The Hypnobirthing Book

by Katharine Graves

The Hypnobirthing Book is a complete antenatal preparation which guides you to achieve the birth you want.Childbirth can be an empowering and positive experience that you treasure for the rest of your life. Hypnobirthing teaches simple and gentle techniques that have a profound effect.By practising these techniques during pregnancy, you can release fear and anxiety, and build confidence in yourself and your body's ability to give birth naturally. Feeling calm and confident during labour helps your body to work efficiently, releasing endorphins, your body's natural anaesthetic.Hypnobirthing can reduce the need for pain relief and shorten labour, and you are more likely to experience a natural, calm, comfortable birth. It actively involves the father; you will both learn skills to instill confidence about the birth and your role as parents.KATHARINE GRAVES has personally taught over 1,000 mothers and her methods are taught internationally. She is a qualified advanced hypnotherapist and a qualified doula, having trained with Michel Odent, the internationally renowned obstretician. Katharine is a member of the International Advisory Board of the HypnoFertility Foundation of America, the Maternity and Newborn Forum of the Royal Society of Medicine, the Association for the Improvement of Maternity Services, and an associate member of the Royal College of Midwives. She has four grown-up children and five grandchildren."This book lays out an approach to childbirth designed to give a calm, confident and joyful delivery. I strongly recommend it as offering a practical approach using proven techniques." DR ZHIDAO XIA, School of Medicine, Swansea University"Katharine's personal qualities - unfailing positivity, humour, the deepest respect for birth and women, their partners and babies, and a deep faith in the natural birth process - shine out of the pages of this splendid book." LIZ NIGHTINGALE, Independent Midwife

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

Paperback

First published January 25, 2012

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 1 out of 5]

I got interested in hypnobirthing as a method for pain-free delivery. Katharine Graves has marketed herself as one of the most eminent proponents and experts on hypnobirthing (in the UK) so I bought her book.

There is some useful advice (if very short) in the book on breathing and relaxation and I would have liked more on that. Also there is a lot about making the birthing experience your own which can be quite empowering. Surprisingly however there is very little on hypnobirthing itself. Instead what you get is an endless tirade against the NHS/gynaecologists and a constant repitition of her nature-knows best dogma. Especially the latter is "corroborated" with examples from nature and supposed proofs of why we as humans should be doing the same as the beasts of the forest. One of my favourites was the statement that we as humans are the only species that goes into hospital for childbirth... um, yes, cows haven't built any hospitals so I guess they couldn't go to the hospital even if they wanted to, doh.

While it is certainly true that birthing in some countries has become over-medicalised (e.g. number of planned C-sections) to conclude the exact opposite must then be the best option is equally simplistic. Talking about simplistic, scientific studies and standards are cited at will in this book when they agree with the author's opinions and ignored or called into question when they don't. Obviously, absolutely no critical opinions about hypnobirthing are included in the book.

Overall this has been a load of gibberish and I wouldn't recommend this book to anybody. This is not to say that hypnobirthing itself has no use. Instead I would focus on hypnobirthing visualizations (maybe get a CD with the visualisation) and breathing techniques and maybe go to a class.

[Lys · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is a good introduction to hypnobirthing and the principles of relaxation and calming preparation for birth. Although the author tries to advocate choice in all things, a few biases are apparent in terms of anti-induction, anti-intervention and even anti-vitamin k injection which all counter the whole idea of personal choice and calm acceptance of all personal decisions. There is also some alarming speculation including either non evidence based, out of date or even dangerously misleading presentation of opinion or case studies as fact. One of the potentially stress-inducing sentences begins with only 'I have recently been told...' which is not a very responsible way to collect evidence based information to share with mothers to be. So I couldn't give this book anymore than 3 stars despite my appreciation of the valid points and the usefulness of the relaxation exercises. I still fully intend to hypnobirth and am greatful for the techniques in this book which my partner and I will continue to practice but I am just disappointed with the sometimes fear-mongering tone about the efforts of the medical profession.

[Julija Baranovska · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great hypnobirthing book

I am 8,5 months into my pregnancy and i found this book highly reassuring.
it is hard to say what effect it would make on the actual experience but we would like to keep it positive.
Easy read, full of scripts and sound advice

[Rebecca Druce · Rating 3 out of 5]

Use what works for you, and take the rest with a pinch of salt.

