It’s not one or the other - hypnobirthing is helpful whether you are planning an epidural or not.

Hypnobirthing + Epidurals

Those two words aren’t usually found in the same sentence especially if you’re using Hypnobabies or the Mongan Method Hypnobirthing but GentleBirth isn’t your usual hypnobirthing program.  The GentleBirth app includes two beautifully crafted hypnosis sessions specifically for use while you’re getting your epidural and to help you rest and connect with your baby after your epidural (it can really help calm down those epidural shakes too). Plus with everything going on these days spending some time reducing stress and sleeping better has benefits both for you and your baby.

I’ve written extensively about epidurals in the past – what a great tool they can be and how to minimize some of the known potential trade offs that come it.  Our approach to epidurals is that they are one of many tools in your toolkit.  But not all hypnobirthing programs see it that way.

Our motto is is - use what you need when you need it.  End of. 

GentleBirth is a shame free – judgment free zone and is one of the many reasons parents prefer our approach to some of the other more rigid programs that place limitations on their definition of a hypnobirth or even a positive birth (it must be unmedicated/natural).   

Yesterday I shared an image of a woman with an epidural on Instagram from an incredibly talented birth photographer.   The text that went along with the image included described how an epidural is placed and how a doula’s support reduces the need for epidurals. The text was from a doula that was factual and unbiased (sometimes that’s tricky to do when a birth professional has strong feelings about the use of epidurals). The image triggered some interesting discussions that led to today’s blog.

More and more women feel compelled to justify their reasons for having an epidural which should never be the case.

Then this response - that there is an assumption that epidurals are ‘wrong’?

These aren’t unusual comments but it again reminded me of how hard we are on ourselves and how much weight we give to the perceived opinions of others. It’s something new moms wrestle with a lot as they navigate parenthood. A big part of our approach is mindfulness training - (very different to hypnosis) to help you build emotional resilience for birth and parenting while helping you see how tricky our minds can be.

A mom messaged me privately last night telling me that she skipped her hypnobirthing class reunion in January because she was worried that she was the only one who wasn’t able to have a ‘hypnobirth’ (defined as a completely unmedicated spontaneous labor and birth).   She had an epidural after 17 hours of a very challenging labor and although she progressed well after getting the epidural she felt ashamed that she wasn’t ‘tough enough’ to go without.  A few weeks later she met a mom from her class in the supermarket and they got chatting.  The other mom had skipped the reunion too – for exactly the same reasons as the first mom. Their teacher had painted a very dark picture of epidurals - but thankfully this mom had an epidural that worked well and helped her get over the finish line.   Yes I know what you’re thinking – maybe it was just their own stuff that made them feel this way but these aren’t isolated incidences.   

Even educators currently training to teach GentleBirth have heard similar stories of expectant parents who attended ‘traditional’ hypnobirthing classes swearing each other to silence about their epidurals saying “Don’t tell X I got the epidural…….”

So let’s be clear - we won’t be steer you one way or another, our goal is to help you have a positive birth - as YOU define it.

Use what you need when you need it.  End of. 

Take the GentleBirth App for a spin there’s plenty of reasons why it’s the most advanced hypnobirthing app available today. (there’s a 7 day free trial) - listen to the epidural imagery and see how reassuring and calming it is (if it doesn’t send you off into a blissful nap first).

Tracy