Last night the hubby and I snuck out of hypnobirthing class like a pair of cons making a break from Alcatraz.
It was at 9:45pm. We were only halfway through class. We were exhausted. And when we explained as much to our instructor we got a barely concealed sneer of contempt.
Her flaring nostrils basically said: You Are Bad Parents.
We had high hopes for hypnobirthing when we signed up. I imagined calm weekly meditation sessions, similar to the mindfulness meditation course I took last winter. Lots of breathing. Maybe a babbling brook or two.
Instead, we've been subjected to weekly propaganda sessions held in a cramped yoga studio that stinks of unwashed feet. Hour after hour has been spent letting us know how the medical profession has every intention of wrenching our baby from our arms and stabbing it with needles as soon as it's forcepped out into the world.
We've been told 'stats' on the evils of epidurals and Pitocin. Eye drops? The doctor might as well drop his pants and piss in your kid's eye. And nurses? Hysterical, uninformed, and condescending.
The instruction has been fear-mongering at best. In fact, last night, I realized that I had never had any anxiety towards labour until I started going to these classes.
After painstakingly going through every detail of a three-page birthing plan that we are supposed to present to our health care providers, I finally asked: Does any of this apply to couples who are using a midwife?
The short answer: no. Turns out that 4 weeks spent belabouring the evils of the medical approach to childbirth were pointless since they have no real application to how my own labour will be.
And, in fact, some of the concerns expressed about the medical approach were irrelevant to Canada (we no longer have nurseries for newborns, for instance).
Despite all the emphasis on parents being advocates for their own choices during labour, it seems our hypnobirthing instructor has lost sight of respecting her own students' choices.
Already the hubby and I are considering skipping our last class. I mean, I've been staring at her illustration of a uterus for 4 weeks. I get it. It looks like a whoopee cushion.
Frankly, I've had enough of the hot air.
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hypnobirthing: Look Into My Eyes
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7 comments:
As a Certified HypnoBirthing practitioner, as a doula, and as a mother, I am truly sorry you're not having a positive experience.
When I teach my classes, I emphasize building a connection with your baby and trusting your instincts, instead of simply giving up and turning all things about your birth over to hospital routine and medical providers.
I do NOT teach fear of doctors, but of finding common ground and striving for agreements. I believe it is possible to pave the way with positive intentions towards caregivers; I practice it,
and encourage my clients to do so, as well.
I can't say I like being called a fascist, but you are entitled to your opinion, and after reading your post, I can understand why you might feel a bit negative. Still, you might consider it being the instructor, not the method.
I wish for you a beautiful birth, and may it be the birth you really want.
I would encourage you to write to the HypnoBirthing Institute (hypnobirthing@hypnobirthing.com), in order that something be done about the instructor you met. As a HypnoBirthing practitioner myself, what you experienced is absolutely not cool. I'm sorry for your experience and I wish you an amazing birth of YOUR choice!
So sorry you had such a bad experience.
As a HypnoBirthing practitioner working in the UK, I have to tell you that what you received does not sound like HypnoBirthing as I know it. HypnoBirthings primary function is to allow the release of fear so that the birth can be experienced in as natural a manner as the mother and circumstances allow.
I would recommend contacting hypnobirthing.com and compaining about your practitioner - and maybe actually checking that she is actually on the list of practitioners.
I hope you go on to have a happy birthing,
Wendy
I am for your experience. I am a HypnoBirthing practitioner and have never done this to any of my families. This is not the way we are tought. I would be very happy to answer any of your questions. If I can help in anyway please contact me. I wish you a very calm, happy loving birthing day! Joyce
birthingjoyously@yahoo.com
Hi, I am a qualified HypnoBirthing Instructor, and HypnoBirthing is not anti-medical. It can be used in any birthing setting and I am sorry you felt you were taught otherwise. Instructors are taught to empower parents to make their own choices surrounding the birth. I have had two wonderful births using the method one in hospital and one at home, and I would be very sad if your bad experinces puts other people of the method. Please read all the beautiful birth stories on the HypnoBirthing web site. I hope you have a great birth regardless of your experience. Stina (Australia)
I am so sorry that your hypnobirthing class was so horriable! Im amazed you lasted as long as you did! I have to tell ya...dont judge HB on this educators classes! It is CLEARLY stated that we are to leave all that fear based teaching alone...yes we will share how and why a womens needs to know her rights but it sounds like maybe the educator has her own agenda.
Wishing you the best birth
Brandy @ BanishtheBadMoodMama.com
Thanks, everyone, for taking the time to leave your very encouraging comments.
I've actually written a follow-up post after your responses made me realize that I'd neglected to mention my support for the principles of HypnoBirthing.
And I apologize if I insulted anyone who practices or teaches HypnoBirthing--I really do think it's a great approach and I look forward to experiencing it firsthand in a few weeks!
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