Hypnobabies Questions

Hypnobabies classes are very much like other childbirth classes or adult continuing education in the way they are conducted but the content is completely unique. We take time to discuss all of the aspects of pregnancy and birth that you need to know... how your body works, staying healthy, what to expect during birth, interventions, positioning, comfort techniques and much more.

You will definitely not see anything like stage hypnosis during class and I will never "hypnotize" you into doing anything embarassing! Instead we will do a group relaxation session together where everyone will situate themselves comfortably with their eyes closed and I will read a script. Most parents-to-be find this incredibly relaxing and refreshing. After all, how often do you get permission to close your eyes and relax in a classroom setting?

This page explains the Hypnobabies Advantage. Each hypnotic childbirth program has its strengths and I feel that any hypnosis is better than none. You will want to make sure that you choose the right course for your needs and goals regarding this baby's birth.

Although the Hypnobabies success rate is the best that exists in the childbirth hypnosis field, I cannot promise you a completely pain-free birth experience. Around 70% of moms who use Hypnobabies report painless/very comfortable births with another 15 - 20% saying their births were not painless, but still quite manageable. There are many things that will affect your success, especially your choices in childbirth and your commitment level. If you take your Hypnobabies training seriously, practice your hypnosis cues, and continue to do your maintenance work until the baby comes, you will be amazed and thrilled with your birthing and create fascination and happy surprise all around you as you use your Hypnobabies techniques! If you do the Hypnobabies program as outlined, you have a very good chance of giving birth without any pain. Hypnobabies works, so work the program! ☺

As a Christian myself, I believe that hypnosis is a wonderful tool given to us by God, that has gotten a bad rap from people who have misrepresented it and/or misunderstood it. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. No one will be exerting mind control over you to get you to do evil things. Some people are concerned that being in hypnosis opens up the subconscious mind to demonic spiritual control or influence. In fact, while in hypnosis you are in complete control of the experience. Noone can cause you to act in a way that conflicts with your core beliefs or values. Choosing to enter hypnosis does not remove the covering of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that as a Christian you are protected from all evil and the devil cannot lay claim to your mind even in a relaxed state. I can say wholeheartedly that my God is much bigger than that!

Some hypnotists and/or hypnotherapists incorporate occult practices into their scripts but I can guarantee you that this is NOT the case with Hypnobabies and is completely separate from the art and practice of hypnosis. I have listened to (and used!) all of the Hypnobabies scripts myself and they are spiritually nuetral. There is no mention of chakras, past life regression, remote viewing, leaving your body or any other similar thing. They also very rarely, if ever, mention "trance" as sometimes people have a negative reaction to that word. The founder of Hypnobabies has worked diligently to ensure that Hypnobabies is based on medical hypno-anesthesia techniques without all the extra spiritual froofroo. These are the same techniques patients use to undergo major surgery when they are allergic to anesthesia. If you are still skeptical I encourage you to listen to the "Relax Me!" script online to get a better idea what learning Hypnobabies will be like. You can even choose to listen to it consciously (instead of entering hypnosis) while you are around the house washing dishes or vacuuming or such. Please do not listen to it while driving however!!

Hypnobabies is a highly successful program of hypnosis for childbirth, based on the work of Gerald Kein and his Painless Childbirth program. Rather than using mind tricks or distraction techniques, you will learn hypno-anesthesia techniques that will allow you to create and control your own anesthesia while birthing. Hypnobabies teaches a variety of techniques to relax and enter hypnosis instantly and create anesthesia while still allowing you to open your eyes and move or talk while remaining comfortable in hypnosis! Other childbirth methods teach wonderful relaxation techniques for use during birthing. While relaxation does help reduce discomfort, many women find hypno-anesthesia techniques to be much more effective (as is evidenced by the very high percentage of Hypnobabies moms reporting painless childbirth).

One of the best aspects of this class is that you will be able to eliminate the fear that causes tension and pain in birthing, a necessary step for any woman soon to give birth. Fear causes tension, which is a source of pain while birthing.

There are four main aspects to success using hypnosis:

1) Releasing fears about birth. Hypnobabies students get a recording so that they can listen to a fear release as often as they want to or need to. It's really great to listen to in early labor as well.

2) Reprogramming your beliefs about birth. We are taught from a very young age that birth is dangerous, scary, excruciatingly painful, etc. Hypnobabies childbirth scripts and recordings give suggestions for fast, easy, comfortable birth. While a positive attitude regarding birth certainly is something you need, you also need to take care of your innermost beliefs, which are housed in the subconscious. If those inner beliefs still hold on to "yeah, but birth hurts really bad" then that's how it will be experienced. In order to experience a comfortable birth you have to believe, at your core, that it's a real possibility. Daily practice is essential so that your mind is constantly getting reinforcement for the new beliefs regarding fast, easy, comfortable birth. The mind is lazy and will revert back to its old way of thinking if we don't constantly feed it positive food for thought. Once you start your hypnotic childbirth studies you will find the most success if you commit to practicing every day until the baby is born.

