HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing Author: Marie F. Mongan | Language: English | ISBN:
0757302661 | Format: PDF
HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method: A natural approach to a safe, easier, more comfortable birthing Description
"Move over, Lamaze. HypnoBirthers say their form of deep relaxation takes the panting and pain out of labor."
-Time Magazine
HypnoBirthing®: A Celebration of Life
Childbirth is not something to be feared; it is a natural expression of life. With HypnoBirthing, your pregnancy and childbirth will become the gentle, life-affirming process it was meant to be.
In this easy-to-understand guide, HypnoBirthing founder Marie Mongan explodes the myth of pain as a natural accompaniment to birth. She proves through sound medical information that it is not our bodies but our culture that has made childbirth a moment of anguish, and that when we release the fear of birth, a fear that is keeping our bodies tense and closed, we will also release the pain.
HypnoBirthing is nature, not manipulation. It relaxes the mind in order to let the body work as it is designed. The HypnoBirthing exercises—positive thinking, relaxation, visualization, breathing and physical preparation—will lead to a happy and comfortable pregnancy, even if you are currently unsure of an intervention-free birth. Your confidence, trust and happy anticipation will in turn lead to the peaceful, fulfilling and bonding birth that is your right as a mother.
More than 10,000 happy couples have had their lives changed for the better by HypnoBirthing. More than 500 news organizations—including Good Morning America, The Today Show, Dateline, The Richard & Judy Show, Time, Newsweek, Parenting and Better Homes & Gardens—have joined the movement for better birthing.
Why is HypnoBirthing changing the way the world gives birth? That's simple. Because it works.
- Paperback: 326 pages
- Publisher: Health Communications; 3rd edition (May 24, 2005)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0757302661
- ISBN-13: 978-0757302664
- Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
- Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
It is now three days since I gave birth to my first baby, a beautiful 9lb girl. In my last few weeks of pregnancy I met a neighbor who insisted I read this book as soon as I could. She described the hypnobirthing philosophy of birth with no pain or fear and how she had used it successfully with her third child. I was skeptical that it could help me much because I had heard that first babies were more difficult to deliver than second or third babies, and I thought maybe her success was due to her previous experiences with labor. Regardless, I decided to buy the book. When it arrived a few days later I skimmed through it and attempted some of the breathing techniques. I found them very difficult because my lung capacity at 9 months pregnant was pretty low. The accompanying CD, however, was very easy to use and I got sort-of addicted to it (only the relaxation part) because it helped me get back to sleep when I woke up at 4am every morning. It taught me to relax my entire body instantly, with the idea that this could help me through contractions. It also improved my breathing technique somewhat. When labor came I was able to use my relaxation skills to work through early, active, and transition labor stages with relatively little pain and a strong sense of control over my body. I was happy and thought I would get through everything fine until the pushing stage. I had not read or practiced any hypnobirthing techniques for pushing and, unfortunately relaxation was not an option. My pushing was intensely difficult and there was most certainly pain and fear. I believe, however, that had I discovered hypnobirthing earlier and practiced all the breathing techniques, I may have had an easier time.
I was originally very skeptical of natural childbirth, but after doing a lot of research during pregnancy, and seeing the real statistics of less interventions = better outcomes for mom and baby, I became interested in Hypnobirthing. I recommend also reading "Childbirth Without Fear" by Grantley Dick-Reade, upon which all forms of hypnosis for childbirth are based.
I did not take the HB class, only a general childbirth education class provided by my hospital which covered the biology/mechanics, as well as touching on various methods of managing labor, medication options, natural options, etc. I highly recommend that any mom-to-be avail herself of such a class, no matter what approach/philosophy you choose, so that you will learn about the specific procedures and attitudes at YOUR hospital or birthing center. No single book can prepare you properly.
I did listen to the CD exercises almost daily from about 6.5 months on. I found Ms. Mongan's writing/speaking to be much more grounded, practical, and open for my own feelings and interpretations than other HB materials I tried. Other hypnosis audios were very specific about exactly what imagery I should visualize, which often gave me a negative reaction. (For example, "you are outside in a garden, lying on the ground" - this is not where I want to be giving birth!) Ms. Mongan works more by suggesting the desired feeling, such as peace, warmth, safety, "surrounded by beautiful colors" etc - so my own mind could supply the specific place/image.
My birth experience was not some ideal fantasy, but it was much, much better than it might have been, and far easier than average in my circumstances - I was 5 days past due and had low amniotic fluid.
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