Black Sororities

The Answer To Natural Childbirth

Featured Article by Dr. Martyn P. Williams

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Many therapists are aware of the use of hypnosis for childbirth and for the removal of pain along with the production of analgesia/anaesthesia by stimulation of Endorphins, but this is mostly unreliable, in most cases only gaining a heightened pain threshold. Not many have heard of the use of Clinical Sophrology in childbirth, which is has been used throughout Europe privately and in hospitals, Sophrology is also commonly used in Japan and South America by many doctors.

It is a known fact that the more a client practices self relaxation the greater the depth achieved, thus over a period of time even clients who can only achieve light states will soon allay their fears of the relaxed state and will easily enter the deeper states needed for the production of analgesia/anaesthesia and or pain relief.

First trimester 0 to 13 weeks.

There are many advantages to the use of self relaxation in early pregnancy, by early I mean as soon as confirmation is obtained, normally around 3 to 4 weeks gestation, this will not only in most cases guarantee a good outcome at birth but will allay most of the normal aches, discomforts and anxieties experienced during pregnancy itself.

One of the first and I feel the worst problem during pregnancy, is the onset of morning sickness, though known as morning sickness, this in some cases does not just happen in the morning but can last all day and well into the evening and throughout the night. Morning sickness is believed to be due to hormonal imbalances, the first hormone to appear is HCG (Human Chorionic Gonadotrophin) which stimulates the production of the pregnancy hormones, Oestrogen and Progesterone.

It is our personal belief that during this early stage of pregnancy, though further research is needed, that there is also an imbalance between the pregnancy hormones and another hormone called Cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone associated with Stress & Anxiety, there is extensive scientific data available to explain that during times of stress, Cortisol levels in the body increase, could this be the cause of sickness & nausea during early pregnancy.? Hormonal imbalance is also to blame for unusual tiredness and emotional highs & lows during this early stage of pregnancy.

When using self relaxation in early pregnancy in most cases within one or two sessions, feelings of nausea and sickness subside on their own without suggestion being given other than to relax and to release any stresses and tensions, the relaxation through Sophrology also removes the tiredness.

The emotional highs & lows however, need further investigation using analysis, to allay any endogenous anxieties, tensions or depression, relating to prior life traumas and experiences. For a successful outcome in childbirth, I feel that analysis is essential and should be carried out on every client, as early into the pregnancy as possible, once this has been carried out and all fears, anxieties and tensions have been allayed, pregnancy can become a wonderful and pleasant experience.

It is normal for midwives during ante-natal clinic attendance's during this trimester of pregnancy, to expect all sorts of moans and groans plus fluctuating blood pressure and so on, they are pleasantly surprised to see a mum-to-be relaxed and in control, this is also evident when the baby is monitored, midwives immediately comment on how relaxed the baby is, even at this early stage.

Second trimester 14 to 26 weeks.

The next trimester of the pregnancy, is relatively uneventful, this gives the therapist plenty of time, to increase depth of relaxation and to teach the client several forms of self relaxation and the ability to stimulate Endorphins to produce analgesia & anaesthesia in preparation for the 3rd trimester and imminent birth.

Third trimester 27 to 34 weeks.

The 3rd trimester can be quite daunting, with many minor ailments but to the mum-to-be these ailments can be the most troublesome, with heartburn, flatulence, hemorrhoids, backache, swollen feet & legs, blood pressure, headaches, fluctuations in temperature, aching joints & aching of the breasts, all most all of these ailments are due to the increased weight as baby grows. All of these ailments can be controlled by deep relaxation and in most cases removed completely, where the practice of Sophrology has been used in early pregnancy, by now the mum-to-be is quite adapt to achieving very deep states of relaxation and is a wonderful practitioner of self relaxation with the ability to produce self analgesia if needed (with restrictions).

The last few weeks of the pregnancy can be frustrating particularly with first time mums, It's now a waiting game, this is the time for the therapist to keep the clients mind occupied using visualization of the birth without Pain, ensuring to cover all eventualities (complication) and to give suggestions to alter the clients perception of the contractions, from that of painful and prolonged to enjoyable tingling sensations, at this point the therapist can involve their birthing partners, by teaching them how to help their partner into the deep relaxed state and how to reinforce positive suggestions, throughout the labor.

The Birth.

If