Re: [ozmidwifery] Is this normal Hypnobirthing Philosophy?

[Mary Murphy]

If HypnoBirthing is deep relaxation and this is one way of doing it, the only thing that I wouldn't agree with is charging the women such outrageous prices.  As a homebirth midwife for the last 20 yrs, I have some clients who have used this method and it was very successful for them.  I was impressed.  I am going to do the practitioners course on June 23rd here in W.A as another tool to help women I care for.  It is drug free and non-interventionist.  Beats I.V drugs and epidurals.. I'll bet the baby isn't born doped up.  I think we have to be careful that we don't dismiss it out of hand just because it doesn't appeal to our particular philosophy of life and birthing, cheers, MM ----- Original Message ----- From: Jo & Dean Bainbridge To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2003 6:02 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] Is this normal Hypnobirthing Philosophy? I know that a gentleman called Leigh Read (the son of Dick Read who wrote "Natural Childbirth" on the fear = pain theory) is going to or already started a birth workshop based on his fathers theory.  He has a very idealistic view that childbirth should not be painful.  He is doing his PHD on the mental wellness of women and the link to those who have had painless birth.  He interviewed me, as I do not deem my last birth to have been painful.  I think what he is getting at is that those who do not fear birth and understand it have a different attitude to birth and therefore do not consider it painful...dam hard work!!  but not painful.    I think that holding (expensive) workshops is only a small (sidewise) step to achieve such a mental state of being when it comes to birthing.  It could be setting women up for a very rude shock as our system certainly does not support this type of opinion.  I think that to reach the state of 'painfree birth' a woman has to go on a pretty in-depth journey, a journey that a class could simply not fulfil.  When we have midwives and doctors actually suggesting to women to have cs to avoid the pain of labour, it shows how negative our society is towards the power and enriching experience that is birth.   Anyway, I hope that I am talking about is actually the class that you enquired about.  I understand that the notion seems quite fanatical (and Leigh is one of the first to admit he has very high ideals!!) but the ideal is perhaps the flip side of the hospital childbirth education class that teaches women to be good patients and when to ask for their life saving epidurals and cs.    CERTAINLY NOT SUGGESTING THAT ANYONE ON THIS LIST WOULD BE CONDUCTING THOSE TYPE OF CLASSES!!!   Unfortunately though they do exist.   If anyone is interested I have Leigh's email contact details... cheers Jo Bainbridge founding member CARES SA www.cares-sa.org.au [EMAIL PROTECTED] phone: 08 8388 6918 birth with trust, faith & love... ----- Original Message ----- From: Julie Clarke To: Ozmidwifery Mailing List Sent: Sunday, June 15, 2003 4:59 PM Subject: [ozmidwifery] Is this normal Hypnobirthing Philosophy? Hi I had a couple in one of my hospital classes, yesterday explain to me that they�d booked in to a hypnobirthing course in the Eastern suburbs which cost them several hundred dollars for 2 days. The main thrust of the philosophy of the MAN conducting the course was (according to them): �Birth is not normally supposed to be painful and it is only painful if the woman is scared�. I expressed surprise and mild concern over the idea, I didn�t want to seem negative especially after all the money they�d spent, but my personal thought was what ridiculous bullshit!!!  It certainly pushed my buttons!!! Has anyone else heard of this philosophy?  Is it accurate of all hypnobirthing courses? I have wondered if this is simply a misinterpretation and /or exaggeration of the credible concept tension-fear-pain cycle. What do you think? Hug Julie     Julie Clarke Childbirth and Parenting Educator Transition into Parenthood 9 Withybrook Pl Sylvania NSW 2224. T. (02) 9544 6441 Mobile 0401 2655 30