Day One Thousand Two Hundred and Fourteen

The Birth Class

In order to give birth at our birthing center, we are required to attend 5 weeks of Hypnobirthing classes. Okay. When I first learned this truth, I was a bit taken aback. Uh, we don't do that hypnotizing stuff, thank you very much. I was a little worried, but with a bit of research - and after our first class last night - we're on board and excited to learn more. Adam and I agreed that the name Hypnobirthing is maybe not the most accurate description of this birthing technique...because nobody gets hypnotized! Instead, what this method teaches is that birth is a natural process that women were created to do and therefore not something to fear. When fear is present during labor, it creates a fight-or-flight mechanism, which causes stress to the body (resulting in a surge of stress hormones), ultimately delaying labor and making it more painful. Hypnobirthing teaches both partners how to completely relax the mind and body throughout the process of labor using breathing and concentration techniques. This increases endorphins and oxytocin while lowering catecholamines (stress hormones), creating a birthing environment that is less painful, less stressful, and less fearful. 

As we learn more and more about God's beautiful design of birth and life and what he created our bodies to do, we're more and more excited about the day we get to experience this incredible event. I used to be afraid of labor and birth - and though I'm not naive to the fact that something could go wrong - I don't have those same fears anymore. And I'm not worried that something might go wrong anyways, because it does absolutely nothing for us - any of us. I'm instead excited for what will go right!