Use Birthing Stool for Comfortable Squat

What you see here is a 16-century birth stool used for the final stages in childbirth labor. (I like the curtains on the sides!)

When the baby begins to crown, a mother needs to continue to use the gravity of the baby, whose weight helps the movement down the birth path without pushing.

Sometimes it is easier to sit on the stool than squat and concentrate all your attention on the final stages of baby coming out.

The idea of the birth stool has been in use in midwifery for centuries.
Until very recently, in Europe, particularly in Northern Europe, in Denmark, birthing stool was considered a family treasure, and was preserved in the family for generations. A bride brought to the new family the birth stool inherited from her mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. After all, the importance of procreation was emphasized and strengthened by the religious influences.

Today, we don't have to store such commodity for generations. Each mom can get her own. In fact, each one can get their own style.

You can have one with handles, which makes it quite comfortable to hold onto, while your husband is behind you whispering positive HypnoBirthing affirmations into your receptive ear.

Or you could have modern sterility in plastic, with a helping figure for its back to lean on, while your midwife talks you through your calm and comfortable J-breathing (Birth Breathing) in the final stages of your baby arrival.

So feel free to choose your style, as long as it is comfortable for you and fits your needs.

This and more, learn about childbirth in a complete childbirth education course in HypnoBirthing classes.
Click here for more information now http://newyorkawareness.com/HypnobirthingNewYork.asp#

What Time Of Day Will Your Baby Be Born?

What's your guess, when will your labor begin?

When student moms start their HypnoBirthing class with me, I ask them to use their imagination planning their birth and describe it.  One of the moms described her labor start at 11:30am, on a Saturday. Actually,  her labor began on Saturday morning, but very early in the wee hours.

So what does research show us? Why so many of the family lore includes rushing to the hospital at 3 a.m.?

Chronobiology is a relatively new profession. It studies the human body rhythm throughout life, on a yearly basis, and from month to month, day to day and throughout the day. Part of this study includes the rhythm of our body throughout the day, called circadian rhythm, and even in much smaller increments, throughout the hour, called ultradian rhythm. Without taking you into semantics of the titles let me explain the research showing that spontaneous labor in human starts around and after midnight.

Birth is a body's natural progression, so as soon as mother enters into a safe mode of rest in a safe place, the baby knows it is a good time to come out.  A study in 1979 on labor of more than 200,000 women shows that 20% more babies ar born between 2-6am than between 2-6pm. Later studies involving 2 mil. women support night birthing.

Studies also show the same progression for second and third babies. Additionally, same studies show that on average the length of labor for those starting laboring at night take 2 hours less than those starting labor after dawn.

Speaking of hospital births, be aware, that most artificially induced births happen on a Tuesday, and none on weekends. Doctors schedules usually greatly contribute to this pattern.

Natural births occur more often on Saturday or a Sunday, according to a study in 1997 involving births among the US women.

If you want to know more about your body learn to give yourself positive suggestions. When you are tired, rest, when you are emotional, relax. Relax more often than before pregnancy or more often during the day. Listen to your body and  it will pay you off handsomely during peaceful labor.


Morrin is available for further information and discussion of your personal preparation to your labor.

Birth As We Know It

Amazingly, nature is not that stupid to make you experience what you don't desire.

So use your imagination now, open your eyes and imagine the most idel birth of your child that you can imagine. Yes, yes! ideal!

Now add more detail to it: Peaceful surrounding, soft lighting, deep breathing, loving husband, helpful doulas and midwives, warm water, mild and strong compelling surges, sexual pleasure of baby moving through you, downward and outward, and bursting overflowing joy.

Watch Birth As We Know It by Elena Vladimirova-Tonelli.

Enroll in HypnoBirthing classes with Morrin Bass now to know what to do to have this kind of calm peaceful joyful satisfying birth.

Morrin is available for further discussion, birth work, private work for you and your husband in preparation for your birth, couples satisfaction work, uncovering your hidden inner resources, and working with you until you have what you want.

