Four Ways Modern Birth Medicine is Supporting 25 Years of HypnoBirthing Wisdom
Marie Mongan, the founder of HypnoBirthing, is often quoted as saying "when you change the way you view birth, the way you birth will change." Over the past couple of years, it would appear modern medicine is changing the way it views birth and is now promoting some of the very best advice that HypnoBirthing has been promoting for 25 years. It's so wonderful to see that the science supports what many gentle-birthing mamas have been doing for ages. Here are the top four ways medicine is supporting 25 years of HypnoBirthing wisdom.
Eating during labor. In the past, women were restricted from eating while in labor to prevent aspiration in the event that she needed general anesthesia. General anesthesia is rarely used in labor and deliver these days, even with surgical births. This dramatically decreases the risk of aspiration in and of itself. In late 2015, the American Society of Anesthsiologists released a statement affirming the benefit of eating during labor. As any woman who has expereinced labor can tell you, it's a lot of work that blasts through a lot of calories. “Our findings suggest a change in practice makes sense,” said Christopher Harty, BN, co-author of the study and a medical student at Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada. “Physician anesthesiologists and obstetricians should work together to assess each patient individually. Those they determine are at low risk for aspiration can likely eat a light meal during labor. This gives expectant mothers more choices in their birthing experience and prevents them from being calorie deficient, helping to provide energy during labor.”
Pushing to comfort. The second stage of labor may very well be the most intense part of the process. While some childbirth educators will encourage you to push to a count of ten or hold your breath while pushing, HypnoBirthing teaches mothers to breathe their babies down and out while using visualization techniques to gently guide your baby earthside. The World Health Organization recommends spontaneous pushing and cautions against mothers holding their breath. While some childbirth education methods have updated their guidelines to recommend spontaneous pushing, HypnoBirthing has always recommended moms work with their babies and their bodies to breathe their babies out.
Immediate skin to skin. HypnoBirthing respects the intimate bond of mother and baby and encourages mothers to keep their baby close whenever possible to facilitate a gentle entry into the outside world. Having mothers hold their babies directly to their chest as soon as they are born helps newborns to maintain a stable temperature, find the breast sooner and even helps to move the third stage of labor along. In many cases, skin-to-skin can also benefit babies who had complications at birth and is even practiced in many NICU units as a practice known as Kangaroo Care.
Delayed Cord Clamping. HypnoBirthing also recognizes that uncomplicated childbirth is a normal part of birthing women's lives and as such, shouldn't be treated as a medical event without just cause. The placenta is a truly amazing organ that contains as much as 1/3 of the baby's overall blood supply. By placing the baby immediately skin-to-skin with his mother and allowing for bonding between the mother-baby dyad, cutting of the umbilical cord is often naturally delayed. During this bonding time, babies will instinctively kick at the mother's belly, encouraging the uterus to contract and birth the placenta at just the right time. Waiting for the placenta to be born before clamping and cutting the cord allows the baby to take in as much blood, iron and nutrients as possible. ACOG says some of the benefits of delaying clamping by even 60 seconds include "increased blood volume, reduced need for blood transfusion, decreased incidence of intracranial hemorrhage in preterm infants, and lower frequency of iron deficiency anemia in term infants."
Birth is a beautiful, normal part of pregnancy and motherhood. By choosing to prepare with a certified HypnoBirthing instructor, you can prepare your mind and body for the birth nature intended. For more information on group and private HypnoBirthing classes through Joyful Birth Services, including schedule of upcoming classes, please click here. When you are ready to schedule your complimentary consultation, contact Joy Kraynak. Comprehensive packages including HypnoBirthing, photography, placenta services and more are available as well.
The content above is a guest post written by Carlene Delane of Carlene Can, LLC. Carlene is a mother of two, a marketing professional and a small business owner. She prepared for the birth of her second child with Joyful Birth Services' private HypnoBirthing classes and recommends them to everyone she possibly can. To learn more about Carlene, visit her blog at CarleneCan.com.
