Common Hypnobirthing Myths

The most common myths when thinking about hypnobirthing.

Hypnobirthing Myth #1

Hypnobirthing is just for hippies

The title “hypnobirthing” definitely sounds rather hippy woo woo. This is probably the biggest hypnobirthing myth. When I first heard people talking about "hypnobirthing," with my only knowledge of childbirth being the dramatic scenes of film and TV, I thought it sounded crazy. So wait, what? You’re going to just breathe your baby out? What about all the unbearable, unmanageable pain that an epidural can save you from?

Of course, hypnobirthing is so much more than just breathing. It’s a complete mindset shift founded on psychological principles, logic, and reasoning. With full antenatal education, you can demystify birth and understand how your body is beautifully designed to labour and birth your baby naturally. Deep breathing, similar to what you might do in yoga, allows you to remain calm, release tension, and allow the muscles of your body to work optimally. Hypnobirthing gives you a sense of confidence, empowerment, and joy about birthing your baby. Definitely not just for hippies.

Hypnobirthing Myth #2

Hypnobirthing is just a bunch of breathing techniques

While the breathing techniques of hypnobirthing are powerful, and a huge part of it, there is so much more

to hypnobirthing than this. The history of childbirth is steeped in patriarchal control, scaremongering, and profit making. We have been groomed to fear childbirth from a young age and this fear propels many people to accept medicalised childbirth unwaveringly. Hypnobirthing involves a deep mindset shift and a relearning; birth is safe for most people, a natural event, and a joyous occasion. You will feel intuitive, empowered, and strong, starting your life as a mother with confidence.

Hypnobirthing Myth #3

Hypnobirthing is just for uncomplicated, vaginal births

You may have seen some beautiful Instagram birth scenes of twinkly fairy lights, a birth pool set up in the living room, and a baby arriving in perfect harmony. Of course, it is great to watch these videos and believe birth CAN be like this. However, birth is unpredictable and an unexpected left turn may occur. Additionally, for whatever reason, you may decide to have an induction or a caesarean section. The brilliant thing about hypnobirthing is that you will have an assortment of tools to keep you calm and relaxed in varying circumstances. You will be knowledgeable about different interventions and feel confident in asking questions and making logical decisions. Hypnobirthing does not mean you have a perfect plan but instead have a calm confidence to move flexibly through your birth process and accept the things you cannot control.

Hypnobirthing Myth #4

Hypnobirthing is just for home birth

Hypnobirthing can be useful in all types of births and in all types of settings. You may assume that hospital is the safest place to give birth (it’s not by the way) and that home birth is dangerous (also not true). Home birth is a great option for people that believe they will truly feel more comfortable at home and they feel confident in that decision. Some people will feel more comfortable in an obstetric ward and others in a midwife led birth centre. On my hypnobirthing course you will be encouraged to look at all your options logically and decide what is right for you.

Hypnobirthing Myth #5

Hypnobirthing is useless for a c-section

A caesarean section is major abdominal surgery. It occurs in an operating theatre with a team of medical specialists. For most people, undergoing major surgery, and being in such a medicalised environment, is unfamiliar territory, and can be extremely frightening. Fear is exactly the sort of thing hypnobirthing helps you with!

If you are hypnobirthing, you can access a specific relaxation track for c-sections, before you enter the operating theatre. You can also become knowledgeable in what to ask for to have a “gentle caesarean” and still feel like you are having a beautiful, calm, birth experience. Ultimately, the goal of hypnobirthing is to help you feel calm, confident and comfortable. Feeling this way will support you bonding with your baby and establishing breastfeeding. Feeling calm, confident, and connected with your partner, during pregnancy, also has benefits for you and your baby.

Hypnobirthing Myth #6

Hypnobirthing advises you to turn down medical interventions

While hypnobirthing celebrates and protects natural physiological childbirth, this is not at all costs. We need to maintain a respect for the unknowns of the childbirth process and where interventions can be life-saving. The problem physiological birth advocates often have, with the medicalisation of childbirth, is where a mother is denied informed consent and where coercion and psychological manipulation take place to ensure “consent” is given. Women who undertake my hypnobirthing course will know how to ask questions and balance up risks and benefits to make their own decisions about what “risk” means to them. This is informed consent.

Hypnobirthing Myth #7

You can cover hypnobirthing in a general antenatal course.

Some antenatal courses will advertise that they include hypnobirthing but this may be no more than a one hour slot in their course. Hypnobirthing can not be taught in an hour. It involves extensive antenatal education, a mindset shift, practice, and preparation.