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Myths and Misconceptions: Hypnobirth and calmbirth

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What is labour going to be like?   How long will it take?

They are the questions that weigh heavily on a pregnant woman’s mind.

Most of us get our impressions of childbirth from Hollywood movies or the horror stories of family and friends, and while the outcome is usually good, the journey to get there seems long and dramatic. And hurts - a lot!

But it doesn’t have to be that way.

More and more Australian couples are signing up to learn calmbirthing - a series of relaxation techniques designed to allow them to take control of their birth experience and make it something to look forward to, rather than fear. 

 

What is it?

Calmbirth is an antenatal education program developed to assist couples aiming for a natural birth. It’s based on the belief that severe pain is not a natural accompaniment to labour and if a woman is both mentally and physically prepared, her birth experience can be rewarding, comfortable and empowering.

Bowral midwife Peter Jackson, founder of Calmbirth in Australia, says the techniques are based on the work of the late English obstetrician Grantly Dick-Reid (author of Childbirth Without Fear 1956), the pioneer of natural childbirth. In his research, Dr Dick-Reid observed that some women were frightened of birth and had difficulty coping with labour and birth, whereas other women who were not frightened or were better prepared and had an understanding of what was happening, coped quite well.

“Calmbirth promotes the use of the subconscious resources of deep relaxation which centre around the normal physiological relaxation responses within the body,” says Mr Jackson.
Calmbirth is not the Australian version of hypnobirthing. Hypnobirthing teaches couples self hypnosis methods while calmbirth is a number of special relaxation techniques.

How does it work?

Calmbirth teaches you how to enter a totally relaxed state, similar to when you daydream or become absorbed in a good book or movie. It is then used in the last few weeks or months of pregnancy and particularly throughout labour and the birthing process. The techniques can also be used any time calm focus is required when caring for your newborn.

The program, usually taught over a number of days or a weekend, encourages an understanding of how the female body works to deliver a baby and the way fear can impede labour. Couples also learn how to use tools of relaxation, visualisation, positive imagery and light-touch massage to help prepare for labour and during labour itself. “Calm breathing” (deep, regular breaths) is important aspect to a calmbirth technique.

The program is lead by a registered calmbirth practitioner and taught through classes, CDs and books. There are more than 60 calmbirth practitioners available throughout NSW, Queensland, Victoria, Tasmania and New Zealand (to find a registered practitioner www.calmbirth.com.au )
“People leave the classes with a greater understanding of the birth process, confidence in their own ability to work with the birth process and excitement about their approaching birth,” says Mr Jackson. After completing the program, the couple then practise regularly, at home, right up until the labour.

The aim of the calmbirth techniques is to have the labouring woman alert but deeply relaxed. It is this ability to relax that enables the pelvic muscles to open and allow the baby to birth more comfortably and easily. “Anyone can do it,” says Sydney and calmbirth practitioner Julie Clarke. “Although I’ve had some women or partners that really struggle with letting go and relaxing, but with enough support and personal determination they overcome their concerns and eventually learn to enjoy relaxing along with the others.”

Calmbirthing is totally safe, she adds. “Being calm and relaxed cannot possibly do any harm. It reduces adrenaline - triggered by fear - in the mother’s system, which helps to maintain the normal labouring hormone oxytocin and keeps the labour progressing well.” It also reduces stress which keeps the maternal blood pressure normal. Calm breathing maintains good levels of oxygen to both the mother’s and the baby’s system, and, by relying on their own inner resources, the women are less likely to need medication which increases the baby’s health and wellbeing after the birth. The baby is then likely to respond with strong reflexes and commence breastfeeding without delay or problems.

The language of labour

Language can really influence a woman’s perception of their experience both before and during the labour. The word “contractions” when spoken to a pregnant woman can be frightening and immediately thought of as “pain”.
Calmbirthers are taught to think of contractions as “surges” or “waves” and to interpret birthing sensations as pressure, stretching or numbness rather than associate the feelings with pain.
“Attitude makes an enormous difference to our experiences and if we go into birth with very negative expectations, taken from horror stories, movies we’ve seen, articles we’ve read it will certainly influence the outcome,” says Ms Clarke. “What is thought psychologically will influence the physical bodily reactions - such as the release of hormones - and will influence the labour.”
Visualising also helps the woman imagine her growing baby and the impending birth and during labour imagining the contractions as waves coming into shore, or the dilation of the cervix as an opening flower are common themes.

So, is it for you?

Calmbirthing is suitable for all pregnant women – from first-time mums to mothers having their second or subsequent babies - and their partners who would like to have a positive birth experience, in a calm, relaxed way free of fear and stress.
Ms Clarke, who has witnessed many “calmbirths”, says the women are serene and relaxed when using the technique. “Many are amazed at how focussed and self-directed they are,” she says. “Their partners often comment, after the birth, on how focussed her breathing was during the “waves”, too.”
Calmbirth uses the logic that preparing for a wonderful birth experience can help achieve it, although no amount of preparation can guarantee a perfect labour or the need for medical intervention. “It helps couples see labour as a natural process, something that a woman’s body is designed to achieve, not simply an ordeal which must be suffered as a means to an end,” says Sydney lawyer Claire Whitehead, who learned calmbirth for the birth of her first child. “And it’s not about making women think they have failed if things do not go to plan.”

The partner’s role

While the labouring woman is intently focussed on her breathing, the partner is aware to minimise distractions and any disturbance that might alter her focus and is supportive of her wishes.
Underpinning the calmbirth course is the philosophy of encouraging, supporting and guiding family bonding between a couple as they prepare for the birth of their baby, says Ms Clarke. “It focuses on the role of the value of each parent, the importance of mothers and equally important fathers in the life of their unborn and newborn baby. Relaxation, joy, hope, courage, determination and togetherness create good strong and loving relationships. In a nutshell, that’s what calmbirth is all about.”

For more information

To find a calmbirth practitioner in your area, visit www.calmbirthregister.com.au.
For more information about calmbirth visit www.calmbirth.com.au or phone (02) 4862 1156 or www.julieclarke.com.au or (02) 9544 6441.

 

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Myths and Misconceptions: Hypnobirth and calmbirth