8 minute read
Hypnobirthing
HYPNOBIRTHING Birth bag essentials
By Sophia Hanson
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What’s the most important thing you can pack in your birth bag? Is it a TENS machine? Aromatherapy oil? A hair tie? Iced water? Big pants?
Would you be surprised to know it’s none of the above?
In fact, even though I share a list of birth bag essentials with all my expectant mums, I also emphasise that the most important thing you can take into the birthing space is knowledge, a strong mindset, and an ability to relax deeply.
This might sound contradictory since a big part of hypnobirthing is about setting up a loving, soothing environment (fairy lights and hushed tones), but that’s because a peaceful setting supports you to feel safe which can lead to a more comfortable birth.
When you don’t feel safe or calm you become trapped in what’s known as the fear-tension-pain cycle; when you are scared your muscles tense which leads to less efficient and more painful contractions (and the cycle perpetuates). unexpected medical issues might arise, and circumstances may go against you, and even if they do, doing your best to stay calm and work with it will be your greatest support.
How can you possibly stay calm when facing the unknown, experiencing intense sensations, and your body is doing something ‘other worldly’? • Learn and practise breathing techniques in the weeks prior to labour. • Visualise (the Olympic athletes do it!) birth going as smoothly as possible. • Get informed. Create a birth plan because it helps you understand your options and what might need to happen at each stage. • Flood your mind with positive stories of straightforward comfortable births (they exist). • Learn why active labour (staying mobile) supports a better birth.
What promotes feelings of calm and relaxation?
There is plenty of external paraphernalia you can use to help create a calming environment but what happens if you forget your birth bag or the one thing you were relying on goes missing?
The key to unlocking the best possible birth is within YOU. How you breathe, how you think, how you move will help stack the odds in your favour of a better birth. Curveballs happen, • Use your techniques from the first contraction; don’t wait for them to ‘ramp up’.
You can massively influence your birth for the better when you know how. Nobody can guarantee you your dream birth, and it’s not your fault if you don’t get it. You didn’t fail, but with the right support you can stack the odds firmly in your favour of a better birth; the essential ingredient is YOU.
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Come along to Bishopmill
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