Mindful pregnancy and
birth

Birth preparation courses with HypnoBirthing

background information

origin

HypnoBirthing has its origins with the gynaecologist and obstetrician Dr. Grantly Dick-Read (1890 – 1959). A key experience for him was the birth of a baby in a poor region in London, which was very different to any other birth he had helped with. The woman breathed gently and the child was born easily. Above all, the woman didn’t seem to feel hardly any pain. He experienced similar births during the First World War and noticed that those women didn’t seem to be afraid and simply trusted in their bodies. For him the correlation was clear: the women weren’t afraid and therefore didn’t tense and feel much pain. This means, they were naturally relaxed and consequently their muscles could easily let go, the cervix open and the baby simply glide out. It was only much later that scientists discovered that a relaxed body releases endorphins – much stronger than morpheme – and thus can facilitate the birthing process.

Marie F. Mongan from USA took this knowledge and combined it with her own experiences to develop Hypnobirthing. In the meantime her method has been scientifically approved and has to this day helped thousands of parents worldwide to experience a good and relaxed birth.

my approach

Mindful birthing based on the methods of HypnoBirthing means that together with your partner, you learn all you need to know about the birth, practise mindfulness, learn breathing- and relaxation techniques / self-hypnosis and learn how to prepare with affirmations and visualisations. After becoming aware of your birthing wishes and possible fears (and a fear-release hypnosis) and also the preparation with your partner you are both well prepared for a self-determined and mindful birth. However, it is important to me that you choose those techniques, affirmations and exercises that suit you or that you change them according to your beliefs and maybe also experiences.

And the good thing is, that mindfulness and meditation cannot only help to a good start to family life but in the long term are also helpful in daily life with all its challenges.

hypnosis

We reach the state of hypnosis through deep physical and mental relaxation. You can reach this state in your daily life when you’re very concentrated while for example reading, doing sports, watching a film, daydreaming or just before falling asleep. (It is the same state you reach when meditating. This is why the hypnosis exercises can also be called meditation exercises.) The subconscious is very awake, much more than in a normal state. Consequently this means that you are not “gone” or sleeping and thus can hear and notice everything and can communicate. It is not a state of absence of will or loss of control, it’s the opposite: it only works with cooperation, you are mentally strong and can activate and use your resources.

lots of advantages for you...

... as mother

you are physically and mentally well prepared and can go through the pregnancy in a mindful and confident way
you will learn to go with your body and thus ease the birth
with the relaxation exercises and the breathing techniques you can cope well with any pain during labour – most women feel less pain, some even have a pain free birth
women who give birth using HypnoBirthing tools have less perennial tears and other complications and recover faster
the fear of birthing is gone and with it also the connected tensions
the birth can be a beautiful, safe and calm experience, one which the whole family can look back at in a positive way, no matter how the birth eventually proceeds
the mindfulness and meditation exercises you’ve learnt can help you in your daily life as a parent

... as partner

you are a well-attuned birthing team and both have the important knowledge of the birthing process
the partner plays an active role during labour and communicates with the personnel of the birth place if necessary
the partner also receives useful tools to support and ease the birth and protect the atmosphere
The partner is just as relaxed and confident

... as child

the baby has a gentle start to life
the baby can also stay relaxed during the birth and is not exposed to any stress
most babies sleep and drink better

What you learn in this course can be applied during any birth, be it a planned caesarean, the birth in a hospital, a birthing house or at home. Also if you’ve already experienced one or more births, that maybe didn’t go according to your wishes, you can learn a lot.

course description

Preparation

Before the course, please read a book to give you the necessary background information. I suggest one of the following: „Mama werden mit Hypno Birthing“ von B.M. Heinkel & J.G. Kornetzky (main chapter 2, many exercises and birth reports) oder „Hypnobirthing“ M.F. Mongan (ca. the first 100 pages) Apart from Mongan’s book I am not too familiar with English HypnoBirthing books, but could recommend these two: „Hypnobirthing: Practical ways to make your birth better“ S. Miller or „Mindful Hypnobirthing“ S. Fletcher.

Contents

You learn to be mindful with your thoughts and body and strengthen your confidence in yourself.
You learn the relevant relaxation- and breathing techniques that you practise at home so as to physically and mentally memorise them.
You choose the affirmations that are important to you and with which you can practise.
You learn how to mentally and physically prepare for the birth and how your partner can support you with it.
You confront yourself with your fears and worries, whereby a fear release exercise will help you let go of them.
You learn about the birthing process and how you as parents can take responsibility in every possible situation.
You can choose the right birthing place for you and learn how to work together with the personnel in the best way.
You will get useful tips for the whole preparation and the childbed.
The birthing partner (father or another close person) is always included and has an important role, for which they can also prepare.
If your partner really can’t or doesn’t want to take part you can of courses also come alone.
Closed FB group for exchange and questions with the other participants.
I am also available for questions after the course.

Ideal time for attending

A good time for doing the course is from the 20th pregnancy week on. But don’t worry, if you decide to do this course at a later stage, you can still learn a lot and prepare well.

course details

The courses will take place just close to Bahnhof Wollishofen Zürich . Or of course privately in your home or online. Please contact me for available dates. (due to Covid-19 in small groups following the necessary safety measures - see "news")

2-day course

Saturday or Sunday (with at least one week in between)

ca. 10 hours in small groups (3-6 couples)

720CHF per couple (excl. book, please see suggestions)

contents: Theory and explanations, practical exercises, exchange, extensive course material, audios for download

1-day course

Saturday or Sunday

ca. 5 hours in small groups (3-6 couples)

450CHF per couple (excl. book, please see suggestions)

contents: short theory and explanations, practical exercises, short exchange, extensive course material, audios for download

Individual course

Individual set of time and place

3 hours 530CHF / 5 hours 870CHF (excl. book, please see suggestions)

contents: Theory and explanations, practical exercises, exchange – individual adaption according to your situation and requirements,

extensive course material, audios for download

Concerning the costs

Some health insurances pay a standard amount towards such a course. Others only pay if the course is run by a certified midwife (which I am not). It's best to ask your insurance company. You will receive a confirmation of participation after the course.

Organisational information

Depending on the place the course will held sitting on chairs or cushions. Anyhow, please wear comfortable clothes. If you need a certain cushion or prefer sitting on your yoga mat for the meditations, please bring it along.

Snacks and drinks will be available.

Please bring a pen and some paper for taking notes.

Trust is an oasis of the heart, that can never be reached by the caravan of thinking.

Khalil Gibran

Mindful pregnancy and birth