Why Consider A Natural Birth?
I often think back to my first prenatal yoga classes when the teacher, who was also a doula (something I’d never heard of at the time), introduced the idea of natural birth. I guess I had always assumed that I would have my baby in the hospital, most likely under the spell of an epidural or other drugs that would make the experience entirely bearable. In fact, I don’t think anyone I personally knew had had a baby any other way, unless by accident. The only pregnancy book on my shelf at the time was “The Girlfriend’s Guide to Pregnancy” which, as funny as it is, would have me believe that one might die if she actually felt a single contraction or was made to “room-in” with her baby during the remainder of her hospital stay. Thank heavens for my prenatal yoga instructors! [...]
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Goodbye Wendy Connolly. We’ll Miss You!
I am sad to tell you that Spokane is losing one of our two HypnoBirthing educators to the lucky city of Portland. But before she leaves, Wendy Connolly of Spokane HypnoBirthing will be teaching one final series of classes beginning April 13th. She has a few open spots, so if you’re interested I suggest you contact her right away. Even if you are early in your pregnancy, this is the perfect time to take the class. [...]
Holiday Fair at Lavender & Sage
The Lavender & Sage Wellness Center, located on the South Hill, is having a holiday fair this Sunday. Two of the wellness practitioners we have listed here on Bloom work out of the Center and will be offering information about their services. Rebekah Giangreco of New Moon Family Acupuncture and Wendy Connolly of Spokane Hypnobirthing, along with others, will be speaking about and offering sessions in:
- Massage Therapy
- Acutonics Sound Healing
- Reflexology
- HypnoBirthing
HypnoBirthing in Spokane
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 eachother.
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. [...]
