By Cheryl Mecham
Uintah Basin Standard | 0 comments
A decades-old birth philosophy has taken a firm foothold among expectant mothers in the Uintah Basin. Some mothers are turning to HypnoBirthing, which provides a relaxed but controlled state of being during labor and delivery, without pain-relieving drugs.
Is it natural childbirth at its best?
Shallin Squire believes it is. She gave birth to her first three children in the
Uintah Basin Standard | 0 comments
A decades-old birth philosophy has taken a firm foothold among expectant mothers in the Uintah Basin. Some mothers are turning to HypnoBirthing, which provides a relaxed but controlled state of being during labor and delivery, without pain-relieving drugs.
Is it natural childbirth at its best?
Shallin Squire believes it is. She gave birth to her first three children in the
hospital, but decided her fourth would be born at home using well-practiced relaxation methods.
Squire, an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), who is currently earning a degree in mathematics through Western Governors University, also works as a real estate agent with Freedom Realty.
She said, “A few years ago I would have thought that a home birth was odd, but it became a progression of thought.”
Squire was expecting her fourth child when a friend explained HypnoBirthing to her.
“I wished we had HypnoBirthing classes here. Then Vana, a personal friend of mine, took an interest in it and became certified, and we took the classes, and the course material reaffirmed Squire’s interest and desire to use the method.
Silvana Powell is a certified HypnoBirthing educator, currently in the middle of her third session of classes, which run for five weeks.
Powell also learned of the HypnoBirthing philosophy by word of mouth from a friend, Rachel, who lives in Hurricane.
“I didn’t know this even existed. I thought childbirth meant absolute excruciating pain. I thought I just had to face it, to man up. But to have a baby without pain? You work with your body with HypnoBirthing, not against it.”
When Powell was expecting her third baby in 2008, she found a HypnoBirthing instructor from Herriman, who agreed to travel to the Uintah Basin if Powell could host the classes in her home with other expectant mothers and their birth partners.
Using focused relaxation and visualization methods with her husband, Kevin by her side the Powells welcomed Ian into the world. A couple years later her fourth baby, Daisy using the same techniques, “Once you’ve done HypnoBirth, there’s no going back,” she said. However, the idea of becoming an instructor took awhile to blossom. The time and financial commitment was substantial for a wife and busy mother of four.
“I thought about it a long time before deciding to become a practitioner,” said Powell, who currently teaches the Mongan method of HypnoBirthing which was developed by Marie Mongan.
Mongan, who had four children of her own, developed the method with the belief that a natural and safe birth can occur with correct preparation of mind and body; “proper nutrition, good posture, fitness and an attitude of trust in the birthing process.,” as described in HynoBirthing, the Mongan Method, and with these essential elements in place she added, “When your mind is free of fear and tension, your body can be free of pain and function as it was created to do.”
The Mongan Method relies on a birth partner to support the mother-to-be throughout the pregnancy, and participating in practice at home, so at the time of labor and delivery – the partner is able to reassure, providing needed comfort and support.
Hypno – actually means self hypnosis, which our subconscious does naturally, Powell said. “We all do it. We zone out while doing the dishes, or drive for miles without realizing it.” adding that The Mongan method teaches several relaxation and visualization techniques to guide the mother-to-be to a deep state of relaxation through the power of the mind, explaining, “You are always fully aware and in control.”
Squire said HypnoBirthing homework is rather nice, “They encourage you to practice relaxation once a day. The more often you practice relaxation the quicker you can arrive at that state – really the only time I had to practice was when I was sitting in the car waiting for my daughter to get out of dance, or between errands. The most impressive part for me? I’m a nervous person. I’ve been anxious since I was born, but I can set it aside and calm down in just a few minutes now that I’ve learned the technique.
A few weeks ago Squire delivered her 11-pound, 21-inch baby, Preston Lloyd, at home with the aid of Oliver, her husband who served as birth partner, and midwife Tami Pugh.
“When the contractions got intense, they were more manageable,” Squire divulged, adding, “Pain comes from the uterine muscles working against each other, so if you relax your lower uterine muscles aren’t fighting the longitudinal muscles.”
Squire said, “It’s never to late to try HypnoBirthing, I would recommend this to anyone.”
Cami Riordin jumped into Vana’s HypnoBirthing classes 33 weeks into her fifth pregnancy, by Vana’s invitation, “We were college roommates and I wanted to support her,” Riordin said, “half way through the second class it was making sense to me. I liked what she was saying.”
Riordin said she had her babies using the spinal pain-relieving medication known as an epidural.
“I thought, that’s how it’s done,” she said, except with one child who came so quickly pain medication was not an option. “I had her naturally, I wasn’t in control, it was a terrible feeling. There was no way to be on top of the pain. I remember it hurting.”
Once Riordin began learning the relaxation methods she gained confidence.
“I have anxiety problems, and I thought at first, there’s no way I’m going to do it. My mind is a weak point,” with practice Riordin found she could take her mind to a deep relaxation state, and was able to manage the pressure when in labor, supported by her husband, Lamoni, “The birth was so calm, and that calm continued with the attitude of OK, baby is here, let’s move on. Birth didn’t feel like a roller coaster where you say finally. I’m glad that’s over.”
Riordin felt well prepared before she gave birth at Ashley Valley Regional Medical Center. She had discussed her birth preferences with Dr. Griffith.
“He said he’d never heard of it, but he’d study up on it,” she said.
After the birth, Riordin said Griffith remarked on the experience. “He said, that’s how they all should be.”