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 Stories

Here is a HypnoBirthing birth story from one of the moms who was trained in HypnoBirthing techniques with Morrin Bass at New York Awareness Center last year. She wrote this letter to me.


"Hi Morrin,
It's been a while, but I'm finally getting the chance to sit down and write you to let you know about the incredible birth of our son, (name)!  He arrived one week early.  My labor was ten hours from start to finish.  I'm so happy that (husband) and I decided to practice hypnobirthing.  (Husband) was an amazing partner who kept me focused and relaxed.  It was an amazing experience.  Morrin, thank you for teaching us the skills we needed to know ...  


Morrin, (husband) took your advice and requested a nurse who was interested in natural birth, and that was the best advice ever. The nurse we got was so supportive and helpful—she was studying to be a midwife, so she was amazed with the hypnobirthing process.  Once we were settled in the room, we plugged in our cd player and blasted the hypnobirthing tapes (as the labor progressed, I had the birthing affirmations on repeat...they gave me so much comfort). 


When the doctor arrived, she said I was progressing beautifully, but suggested that I get on my hands and knees since the baby was "sunny-side up" with the back of his head pressing on my spine, so I was having back labor (which explains my aching back the last few weeks of pregnancy).  Being on my hands and knees took the pressure off my back, which made me so much more comfortable and this is how I labored and delivered.  It was such an intense experience, but I wasn't afraid and I wasn't in pain (though I kept thinking, okay, after this surge, I might bring up getting an epidural, but I never did say anything...I didn't need to).  

By the time I was ten centimeters dilated, I started breathing down, but I was feeling exhausted, I kept saying, "I'm done. I'm done.  I need this to be over." and I was ready to move things along.  (Husband), the nurse and my doctor stayed with me the whole time, encouraging me and keeping me focused with calm encouragement.  (Husband) and I totally set the tone.  Knowing, and repeating to myself that "my body and my baby know what to do," kept me calm and focused too.   


I knew my body was relaxed and not fighting what was happening.... I could feel everything (my pelvis opening), but I wasn't in pain, I was just working so hard.  I felt like I was running a marathon.  ... The nurses and the doctor were so amazed and impressed with the hypnobirthing and that we did it so calmly, without an epidural.  I hope the doctor will take this experience back to her practice and share it with others.  


I felt so good after the birth (though we were all exhausted). Thank you again for all your help and support.  I look forward to getting together for a reunion at some point.
All the best. 

Click on this link HypnoBirthing classes are now open for enrollment for March 1 class. 

How to Recognize True Labor from False Labor

Approaching the estimated baby arrival time, moms begin to wonder how to recognize true labor and to what signs begin to pay attention.

There are distinct signs of starting of the "uterine activity" that are recognizable in both but vitally different for the decisions and subsequent actions we need to take.

False Labor

• Surges (formerly known as contractions) are random.
• There in no progression in strength in surges.
• Surges tend to be felt primarily in the front
• The time between surges is not equal, or even.
• Activities has no affect on timing or quality of surges
• No changes in cervix dilation

True Labor

• Surges get rythmical
• Surges get closer together
• Surges get stronger
• Surges are felt in various parts of uterus
• Walking makes surges stronger
• Cervix thins and eventually opens

Start your childbirth education with attending HypnoBirthing classes based on the book by Marie Mongan, HypnoBirthing a Breakthrough to a Safer, More Comfortable Birth.

Morrin Bass, Ph.D., MBA, BCH, teaches HypnoBirthing classes at New York Awareness Center. Morrin can be reached by your posting a comment for further discussion on your experiences in pregnancy and preparations for your ideal birth.

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.

What Malean Moms Do

Have you noticed how graceful are some of the dancers, basketball players, and some people are so clumsy that backhand water glasses of the dinner table. Your body has a mind on its own, which communicates through brain and create adjustments to body development to move better and more gracefully.

