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By David
Rogers, For some expectant women, the idea of going through hours of childbirth without pain relief medication may be frightening. It is the fear of the unknown, however, that can make childbirth an unpleasant experience, according to hypnotist Dale Dougherty. This month, the Royal Palm Beach resident initiated a hypnobirthing class at St. Mary's Medical Center. The four two-hour classes, taught from 7-9 p.m. on Fridays, are designed to teach mothers-to-be about their bodies, the birthing process and ways to make labor less of a chore and more of a comfortable, natural experience, Dougherty said. Dougherty plans to offer the class every month for women who are five- to eight-months pregnant. First-time mothers can be especially fearful of childbirth. Fear creates physical tension that makes childbirth more painful, Dougherty said. In the class, Dougherty teaches women to accept suggestions for the subconscious mind that can relax the body and numb it to pain. For example, the father-to-be or other designated birthing companion can help the mother-to-be relax by lightly massaging her arm or shoulder, Dougherty said. "The more your companion touches and strokes your arm, the more relaxed you will become. Because we've said that in hypnosis, that's what happens," Dougherty said. The women and their birthing companions practice the techniques at home between classes. Some women choose to forgo pain relief such as an epidural, while others do not, he said. Dougherty took a class in Fort Myers offered by the New Hampshire-based HypnoBirthing Institute to earn teacher certification. The method, developed using obstetrician and natural childbirth pioneer Grantly Dick-Read's 1944 book Childbirth Without Fear, has gotten more attention in recent years following media coverage. Dougherty reviews numerous issues with expectant women, including their notions about childbirth, their professional desires after birth and the likely changes a child's presence will have on their relationship with their husband or companion. It is best for a woman to communicate well before the child's birth her desire to work, or not work, outside the home, Dougherty said. He also tells clients to avoid providing friends and acquaintances with an exact due date. A barrage of questions before, on and after that date puts stress on the mother-to-be, Dougherty said. "Take away the negative expectations, and you have a relaxed mother. The more prepared they are going into the birthing process, the more relaxed the birthing process will be," Dougherty said. When the hypnobirthing method is used, the birth takes place in a quiet room with low lighting. Nurses are present, but intervene only as needed, Dougherty said. The birthing companion acts as a liaison with staff so the mother-to-be interacts with fewer people. Rather than teaching women to bear down intently once the cervix dilates to 10 centimeters, hypnobirthing teaches them to wait until the baby's head reaches the end of the birth canal. "You don't need to push before that. If you wait 10, 30 minutes, the baby's going to come down the canal on its own," Dougherty said. Because women associate contractions with pain, they are taught, through hypnosis, to think of them as surges. The emphasis is not on pressing down during surges, but, rather, letting them happen naturally, he said. "The mother is refreshed, relaxed; she is not straining. Why should she be?" Dougherty said. Class coordinator Dedie Butterly said the environment during a hypnobirth is "unbelievable." Nurses have told her the atmosphere is relaxing for the mother-to-be.
SOURCE: Palm Beach Daily News More headlines at www.mindpowernews.com
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