Christianity and HypnoBirthing : Go Beautifully Together….

Are The Bible Teachings and HypnoBirthing Complementary?

Can I be a true Christian applying Jesus’ teachings and use HypnoBirthing for my baby’s birth?

The answer is a resounding yes.

At its very heart, HypnoBirthing is about using the emotion of love to give you strength and provide the energy to carry you through birth.  So many women come into the birth experience in a state of anxiety and fear.  Although these feelings are completely understandable, science tells very clearly that these emotions cause the body to work against itself in three important ways.  One, the hormones released when anxious, block endorphins, our natural pain reliever, making birth hurt more.  Two, anxiety causes our muscles to physically tighten and become more cramped and tense, making the opening of the body in labour harder.  Three, anxiety causes our body to direct blood flow to the limbs for a fight or flight response and pulls it away from the uterus which isn’t a defence mechanism in the body, therefore, making it much more difficult for the uterus to do its work.  So women need to release fear and build deep feelings of love to have the most satisfying birth possible.   Jesus instructed us to do everything with love.  HypnoBirthing will show you how to release fear and nurture the loving feeling within you to help you during labour.

What about the Hypnosis?

Maybe you’ve heard that hypnosis will open you up to evil.  Nothing could be farther from the truth.  Generally, this idea comes from ignorance of what is the hypnotic state.  Hypnosis is an altered state whereby you access the subconscious to create positive change.  The idea of an altered state sometimes spooks people out at first, but actually, you already experience altered states of consciousness all the time – spontaneously – because it’s a natural part of being human.  You do it each night as you fall asleep and wake up and at both times you cycle through different states of consciousness as you move from full wakefulness to deep dreamless sleep and then back up again.  You also do it throughout the day when your focus naturally changes as in when you daydream, drive home on auto-pilot (you get home but don’t really recall the drive) when you get very engrossed in a task even to the point you won’t hear someone call your name the first time.   For some people petting their cat or dog will lull them into this kind of mental state.  For most Christians, this is actually a very familiar state because it’s what happens in your mind when you pray and engage in worship activities.   And it’s measurable.

That’s right – we can hook the human brain up to an EKG machine and observe the brain way activity.  Scientists categorize brain wave activity by the speed of the brain waves.  During normal waking consciousness, the brain waves are fast and I mean FAST: about 13-30 cycles (or waves) each second.  As your focus shifts, as it does in the above-mentioned examples, the brain waves slow down to about 6-12 cycles per second.  Dr. Andrew B. Newberg, MD, an American neuroscientist and Director of Research at the Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Medical College, investigated what happened in the mind of people while they prayed.  He found that the brain waves slowed down and different areas of the brain became active.  You can read about his research here.

So hypnosis creates a slower brain wave or altered state of consciousness just like prayer does.  Once this state is created, hypnosis uses the power of the imagination to visualize or imagine a change in behaviour.  In HypnoBirthing we spend a lot of time imagining the little baby, imagining relaxing and working in harmony with the body in labour, and imagining the love of the family you are creating.  All good stuff.

In fact, the bible tells us specifically to focus on the good stuff.

Philippians 4:8 (New King James Version)

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy- -meditate on these things.

Too often childbirth classes focus so much on negativity.  Women can leave those classes scared, worried and doubting their body’s ability to cradle life.

HypnoBirthing helps to restore your belief in your body’s God-given capacity to cradle and bring forth life.  As the great teacher stays

“You are indeed wonderfully and beautifully made.”

The Bible further challenges us to use our minds for good.

Romans 12:2

And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God.

Ephesians 4:23

To be made new in the attitudes of your mind.

So HypnoBirthing falls beautifully in line with Christianity and you can feel safe and secure knowing that you’ve found a childbirth preparation that compliments your faith.

If you have any questions, please feel free to respond below.

Yours in faith,

Marie

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