1. Practical Birth Preparation
“Nothing has more power over
the body than the beliefs of the mind”
Deepak Chopra

2. Perspectives on birth Perspectives of birth Historically Beliefs
Knowledge

3. Fear in modern birthing
A long history of fear building up over generations
Media portrayal of birth
Women wanting to tell you their horror stories
Litigation – looking for blame
No other “natural” cycle has so much intervention
All women treated as high risk until proven otherwise
Routine procedures – scans, urine tests, blood tests
Focus is all on what to do when things go wrong

4. Pain cycle Fear Anticipation Adrenaline Pain Reduction of oxytocin
Tension
Pain
Anticipation

5. Break the cycle
Reconnect with your natural, mammalian birthing instinct
Trust that your body is perfectly designed to birth your baby
Reduce any unnecessary adrenaline
Prepare yourself mentally to hand control over to your birthing body
Practice how to relax, breathe and let go of fear

6. Manageable sensations
Calm relaxed birth
Calm mind
Deep breathing
Increase in oxytocin
Relaxation
Manageable sensations
Confidence and trust

7. What are the key signs that labour is imminent?

8. Physiology of birth
The baby becomes engaged (drops down a little lower)
You experience an increase in vaginal mucus
You may release the mucus plug from the cervix
You may get a runny tummy
Your blood pressure may go up a bit
Your waters may break
An increase in “practice contractions” (Braxton Hicks)

9. Birth Line

10. Physiology of birth No one knows what actually triggers birth
You and your baby release an intricate cocktail of hormones
Oxytocin – “love” hormone produced in pulses
Each pulse or “contraction” is the long muscles of the uterus reaching down to open the circular muscles (cervix)
The round sphincter like muscles of the cervix soften and flatten
The pressure of the baby’s head helps the round muscles to open and sends messages for more oxytocin

11. Hormones Oxytocin Endorphins Relaxin Prostaglandin The love hormone
Interwoven throughout entire maternal journey
Receptors all over the body
Release is slowed down when adrenaline or artificial drugs are present
Endorphins
Relaxin
Prostaglandin

12. Power of the uterus

13. Sphincter Law
Circular muscles holding something in, then letting it go
Work best in an atmosphere of intimacy, calm, privacy
Cannot be “ordered” to open at will or told what to do
Involuntarily close if scared, embarrassed, self-conscious
Relaxation of mouth and jaw relaxes sphincter muscles
Laughter, humming, “Horse breathing” relaxes sphincter muscles

14. What happens when the cervix is open wide enough for your baby to pass through?
Your birth canal is open enough for your baby's head to pass (10 cm)
Often a pause between full dilation and ejection reflex
A natural reflex like sneezing or coughing
Your body will push your baby out
Focus on breathing your baby out while your body pushes your baby out

15. Why is the initial post birth period so important?
Critical period of attachment
Highest flow of oxytocin in your body
Endorphins in the baby
Your uterus contracts down
Your placenta releases

16. Avoid artificial hormones and drugs
Induction is often “routine” rather than medically necessary
There is no set protocol – all hospitals are different
Have a scan to check the level of amniotic fluid. This is a clear indication of health of placenta
When truly needed induction can save lives
REMEMBER If you do need to be induced, your
Natal Hypnotherapy techniques will be even more important

17. Natural ways to encourage the onset of labour
The best option is “patience”
Walking, walking, walking
Nipple stimulation
Making love
Sweeping the membranes
Evening primrose oil
Caulophyllum –(a homeopathic remedy)

18. Lunch

19. Emotional Map of Birth
Excitement
Serious
Self-Doubt

20. Birth clips

21. Phase 1 - Excitement
Set the atmosphere. She will not need you to talk her through contractions in the early stage
Call friends
Have a good meal - you will need the energy as well as her
Make a video diary
Most importantly encourage her to stay at home - the chances are that the sooner she goes to hospital the longer it will be before the baby is born

22. Phase 2 - Serious Use 3 2 1 relax
Count her through contractions 1 to 10 then start again
Use some of the affirmations, triggers and suggestions you have planned
Refer to the comfort measures using massage, birth ball, oils, etc.
Use mental distraction techniques, such as visualising her special place, holidays
Suggest she go to the toilet at least once an hour
Offer her drinks
Encourage her to move around

