When Does Learning Begin - The Latest From Brain Science

Pop quiz: When does learning begin? 

Answer: Before we are born. 

Science writer Annie Murphy Paul talks through new research that shows how much we learn in the womb -- from the lilt of our native language to our soon-to-be-favorite foods.

Listen to this fascinating talk on TED.

It's a girl! - A Testimonials From a New HypnoBirthing Mom

Hi Morrin!

Thank you so much for checking in!  Yes, I do have a Happy HypnoBirthing story to tell. 


Yes, it is a girl! She is more than we ever could have expected or imagined... 


This birth was such a blessing!!  I am so proud of myself and of our efforts together.


...The birth went well. I mean really peaceful and calm. All went beyond my expectations. Hypnobirthing proved to be a wonderful tool, and as I transitioned SOOOO fast that both my midwife and doula were completely amazed and shocked!!   


My water broke at 7:30 pm and by midnight I was FULLY dialated. Me and worked really beautifully together.....

Thank you so much for all of your training and coaching. You were a HUGE help in our home Hypnobirthing experience.

...I delivered completely naturally, totally safe and normal. it is amazing how normal it seems in retrospect. We are so happy.

...The complete home birth experience, where the labor was great, and in the end - the birth was just as great as the last accord in the great symphony about love and life!

Thank you for checking in!!!

Love,

, and

Post Due Baby? Is there such thing?

Question from a doula chat-room:

does anyone know of any good sites where a woman can read stories from women who went past due date and how they dealt with the situation emotionally? i think it helps to hear other folks who have been through it and how they worked through it emotionally while feeling anxious/impatient, etc...any ideas?

thanks!

Answer from Morrin Bass:

Dear Helping Doula:


As childbirth educator and a hypnotherapist, I encountered "past due" pregnancies. The common reason for it being past due is a miscalculation of the "due date". Moms do get nervous and forget to relax. Last "past due"mom I saw was trying to avoid artificial induction on Monday, so she called on Wednesday before, and after her hypnosis session on Thursday her husband texted me on Sunday (before the schedule induction date) that "Mom and baby are doing fine." 


Explain to the mom that the baby does not yet "feel" ready, and therefore, for her to wait patiently until the baby is ready, is the best thing to do right now.


The last few days of pregnancy, according to a research from Oxford University, are very important for the baby's development of brain function, and the motor cortex as well as overall immune system, and development of baby's breathing functions. 


It is most important for her now to devote time to relaxation and staying put, during which time the baby can finish up the development, try out the moves, preparing for the decent, which the baby can do more productively if the mom is in a quiet and peaceful mode, so the hormonal input from her brain is correlated to the correct development of the baby. (Otherwise, baby is in a constant state of stress, which impedes development of major functions in the latest stages of development.)


Lastly, Hypnotherapy is a known way to relaxation of mother and baby, and if she needs (and wants) to avoid artificial induction, she needs to see a hypnotherapist specializing in birth related issues. (If you don't know of one to refer her to in your area, let me know.) If she is prepared for birthing at home, let her wait and most importantly enjoy the last few days of her pregnancy, which becomes unforgettable time for her and her baby. 


Best Wishes,
Morrin Bass, PhD
New York Awareness Center

Final Labor Stage - Placenta Birthing

Many people of the world have known the secret power of the placenta as a medicinal supplement. Among the Chinese and Vietnamese, it is a customary practice to prepare the placenta for consumption by the mother. The placenta is thought to be rich in nutrients that the mother needs to recover more readily from childbirth. In Italy, women have been known to eat parts of the placenta to help with lactation. Hungarian women bite the placenta to expedite the completion of labor. And knowledgeable midwives in this country have their birth mothers take bites of raw placenta to help stop hemorrhaging, due to its beneficial oxytocin content.

There are a variety of potential benefits to placentophagy. For one, the placenta contains vitamins and minerals that may help fight depression symptoms, such as vitamin B6. For another, the placenta is considered rich in iron and protein, which would be useful to women recovering from childbirth, and a particular benefit to vegetarian women.

