Hypnobirthing
Get Your Answers On The Most Common Questions About Hypnobirthing
8 min | Updated on 30-03-2023 by HappyPreggie
Fear of childbirth is normal, but too much of it can increase the risk of complications caused by prolonged delivery. One way to prepare yourself for delivery is by practising techniques like deep breathing, relaxation, visualisation, and affirmations - also known as hypnobirthing. While the topic is popular abroad, the concept is still unfamiliar to most Malaysians. Many assume that one would be hypnotised during the delivery process and question the credibility of such a practice. However, hypnobirthing is actually a pain management method for mummies in labour that can be very efficient in aiding a successful birth.
In this Q&A With Expert Series, Ms Ng Bee Ting, a Certified HypnoBirthing Master Trainer and the Founder of Baby with Bee will give detailed explanations on the topic of hypnobirthing to help you understand the process better.
HypnoBirthing is a 12.5-hour course taught over 5 days weekly in a 2.5-hour class.
It is a very comprehensive childbirth preparation course where you will learn many techniques like breathing, relaxation, visualisation, and affirmations to stay calm and relaxed during labour.
Staying calm and relaxed is the key to an easier and more comfortable birth.
We also teach about the birth process, signs & stages of labour and what to do, birth positions, birth plans, nutrition, and exercise, etc.
Birth companions will also learn what to do and say to support and encourage you during labour and birth.
The biggest difference between HypnoBirthing and other childbirth classes is the mindset work we focus on. A person can know the birth process very well, but if one still carries a lot of fear and negative beliefs about birth into the labour room, that person will still panic and be very tense during the birth process, which will make childbirth difficult and painful. HypnoBirthing parents work on having a positive mindset about giving birth so they feel totally confident and prepared (inside out). Hence, they naturally relax during delivery and experience a much more positive birth.
HypnoBirthing can certainly help make the birth easier and more comfortable. We don't promise non-painful births, but we do have people who say they enjoyed their labours and look forward to the next one.
The logic behind how HypnoBirthing works lies in the mindset work done in class and the many techniques we teach. When parents have a positive mindset and true confidence in their bodies' natural ability to give birth, their birthing muscles relax, and delivery becomes easier.
Also, HypnoBirthing parents learn a lot of deepening relaxation techniques and light touch massage that help stimulate lots of endorphins in their bodies. Endorphins, our 'happy hormones', are our natural 'painkiller'. Endorphins also suppress the secretion of catecholamine - our pain-causing hormones. So you can imagine that a HypnoBirthing mum, being deeply relaxed during birth has her body saturated with endorphins and very little catecholamine, she then naturally can give birth to her baby comfortably.
We teach many techniques in HypnoBirthing classes like breathing, rapid relaxation, deepening relaxation, visualisation, affirmations, light touch massage and other comfort measures to stay calm and relaxed during labour.
We often hear feedback from our HypnoBirthing parents that they found these techniques very useful for their births and in fact, some of these techniques can be used in daily lives, not just when giving birth.
We usually suggest mums start class as soon as possible in the second trimester so she has plenty of time to practise the many techniques we teach in class. The more practice, the better.
Some mums may choose to start earlier in the first trimester if she feels comfortable (little or mild morning sickness).
Some mums only find out about HypnoBirthing late in their pregnancy and I would still encourage them to attend class as it can still help them a lot. HypnoBirthing doesn't take forever to work. Parents will experience a paradigm shift just by taking the first class. It is that powerful!
There is a misconception that our instructors need to be around to 'hypnotise' the mum during birth. I once had an ob-gyn ask me that.
The 'hypnosis' in the course merely means deep relaxation which the HypnoBirthing mother can achieve on her own with practice.
You are fully in control of your mind.
Other than the support we offer during class, we often extend that support beyond birth and postpartum. Parents often turn to us for advice on birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, parenting issues etc. We often hear from them years later even for subsequent pregnancies. Some go on to be personal friends.
We also offer classes like breastfeeding, newborn care, baby massage and HypnoMothering classes for those who wish to fully prepare for their babies' arrival.
As HypnoBirthing techniques are non-invasive, natural alternative ways to bring about comfort during birth, I would say there are no downsides or risks with these relaxation techniques.
We don't give medical advice in class. We teach parents to seek information and ask the right questions so they can make informed decisions themselves.
There is, however, one possible 'side effect' though. That is, if a HypnoBirthing mum diligently practises her relaxation daily during her pregnancy, chances are very high that her baby will be calm and relaxed after birth. Many HypnoBirthing parents have confirmed this.
HypnoBirthing is a 12.5-hour course taught over 5 days weekly in a 2.5-hour class.