Definitely some useful tips and things I'd like to remember from this book. I'm on board with the concept of hypnobirthing, cultivating the right mindset and all that.

However, I found the author too skeptical of the medical profession for my taste. I suppose that comes with the territory, but the book clearly pushes the all-natural home birth as the ideal scenario. I've got no desire to give birth at home, and while I'd like to have as few interventions as possible, it's also good to know the options are there if you need them, because you never know how things are going to turn out.

[Poppy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I've been reading this book alongside doing the author's online hypnobirthing course. Overall, I have found hypnobirthing very helpful in preparing me and helping me to feel calm about giving birth especially as a nervous first time mum. There is helpful info and relaxation script within this book. However, I did find this book contained bias opinions from the author regarding and use of medical interventions and appears to be anti-intervention etc. Worth reading for the techniques which are helpful.

[Katie Eaton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good quick read

I choose this one because reviews said it packed some of the fluff that the American writer included that you needed to wade through and although I didn't read the other popular hypno birthing book this one was straight to the point and have me exactly what I wanted. Really easy read and finished in less than a week.

[Oliver · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every parent-to-be should read this book

[Julie Rylie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notes:
- "Giving birth can be the most enpowering experience of a life time - an initiation into a new dimension of mind-body awareness" - Ina May Gaskin

- A mother who uses hypnobirthing will often say that giving birth was the most wonderful and empowering experience of her life
- "Pain" is a perfectly good word in normal conversation but in labour it is actively harmful
- One of the most important thing that hypnobirthing fathers do is to make sure their partner feels calm and safe
- Start noticing how often you use the negative , and re-programme yourself to use the positive. It makes a diference, and your life will improve immeasurably
- all the muscles in your body are usually comfortable doing the job they are supposed to do, but the only muscles that are considered painful are the muscles of the uterus, which seems an appallingly bad design fault when you consider that these are the muscles that ensure the continuation of the human race.
- as the upper muscles of the uterus work to draw up, if the muscles of the cervix gently release with each surge, then each surge is more comfortable, more efficient and shorter, there are fewer of them and labour is shorter
- the best environment to give birth is the same environment in which the baby was conceived: low lights, soft music, privacy and no rush.
- the body is designed to produce oxytocin, which makes birth efficient, and endorphins which make birth comfortable, as long as our minds are in a calm, safe and harmonious place.
- There are two types of breathing in hypnobirthing: the up breathing and down breathing
- the up breathing will be used in the first stage of labour.
- it is a long slow breath, in through the nose (natural way of breathing)
and out through the mouth (feeling of release, of letting go, which is what we want to achieve
- Exercise: three or four breaths cause they are the lenght of a surge
- Down breathing is used when the cervix is fully opened, as the baby moves down
- The opening flower visualization
- if your mind is thinking soft and open, your mind is doing soft and open
- Relaxation: if we release the tension in the head and face, the whole body will do the same
- Your partner should touch your abdomen as an aid to relaxation during birth (not to strange the touch of the midwife during labour). Your partner can also touch other parts of your body
- Squatting is a very good position for giving birth because it offers maximum pelvic capacity. It shortens the lenght of the birth canal and helps your baby to move more easily and quickly into the world. It also tilts the uterus and pelvis forward, placing the baby in the perfect alignment for birth, and opens the pelvic floor muscles.
- A mother is often most comfortable giving birth in an upright position, probably leaning slightly forwards, squatting, kneeling, leaning on the kitchen work surface, or standing or standing up with her arms around her partner's neck - so that the weight of the baby in no way inhibits her blood flow or her nervous system
- Pelvic floor exercises are useful for two reasons: you tense the muscles of the pelvic floor, starting at the back passage, moving forwards and right up into the vagina, hold it for a few seconds and then release. The tension is important because it tones muscles, and toned muscles work better
- pelvic floor exercises are not only good for birth but for after birth, improving also your sex life
- perineal massage reduces tearing ( to do after week 35)
- A woman in labour goes into herself and she is not in a place to negotiate with anyone. She enters what midwives call her "birth trance" - an altered state of consciousness created and supported by being undisturbed, quiet and observed as little as possible, so her birth hormones flow freely and well
- Her partner, that also understand the principals of calm and natural birth, is prepared to speak for her clearly, calmly and courageously, can make all the difference between an unhappy and an empowering experience
- A father's level of the hormone prolactin rises just before the birth, leading to prolactin being called "the hormone of paternity", and fathers with a higher level of prolactin are more responsive to the cries of a newborn.
- A mother's instinct is to nurture and a father's instinct is to protect. These roles are not exclusive, but the instinct to protect becomes much heightened in the father during late pregnancy
- Inducing labour more naturally: love making, nipple and clitoral stimulation, laughter, acupressure massage, hypnotherapy, visualizing an open rose bud, walking, taking a bath, raspberry leaf tea
- A sign that birth could be starting soon (directly or a week after) is a "show", the mucus plug is released because the cervix became softer
- After the water breaks labour should start within 24 hours (after 18 hours there is a need to be monitorized)
- In the first stage of birth, besides doing the up breathing you should drink and eat, also gentle back stroking (helps to produce endorphins - nature's pain relief)
- The partner should be the one answering any questions. Your thinking part of the brain should not click into gear because it is the part of the brain that takes you from a confident state to fear response
- In the down part of labour your own body will know when to push
- In its passage through the birth canal, the baby will learn their mother's smell and will recognize it after being born
- Babies that have skin to skin contact after birth tend to feed well
The latest studies show that it is better to wait until the placenta is expelled before cutting the cord because the stem cell count increases drastically
- take collagen supplements to help the belly get back to normal (after breast feeding is over)

