HypnoNaissance® for a serene birth

Childbirth in times gone by

A rather logical fact that is worth bearing in mind is that women have been bringing humanity into the world for millennia, and were long regarded as goddesses for doing so.

After that came all the stories surrounding women, midwives and witches, and all the contempt that was directed at them. Once it was discovered that men played a role in conception, pregnant women began to be looked down upon and isolated, for having succumbed to the sin of the flesh. It was around this time that the famous phrase "thou shalt bring forth children in sorrow" appeared in the Holy Scriptures, becoming embedded in social custom as an absolute truth for all women who would give birth (all previous studies and texts on natural and physiological birth were destroyed and burned along with the witches).

After having long been denied care, women on the verge of giving birth were gradually permitted to receive medical attention once more. However, many of them died in childbirth — not because of the birth itself, but because of the conditions in which they were received. Indeed, since childbirth was poorly regarded following the sin that had been committed, they were deemed, in principle, unworthy of proper care. Through persistent effort, midwives succeeded in securing access to "proper" medical services for women in hospitals. In order to prevent their deaths (initially caused primarily by the conditions of care), births became highly medicalised, even involving general anaesthesia so that the mother did not have to push her baby out — who was then delivered by the "accoucheur physician".

The fear-tension-pain syndrome

Dr Dick-Read was one of the first obstetricians of the modern era to look into the question of pain and what might lie behind it. His various experiences in hospital settings and in rural environments led him to carry out several research studies. Through this work, he was able to put a name to what seemed to be happening: the fear-tension-pain syndrome. By studying the differences in reactions during births, he realised that what distinguished women who were writhing in pain from those who had never even considered that it might happen was fear. The former had been educated and steeped in this historical and cultural patrimonial tradition, whilst those who did not suffer simply knew nothing of these stories, nor of the very idea that giving birth was supposed to hurt.

Today, we speak of the fear-tension-pain syndrome: when we are afraid of a certain pain, we anticipate it and tense up (even if this is unconscious). 

Today, we speak of the fear-tension-pain syndrome: when we are afraid of a certain pain, we anticipate it and tense up (even if this is unconscious).

Once tensed, the muscle that should simply be able to do its job can no longer do so optimally, and instead works in a contracted state. Pain is created. And of course, this syndrome can lead to a vicious cycle, because once pain is felt, it triggers more fear, which triggers more tension, which triggers more pain…

HypnoNaissance®: deconstructing fears

One of the biggest parts of HypnoNaissance® is deconstructing these fears. Whether they are fears we have inherited, fears that arise gradually, or fears about what will happen afterwards — all of these are worked through, making way for helpful beliefs that allow us to reconnect with our serenity and, so to speak, our inner peace, in order to find deep relaxation.

Are you familiar with the power of thought? That universal law according to which all our thoughts have an impact on our lives? Because in truth, our thoughts manifest in our bodies as emotions, which in turn manifest as sensations, which shape the way we act and lead to outcomes. Not bad, is it? So, if we consider this alongside the idea that a woman's body is hormonally and physiologically perfectly designed to give birth, could we imagine comfortable, gentle and calm births? The answer from HypnoNaissance® parents is YES.

Even if misconceptions about hypnosis and self-hypnosis can be persistent, the effectiveness of this tool in bringing about inner change — even the most deeply rooted — is well established. In truth, whether it touches the conscious or unconscious mind, hypnosis is a great help in clearing apprehensions and deeply anchoring states of relaxation and optimal confidence for birth.

HypnoNaissance®: the role of the second parent

Beyond the many valuable tools used throughout HypnoNaissance® preparation, giving a genuine role to the birth companion (the father, the second mother, or whoever will accompany the mother during birth) appears essential for the smooth unfolding of this wonderful, love-filled moment. A meta-analysis conducted by numerous specialists, including Julie Bonapace, specialist in non-pharmacological pain management and author of the book Accoucher sans Stress, demonstrated that when a woman is surrounded and cared for, it reduces the rate of medical intervention by nearly 60%. 

By enabling the birth companion to understand what is happening, how to communicate with the care team, and how to protect the birth bubble of the family being born, they are empowered to take on their role as guardian and protector — allowing the birthing woman to remain connected to her sensations and her baby, and to give birth in the gentlest possible way.

HypnoNaissance®: in practice

Also, at a time when we are seeking greater connection and greater self-awareness as individuals, this is a quest that more and more of us are embarking on as prospective parents, both during pregnancy and during childbirth. Marie Mongan, in creating the HypnoNaissance® method, created both a birth preparation programme (which complements medical care without replacing it) and championed a new paradigm for birth. HypnoNaissance®, by offering, around the world, a programme of 5 sessions of two and a half hours each, enables the pregnant woman and her birth companion to connect, bond and support one another, so as to experience serene births — whether the parents experience a natural birth or physiological birth, with an epidural or by caesarean section.

Take a calm and relaxed mother, offer her the presence of a reassured and supportive birth companion, add in some breathing, visualisation and self-hypnosis, and you will have serene, perfectly relaxed parents, a calm baby, and births that are gentle and full of love.

You can also explore other solutions, such as acupuncture, or taking a pregnancy food supplement containing magnesium to help soothe the nervous system.