The course fees are definitely less than the cost of an epidural (most HypnoBirthing mothers don't need one) and the knowledge gained from this course can be used for more than one birth. So the answer to your question is "No, I don't believe that the HypnoBirthing course is expensive for the value that you will receive possibly for the rest of your life." I mean how much is a good birth experience worth to you? How much is it worth to you when you can avoid birth trauma with many experiences?
We believe in making this course accessible to most people. We have kept the fees unchanged for a few years now and we have offered payment plans and scholarships to families who are facing financial difficulties.
When I was pregnant 16 years ago, HypnoBirthing was practically unheard of in Malaysia. I am probably one of the first few HypnoBirthing mums then.
Nowadays, more and more Malaysians are aware of HypnoBirthing. We do regular free awareness workshops and talks online and in person. We often get referrals from parents who have taken our classes and they in turn tell their family and friends about HypnoBirthing.
I have personally trained a few ob-gyn and midwives in Malaysia so the acceptance level among medical professionals has definitely improved. We now have a white list of doctors who are supportive of HypnoBirthing whom we refer parents to if they ask.
The common misconceptions about HypnoBirthing are more to do with the misconception about hypnosis - that you will lose control of your mind, you will have an out-of-body experience, you will reveal family secrets etc. I always laugh when I hear this and I talk about these misconceptions openly in class because all of these are untrue. You will not make any animal sounds or be in an eerie state.
In fact, you will be fully aware and in control during birth. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. HypnoBirthing mums get themselves into a deeply relaxed state as they have practised and so it becomes second nature to them. Hypnosis helps them release their subconscious fears so they can feel totally confident during birth. This is the work of mindsets I talked about earlier.
To conclude, we hope that this Q&A With Expert Series will enlighten you more on the topic of hypnobirthing, and possibly lessen the doubts of its credibility to the general public. If you are curious and have more questions on this topic, send us an email and we’ll ensure you have your inquiries answered by the experts of this field. On that note, expand your knowledge more on pregnancy-related topics by reading our articles on Travelling During Pregnancy, Everything Pregnant Mommies Need To Know About A Pregnancy Due Date Calculator and many more on HappyPreggie's website.
In this Q&A With Expert Series, Ms Ng Bee Ting, a Certified HypnoBirthing Master Trainer and the Founder of Baby with Bee will give detailed explanations on the topic of hypnobirthing to help you understand the process better.
Q1: What is the purpose of HypnoBirthing, and how does it differ from other childbirth preparation methods?
HypnoBirthing is a 12.5-hour course taught over 5 days weekly in a 2.5-hour class.
(Image credits to iStock)
It is a very comprehensive childbirth preparation course where you will learn many techniques like breathing, relaxation, visualisation, and affirmations to stay calm and relaxed during labour.
Staying calm and relaxed is the key to an easier and more comfortable birth.
We also teach about the birth process, signs & stages of labour and what to do, birth positions, birth plans, nutrition, and exercise, etc.
Birth companions will also learn what to do and say to support and encourage you during labour and birth.
The biggest difference between HypnoBirthing and other childbirth classes is the mindset work we focus on. A person can know the birth process very well, but if one still carries a lot of fear and negative beliefs about birth into the labour room, that person will still panic and be very tense during the birth process, which will make childbirth difficult and painful. HypnoBirthing parents work on having a positive mindset about giving birth so they feel totally confident and prepared (inside out). Hence, they naturally relax during delivery and experience a much more positive birth.
Q2: Does HypnoBirthing speed up and reduce the pain of a labour process. How does it work?
HypnoBirthing can certainly help make the birth easier and more comfortable. We don't promise non-painful births, but we do have people who say they enjoyed their labours and look forward to the next one.
(Image credits to Freepik)
The logic behind how HypnoBirthing works lies in the mindset work done in class and the many techniques we teach. When parents have a positive mindset and true confidence in their bodies' natural ability to give birth, their birthing muscles relax, and delivery becomes easier.
Also, HypnoBirthing parents learn a lot of deepening relaxation techniques and light touch massage that help stimulate lots of endorphins in their bodies. Endorphins, our 'happy hormones', are our natural 'painkiller'. Endorphins also suppress the secretion of catecholamine - our pain-causing hormones. So you can imagine that a HypnoBirthing mum, being deeply relaxed during birth has her body saturated with endorphins and very little catecholamine, she then naturally can give birth to her baby comfortably.
Q3: What are the HypnoBirthing techniques that Baby With Bee shares with the expecting mummies. How has it been effective so far?
(Image credits to MomJunction)
We teach many techniques in HypnoBirthing classes like breathing, rapid relaxation, deepening relaxation, visualisation, affirmations, light touch massage and other comfort measures to stay calm and relaxed during labour.
We often hear feedback from our HypnoBirthing parents that they found these techniques very useful for their births and in fact, some of these techniques can be used in daily lives, not just when giving birth.
