"My Baby Birth Was The Best Day Of My Life!"

"My baby (name) birth was the best day of my life! My wedding was the most beautiful day of my life, and my baby's birth was the best day of my life!"

My conversation with the mom, who took my HypnoBirthing class in March of 2011 and a month later gave birth to a beautiful vigorous baby-boy, my conversation with her lasted about 40 minutes, and I was not talking much at all.

The excitement of her speech was obvious. The day she remembers is still very vivid in her memory, and in her description. She is noticeably very happy, 8 months later.

Outlining her perspective on the birth day itself, the mom pointed out specifically that:

1 - PREPARATION is very important. It is not what you do on the day of the labor, it is what frame of mind you HAVE BEEN so far, and how your beliefs are shaped. Your practice of relaxation, breathing, being available in your mind to the flexibility of the events of the day. What you do on the day of birth is almost automatic. It is important that you know what to do without thinking, this is where previous weeks/ and in her case - months of preparation is important.

2. - Having your support system in place: prepared husband, and midwife/doula. People who can keep you focused and also know what to do.

3. - Having a belief that you can do it - give birth, keeping the positive attitude and keeping a bigger picture in mind - at all times.

"Your help, your knowledge and expertise was one of the most important things that happened for me in preparation to my labor. Thank you for all your advice."

Let me know if you have any questions. Comment in the box below. 

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

HypnoBirthing Classes - Why Start Early

HypnoBirthing(tm) is an incredible tool to get yourself in a desired peaceful and confident frame of mind by the time of arrival of your baby. And the earlier you start the better.

Often pregnant moms ask when is the best time to start their enrollment in the class.

As you may know, I am a certified HypnoBirthing practitioner, Instructor of comprehensive childbirth education classes for moms and dads that they take at New York Awareness Center.  I have instructed over 100 couples to have their peaceful birth. I have been teaching hypnosis professionally for over a decade. From experience and from what is reported by the Moms who gave birth in recent years, after attending this class, I concluded that

THE EARLIER YOU START LEARNING HYPNOBIRTHING TECHNIQUES THE BETTER. 

Better for whom? And how early is too early?

It is never too early. In my opinion, future moms need to be informed and educated, conditioned and trained even before pregnancy. And this time is not too far out in the future when women begin to put their attention to have their pregnancy prepared.

One of the moms started attending our class at 21 weeks of pregnancy. By the end of the class series of 5 classes 2 hours each, she was 26 weeks. When the baby gave her his first kick she was all ready for this communication. Most moms by week 26 just begin their research on what changes in their body does in pregnancy.

The baby inside you needs your attention. In large cities and stressful environments like New York, we do not usually take time to rest and revitalize ourselves, and when pregnancy begins we don't have a habit of rest and relaxation. Most moms don't even think about it, until later, but from the start regular relaxation is important. 

Learning to relax your body and your m ind you not only begin to be attuned to your body, you begin to know and direct your thoughts toward creating the reality you want. And this doesn't just true for birth. Most couples who took the time to master the self-hypnosis skill, now are more successful in their lives. It's true, you can drive your own experience. 

Most of you tell me they want peaceful birth, unmedicated birth filled with joy and excitement, like Amber's in the documentary with the memorable title - "Orgasmic Birth". 

How do you achieve that? What would you do to have that?

Starting to learn with an instructor and practice in class with your husband under the supervision of your instructor and then at home you begin to condition your body and your mind. Preparation exercises will include various visualizations, body relaxation, mind relaxation, facial relaxation, progressive body and mind deep relaxation, 3 types of deep breathings. From the first week of your HypnoBirthing training through the fifth week, regular practice at home gives visible, tangible results. It not only gives you a practical application in your life; results in physical and mental health enhancement become obvious over a few weeks, even after a few days of practice. 

One of the students father-to-be reported at our 3rd meeting that practicing daily relaxation with his wife not only gave him confidence that he can help her in labor, it influenced the way he is with others and in the world around him, so his co-workers noticed how calm and level-headed he had become at work, and his wife felt extra confident that she can rely on him in labor.  

Another mother-to-be told that deep breathing and relaxation allowed her to have longer days, accomplish more with less effort, keep positive and acquire clarity of mind.

In class we talk in detail about ANS autonomic nervous system, and the sympathetic and parasympathetic parts of it. During stress your sympathetic system responds to stress, real or imagined, with "fight or flight" response, throwing into your blood stream a flow of hormones inhibiting all functions other than those necessary for your survival. This means that your baby does not get a chance when you are tired, in a rush, stressed, undernourished or overworked. 

Opposite is true for sensible physical exercise, rest, relaxation and breathing, well balanced nutrition and sleep. You body then produces hormonal supplements that help baby develop normally. Numerous research from the HypnoBirthing Institute in your handouts in class helps you understand and know that conscious preparation for your birthing ultimately creates your birthing.

So by the week 30-33-35 you are well conditioned and know enough about your body responses, and together with your husband you can say: I am confident.

