Another testimonial for HypnoBirthing

Hi-
This is a testimonial that I just received from a HypnoBirthing mom. She is the mother of 4 children & used HypnoBirthing for her 4th birth.

I delivered my last two babies at home with a midwife, and used HypnoBirthing with my 4th & last birth in November of 2006. It was an amazing, quick, beautiful childbirth; what I wish for every woman. I'm so grateful, as I had a lifelong fear of childbirth, even after having several children naturally. My son's birth healed that fear, and gave me so much confidence that visualization, positive thinking, and affirmations do make a difference.

I had given birth to three children already. One with a midwife, at home, before learning about HypnoBirthing, so I assumed I wouldn't learn anything that I didn't already know. On the contrary, I was surprised to learn about a different approach to birth. I especially benefited from the focus on breathing my baby down and out, rather than the strenuous pushing that I believed delivered a baby. Throughout my pregnancy, I walked almost everyday, and I used that daily walk as a meditation time. I would talk to my baby, and visualize my ideal birth, affirming that I would have a gentle, easy childbirth. When the moment finally arrived, and I knew I was in labor, I climbed in my bathtub and rode the contractions by repeating the affirmations I learned from HypnoBirthing, such as, "I am opening up to receive my baby." My midwife arrived 20 minutes later, and my son was born 20 minutes after that.

I think there is a stigma around modern childbirth in the Western world, a view of birth as a traumatic, or even violent event. It's becoming accepted that a natural childbirth is an anomaly---why even bother when you can get an epidural? I had an epidural with my first birth, which occurred in a major Atlanta hospital. So I've experienced the whole gamut of births: a standard hospital birth, with an epidural, an IV, & an episiotomy. I've had a natural birth in a small hospital, here in Montana, which was a completely different experience; no episiotomy, no IV, much more personal. Then I've had two natural births with a midwife. I can say that my recoveries after my natural births were 100 times easier than after my birth with an epidural. While, yes, I didn't feel anything while I delivered my baby with an epidural, I also had to get an episiotomy because I coudn't feel anything while I delivered my baby, which made for a much more painful recovery. There are tradeoffs for everything. As a 4th time parent, my HypnoBirth was actually so quick and (relatively) painless that I was actually a bit sad when it was over, as I knew it was my last birth.~Karly, 4th time parent, founder of FirstOurselves.com.

www.AWellLivedLife.Net
AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

Blessing Your Life

Here is a great little exercise about blessing your life that I got from a colleague of mine. Use it for yourself, your spouse/significant other, your unborn baby, your natural birth, your children, your family & friends, any other important people in your life & your pets. Enjoy!

"There is something wonderfully bold and liberating about saying yes to our entire imperfect and messy life. With even a glimpse of that possibility, joy rushes in." Tara Brach, Ph.D.

Thoughts on Living The Heart-Centered Life by Tori Janaya, MA, MFTI January 2008

Blessing Your Life

Every now and then I decide that life isn't going the way I want it to, and I get really cranky. During a recent fit of The Cranks, a friend reminded me that I might consider surrendering my resistance and try accepting the way things were.Yeah, right. Have you ever tried to surrender? If so, you know that the opposite of surrendering is trying to surrender and that it just doesn't work. However, this wise friend also reminded me that the practice of blessing one's life just as it is helps one to cultivate the kind of surrender and acceptance that seemed so distant in that moment.The practice itself is simple: Sit quietly with your eyes closed, breathe deeply, relax, and get centered. Bring to mind some area of your life -- whether it's relationship, health, work, children, or something else. I suggest starting with an area where there is no stress or struggle, and then with practice, moving on to an area that is more challenging. Breathe deeply, relax your belly and the muscles of your eyes. Let yourself broaden the scope of your inner vision so that this part of your life has all the space it needs. As you allow it to have space, either mentally or in actuality, bring your hands together in a prayer position in front of your heart and bless this aspect of your life with whatever words or feelings come to you in the moment.

You might simply say, "May this aspect of my life be blessed so that its truth can be revealed." Or, "Thank you for the gifts you bring, both seen and unseen. May you receive from me all that you need in order to unfold in the most healing, loving way possible." Be generous toward yourself and allow the words to arise spontaneously from your heart. As you bless each area of your life, stay with the feeling of bestowing this gift for as long as you can sustain it. Invite yourself to stretch your capacity to feel this loving and beneficent toward yourself and your life. When you're done, allow yourself to transition slowly into your next activity. As always, I would love to hear how you experience these exercises that I offer. May the blessings of your life reveal themselves in ways that surprise and delight you!

Warmly,Tori
Tori@ToriJanaya.com
"The Heart-Centered Life" is written and published by Tori Janaya.
For more information, please visit www.ToriJanaya.com, or contact Tori@ToriJanaya.com

A note from Carol: For HypnoBirthing moms & dads, add a statement that focuses on feeling blessed to be having a healthy baby & a calm, easy natural birth. Focus the feelings of love & beneficence onto your unborn child. Use the 2nd statement Tori recommends & say it to your unborn child as a way to welcome him or her into the world.

AWellLivedLife.blogspot.com

Tibetan Loving Kindness Meditation

Hi-
This came across my desk & I thought it was too lovely to keep to myself. It was written for use by HypnoBirthing couples/moms, but it can be used for anyone...pregnant or not. It really fits in with the HypnoBirthing concept of positive affirmations. It's also a great meditation for anyone who practices The Secret &/or law of attraction. If you're not pregnant or don't have a family, extend those thoughts of loving kindness to the world. We can always use more positive energy flowing out there.

Tibetan Loving Kindness Meditation

Tibetan Loving Kindness Meditation is wonderful because it's accessible to everyone regardless of a belief in God or not. It is adapted from a basic form of this meditation and it has been made more relavant for HypnoBirthing moms.

Directions: So with this philosophy, you always start from the inside out. Meaning you do the meditation for yourself first and then toward others. The idea is that when you are full, and overflowing, you have much to give to others.
Do this often for yourself and your baby.

May I be happy
May I be healthy
May I continue to grow and change
May I feel loved and supported (do 3 times)

Then towards the baby~,
May you be happy
May you be healthy
May you continue to grow and change
May you feel my love (do 3 times)

Then towards the family unit (including other siblings)~
May we be happy together
May we be healthy together
May we continue to grow and change
May we experience love together (do 3 times)