Q4: When should a pregnant mummy start practising HypnoBirthing and is it advisable to do the techniques on her own?
We usually suggest mums start class as soon as possible in the second trimester so she has plenty of time to practise the many techniques we teach in class. The more practice, the better.
Some mums may choose to start earlier in the first trimester if she feels comfortable (little or mild morning sickness).
Some mums only find out about HypnoBirthing late in their pregnancy and I would still encourage them to attend class as it can still help them a lot. HypnoBirthing doesn't take forever to work. Parents will experience a paradigm shift just by taking the first class. It is that powerful!
There is a misconception that our instructors need to be around to 'hypnotise' the mum during birth. I once had an ob-gyn ask me that.
The 'hypnosis' in the course merely means deep relaxation which the HypnoBirthing mother can achieve on her own with practice.
(Image credits to Healthline)
Hypnosis is merely a natural state of the mind that all of us go through at least twice a day i.e. the time when your brainwave slows down usually during the 'half asleep-half awake state' you experience every night before sleep and every morning before becoming fully awake. You are fully in control of your mind.
Q5: How does Baby With Bee support mummies along their pregnancy journey?
Other than the support we offer during class, we often extend that support beyond birth and postpartum. Parents often turn to us for advice on birth, breastfeeding, newborn care, parenting issues etc. We often hear from them years later even for subsequent pregnancies. Some go on to be personal friends.
We also offer classes like breastfeeding, newborn care, baby massage and HypnoMothering classes for those who wish to fully prepare for their babies' arrival.
Q6: What are the downsides or risks involving HypnoBirthing techniques?
As HypnoBirthing techniques are non-invasive, natural alternative ways to bring about comfort during birth, I would say there are no downsides or risks with these relaxation techniques.
We don't give medical advice in class. We teach parents to seek information and ask the right questions so they can make informed decisions themselves.
There is, however, one possible 'side effect' though. That is, if a HypnoBirthing mum diligently practises her relaxation daily during her pregnancy, chances are very high that her baby will be calm and relaxed after birth. Many HypnoBirthing parents have confirmed this.
Q7: Is it true that the cost of HypnoBirthing classes is expensive? How many sessions of classes should an expectant parent attend to master the HypnoBirthing techniques?
HypnoBirthing is a 12.5-hour course taught over 5 days weekly in a 2.5-hour class.
The course fees are definitely less than the cost of an epidural (most HypnoBirthing mothers don't need one) and the knowledge gained from this course can be used for more than one birth. So the answer to your question is "No, I don't believe that the HypnoBirthing course is expensive for the value that you will receive possibly for the rest of your life." I mean how much is a good birth experience worth to you? How much is it worth to you when you can avoid birth trauma with many experiences?
We believe in making this course accessible to most people. We have kept the fees unchanged for a few years now and we have offered payment plans and scholarships to families who are facing financial difficulties.
Q8: HypnoBirthing has been popular among many faces in western culture. What are the reception and common misconceptions about HypnoBirthing by Malaysian parents?
When I was pregnant 16 years ago, HypnoBirthing was practically unheard of in Malaysia. I am probably one of the first few HypnoBirthing mums then.
Nowadays, more and more Malaysians are aware of HypnoBirthing. We do regular free awareness workshops and talks online and in person. We often get referrals from parents who have taken our classes and they in turn tell their family and friends about HypnoBirthing.
I have personally trained a few ob-gyn and midwives in Malaysia so the acceptance level among medical professionals has definitely improved. We now have a white list of doctors who are supportive of HypnoBirthing whom we refer parents to if they ask.
The common misconceptions about HypnoBirthing are more to do with the misconception about hypnosis - that you will lose control of your mind, you will have an out-of-body experience, you will reveal family secrets etc. I always laugh when I hear this and I talk about these misconceptions openly in class because all of these are untrue. You will not make any animal sounds or be in an eerie state.
(Image credits to Healthline)
In fact, you will be fully aware and in control during birth. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. HypnoBirthing mums get themselves into a deeply relaxed state as they have practised and so it becomes second nature to them. Hypnosis helps them release their subconscious fears so they can feel totally confident during birth. This is the work of mindsets I talked about earlier.
To conclude, we hope that this Q&A With Expert Series will enlighten you more on the topic of hypnobirthing, and possibly lessen the doubts of its credibility to the general public. If you are curious and have more questions on this topic, send us an email and we’ll ensure you have your inquiries answered by the experts of this field. On that note, expand your knowledge more on pregnancy-related topics by reading our articles on Travelling During Pregnancy, Everything Pregnant Mommies Need To Know About A Pregnancy Due Date Calculator and many more on HappyPreggie's website.
Join the largest support network for family health and well-being. Ready to get started?
Get started