23. What signs would you look for if you are planning to go to hospital?
Contractions are seconds and coming every 3 to 4 minutes.
Her face is flushed
Shaking, vomiting, hiccups
Another bloody show
If she feels any rectal pressure or the urge to push, stay where you are and call an ambulance or the midwife

24. Phase 3 - Self Doubt When contractions are much more intense
“Don’t know if I can do this”
Extra encouragement, praise and support:
“You are doing so well”
“Your breathing is really effective”
“The contractions are even more powerful now”,
“You are almost there”
Work with the medical team to support her

25. Practical comfort measures
Movement and positions
Massage
Opening the pelvis - sacral pressure / hip squeeze
Shaking the apples
Using the birthing ball
Use of water
Heat and cold

26. What is wrong with this picture?

27. Shaking the apples

28. Using a birthing ball before labour
Sitting on the ball raises your hips higher than your knees
It encourages your baby to settle into the best position for birth
The ball absorbs your weight and helps to prevent and relieve back strain
Kneeling over the ball takes the weight off your back and is great practice for labour
Sitting on the ball is ideal for practising your pelvic floor exercises
Rolling with the ball encourages rhythmic movement and pelvic mobility
Natural movements with the ball help to gently tone your internal and external pelvic muscles

29. Using a birthing ball during labour
It encourages a natural rotating of the pelvis, helping the baby to descend
It provides perineal support without a lot of pressure
It helps keep the baby aligned in the pelvis
The sitting position opens the pelvis, which helps the birthing process
It allows the partner to provide massage or counter pressure to the back
The mother can kneel and lean over the ball, encouraging pelvic motion
Moving on the ball helps your breathing to flow more evenly

30. Guidelines for the birth partner
Help her birth like a “mammal”
Keep adrenaline out of the birthing room
Silence during contractions
Less is more
Reduce all stimulation of the neocortex
safe
quiet
private
dark
warm

31. What stimulates the neocortex?
1. Asking a mother a question that requires thought
2. Being near her in a way that makes her feel self conscious
3. Subjecting her to bright light
4. Failing to protect her privacy

32. Working with the medical team
Hospital staff are used to dealing with tense, scared and often medicated mothers
Remain friendly, cordial and confident
They are there to assist in an emergency
If they are suggesting any intervention use gatekeeper question
Is my partner or baby in danger?
If no, then “please leave us for 30 minutes”

33. Remember to use your BRAINS
If the answer is yes or they persist
B - What are the benefits?
How will this be helpful?
R - What are the risks?
A - What are the alternatives?
This may be routine treatment, but what other approaches are there?
I - What does your instinct tell you?
N - What happens if we do nothing?
Why must this be done now?
S - Smile
What might happen if we wait another half an hour?

34. Exercise Partners Mums
In what ways can you support your partner during the birth?
Mums
What would you like your partner to do to support you during the birth?

35. Birth preparation mind map
A way to capture your thoughts, feelings, ideas in a simple format
Focus on what you want - focus on the positive
It is dynamic – keep adding to it
Use it as the basis for your own birth script
Put it up somewhere prominent as a reminder – even take it with you to the birth!

36. Birth preparation mind map
Your
outcome
Before the birth
Excitement phase
Serious phase
Self doubt phase
The birth
After the birth
confident
Stay at home
321 relax
massage
Baobab tree
Be instinctive
Voices calm me
energised
Birth project
Shaking the
apples
Welcome each contraction
Accept feelings
Breathing my
baby out
Soften all
my muscles
3,2,1 relax
Good sleep
Practice hypnosis
Enjoy feeling confident
Looking forward to the birth
Feeling empowered
Bonding
Breastfeeding

37. Hypnosis session

38. Hopes and Fears Take down any which fit in the following categories:
No longer worried about
Feel could now deal / cope with / manage
Realise that there is nothing you can do about it and so there is no point in worrying about it

39. Next steps - Resource book Coupon code for four downloads
Pregnancy relaxation – 15 mins
Letting go of fear – 18 mins
Birth rehearsal 30 mins
Partners track 15 mins

40. Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood
Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. The strain in pain is mainly in the brain! Nothing has more power over the body than the beliefs of the mind.