3) Deep physical relaxation. The first two items take care of the mental aspects, for the most part. For the physical, you need to know how to deeply relax instantly, especially all around your uterus. Hypnobabies goes further than basic relaxation and teaches you how to create and direct your body's natural anesthesia (endorphins) with very powerful hypno-anesthesia techniques. Hypnobabies also teaches Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis, which allows Hypnobabies moms to be much more active while staying comfortable and relaxed. Movement helps the baby rotate and descend into the pelvis and helps you to dilate more evenly and quickly. Again, daily practice is essential for maximal benefit so that you really know what your body feels like when it is totally relaxed and comfortable and you can reach that deep relaxation instantly.

4) Your choice in birth location (hospital, birth center, home) and birth provider (doctor, midwife, etc.). Women who give birth in an environment that is supportive of their childbirth goals tend to have easier, more comfortable, and more joyful births.

Hypnosis is a tool. Medications are other tools available for you to use. You make the choice that is right for you. However, you will be most satisfied with the results of your Hypnobabies training if you fully commit to doing the program as outlined. It's just like wise Master Yoda said, "Do or do not, there is no try." ☺

Hypnobabies classes differ from hospital or other traditional natural childbirth classes in several key ways:

1. Most childbirth classes teach that pain--excruciating pain, even--during childbirth is inevitable.  They give you ways to cope with the pain.  Hypnobabies classes teach you that pain during childbirth is not inevitable.  While most childbirth classes teach that the more relaxed you are, the less pain you will have, Hypnobabies classes teach you how to actually create and control your own hypno-anesthesia, which will reduce or even eliminate pain while birthing. Although the Hypnobabies success rate is the best that exists in the childbirth hypnosis field, I cannot promise you a completely pain-free birth experience. Around 70% of moms who use Hypnobabies report painless/very comfortable births. These moms worked the program, so the program worked for them. Occasionally, a few moms who have practiced diligently will experience some discomfort. This does not mean that they failed and most will report that they are still very satisfied with their birth experiences and how Hypnobabies worked for them, especially given the wonderful effect relaxation has on pregnancy. Sometimes nature gives us the unexpected and a painless birth is no longer a physical possibility. Hypnosis still works wonderfully for keeping a mom focused and calm, no matter what turn her birth may take. I know this from personal experience.

2. Independent Hypnobabies classes teach you how to plan the birth you want, not the birth that someone else might expect you to have. We teach you to remember that this is your experience and your baby's one and only birth. Hypnobabies covers a lot of consumer information, including the benefits and risks of the more common medical interventions in American birth today. Women who have full information about their prospective choices will make informed decisions and have fewer regrets. If you don't know your options, you don't have any!

3. Hypnobabies works wonderfully with a "coach" (we call them Birth Partners) or alone. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis and your own personal commitment and practice as the one giving birth will have the greatest impact on your experience. With Hypnobabies your Birth Partner(s) will be very knowledgeable and experienced in aiding your comfort and hypno-anesthesia. If you do not have a partner (or friend or sister or mom) to attend classes with you, consider hiring a doula (professional labor support person) to be with you during your birthing time. I will be more than happy to help your doula to understand how best to help you as a hypno-mom and your doula is welcome (and encouraged) to attend classes with you.

4. I, as an independent childbirth educator, am not employed by a hospital and can therefore teach facts that may or may not be in line with hospital policy. The hospital can't fire me as a childbirth educator because I'm hired by you, not them. 

The Hypnobabies Home Study course works wonderfully. There are many benefits to using it. There are also many benefits to taking a live class. A live class gives you the opportunity to interact with other students and an instructor who can answer your questions as they come up. Attending a class will motivate some students who may not exercise the discipline necessary to complete a home study option (Birth Partners generally benefit from live classes in particular). There are elements of a live Hypnobabies class that are not included in the home study option due to the restrictive nature of packaging a course for self-instruction. Live Hypnobabies classes are just a lot of fun, too. The Hypnobabies Network strongly encourages taking a live class if there is one available near you because more is included in the course. Click the link to see the differences between the home study and live course.

If you live too far away from an instructor to feasibly take a six week series of classes, you might consider contacting the nearest instructor to see if you can come to Class 6 so that you can participate in the Birth Rehearsal and watch the Hypnobabies birth videos.

