Holistic Hypnobirthing: Mindful Practices for a Positive Pregnancy and Birth

by D.K. Publishing

Discover a modern holistic hypnobirthing book for every woman and every type of birth.

This beautifully illustrated, practical guide to hypnobirthing provides you with the skills and tools to make any birth feel safe, calm, connected, and empowering - however you choose to bring your babies into the world.

Whether you’re trying to get pregnant, just found out you’re pregnant, or well into your third trimester, this birthing book completely demystifies hypnobirthing, making it accessible and relevant for any mom-to-be. Anthonissa Moger (The Hypnobirthing Midwife) reveals the key things that will make the biggest, most positive difference to you and your baby as you navigate these life-changing months.

This step-by-step guide enables you to embark on the benefits of hypnobirthing and create a safe space for you and your baby to return to time and again. Learn how to integrate body and mind throughout your pregnancy and birth with techniques such as deep relaxation, meditation, visualization, and breathwork exercises.

Achieve the Birth You Want - For You and Your Baby

Whether you’re having a natural birth or assisted birth, this mindful pregnancy book will help every woman take control of their labor for a calm, connected, and positive birth. It’s the perfect gift for expecting moms who are looking for advice and techniques for a stress-free pregnancy.

Genres: Nonfiction, Parenting

160 pages, Hardcover

Published February 16, 2021

About the author

Dorling Kindersley (DK) is a British multinational publishing company specializing in illustrated reference books for adults and children in 62 languages. It is part of Penguin Random House, a consumer publishing company jointly owned by Bertelsmann SE & Co. KGaA and Pearson PLC. Bertelsmann owns 53% of the company and Pearson owns 47%.

Established in 1974, DK publishes a range of titles in genres including travel (including Eyewitness Travel Guides), arts and crafts, business, history, cooking, gaming, gardening, health and fitness, natural history, parenting, science and reference. They also publish books for children, toddlers and babies, covering such topics as history, the human body, animals and activities, as well as licensed properties such as LEGO, Disney and DeLiSo, licensor of the toy Sophie la Girafe. DK has offices in New York, London, Munich, New Delhi, Toronto and Melbourne.

Source: Wikipedia.

Reviews

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an informative book! This book covers all three trimesters, as well as postpartum period, with positive mantras, essential oil blends, stretches, massages, and other natural methods of easing various aches and pains. The design and layout of the book is beautiful and very easy to read. It is also pretty concise and easy to cover the information quickly. I really loved that there are pictures to show massages and exercises for those of us who are visual learners. It has everything you need to help make for a more positive birthing experience!

[Valleri · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book for first time moms, pregnant people who are looking into a less painful way to birth their babies, anyone seeking a vaginal birth after cesarean (VBAC) or their partners. This is a quick read so even if you get your hands on it in the third trimester, it will help tremendously in the ways of daily, gentle strengthening exercises to prepare your body for birth, breathing exercises, and visualization techniques to assist during labor. I cannot recommend this book enough!

[Gracie]

Gracie

Holistic Hypnobirthing presents a holistic approach to pregnancy and birth that empowers expectant parents to cultivate a sense of calm, confidence, and empowerment as they navigate the journey of bringing new life into the world. Reading it made me more eager to learn further about being a birth keeper and after completing the reading I decide to take an even deeper dive into a lot of topics she covers. I took many notes throughout reading this book and it encouraged me to look into programs that could help me gain credentials. Every question I had before reading this book was answered within the first half. I made notes about all the home cures that Moger suggests, as well as pregnancy-safe stretches. What sets this book apart is its emphasis on the holistic nature of childbirth, recognizing that physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being are intricately interconnected

Reading this book changed the way I view my NGA because I am now considering taking a postpartum Douala course whereas before reading this book I was very sure that wasn't something I wanted to pick up. She talks about the importance of rest and having someone there to support you from beginning to end and I don't want any mom to feel alone during the postpartum phase. As a mom who had a pretty harsh recovery, I can't imagine if I didn't have my mom and dad there to support me. I couldn't even walk without being assisted, imagine being a single mom who can't afford to stay at the hospital but you need the support. Having an in-home Douala for a few hours a day is a lot more affordable for someone in a tight financial situation.

I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the same industry as me because I feel like it can open your eyes to the true potential of your body. I also firmly believe that a lot of doctors could benefit from reading this book because oftentimes at the hospital they are pushing for what is "normal" and traditional but everyone's body is different and the mothers birth plan should be based on their body specifically. No one knows your body like you do and birth is one of the most important times to listen to your body

At the heart of "Holistic Hypnobirthing" lies the philosophy that birth is a natural and instinctive process, and that by tapping into the innate wisdom of the body and mind, expectant mothers can achieve a positive and empowering birth experience. Through the practice of hypnosis techniques, visualization exercises, and mindfulness practices, readers are guided on a journey of self-discovery and empowerment, learning to release fear, tension, and anxiety, and embrace the birthing process with trust, surrender, and joy.

One of the most striking aspects of this book is its emphasis on the power of the mind in influencing the birthing process. Through the practice of hypnosis techniques, readers are introduced to a transformative approach that enables them to harness their innate abilities to manage pain, reduce anxiety, and foster a deep connection with their bodies and their babies. By demystifying childbirth and reframing it as a natural, instinctive process, the author empowers women to trust in their bodies and embrace the birthing experience with positivity and resilience.