Beginning of labour:
- Start to time the surges
- Listen to the colour and calmness CD
- eat snacks, drink to keep the energy up
- watch a funny movie
- go about your life and do daily life activities
- yoga movements for preparation for labour
- practice the up breathing with visualizations during surges
- Call the midwife only when surges are one minute long and three to four minutes apart

Throughout the birth:
- Change to down breathing exercises and visualizations
- Father: protect the mother's space and be her advocate, with gentle prompts, back stroking, shoulder stroking, kisses, play the color and calmness CD for her, provide water and snacks for both. The most important thing is to be there for her
- Use essential oil of lavandel and orange
- Remain calm and confident
- Allow your birthing body to birth your baby
- Birthing and caring for your baby is a natural process of being
- Whatever you do is right
My birth plan:
- Have baby at the birth center
- Use a birthing pool
- Safe and calm place for birth
- Dim lights
- Relaxing music
- Minimum of taking
- Quiet voices
- Careful use of words
- Breathe baby down
- No coaching to push
- Wait to cut the umbilical cord after the placenta has been expelled
- Skin to skin contact directly after birth
- Natural breastfeeding as soon as baby is ready
- Hold my baby undisturbed until the placenta is expelled

- Every parent before their baby is born, thinks they are going to bring them up in a particular way, and then after they are born, they realize the child is already their own person, and your role as a parent is simply to support them in every way you can, and then when you see in which way they want to go, to run along behind, trying to keep up as they develop. The most important thing for your child is your love.

[Alyssa Greenstreet · Rating 2 out of 5]

I agree with some of the other reviewers that found this book a little light on the ‘how’ of Hypnobirthing, and far too heavy on the anti-hospital/obstetrician/medical intervention side.
I am interested in learning how to use Hypnobirthing but I don’t feel like I’ve gained many skills or tools from reading this book. The constant citing of ‘research’ without actually specifying the source, and the tendency towards looking favourably on statistics that backed up an argument, whilst downplaying the same ratios that didn’t support the author’s case, just made me really cynical by about halfway through.
This book seems like it’s written to convince people who are on the fence about Hypnobirthing that it’s the best way forward, but if you want to actually gain some skills (or if you actually engage your critical mind when reading), maybe look elsewhere.

[Alexandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat less accessible than the Hypnobirthing offering from Hollie de Cruz but a really good foundation to the method and less self-promoting than Hollie's book. It is however a little judgey of more medical routes to birth and the author's voice is not exactly 'sotto voce' or soothing (which I thought was important for the hypno-tracks). The audio book is also read by a baritone chap, which could be immersion-breaking when he was talking about giving birth in the first-person (3 1/2 stars)

[Alvaro · Rating 1 out of 5]

Whereas hypnobirthing and meditation may be useful tools to aid the pains of birth, the author fails to describe the evidence for this in a convincing manner. Instead, it advertises a pseudoscientific approach to birth that is not just poorly documented but also chemophobic, technophobic and on the verge of charlatan's talk.
The author also pretends to de-instrumentalize birth, which is probably a well-needed reform and a noble goal. But she just replaces current practices with pseudotherapies, whose effectiveness the reader must simply take the author's word for.
In general, the book describes a nearly dogmatic approach to birth in poor writing and worth shelving.