No. Hypnobabies works wonderfully with a "coach" (we call them Birth Partners) or alone. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis and your own personal commitment and practice as the one giving birth will have the greatest impact on your experience. However, if you are going to have a support person be with you as you birth, it's best if he or she knows how to help so that he or she doesn't unintentionally hinder your efforts. This is why partners (or another support person) are encouraged to attend the classes as well. With Hypnobabies your Birth Partner(s) will be very knowledgeable and experienced in aiding your comfort and hypno-anesthesia. If you do not have a partner (or friend or sister or mom) to attend classes with you, consider hiring a doula (professional labor support person) to be with you during your birthing time. I will be more than happy to help your doula to understand how best to help you as a hypno-mom and your doula is welcome (and encouraged) to attend classes with you.

Obviously your body is already very comfortable with opening to birth your baby.  Short labors can be more intense, which is why Hypnobabies is so great.  Using your Hypnobabies skills, you'll be able to create instant relaxation and hypno-anesthesia so that the experience of your labor--even if it proceeds quickly--will be more comfortable and less intense.

Labor lengths vary greatly from woman to woman and many factors come into play, only some of which can be controlled. Genetics and your own body's ideal birth progression rate are what they are. You can't change them. Other factors that come into play are your choice of provider (a supportive provider will allow you to relax and feel safe), your choice of birthplace (an environment in which you feel safe and relaxed will allow you to open more easily), fetal position (babies can be encouraged to adopt optimal position, but sometimes babies persist to present awkwardly), your beliefs about birth (fearing birth or believing birth to be safe and normal), and your level of relaxation during labor and birth.

Hypnobabies teaches about all of these other factors and focuses heavily on the last two: releasing fears about birth so that you can relax and teaching you how to relax and create hypno-anesthesia instantly so that your labor will be comfortable. You will learn in class how your body works more easily and quickly when you are relaxed. Hypnobabies moms typically see a reduction of labor length because they are so relaxed. Even if your labor is longer than average, Hypnobabies will allow you to perceive the time as passing quickly and will help you from becoming fatigued.

Yes. Hypnobabies works wonderfully for first-time mothers. The great thing about giving birth for the first time is that you don't have past experiences to create certain expectations.  You can adopt positive beliefs about birth more easily and can make good decisions to create a positive birth experience without having to go through a negative experience first.

Yes. Hypnobabies works fantastically well for women who have given birth before. The great thing about having given birth before is that you have a good sense of what you liked and what you didn't, which helps you make more focused decisions the next time around.  Hypnobabies helps you release your fears, anxieties, and limiting thoughts about birth which in turn gives you the ability to relax deeply--a skill you maybe didn't have when giving birth before. Hypnobabies also gives you powerful hypno-anesthesia techniques which enable you to give birth very comfortably. With your new Hypnobabies skills your future birth experiences will be profoundly different from past birth experiences.

Yes. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. If you want to reach a state of hypnosis, you will. If you believe Hypnobabies will work, you choose to allow it to work, and you practice the techniques, it will work. Hypnobabies works for all types of thinkers, learners, and personality types. The smarter you are, the more effective hypnosis is.

No. Think about a time when you were lying in bed, not quite awake and not quite asleep, either.  It's a very peaceful, relaxed state. You're aware of things going on around you (such as music playing, the wind blowing, traffic outside, etc.), but you just don't care. You could wake up if you wanted to or if you needed to, or you could go to sleep. This is the place Hypnobabies teaches you to reach during your birthing. You will always be aware of what's going on around you. Hypnobabies is so unique in that you can be in hypnosis and choose to open your eyes, speak and even move around! You are never required to lay still in bed in order for the techniques to work, unless that is where you want to be.

While using Hypnobabies, you will be in a heightened state of awareness. You will feel more in tune with yourself and more connected with your baby. You will not be passive. You will feel the power of your uterine muscles as they surge with each birthing wave, these sensations will simply be free of discomfort. You will be in tune with your instincts and will do what your body tells you you need to do. You will be in control!

No. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. No one can guide you into a state of hypnosis unless you want them to. Once in a state of hypnosis, no one can tell you act in a way contrary to your core values or cause you to believe something that goes against your core beliefs. It's up to you to choose which suggestions you will accept and which suggestions you will reject. If someone tried to manipulate you into doing something that you didn't want to do, you would come out of hypnosis instantly. You are always in control. You are welcome (and encouraged) to listen to each of your Hypnobabies CDs in a normal waking state prior to listening to them for guided hypnosis. This will allow you to know exactly what suggestions will be given.

Hypnobabies has recently developed a Cesarean Birth preparation program using hypnosis so that moms giving birth surgically can also do so calmly and joyfully. Please contact the Hypnobabies Network for more information or to order the program. As an instructor I teach Hypnobabies live classes only. To order additional materials or the home study program, you must contact the Hypnobabies Network. (714) 898-BABY (2229)

Call Kerry (the creator of Hypnobabies) at 714 898-BABY (2229). She has a set of CDs called Joyful Birthing that can be ordered for $35.