One of my fave preggo podcasts, Pregtastic, introduced me to the idea of HypnoBirthing. In the book, Easy Labor, an obstetric anasthesiologist reports that HypnoBirthing is the only alternative to epidurals that offers complete elimination of pain. That news got my attention, so I started researching.
When BabyBear arrives next spring, I have every intention of getting that blessed epidural. But you can't get an epidural as soon as labour begins. PapaBear's delivery room stories suggest that women need to wait until 3 or 4 cm before relief is possible. And some epidurals don't do what they are supposed to do. With my luck, I'll be the woman who only gets one side of her body numbed.
With these possibilities in mind, PapaBear and I attended our first HypnoBirthing class on Saturday. Most participants want an unmedicated birth and there is a distinct granola, girl-power vibe within the HypnoBirthing community. I knew this going in and was ready to talk about how much yoga and organic tea have changed me.
I guess I shouldn't have been surprised when the instructor decided to nurse her 13-month son in the middle of her lecture. And let's be clear that she didn't take a break. She just kept talking while I tried to focus intently on her forehead. Who knows how much useful content I missed, simply because I'm a breastfeeding prude.
In the end, I remain optimistic about what HypnoBirthing can do for me. Relaxation, visualization, and back rubs certainly sound like a good way to deal with pain. I'd rather not be the labouring mom who screams at her husband, but we won't know how I react until the big day arrives. In the meantime, I'll sip my organic mint verbena, practice prenatal yoga, and fall asleep listening to "Rainbow Relaxation".
If I appear rather Zen when we next meet, we'll know that it's working.
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