice deep relaxation and self hypnosis. More often than not breathing techniques are taught too. All Hypnobirthing courses will have the same philosophy at the heart. But this is where the similarities end.
You see, every course, every practitioner, every Hypnobirthing method, will teach different content, and cover different things and will be taught in a different way. Some will go in to detail on your birthing and human rights in childbirth (me!), some will talk you through creating a detailed birth plan and help you to understand why it is so important (me!), some will be more yoga/spiritual based and teach you about connecting with your inner goddess or how your vagina/vulva/perineum will open like a flower (not me!). All forms are valid – you just gotta do your research with which one fits with you best.
Find out more about my method of Hypnobirthing on my free taster session on Wednesday 15th September at 7.30pm on Zoom.
Only 2 spaces left for Private Hypnobirthing courses in September and 2 for October. Group Hypnobirthing courses - October on Zoom, November face to face. Full dates on my website.