Stage V / Birthing of the placenta

Physical Aspects

• Surges will temporarily stop.

• Placenta will detach and come out.

• Experience vaginal bleeding, chills, shaking, possible hunger, thirst or exhaustion.

• Eat a piece of placenta for healthy quick restoring of hormonal balance

• Start breastfeeding baby.

Role of Dad and/or Support Person

• Absorbed in looking at baby.

• Praise all of mom’s efforts.

• Share experiences and feelings.

Emotional Aspects

• Absorbed in looking at baby.

• Feel a sense of accomplishment.

• May be very excited and relaxed like after a workout.

Social Aspects

• Wants a lot of contact with baby.

• Alert, happy talkative. Possibly laughing or crying.

• Expresses a sense of great relief.

Happy HypnoBirthing Story

Released photo

Morrin, I can' tell you how amazed I am still after the baby had arrived and it has been a few days! We're so very very proud to say Christopher arrived on the 21st May, and no less weighing 10lb!!! 

HypnoBirthing works, that's all I can say. 


Thank you so much! I haven't been in touch yet because we were enjoying ourselves, and our beautiful son Chris is doing very well.

My labour started in the morning as I planned, so again thanks for helping me plan my birth!!


I kept having tightenings every 10 minutes over the entire day. I relaxed and (my husband) kept me very focused during the surges reading the relaxation and touching me with light touch.

We used Self-hypnosis and the deepening techniques pretty consistently.

Needless to say that without HypnoBirthing practice I was not going to be able to focus throughout this time, I'm not sure what I would have done! Paul was an absolute rock and he was able to use the relaxation techniques and deepening technique, which really helped. So thank you for insisting on practicing the techniques.

We left for the hospital the next morning at about 5.30am and I listened to the affirmations in the car and I listened to the music on loop for what seemed like a long time once at the hospital. Once my waters had broken I went from 4-5 cm to fully dilated by 7.30pm, pretty much in 2 hours, during which time I listened to the rainbow relaxation on loop and Paul said that I was doing really well and had gone completely inside myself!

By 7.30 I felt the strongest desire to push, and although this isn't what HypnoBirthing suggests, I remembered this and was breathing him out, it was ultimately an animalistic desire to push – I resisted and boy, was I glad that I did not push.

I felt it was up to me, and suddenly it became possible to enjoy it, and I chose to translate my sensations to pleasure. May sound a bit strange, but this is what it was, I felt a sensation of strong funneled movement in my hips and I thought it love, pleasure and joy for my baby moving out.

I feel a huge sense of achievement and no tears, about which I am really happy.  My recovery is a million times better than with Lily because it was drug free and natural and I can see the difference in Chris.


I had no idea it would really work so effectively on the day when I needed it but it did.

The birth required a huge amount of focus from both me and Paul to maintain it, particularly once my waters broke and the surges came thick and fast, but it really does work : )

I am really glad we practiced beforehand, and that you kept at it with us. 
Thank you so much again!!

Lots of love,
Lucy, xoxoxoxoxo!!!!!!

HypnoBirthing Stages of Labor - Transition

Stage III

Transition-Active Birthing Mindful Breathing (dilating 8-10cm)

Physical Aspects

• Strong surges, 1-3 minutes apart, lasting 50-90 seconds.

• Frequent surges are double or triple peaking and feeling a premature urge to push – resist and breathe.

• Body temperature fluctuations - hot during surges, cold between surges.

• Hiccuping, vomiting, leg cramps and severe backache are common.

• Use relaxation to prevent those.

• This is the shortest part of labor, but it is the most intense.

• KEEP CALM BREATHE SLOWLY and DEEPLY

Social Aspects

• Complete self-focus.

• Wants constant companionship.

• Overwhelmed and needs encouragement to keep focus.

Emotional Aspects

• Irritability easily helped by relaxation.

• Difficulty concentrating.

• Needs reminders and support in keeping focus and perspective.

• Remain calm; this is the most important part

Role of Dad and/or Support Person

• Give counterpressure to sides of lower back. 

