Hypnobirthing in Beijing

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The first time I heard someone say the word “hypnobirthing” my reaction was a very sophisticated “What?!” I’m embarrassed to admit the mental picture I got was a pair of cartoon spinning eyes behind a swinging pocket watch. My inner skeptic kicked into high gear as I began researching what I assumed was another celebrity-fueled pseudoscience fad.

Sure enough one of the first things I found when I searched the term was that celebrities like Gisele, Angelina Jolie, and Jessica Alba have all supposedly used the technique. 

But it goes back significantly farther and there is some solid science behind the philosophy. In 1944 a British obstetrician named Grantly Dick-Read, M.D published Childbirth Without Fear. This book posited that hypnosis could help women break through the flight or fight response and make labor, if not pain-free, at least a more natural and less traumatic experience. From there a series of other medical professionals, psychologists, and birthing coaches developed techniques meant to help laboring mothers’ self-hypnotize. These techniques have been given the umbrella term “hypnobirthing.”

The technique is gaining popularity with expat moms from Budapest to Berlin and of course, Beijing, who often experience increased anxiety around labor in a strange country and lack the traditional support that nearby family offers.

I met an expectant mom and fellow expat educator, Rebekah Lorraine, who has been self-teaching these techniques in preparation for her first human child in November (she already has a fur baby!). Lorraine tells me, “I first heard about hypnobirthing while watching videos online about how to not be afraid of childbirth. I am a naturally anxious person and the concept of childbirth was terrifying to me… I wanted to feel more confident going into the birth so I began researching how to have stress-free labor.”

The Lorraine family

Many hypnobirthing skeptics point out that the Lamaze and Bradley methods already exist, and that the new hypnobirthing trend is just that – a trend. But Lorraine disagrees. “I think it is very similar to Bradley as they both focus on how birth is natural and using breathing…Hypnobirthing encourages you to do things that will help with the release of oxytocin which helps labor progress while also making you feel good. I don’t think it matters so much what you call the idea, but the concept of having a natural, instinctive birth that’s not painful is really starting to take hold and hopefully more hospitals embrace the idea.”

Lorraine plans to give birth at Shunyi Maternity Hospital and acknowledges that communicating her nontraditional birth plan has been challenging. “I typed out my birth plan and am having it translated to bring with me. I’ll bring several copies with me.” If all goes according to plan, the hospital will have a private birthing room where Lorraine can dim the lights and play music to help with her relaxation. However, if they are all full and she needs to be in a public room, not only will certain aspects of the technique not be possible but her husband won’t be allowed in the room. “Our plan is to labor as long as possible at home and then head to the hospital. If I have to give birth in a public room, I will bring an eye mask to keep the light out and headphones to help me listen to gentle music and block out the sounds from other women in labor.”

Even if the situation is not perfect, Lorraine says the techniques she is practicing have already had benefits. As a self-described nervous type-A individual, she has been struggling with high blood pressure during her pregnancy. “My blood pressure was getting very high because of my anxiety and since I started practicing relaxation and hypnobirthing techniques, I haven’t needed to take the blood pressure medication.”

For other Beijing mommies-to-be who are interested in these techniques, Lorraine suggests the book Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie F. Mongan and the resources at The Positive Birth Company (www.thepositivebirthcompany.co.uk/)
and Bridget Teyler’s YouTube channel.

Images: Rebekah Lorraine, Unsplash

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