A psychologist's research in Mali, showing early baby development through mother's gentle touch, massaging their legs and feet, and even yank them upside down by their feet. This practice arises from the belief dominant in that part of the world that straight legs are an asset and crooked legs are an impediment in further life of the child.

In Russian and Romanian orphanages babies are cribbed two-three in one crib, limiting their movement. Adopted later, mostly through American parents, the babies who were not allowed to move, and do not have the developed sensory awareness, remain 2-3 standard deviation below the norm. They are not just a little "delayed". They are sensitive, yet uncoordinated to the amazement of scientists and doctors.

Body sense and movement can fail dramatically is stunted during early stages of development. The celular metabolism of energy consumption and usage is much more efficient in running a mile in a Kenian athlete, creates a life time opportunity, often determining a direction in a baby's lifetime work.

As the pregnant mom begins her preparation to the birth of her baby, gearing to do everything she can for her baby's arrival, must consider her own body awareness in preparation for the best birth, for giving her baby the best experience in birth.  The opportunity that she takes and uses in making the decision what she needs to do and who she needs to be in order to have the birth of her dream.

This preparation starts early in pregnancy, through childbirth preparation and education classes. Make it your priority to enroll in the class now so your baby has a great experience of beginning of baby's life.

Morrin Bass, Ph.D., MBA, is a creator of this blog and an instructor of HypnoBirthing classes for pregnant moms at New York Awareness Center.  She provides complete childbirth education and opportunity for prospective moms and dads to learn more, feel more confident and creative and consequently have more options in their decisions regarding the birth of their baby.  Contact Morrin for more information at 866-522-5886, referencing this blog.

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.

The Importance of Practice, Part II

What a wonderful time allowing yourself to relax, just for few minutes, reading the part I of the post today, wasn't it?

Just before, I got a call from a new mother sharing her experience of birthing her baby. She just "had to tell me" that her practicing HypnoBirthing in class and at home paid off greatly.

Just because, she says, she practiced in the last few weeks before the birth, during labor she was able to stay calm and peaceful. I reminded her, how worried she was about keeping calm during her labor. She responded saying that her husband reminded her to stay focused, when she wandered away with her focus elsewhere.

Mom experienced her first strong uterine activity at 11pm, after a few weeks of on and off 'practice labor', during which she timed herself. The activity of surges repeated a few times each lasting about 40 seconds, and the time inbetween from 10 minutes to 7 minutes to 5 minutes. At 1am, she decided to call her midwife. And at 3 am, when the midwife arrived, she was already 8 cm, dilated.

The little girl was born after JUST another couple of hours of labor, around 5:30am, determined breathing and walking around the house. She walked while inbetween surges, and calmly found herself settling in a position on a couch, or on the toilet, on the arm chair, or in the kitchen, until she finally returned into her bed, where the birth took place. This was a home birth; assisting were just the husband and the midwife.

Baby came quickly and safely without pushing, just with a very focused J-breathing.

Promising to write about it more in detail, she told me that breathing and the husband's cool were the main highlights of her birth. She distinctly remembers that as soon as she thought of a glass of water he came offering her one, as soon as she thought of wanting to hear some soft music, or Rainbow relaxation, he was putting it on already.  This connection is not accidental. This was achieved by practicing together during the last few weeks before birth.

I remember this couple arriving to classes separately, from different places, and even not being able to complete some of the tasks in class because there was lack of agreement with each other. However, because they made a decision to practice, and came around to actually show up as a mature team working together on the birthing of their  baby, a new horizon of their life opened up and a new level of understanding without words, the new higher level of connection came to being.

Hope you enjoyed reading this story. Let me know your thoughts by commenting.

Subscribe to being a member of the New York Awareness Center for more posts on more subjects by following into the website link and putting in your e-mail address in the window on the left side bar for our newsletter to reach you shortly.

With Love and Light,
Morrin