• Massage.

• Nipple stimulation.

• Active touching, sexual stimulation, kissing

• Keep focus on Birth breathing

• Responsible for the outside to let her remain focused

• Keep focused on the breathing

• Remain calm; help her by keeping calm, non-chalant, exhibit mature behavior.

• Use eye contact to keep her focused.

• Reassure her that the baby birth is near.

Animation of Baby Birthing - Stages of Labor

Click picture to view animation

Stages of Labor

Keeping fit and in a good mood in expectancy of your baby is a good practice. Repeat your daily affirmations and your daily relaxation practice. 

In the weeks before birth, your body increases production of other hormones – including prostaglandins, which soften the cervix, and oxytocin, which triggers the uterine muscles to contract.

True labor contractions (or as we call them surges) are rhythmic, and consistent. As the long vertical muscle bands of the uterus tighten, they pull the cervix open. The strong muscles at the top of the uterus push down and release, guiding your baby toward the cervix.

The uterine plug, a collection of thickened cervical mucus that's sealed your cervix shut for nine months, may be expelled days before or in the midst of labor.

When the amniotic sac ruptures, your water has broken. It can feel like a trickle or a gush of fluid.

Your cervix will begin opening and thinning, known as dilation and effacement.

Once you reach about 4 centimeters, your body will move into active labor.

In active labor, surges become stronger and closer together. 

At 8 centimeters, you enter what many consider the most exciting part of labor – transition. Relaxation is key here.

By 10 centimeters, think of your birth as a bird, let go of the bird.

You're fully dilated and may feel the urge to push. Resist. This is your signal that the second stage of labor has begun. Breathe the long slow breaths.

Your baby will move down with each surge. The three separate soft bones of the baby's head will temporarily overlap so the baby can pass through the snug birth canal/baby path.

Again, relaxation is key here. You must direct all your attention to relaxation of the birth path. Visualizations are very effective at this stage.

Your baby's scalp will come into view. When the widest part of his head is visible, your baby is "crowning." With several more surges, and your breaths, your baby's face, shoulders, and body will emerge.

In the third and final stage of labor, your placenta detaches and is expelled.

With your baby's first breath, the incredible journey of birth is complete.

How will you welcome your baby?

What is your baby's name?

Father To Be Pregnancy Book

Fathers-to-be often ask: "What to expect when you are expecting?"

Here is a great book for fathers to be: Click here for more information on where to find and how to buy.

This book reflects the basic ways to address normal human questions men often ask themselves: what to do, what to say, how to act in regard to yourself and your pregnant wife during pregnancy, and during labor.

How choices of language affect your situations and even well-being, how words that you say to yourself and others create your behavior, and what needs to happen, if needed, so the positive changes in thinking and speaking patterns occur to re-instill the bonding and love between the two of you.

Moms often ask to help their husband in training them for the birthing.
Morrin Bass is your resource for yours and your husband's preparation for your baby's birth: Happy HypnoBirthing stories, pregnancy positive affirmations, HypnoBirthing preparation for your confident and calm natural birth. Get your own private Self-Hypnosis CD for calm and comfortable time.  This month's special Sleep Tight CD.

How To Have Joyful Labor

Those of you who are interested in a calm and peaceful birth listen up!

The new brain research and discoveries open up a whole new realm of what is possible. 

There is a definite correlation between peaceful labor, your brain production of oxytocin and your state of mind.

Your peaceful labor depends on your peaceful state of mind which is caused largely by the amount of the neural hormone calle oxytocin. Oxytocin is produced in the brain triggered by the pleasant sensations, thoughts, affirmations, meditation, relaxation, touch, visual or auditory stimulation and in most cases, just deep breathing, that causes our brain to acquire more oxygen streamlining pleasure trance. 

The production of oxytocin depends on the polarization of cells producing oxytocin.

The more oxy-gen we have in our body, the more oxy-tocin is produced.

