Preparing parents for birth

HYPNOBIRTH classes . . . Louise, Sam and Rosa Ashworth are pictured with a community midwife.

EXPECTANT parents in Oldham can learn more about a birthing technique using self-hypnosis and relaxation with new hypnobirth classes in the community.

A total of 17 community midwives at the Royal Oldham Hospital have completed a hypnobirth diploma, funded by The Royal College of Midwives, and have now set up evening classes at children's centres in the community to support couples to use the hypnobirth techniques during labour and birth.

The sessions, which are suitable for women over 20 weeks pregnant, are designed to help parents-to-be remain calm, positive and focused during the birth.

The hypnobirth technique is a complete education programme that teaches simple but specific self-hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques.

Couples can be taught how to use self-hypnosis to induce deep relaxation during the labour and birth of their child.

The technique is all about the couple supporting each other, using exercises and positive words to enhance the process of birth.

Massage is also used on the mum-to-be to release endorphins which are the body's natural analgesia which help with coping strategies for labour.

By using visualisation exercises and positivity, the couples feel more confident, calm and positive as they approach the birth.

The four-week course, which is led by a midwife, has already attracted sign-ups by ten couples. During the sessions, which last two hours each, couples receive a workbook to read at home, a hypnobirth book and CD.

The technique can be used in all environments either at home, the birth centre at The Royal Oldham Hospital or on the labour ward.
Working with couples to enhance and empower a drug-free labour, which results in a more gentle birth, is a very exciting prospect."

Louise and Sam Ashworth from Milnrow recently undertook the course and have since successfully had daughter Rosa at The Royal Oldham Hospital.

Louise had hoped for a water birth but, due to reduced fetal movement at 39 weeks, she was admitted to the labour ward at the hospital and given a pessary to start the induction process.

Louise said: "I was very worried about this as I didn't want to distress our baby.

"However after using the hypnobirth techniques that we had been taught by Keri, I was able to birth our baby girl naturally.

"I cannot recommend the hypnobirthing classes at Pennine Acute Trust enough.

"The techniques we learnt made sure that I remained positive, focused and calm throughout the whole birth, despite the situation not being as we had anticipated.

"As I was so calm, this meant that baby was also calm and not at all distressed which meant a quicker and natural birth, with a happy and healthy baby at the end."

New dad Sam added: "As a new and proud father I would recommend hypnobirthing to anyone looking for a calm pregnancy and birth experience.

Relevant

" I think that as a dad, the hypnobirthing technique got me more involved in the labour process and I wasn't there to just be a hand to squeeze - I was important and relevant to the process.

"The midwives who attended the birth commented on how well my wife was doing with her contractions which showed us how well the course had prepared us."