The Positive Birth Company: What Is Hypnobirthing?
Today, we have a special guest blog post from The Positive Birth Company where they’ll be talking all about hypnobirthing!
Founded in 2016 by Siobhan Miller, The Positive Birth Company is on a mission to support women and birthing people on their journey to parenthood.
They are committed to empowering women, birthing people, and birth partners around the world to create positive experiences from conception through to birth and the postpartum period with their unique, accessible, and fully comprehensive approach to antenatal and postnatal education.
So what is hypnobirthing?
Hypnobirthing is an evidence-based approach to birth that seeks to empower women and birthing people with knowledge, practical tools, and support, enabling them to have a positive birth experience however they bring their baby into the world.
In hypnobirthing, you learn about birth physiology, how your body works on a muscular and hormonal level, and what you can do to help make your birth easier, quicker, and more comfortable. Once you know why it's so important to be relaxed, you learn how to achieve this, so your body can work comfortably as it's designed to, allowing you to navigate your birth feeling calm and, most importantly, in control.
Hypnobirthing techniques are designed to help you overcome anxiety and enjoy your pregnancy, and helps you have the positive and empowering birth experience you deserve, equipping you with tools and techniques you can use as you navigate the challenges of parenthood. Ultimately, hypnobirthing will leave you feeling more informed, confident, and even excited about giving birth.
Hypnobirthing will help you have that positive experience so that however your baby's born, you're ready to begin your new chapter together in the best possible way, feeling relaxed, confident, and happy.
How can I practice hypnobirthing at home?
Start by using your breath.
Breathing in birth is so important and will make the biggest difference. The Positive Birth Company teach 2 breathing techniques in hypnobirthing - up and down breathing.
Up breathing is for the up stage of labour. This is when the uterus muscles are drawing up and the cervix is dilating. Simply breathe in for 4 and breathe out for 8 (4 times over or for the length of your surge). This will give you something to focus on, help you to remain relaxed by down-regulating your nervous system, reducing the amount of adrenaline you produce and keeping your heart rate slow and steady. It will also ensure you're bringing oxygen into your body, which your uterus muscles need as they are working super hard - you wouldn't attempt any other kind of workout whilst holding your breath! You can practice this anytime, anywhere, and it will leave you feeling calm, relaxed, and grounded.
Down breathing is for the down stage of labour. This is when the uterus muscles are pushing down, and you're actively birthing your baby. At the start of the surge, take a quick, deep breath in, and as you breathe out, send your breath down through your body, with purpose. You can practice this when you go to the toilet!
You can find out more about The Positive Birth Company’s hypnobirthing offerings on their website.
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