Then the process goes like this: 

The positive stimulation through posture or touch, or deep breathing etc., causes the body cells to become more polarized in the cerebellum that causes them to fire action potential in bursts, signaling to hypothalamus, which signals the pitutiary gland to produce more oxytocin that delivers out the affects to the rest of the body through spinal cord and nervous system which stimulates more positive feedback and loops to producing more oxytocin. This creates a continuous production of oxytocin, that peripherally starts up the production of endorphines, which as we know, have numbing effect, and work in any area in your body. 

Production of oxytocin inhibits adrenocrticotropic hormone and cortisol (hormones of stress) constantly triggering relaxation.  

As a result women begin to feel better, more uplifted and look for more positive signs in the outside which creates positive feedback which loops back to producing more oxytocin, etc.

Now, knowing this you can decide you want this, so make it your conscious choice. Once you made this choice, it is easy to continue in the positive feedback loop. So enjoy your labor!

Morrin is available for comments and personal work toward your desired outcome. Sign up for this blog and receive updates. If you received this blog via e-mail as an initial distribution, opt in now to keep receiving your updates. 

Sign up for Morrin's HypnoBirthing classes here to learn more about how to have a peaceful birth.

What Happens During Birth?

Watch this anatomical animation to imagine the baby birth, so this smooth movement stays in your imagination.

Follow This Link.

Have a happy HypnoBirthing Birth!

Smiling During Labor?

People ask when I work with clients, how do i notice the changes that occur in a pregnant mom, when she is ready for the birth of her baby.

Most moms are unaware how important their thoughts are in every moment of their life, and particularly in labor.

Most of the time I notice this slight change in her attitude, her behavior, her demeanor. When she begins her thinking from fear position, and continues into the questions and doubts, her face reflects that pain. She says that she wants to avoid the pain, but in fact, she behaves on the opposite.

Fear is natural and healthy when it allows a natural effective mechanism for normal survival. In labor time to be in fear is opposite to being effective.

Educating herself to know what happens during labor is important because it eliminates fear. Knowing the facts is power. Being empowered by knowledge gives the woman strength needed to complete laboring.

Showing the posture, position, breathing of the woman who is in peace and ready for the birth, she begins her labor and moves and breathes in a way that is relaxed and peaceful.

When she begins with a question: What do I want for this birth? the answer begins to emerge to show her what is possible.

Immediately, the possibilities are endless. She can begin to create her own peaceful world and move in it with an attitude that reflects her belief, that is emerged from her value system:

I am mother
My body knows what to do
My baby knows what to do
I trust my body

Affirming what she wants (as opposed to affirming what she does not want, what moms usually do unknowingly) she begins to sort for the signs in the environment confirming what begins to happen toward the birth that she wants.

She recognizes those signs and acknowledges them with a smile.

The baby reflectively moved down the birthing path in her womb, out of her womb, and out into the world, being healthy and feeling loved. And all the while she continues to smile.

To learn more about how you can have the birth with a smile click on FREE www.Pregnancy Affirmations.com.

Avoid Induction

To avoid induction we do hypnosis inviting the baby to peacefully come out NOW!

A mom-to-be on her 40 weeks, called after a conversation with the doctor, who told her that next Monday she "needs" to be induced. 

I asked her what if she did not show up for the induction?

She was adamant about being compliant to her doctor. When you choose your doctor you like your doctor. It is an authority. Some people can't not comply. 

However, we are talking about YOUR experience, YOUR baby, and YOUR experience in birthing your baby. The happier the birth the happier the baby, leave alone healthier, etc. 

To create a happy, smooth, comfortable, and safe birth, the birth needs to be initiated by the baby, not the doctor.

This is why we resorted the a conversation with the baby.

Actually it was more like a conditioned invitation, because I am not messing with the Universe, who has everything on her own divine timing. Conditioning the invitation with something like "if it si for the benevolent outcome of all concerned", will get you very far.

So it did with our mom here, her baby initiated labor the same night and the day after he was born. I got a text from the father: "Mother and Baby are doing great. Thank you."

That was my thank you from the Universe.