Hypnobirthing, what you need to know!

"KGH is made up of simple, small things that, put together make a big difference."

 Essentially Hypnotherapy is the undoing of something you have already learned (example fear of spiders). We can be taught to "unlearn" unhelpful fears or behaviours, and replace them with positive ones. 

The KGHypnobithing method uses these techniques, alongside relaxation methods, breathing techniques, and most importantly by giving you the necessary information,  to make well informed decisions about your birth. 

The benefits of doing a KGH course for the mum or birthing parent are significant. In that we don't just "teach" you breathing techniques, we don't just prepare you for birth, we support you on a journey. Our course offers you access to up to date information about the workings of our maternity services, meaning you are well prepared to navigate them, calmly and confidently, to get the best birth for you and your baby.

We also put a huge emphasis on practice and planning. So you aren't just being taught relaxation methods for birth, you're being  asked to practice them. So that when labour starts your body and mind are working so perfectly together that your conscious mind can switch off, and you can trust your body to do what it was so perfectly designed to do. 

One of the biggest benefits of doing a Aspire To Birth course is that we fully understand the importance of the birth partner. 

As a birthing partner your role is vital, you are the one closest to mum or the birthing parent, you are an extension of their safe space wherever they go. We want to give you the techniques, but most importantly the confidence to support mum/birthing parent on this incredible journey.

You will be practicing massage and relaxations throughout the pregnancy, bringing you both closer to each other, but also closer to baby. Your voice will become a trigger for their subconscious mind to slip into their calm relaxed state, you will be a conduit of communication for them during labour, because you will know their birth plan better than anyone. 

When mum/birthing parent are calm and relaxed this helps baby as their oxytocin levels will remain higher, their breathing will be calm and natural allowing a consistent flow of oxygen to baby, but also to their uterus muscles, which will be working hard during labour.

"Words are the most powerful drug used by mankind" - Rudyard Kipling. 

Our sympathetic nervous is our emergency response. This is what triggers our freeze, flight, fight, and causes our bodies to produce adrenaline. This response also causes more blood flow to our extremities getting us ready to run or fight, none of these responses are helpful during labour. Our bodies can not produce adrenaline and oxytocin at the same time. 

Therefore our aim is to help the Parasympathetic nervous system remain in control. This is our calm, normal response. This amazing system produces oxytocin, and we can help it by creating a private and safe space for mums and birthing parents. This system works in the opposite way to our sympathetic system in that it sends blood to our internal muscles, like the uterus, like the placenta giving baby more oxygen. 

It can trigger beta endorphins which are natural pain relievers and natures feel good hormone.  We no longer need to hide from wild animals while giving birth, but our sense of danger can be triggered by our environment, by the language used around us or by feeling observed or exposed. During labour our senses are heightened, meaning that the smallest interruption can move us from our relaxed and calm state, to our emergency response.  Things like conversations, or strange people entering the room, or even feeling watched can be negatives triggers. 

Likewise positive triggers can move us back. At Aspire To Birth we use hypnotherapy methods to introduce positive triggers, like stroking touch meditation, like your birth partners voice and even the audios you listen to before going to sleep each night, are all building a foundation of positive associations, making it easier to transition back into that calm state.  

Planning and practice are essential for any event in life. If we go on holiday we do research on locations, hotels, flights etc. If we go If we play an instrument or a sport, we practice it. We invest time and effort into it on a daily basis. So why would we not do the same for our birthing journey?   The more time you invest in yourself and your baby's hypnobirthing journey, the more benefit you will both get out it.