"Holistic Hypnobirthing" frequently brings up and answers the question, "How can I use deep relaxation, meditation, visualization, and breath work exercises to integrate body and mind throughout pregnancy and birth?". She goes beyond the individual experience of childbirth to explore the profound impact of a supportive environment and compassionate care on the birthing process. The book provides invaluable insights for partners, doulas, and healthcare professionals, encouraging them to cultivate an atmosphere of trust, respect, and empathy that honors the birthing person's autonomy and preferences. She offers multiple exercises that may help you prepare for the birth of your baby. Many include partner exercises and encourage you to practice them with your birth partner to create a connection between the two of you and the baby. From relaxation techniques and visualization exercises to birth affirmations and birth planning tools, the author equips readers with a toolkit of resources to navigate every stage of the birthing process with grace and confidence.

She also recommends natural remedies for healing, a common remedy is essential oils. You can use oils for different symptoms you may acquire over pregnancy. Sweet orange, Bergamont, Neroli, Black pepper, cypress, frankincense, Clary sage, rose and jasmine are a few of the oils she talks about throughout the book. All of these help with a variety of things like circulation, relieving aches, congestion, anxiety, mood, nerves, and blood flow to the womb and pelvis. A few other oils she mentions could be very helpful in a case where someone has a home birth and they don't have the tools a hospital typically would. For example, Clary sage can help expel a retained placenta after birth.

I gained a wider understanding of the stages of labor and how I could best support someone during each phase. As a Doula or birthkeeper, it is your job to identify what the mother could need and help support her to the best of your abilities. Knowing when a mother reaches the different phases of labor is important especially if you don't plan on performing cervical checks. Holistic Hypnobirthing goes over each stage in detail.

Stage 1 is early labor and active labor, Stage 2 is delivery of the baby, and Stage 3 is delivery of the placenta. You can identify when a mother is in the first stage because she is having regular contractions and they end with a full cervical dilation. Contractions help the pelvis and cervix to open and make way for the baby. She also mentions that upright positions may help move dilation along. Stage 2 is when the cervix is fully dilated, sometimes the head of the baby may have dropped and may be visible or what is called crowing. She goes on to recommend delaying cord clamping after the birth of your baby because it will increase their hemoglobin levels. Stage 3 is usually less than 15 seconds. This is the delivery of the placenta, You may still experience contractions during this time.

In conclusion, "Holistic Hypnobirthing" is a must-read for anyone seeking a holistic approach to childbirth that honors the mind, body, and spirit. Whether you are an expectant parent, a birth professional, or simply curious about the power of hypnosis in childbirth, this book offers a wealth of knowledge, inspiration, and guidance that will forever transform the way you perceive and experience birth. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone embarking on the miraculous journey of pregnancy and childbirth.

[Giulia · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic overview of pregnancy and birth with a focus on hypnobirthing techniques including mindfulness and breathing exercises. The book's strengths are that it is easily digestible, being light on text and illustrated with beautiful, and practical illustrations. However given this, the information contained within the book is very surface level and shouldn't be the only pregnancy and birthing book someone should be reading.

[Morgan Lindey · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is so good at breaking things down to make it digestible. All of the practices are easy to follow and feel very empowering. It also uses very encouraging terminology and accepting terminology. Idk if I should have reviewed this after birth but I really enjoyed it and it helped set up some practices for my experience.

[Lisac · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great refresher or accompaniment to practice with audio tracks. I'm a fan of her videos teaching breathing techniques, you can find them on YouTube. I've tried hypnobirth courses that rely primarily on visualization but for me the breathing was the most helpful part.

[Johanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this. Lots of useful tips, nice layout in the hardback copy, and explains some of the science behind the suggestions. But it's a brief overview and if you want to know more detail behind everything you'll need to do some further reading elsewhere.

[Caitlyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Feel like this is a hard one to rate until these tactics have been tested by fire, but it's got some good ideas for positions, massages, and meditations. Not exactly my cup of tea, a little too... pastel, somehow? Most of the exercises didn't really resonate with me. But still glad I read it.

[Haleigh · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having a background in meditation and mindfulness this book seemed more focused on holistic remedies then actual hypnobirthing. I will use the ideas suggested but felt rather respective and not as fee as I’d hoped.

[Gemma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Easy read, clear pages, lots of exercises to do in preparation for birth - breathing etc. talked through the stages of pregnancy and birth. I feel like I knew most of it from last time but was a good refresher.

[Francesca · Rating 3 out of 5]

I would give the first half of this book 3 stars, and the second half 4 stars.

[Kathryn Khatry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good and concise overview, positive birth messages.

[Janelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

You can get the same information going to a yoga class here they teach mindfulness.

[Khalsa · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is so relaxing I feel like meditating while reading. Even if you already know some of the things mentioned it will put you in a calm state. I read this during my third trimester but I wish I’ve had it at the beginning of my pregnancy.

[Cathy Q de V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Update after giving birth: I used some of the relaxation methods, stretches and essential oils recommended in this book. It wasn't my favorite book on hypnobirthing but it was a quick and easy read which made it perfect as a reference in a pinch. The recommendations in this book are very helpful for anyone seeking a natural birth