Hypnobirthing is the use of hypnosis to have a magical birth experience as nature intended. Hypnosis is a state of deep relaxation with altered awareness. Being in a relaxed state reduces the ‘panic’ hormone adrenalin and increases the ‘happy’ hormone serotonin, which makes us feel good about ourselves. In…
Hypnobirthing is simply a generic term that means the use of hypnosis for birth. We are all in hypnosis, without knowing it, about 60% of the day so this is something that comes naturally to us all. It occurs just before you fall asleep and just as you…
Here are some great suggestions from our TBS community on birthing natually and avoiding intervention: Stay upright counter pressure self-hypnosis and meditation breathe deeply standing and swaying your hip keep moving around use a birthing pool hire a doula birth classes Walk, walk, walk hot showers counting breaths a good supportive…
Here are some great suggestions from our TBS community on reducing labour pains: Hypnobabies floating in the birthing tub during contractions breathing techniques such as those from yoga rocking on a birthing ball keep my jaw relaxed and close my eyes to not waste energy I didn't need to TENS technique…
"Purple Pushing" (or directed pushing), is commonly used for women who have had pain medication and are not able to fully feel their body’s natural urge to push through the contractions. Purple pushing is directed by the nurses and the OB who will tell you to begin pushing as a…
Routine episiotomy is performed less frequently in many hospitals now and is not recommended as a routine procedure during childbirth by the ACOG. Despite these recommendations it is still common in many hospitals so it’s best to find out what your practitioner and hospital’s guidelines are for this procedure. An…
Some women chose to have narcotic medications administered through an IV or a patient controlled pump because the medications (if administered in appropriately small doses), can reduce the pain without eliminating all feeling the way an epidural or spinal block can. The benefit to this is that the pushing stage…
A spinal block is similar to the epidural but without the catheter. Medication is injected into the spinal fluid. Pain relief occurs almost immediately but only lasts for an hour or two. A spinal block is generally given only once during labor, as close to delivery as possible. Medications used…
The epidural is the most common form of pain management for laboring women in America. A catheter is inserted into the epidural space in the spinal canal (just outside of the spinal cord). Medication is then delivered intravenously through the catheter. This blocks pain signals from the lower part of…
I gave birth to my son, Jack, two years ago. That fact blows my mind, because I can still close my eyes and recall every detail of that day, from the warmth of his gooey, wriggling body when he was placed on my naked chest to the taste of that…
