Changing Birth Perception: Preparing for birth
When I was pregnant with my little boy, people were eager to tell me their ‘war story’ of how their birthing experience. TV programs showed birth being traumatic, everywhere I looked it seemed to be tales of woes and a terrible day. I stopped listening and stopped watching, and went on a journey of changing my birth perception.
Written by Guest Contributor, Sam Leedham
I found positive birth stories, from blogs, groups, and websites. As a hypnotherapist, hypnobirthing was a natural choice for me and luckily my local hospital ran hypnobirthing classes which I attended with my husband and mum (my birth team!) so when the time came for my son to make his way into the world, his birth was brilliant. For all of us it was a wonderful birthing experience this was due to my mindset being positive towards birth and my birth partners having the confidence in themselves to be able to support me.
A Positive Birth Experience
When it came to taking my son to baby classes and exchanging tales of how my child was born, I was a little embarrassed. Bad birth experiences were being shared but I felt guilty to share that my birth had gone so well. But I shouldn’t have felt that way! How could I help other mum’s change their perception of birth so it could be seen as a positive birth?
Continuing my professional development as a hypnotherapist is something I do every year and being able to offer hypnobirthing has always been on my wish list since I started training. I didn’t realise how many different types of hypnobirthing you could do! After researching all the various options, I came across ‘Mindful Hypnobirthing’ by Sophie Fletcher, who is a hypnotherapist and doula.
What is ‘Mindful Hypnobirthing’?
Mindful hypnobirthing is about having a safe, positive birth and where possible, a natural birth. Helping expectant mothers to feel confident in themselves, to be able to birth their baby and feel in control.
After completing the practitioner training, I started running the one day course in Tettenhall, Wolverhampton and the difference I see in an expectant mother and her birth partner from when they walk in at the start of the class, to when they walk out is just amazing. Seeing them leave totally empowered to have the best birth possible is all I could ask for. I love running this class.
What to Expect from a Hypnobirth class
Attending a class helps the expectant mother and birthing partner to address any fears they may have about birth and release them by learning a combination of mindfulness, hypnotherapy and relaxation techniques to help give a better birth experience in a group environment. The birth partner’s role is important and classes cover techniques to make them feel confident in themselves.
Is Hypnobirthing for me?
Many concerns and hopes experienced by first-time mums, those giving birth again and birthing partners can be addressed and achieved by preparing their body and mind for the birth with hypnobirthing. Those wanting a positive birth experience, to feel confident, in control and relaxed, or if feeling anxious and want their baby’s birth to be special should consider hypnobirthing.
About the Author, Sam Leedham
Sam is a hypnotherapist and mindfulness teacher who lives in Codsall, a village near to both Wolverhampton and Telford. She currently runs Mindful Mamma birth preparation classes in Tettenhall as well as seeing clients at her clinic in Codsall and Wolverhampton. For more information on Sam’s classes email her at sam.mindescape@outlook.com.
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