What is hypnobirthing? And how do you actually use it in labour?

If labour terrifies you, I want you to know about Hypnobirthing. But not all Hypnobirthing is the same. Some approaches can actually derail your birth rather than helping. So here goes...

When you give birth, your body goes through a tried and tested process - labour. Much like when you breathe, digest food, or blink - a lot of labour happens automatically. 

It starts with a mixture of hormonal cues. Your cervix opens, your uterus contracts and your baby moves down the birth canal. Then they are born - incredible!

But this isn’t just a physical process. It’s MASSIVELY influenced by our minds. 

And that’s what hypnobirthing is all about. 

It’s an approach to birth that’s based on the connection between the mind and body. It teaches how we can support the physical process of labour with our mind. 

If I’m losing you here…Hypnobirthing isn’t a spiritual belief. It’s grounded in biology and neuroscience. It’s understanding how fear and our fight or flight instinct can affect labour, and learning how to work WITH your body.

This is taught through things like breathing techniques, movement, relaxation and birth partner support. 

But knowing hypnobirthing and using it are two different things.

When I was preparing for my first birth, I took a hypnobirthing course and I vividly remember having so many light bulb moments. Suddenly, it all made complete sense to me and I felt so much more confident. I went on to have a wonderful birth with Juniper. 

BUT, this birth taught me something. Knowing the theory of hypnobirthing isn’t enough during labour. You need to prepare yourself to use it in the reality of birth. 

Prepare for the reality of labour

Hypnobirthing talks a lot about letting go of the fear of birth we’ve learned throughout our lives. And yes, that's important. But we need to actively build confidence too. 

You need to prepare for the reality of birth. It can be messy, painful, raw and incredibly intense.

We shouldn’t pretend otherwise. Understanding what to expect and what the intensity means helps us feel ready to meet our contractions, rather than being thrown by them.

You can practise for labour

Of course we can’t simulate a contraction and actually experience labour in advance. But we can practise exactly what we’ll do during labour over and over again, so that when the time comes, we know what to do. 

We can set the environment, listen to our hypnobirthing tracks and practise breathing techniques. Then when you feel an intense contraction, instead of panicking and fighting against it, you breathe, soften and melt into it.

Birth is unpredictable

There is no but here. Birth is unpredictable. 

You can prepare and practise, take all the courses and read every book going. But that doesn’t mean your birth will follow a plan. So your hypnobirthing needs to be able to stand up to this.

Preparing for birth isn’t about visualising a particular birth or trying to avoid an intervention. It’s about being able to work WITH labour as it progresses. You need to be able to move with intensity, make decisions and stay calm if things change.

Want to know more?

This blog is just the beginning. There's so much to know about Hypnobirthing and how it can be used to help you during pregnancy and birth. I recorded an awesome podcast episode with Midwife Melanie on this very topic, so if you want to know more - give it a listen!

The Great Birth Rebellion - Hypnobirthing! Can it really Help?

If any of this resonates with you, I think you’ll love my online hypnobirthing course, Birth Box. It covers all the knowledge, tools and techniques I talk about here. It also includes the Oxytocin Bubble hypnobirthing tracks that you can use to practise for your big day.