The Mind-Body Effect
Subconscious beliefs
The idea of birth being a painful and terrible experience has been reinforced in our society for decades (although this was not always the case throughout history, and is not the case either in some non-western societies, who do enjoy and celebrate birth without fear!), right from our childhood, by stories of our mothers, other women, and of course the media. We are bombarded with images and stories that teach us that childbirth is agony.
This constant exposure has created the deep-rooted belief and expectation of pain in our subconscious minds, and what we expect is usually what we get! Fear builds tension and anxiety, tension and anxiety cause pain.
Because of this belief being embedded in our subconscious, it is not enough to consciously educate ourselves, but we need to alter and release these fears on a subconscious level. HypnoBirthing, through self-hypnosis, guided imagery and visualisations, does just that!
The Affect of Fear on Labour
When we experience stress or fear, messages are sent to receptors all over the body creating physiological and biochemical changes within the body.
The body is effectively being prepared for a “fight or flight” response and hormones called catecholamines are produced in vast quantities. This is the body’s natural instinctive defence mechanism; it prepares the body for dealing with danger and a state of emergency.
The most important aspect of this is that the body suspends and limits blood flow and oxygen to organs which are not part of the body’s “emergency defence system”, and that includes the uterus.
It is important to note that this system reacts to both real, as well as perceived or imagined danger, in the same way!
Therefore, in labour, when the mother is in a state of fear, the stress hormones, catecholamine, are triggered and the body responds by entering this emergency state.
As a result, the uterus is left without oxygen and cannot perform its functions efficiently or without pain.
Endorphins
Endorphins are our body’s natural painkiller and relaxant. They were found to be 200 times more potent than morphine and they are produced naturally from the pituitary gland in the brain.
These hormones inhibit the production of the catecholamines pain hormones and the sensing of pain and also create a tranquil, amnesiac state.
The HypnoBirthing techniques, will show you how to fully utilise these natural hormones allowing your body to work in the way that nature intended, and you to enjoy the birthing experience.