Kate Middleton, Jessica Alba, Jade Jagger and many other celebrities are followers of this natural birthing technique: hypnobirthing, also known as the "Mongan method". His goal ? Reduce the fear, anxiety and stress experienced by expectant mothers who are about to give birth to their child. All pregnant women can take and use hypnobirthing classes, especially those who want a less medicalized birth or one more involving the future dad.
What is hypnobirthing or the Mongan method?
Hypnobirthing or the Mongan method is as much a technique as a philosophy. Its concept was described and proposed by doctor Grantly Dick-Read, an English obstetrician, in his work dating from 1920. The idea was then taken up by the hypnotherapist Marie Mongan in 1989, who developed this natural birth method .
The principle of this technique is to prepare the body and the mind for a smooth birth. The method teaches expectant mothers that in the absence of apprehension, fear and tension, childbirth will take place without suffering. Calm and serenity would allow the body to secrete oxytocin, the hormone that causes contractions of the uterus during labor. To be in such conditions, the future mother must free herself from her fears, imagine positive scenarios and be convinced that childbirth is a life experience and that it will not be painful.
The Mongan method is an additional benefit. It therefore does not replace the services of health professionals, such as midwives or gynecologists-obstetricians. On the other hand, hypno-birth can make it easier for them during childbirth. Another point: it does not also replace medical advice. In the event of a problem, pregnant women should therefore consult their doctor because the specialist in hypnobirthing will never give them a medical prescription.
How is hypnobirthing practiced?
To be able to give birth in peace and serenity, it is necessary to have at least three months of practice. It is therefore advisable to start taking hypnobirthing courses between the 4th and 6th month of pregnancy. The goal of this method is to be able to create a bubble of well-being around you in order to manage to remain relaxed and serene on the day of birth.
The Mongan method focuses on a series of self-hypnosis courses, taught by a specialized practitioner, but also on breathing, relaxation and visualization exercises. To be completely Zen on D-Day, it is not enough to attend only the hypnobirthing sessions. Self-hypnosis and exercise should be practiced daily at home alone or with your partner to deepen your ability to relax. This will allow the expectant mother to control the pain during labor.
In hypnobirthing, vocabulary is very important. The words used must always be positive. Contractions are "waves". The pain is called "intensity". We are talking about an unborn baby, not a fetus. And "pushing" turns into "breathing by being born".
Hypnobirthing: how does the pregnant woman feel in self-hypnosis?
When a woman is in self-hypnosis, she can speak, hear and move. The goal of self-hypnosis is for her to connect with her baby to be calm and calm. Although she is aware of everything around her, she can cut herself off from this environment at any time to focus on her child. This state of focus would allow him to relax and promote the production of endorphins, a pain-relieving hormone. Result: the feeling of suffering is reduced and the physiological mechanisms of childbirth are facilitated.
Mongan method: what role does the father play during the hypno-birth?
Hypno-birth gives the future dad the opportunity to play an essential role during pregnancy and childbirth. He can help his partner to condition his unconscious to a soft birth, relieve her with massages, touches and caresses on certain areas and reassure her with certain words. Because yes, in hypno-birth everything that generates a pleasant feeling counts: voice, touch, tone…
Can hypnobirth be practiced during a cesarean delivery?
The goal of hypnobirthing is to connect with your baby to achieve serenity and a certain state of relaxation. This method, which teaches women to reclaim birth, can be applied during a vaginal delivery as well as during a cesarean or epidural birth.
Read also :
⋙ Bonapace method: a pain-relieving technique for giving birth without stress
⋙ Haptonomy: all about this method of preparation for childbirth
⋙ Childbirth: what are the medical methods used to induce labor?