You both are stepping into the unknown and this unknown will stay unknown until it is time. And contrary to those who had little preparation, you will have set the healthy and calm tone of your  birthing room and will have learned to operate and control your mind. 

I wish you a very peaceful satisfying birthing of your baby and hope to hear from you soon.

  

Enrollment is open for the next HYPNOBIRTHING class.

Morrin Bass invites you to post comments and questions here.

HypnoBirthing Affirmations

By now, moms all over the world know what HypnoBirthing Affirmations are: positive affirmative and short sentences in present tense about calm peaceful labor pregnant moms want to have.

Pregnancy HypnoBirthing affirmations are really positive suggestions, that are said to yourself, out loud, and followed by a relaxed state of absorption or listened silently via cd with relaxation.

Once Pregnancy HypnoBirthing affirmations are said outloud, they have affect onto our subconscious mind, and once absorbed into the subconscious, cannot be erased. Therefore, these suggestions take effect on your behavior in real life without you even noticing it. Consequently, you relax, you begin to fell calm and give into the power of your birthing body. And when the time comes, labor goes easily and quickly.

Here are some sample affirmations you can get for 21 days FREE delivered to your e-maibox daily.

I am confident that my body is healthy and strong. 
I am beautiful in my pregnancy. 
I joyfully look forward to the birth of my baby.
My body is made to give birth easily and effortlessly.
I relax and dream about my easy birth.


A pregnant mom asks: Can I use this affirmation:
I don't want to be afraid.
No, you'd better not. Our mind does not understand the word NOT, so therefore, it is as if you are affirming that you want to be afraid, which you are not!:)

Use positively framed sentences to serve as your affirmations.
Like:
I trust my body and my baby to know what to do.


Learn to create your affirmations.  And have a Happy HypnoBirthing.

Go to www.NewYorkAwareness.com and put your name into request box for affirmations from New York Awareness Center created by the childbirth education expert Morrin Bass, Ph.D., BCH.
Morrin Bass can be reached for discussion, or when you post your affirmations/comments/questions in the comment box for review and for others to see and use.

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.

TO EAT OR NOT TO EAT ... PLACENTA ???

Most people never heard of ingesting placenta. Most people would look at you as if you are crazy if you mention ingesting placenta. But wait! let me introduce the latest research on ingesting placenta.

Do you want your breast milk to come out abundantly and easily for your baby?

Do you want your baby weight ease off your body quickly?

Do you want to have tons of energy to nurse your baby and take care of your family right after birthing?

And finally,

Do you want to have positive outlook and feel incredible bonding experience with your baby, instead of postpartum depression?

Find out how you too can be happy and healthy quickly and easily right after your baby's birth.

Placenta contains high levels of prostaglandin which stimulates uterus to get back to normal size quickly. Placenta also contains oxytocin which stimulates the muscles around the mammary cells to contract and eject milk. These levels of natural oxytocin add to your hormonal balance and help you feel happier and have a light positive outlook on life.

Mammals eat their youngs' placenta in full. All of it. Ewww! Remember that we are mammals. So it is only natural to ingest placenta, even though not in full, but a little bitty piece of it, about 0.5 cubic inch, raw.

How's that? Wow!

At least you don't have to eat all of it!

Still sounds bizzarre?

Now, let's explore.

I met this homebirth midwife of 20 years Jenny West, at last year's HypnoBirthing Conclave, where I got my liscense to teach HypnoBirthing to doulas and other birthing professionals.

She gave me her book about eating placenta, as I shared an experience I heard about from one of my HypnoBirthing student-moms, who ate a tiny piece of placenta right after its birth, raw, once. She told me she just tore a piece right off the big blob of the whole thing and swallowed it. She experienced her body temperature lowering soon, her breast milk coming after colostrum within a day, she felt consistantly happy and satisfied with her birth and baby being peacefully calm and healthy.

Jenny shared that it is a very healthy thing, to eat a piece of placenta. There is lots of lore about the placenta, Alaskan, Native American. It was considered a healthy way to start your postpartum and enjoy your baby long before the drugs have been invented that are currently used during and after birthing for various issues.

Her method is to ingest placenta dried and capsuled. She prepares the placenta in your home and leaves for you a capsuled daily dozage for your to take in a few times a day. Or you can choose to eat it once, right after birth, raw, or in a smoothie, and be done with it.

I know I mentioned it to one of my couples in class and they laughed at me thinking I am joking. Then they both backed up visibly and made a face.  I went on describing how the postpartum begins to be the best time of your life if you ingest  a piece of placenta, and then finally one mom said, "I will do it!", and then the other looked at her and said, "it does sound crazy, but yes, I want to do it too."

One mom tells her story as she initially froze her placenta for keeps. By the time her son was 6 weeks old, she was seriously lacking energy and sluggishly dragging herself around the house, doing her daily routine, depressed, and exhausted, she finally decided to defrost her placenta, dried it and encapsulated it and began to take them. On the third day she felt results and kept feeling more energized every day since.

It is your choice. It's your placenta.

Find out more, click here.
With questions contact Morrin Bass, at New York Awareness Center.