Comparing the two medication-free birth experiences Riordin said, “I knew I couldn’t be completely silent like some of the videos I’d watched on HypnoBirthing, but I was completely in charge and in control, not screaming like I was with our second baby.”
Powell feels deeply satisfied that she has been able to, “influence,” the births of at least a dozen babies, since she was first introduced to HypnoBirthing, and used the methods she is now teaching.
For information concerning HypnoBirthing, Powell suggested linking on to Gently HypnoBirthing through Facebook.
Squire, an LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse), who is currently earning a degree in mathematics through Western Governors University, also works as a real estate agent with Freedom Realty.
She said, “A few years ago I would have thought that a home birth was odd, but it became a progression of thought.”
Squire was expecting her fourth child when a friend explained HypnoBirthing to her.
“I wished we had HypnoBirthing classes here. Then Vana, a personal friend of mine, took an interest in it and became certified, and we took the classes, and the course material reaffirmed Squire’s interest and desire to use the method.
Silvana Powell is a certified HypnoBirthing educator, currently in the middle of her third session of classes, which run for five weeks.
Powell also learned of the HypnoBirthing philosophy by word of mouth from a friend, Rachel, who lives in Hurricane.
“I didn’t know this even existed. I thought childbirth meant absolute excruciating pain. I thought I just had to face it, to man up. But to have a baby without pain? You work with your body with HypnoBirthing, not against it.”
When Powell was expecting her third baby in 2008, she found a HypnoBirthing instructor from Herriman, who agreed to travel to the Uintah Basin if Powell could host the classes in her home with other expectant mothers and their birth partners.
Using focused relaxation and visualization methods with her husband, Kevin by her side the Powells welcomed Ian into the world. A couple years later her fourth baby, Daisy using the same techniques, “Once you’ve done HypnoBirth, there’s no going back,” she said. However, the idea of becoming an instructor took awhile to blossom. The time and financial commitment was substantial for a wife and busy mother of four.
“I thought about it a long time before deciding to become a practitioner,” said Powell, who currently teaches the Mongan method of HypnoBirthing which was developed by Marie Mongan.
Mongan, who had four children of her own, developed the method with the belief that a natural and safe birth can occur with correct preparation of mind and body; “proper nutrition, good posture, fitness and an attitude of trust in the birthing process.,” as described in HynoBirthing, the Mongan Method, and with these essential elements in place she added, “When your mind is free of fear and tension, your body can be free of pain and function as it was created to do.”
The Mongan Method relies on a birth partner to support the mother-to-be throughout the pregnancy, and participating in practice at home, so at the time of labor and delivery – the partner is able to reassure, providing needed comfort and support.
Hypno – actually means self hypnosis, which our subconscious does naturally, Powell said. “We all do it. We zone out while doing the dishes, or drive for miles without realizing it.” adding that The Mongan method teaches several relaxation and visualization techniques to guide the mother-to-be to a deep state of relaxation through the power of the mind, explaining, “You are always fully aware and in control.”
Squire said HypnoBirthing homework is rather nice, “They encourage you to practice relaxation once a day. The more often you practice relaxation the quicker you can arrive at that state – really the only time I had to practice was when I was sitting in the car waiting for my daughter to get out of dance, or between errands. The most impressive part for me? I’m a nervous person. I’ve been anxious since I was born, but I can set it aside and calm down in just a few minutes now that I’ve learned the technique.
A few weeks ago Squire delivered her 11-pound, 21-inch baby, Preston Lloyd, at home with the aid of Oliver, her husband who served as birth partner, and midwife Tami Pugh.
“When the contractions got intense, they were more manageable,” Squire divulged, adding, “Pain comes from the uterine muscles working against each other, so if you relax your lower uterine muscles aren’t fighting the longitudinal muscles.”
Squire said, “It’s never to late to try HypnoBirthing, I would recommend this to anyone.”
Cami Riordin jumped into Vana’s HypnoBirthing classes 33 weeks into her fifth pregnancy, by Vana’s invitation, “We were college roommates and I wanted to support her,” Riordin said, “half way through the second class it was making sense to me. I liked what she was saying.”
Riordin said she had her babies using the spinal pain-relieving medication known as an epidural.
“I thought, that’s how it’s done,” she said, except with one child who came so quickly pain medication was not an option. “I had her naturally, I wasn’t in control, it was a terrible feeling. There was no way to be on top of the pain. I remember it hurting.”
Once Riordin began learning the relaxation methods she gained confidence.
“I have anxiety problems, and I thought at first, there’s no way I’m going to do it. My mind is a weak point,” with practice Riordin found she could take her mind to a deep relaxation state, and was able to manage the pressure when in labor, supported by her husband, Lamoni, “The birth was so calm, and that calm continued with the attitude of OK, baby is here, let’s move on. Birth didn’t feel like a roller coaster where you say finally. I’m glad that’s over.”
Riordin felt well prepared before she gave birth at Ashley Valley Regional Medical Center. She had discussed her birth preferences with Dr. Griffith.
“He said he’d never heard of it, but he’d study up on it,” she said.
After the birth, Riordin said Griffith remarked on the experience. “He said, that’s how they all should be.”
Comparing the two medication-free birth experiences Riordin said, “I knew I couldn’t be completely silent like some of the videos I’d watched on HypnoBirthing, but I was completely in charge and in control, not screaming like I was with our second baby.”
Powell feels deeply satisfied that she has been able to, “influence,” the births of at least a dozen babies, since she was first introduced to HypnoBirthing, and used the methods she is now teaching.
For information concerning HypnoBirthing, Powell suggested linking on to Gently HypnoBirthing through Facebook.