HypnoBirthing in Spokane
By Tine Reese
July 9, 2009
I met up with our local HypnoBirthing educators this morning to talk about the work they do and find out what inspired them to teach expectant couples. Wendy Connolly of Spokane HypnoBirthing located on the South Hill and Mary Long of Inland HypnoBirthing located in Green Acres, just east of Spokane Valley, are both delightful women and we had a great time sharing our own personal birth stories with each other.
Mary and Wendy acknowledged that HypnoBirthing is initially perceived by some as a hippie-weirdo practice that brings to mind swinging pendulums and comatose patients. In actuality, HypnoBirthing is a method of self hypnosis that enables a woman to block her body’s pain perception and ease anxiety during natural childbirth. This is achieved by maintaining a state of deep relaxation during labor and birth, made possible by practicing breathing and visualization techniques during pregnancy in preparation for the big day. The word “self” is key here, as no one besides the laboring mom can make this happen—it’s not magic.
Wendy talked about how first-time moms can greatly benefit from the combination of HypnoBirthing training and having a doula in attendance at their birth. She also stressed the importance of feeling uninhibited when it comes to making lots of noise during labor and has her students practice birth breathing and vocalization. I can say, from first-hand experience, that it helps to “moo” like a cow and “roar” like a lion!
Many of the husbands who take HypnoBirthing classes with their wives claim that they use the deep relaxation techniques in their everyday lives. From easing pain during workouts to using meditation as a daily stress-relieving practice, it’s not just a benefit to the women giving birth, but to the whole family.
Mary has been working in the field of hypnosis for over a decade, focusing on the issues of weight loss, smoking cessation, pain management and stress reduction. In 2006 she became interested in working with pregnant women and completed HypnoBirthing instructor certification as well as doula training. She is passionate about working with expectant families. Her gentle nature and calming presence must be a great comfort and encouragement to the couples she teaches.
When Wendy successfully used self-hypnosis techniques during the unmedicated birth of her first child six years ago, she knew right away that she would become a HypnoBirthing practitioner, helping other women achieve their goal for a calm, peaceful, loving birth. She has had a hospital and a home birth herself, so she can speak to both experiences which is an added value to the couples she teaches. Wendy is a lively speaker and a good storyteller—I can imagine that her classes are filled with lots of learning and laughter.
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