What is a Hypno-Doula?
It is wonderful to have a doula (professional birth assistant) during your Birthing Time (especially if you’re having a hospital birth) to help you with your Birth Preferences and to be a nurturing presence; one that knows so many ways to help your Birthing Time progress and remain more comfortable if needed. As a Hypnobabies mom, it is extremely important that the doula you choose become completely familiar with the philosophy, techniques, cue words and other materials in your Hypnobabies program. All of our Hypnobabies hypnosis scripts and audio tracks have specific suggestions, language and other content which re-train the inner mind for an easy, comfortable birthing. These “hypno-tools” must be learned, practiced and used by Hypnobabies mothers as directed in our written materials for the best outcome. A doula who is also familiar with the how and why of hypnosis, and specifically a mom's Hypnobabies resources, will be a wonderful asset.
Most traditionally trained doulas (non-Hypno-Doulas) are unfamiliar with our Hypnobabies hypno-tools and language as well as the concept that moms can indeed have an easy, comfortable natural (unmedicated) birth. Hypnobabies’ philosophies and extensive training are extremely different than most natural childbirth techniques and they produce very different outcomes during birthing. Traditional natural childbirth “comfort techniques” are based on the belief and training that all unmedicated childbirth *will be* painful, and they require that the birthing woman maintain much more physical activity to “avoid unnecessary pain”. Many birth care attendants are unfamiliar with the fact that using Hypnobabies’ hypnosis entails much more “inner focusing” and specific cues that have been programmed subconsciously for use during childbirth.
If a doula was to attempt to use her traditional doula training techniques for pain-coping with a Hypnobabies mother during her Birthing Time, that Hypno-mom’s prior hypnosis training could be compromised since she is in hypnosis during childbirth and therefore very suggestible. Only Hypnobabies phrases and techniques should be used with a Hypnobabies birthing mother so that she can remain in deep hypnosis and continue to maintain the exact state of mind she needs for an easy, comfortable birth. No additional traditional childbirth “comfort” phrases, techniques or “warnings” should be used. Pain-coping and pain-management techniques and the philosophy of painful childbirth that they represent can create some very adverse effects for Hypnobabies mothers.
In addition, encouraging a Hypno-mom to constantly move around to maintain any sort of comfort may be familiar to some birth assistants, however it is counter-productive when a Hypnobabies mother has been taught that emotional and physical comfort in childbirth comes from their Hypnobabies hypno-tools and training. Hypnobabies moms can indeed use upright positions, birth balls and walk at any time that they want to, but this will be because mom desires it, for birthing progress if needed, or descent and positioning of their babies, and not to maintain comfort. Unless a doula is familiar with all of this, she may not help a Hypnobabies mother in the ways she truly needs to give birth using hypnosis.
Most traditionally trained doulas (non-Hypno-Doulas) are unfamiliar with our Hypnobabies hypno-tools and language as well as the concept that moms can indeed have an easy, comfortable natural (unmedicated) birth. Hypnobabies’ philosophies and extensive training are extremely different than most natural childbirth techniques and they produce very different outcomes during birthing. Traditional natural childbirth “comfort techniques” are based on the belief and training that all unmedicated childbirth *will be* painful, and they require that the birthing woman maintain much more physical activity to “avoid unnecessary pain”. Many birth care attendants are unfamiliar with the fact that using Hypnobabies’ hypnosis entails much more “inner focusing” and specific cues that have been programmed subconsciously for use during childbirth.
If a doula was to attempt to use her traditional doula training techniques for pain-coping with a Hypnobabies mother during her Birthing Time, that Hypno-mom’s prior hypnosis training could be compromised since she is in hypnosis during childbirth and therefore very suggestible. Only Hypnobabies phrases and techniques should be used with a Hypnobabies birthing mother so that she can remain in deep hypnosis and continue to maintain the exact state of mind she needs for an easy, comfortable birth. No additional traditional childbirth “comfort” phrases, techniques or “warnings” should be used. Pain-coping and pain-management techniques and the philosophy of painful childbirth that they represent can create some very adverse effects for Hypnobabies mothers.
In addition, encouraging a Hypno-mom to constantly move around to maintain any sort of comfort may be familiar to some birth assistants, however it is counter-productive when a Hypnobabies mother has been taught that emotional and physical comfort in childbirth comes from their Hypnobabies hypno-tools and training. Hypnobabies moms can indeed use upright positions, birth balls and walk at any time that they want to, but this will be because mom desires it, for birthing progress if needed, or descent and positioning of their babies, and not to maintain comfort. Unless a doula is familiar with all of this, she may not help a Hypnobabies mother in the ways she truly needs to give birth using hypnosis.
Local Hypno-Doulas (HCHD)
Rachel Jimenez - Nurtured Birth Services and Hypnobabies Instructor
Lauren Caldwell - www.oakleafmassage.net/doula
Amy Poarch - Birth Chattanooga
Lauren Caldwell - www.oakleafmassage.net/doula
Amy Poarch - Birth Chattanooga