[Mallvina · Rating 3 out of 5]

I chose this book as the author seems to be one of pioneers of hypnobirthing. And as it was my first pregnancy and I was willing to discover alternative methods for pain-free birth, I stumbled upon this book. Unfortunate, after reading the book I didn’t get a clear idea what is hypnobirthing. I didn’t get much of exercises or advices on it either. Still there were some interesting facts and motivational stories, which give support and encouragement for future moms.

[Kotryna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have read the book as well as purchased the KGH course. The course was too painful to watch to be honest, as I could not related to the author/speaker and it was very very slow. My husband was getting especially impatient.

The book covers a lot of good content and gives you a well rounded understanding of what is happening to your body during the labour, what your rights are, high level overview of interventions, and pain relief options.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book based on hypnobirthing, associated with the KG course that I took. The content makes a lot of sense to me and the scripts and audio content really do work wonders at relaxation and putting a pregnant woman to sleep!

Main reason it is getting four stars is that it could certainly use a bit of an edit and reorganisation - it gets fairly meandering and off-topic at times!

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read recommended by my antenatal yoga teacher. It explains the physiology of labour and diminishes the fear. I found it useful as a mindset but do not recommend the rigid "no intervention" approach, as some labour does need intervention. Overall it sets the right tone but I would use it more creatively.

[Marie · Rating 1 out of 5]

What an utter heap of garbage.

Write the midwife a letter and tell her not to communicate with you in labour or be examined or have any interventions?

Due dates are fictitious?

On the way to the hospital, kneel on the back seat instead of sitting with your seatbelt on.

I feel some of the information in this book was so dangerous, it made my blood run cold.

[Katherine Brookshire · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book tells you that you might confuse your medical team. The midwife that suggested hypnobirthing was very confused when I calmly walked in and was 7 cm dilated already. She expected me to need to go back home from the calm I portrayed. I held my baby three hours later and had a painless, beautiful birth. Thank you, Katharine Graves.

[Laura Mckie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I believe in Hypnobirthing but this book isn't great. I was recommended to read it from the courses you can take on the NHS... Honestly if you want a good book don't read this one. Read the below I reference. It's so much more informative and less bias, more factual info instead of filler.

Instead read -
Hypnobirthing: practical ways to make your birth better by Siobhan Miller

[Caitriona Murphy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Calming.

Whatever way your pregnancy or birth is going/will go, this book certainly will help in allowing you to stay calm and accepting of your situation as right for you and your baby.

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book of how to achieve positive natural birth.
It teaches you techniques to relax and deep breath with positive mindset.
Our body is made for this. Hope it can really be useful when i give birth.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hypnobirthing really should be labelled as informed birthing. Feeling much more prepared and informed.

Some of the meditations I found uncomfortable, but that is also me working through my own pre conceived ideas.

[Alexandra · Rating 1 out of 5]

Not evidence based and quite biased to a particular type of birth. Found a degree of scaremongering too. For a hypno birthing book I found there was information throughout that had nothing to do with hypnobirthing.

[Shiv · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most amazing woman I have never met in my whole life! Will read this over and over

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really interesting view on birth, gives a new perspective about the process. It wasn't all for me but it was informative and helpful and there are definitely things to take away from it.

[Mahmuda Khatun-Newman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book that guides you through pregnancy, allowing you to gain confidence and calmness. It also helps you to feel empowered to make choices and take control of your birth.

[Char · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book ever if you are considering hypnobirthing

[Annie Donette · Rating 2 out of 5]

For me, it was too "anti" anything other than hypnobirthing, leaving no room for flexibility. Could give unrealistic expectations for birth.

[Lia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Used this for preparing for my first birth and it really honestly helped me. I loved the relaxations that accompanied the book too.

[Doram Jacoby · Rating 3 out of 5]

Has some great advice but also a lot of dated pseudoscience

[Jessica Haizman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amazing and well worth the read (or listen) as you prepare for an unmedicated labor!