Reducing Fear, Reducing Stress
Childbirth Hypnosis Training (CHT) is a safe, natural childbirth preparation method that promotes stress reduction during childbirth by decreasing the birth mother’s fears, anxieties, tensions and panic before, and during the birth.

This valuable reduction in fear and tension produces a variety of positive physical and psychological benefits, and can have several highly beneficial consequences during pregnancy, labor, birth and postnatal recovery. These include:

	Less stressful pregnancy
	Reduced length of labor
	Reduced pain and/or need for painkillers
	Reduced fatigue during labor
	Increased energy and alertness during labor
	Improved recovery time

	Improve Apgar Scores
	Improve Bonding and Attachment
	Increase ability to breastfeed right after the birth

How CHT Works
Childbirth Hypnosis Training (CHT) is provided through a series of five individual  1 ½ to 2 hrs training sessions with the birth mother during the last 4-5 months of her pregnancy. This training can also be structured differently in time frame to accommodate a mom-to-be's urgent need. During these sessions, visualization, guided imagery, NLP and deep relaxation techniques are taught to the birth mother to help her greatly reduce the fear and tension that can contribute to long and painful labors. The objective is to replace the mother's anxieties with confidence and calm, and to produce a shorter, more comfortable labor.

All sessions are conducted by Marie-Paul Baxiu, C.C.H., C.H.I., I.C.E., Birth Coach certified in Neo-natal Resuscitation, who has been a Clinical Certified Hypnotherapist for the last 21 years. She graduated from the Hypnosis Motivation Institute, the first nationally accredited school of hypnosis in the United States. Marie-Paul is affiliated with The Private Midwife Care - California Obstetrics & Gynecology Services, Midwife-Home Birth Services, and with The Sanctuary, where midwives and the childbirth educator recommend her services; she has trained mothers who have given birth in various hospitals and birth centers throughout Southern California.

What to Expect during Labor and Birth
Childbirth Hypnosis Training will not interfere with any medical aspects of the birth itself, or with the medical help you provide. CHT simply trains women to use relaxation and focused breathing techniques to ease contractions and facilitate a more comfortable birth. The hypnotherapist may or may not be present at the birth as labor support, similar to a birth doula.

It is important to be aware that a mother who uses CHT for childbirth may approach labor or birth differently than is “typical” among patients about to give birth. For example, you may notice some of these differences:

	she may be more aware, alert, calm and relaxed, as well as less fearful and “stressed”, than is typical
	she may have more positive expectations about the birth and be more comfortable with allowing the process to unfold at its own pace
	she may be more confident in her ability to give birth and be more trusting of her instincts
	she may express less need for you to “control” or intervene in the process or the timing of the birth
	she may experience less stress with intense contractions and/or significantly shortened labor
	she may look like she is barely in labor: in most cases, she is actually in active labor and her ability to stay calm should not be a sign for you to be alarmed, or offer medication that will make her labor stronger

The best way you can assist a CHT mother is to:

	talk to her frequently about her needs before, and after the birth. It is best not to get her involved with her thinking process while she is in labor
	welcome and encourage her hypnosis training efforts
	join her in approaching labor and birth with a calm and positive attitude
	acknowledge and respect her abilities, instincts and decisions

A Better Birth Experience
Childbirth Hypnosis Training can provide you, the mother and the baby with a more positive, calmer pregnancy and birth. If you have any questions, please contact Marie-Paul Baxiu, C.C.H., C.H.I., I.C.E., Birth Doula Certified in Neo-natal Resuscitation, and YogaCise Pre-Postnatal Instructor at (phone) 310-901-9440 or (e-mail) mariepaul@easybirthing.com.

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