Learning hypnobirthing gives you skills that you can use to manage fear and anxiety at any time, but it is primarily for that special day when you meet your baby. This article is about making this transitional stage in your life as smooth as possible.

Prenatal bonding and practices

It is important to be aware of your feelings and emotions during pregnancy because they can affect how your baby behaves and feels.

Your growing baby is a part of your body, and communication is happening between you all the time. Their communications may be perceived through the way they move. Foetal movements can be a confusing subject for a first-time mum. According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, most parents are first aware of their baby moving when they are 18–20 weeks pregnant. If this is your first pregnancy, you may not become aware of movements until you are more than 20 weeks pregnant. If you have been pregnant before, you may feel movements as early as 16 weeks. However, once they start, there is no guidance on what constitutes a “normal” movement number or “kick count” in any given week. Every baby is different, and the NHS guidance is to monitor day-to-day patterns rather than numbers and report any changes you notice.

In hypnobirthing, what you want to note is how your baby responds to stimuli through movement. Do they seem to get active when you relax?How about when your partner rubs your tummy? Do they like to dance to your favourite music? Research shows that, after birth, they can continue responding to these cues, so why not take this unique opportunity to both bond with them and create relaxing associations?

Talk to them. You could give your baby a nickname (if you haven’t yet chosen a name) and sing them lullabies and tell them stories. The Wise Mother pregnancy relaxation session available with this course aims to help you appreciate your amazing body and bond with your baby. Wise Mother is a session that celebrates your incredible transition into parenthood. It is all about nurturing that special connection and soaking up the shared vibes of relaxation.

How a baby's ideal position could be influenced by visualisations

Babies move around a lot in pregnancy. The cephalic (or head-down, chin to chest, and facing mum’s back) position is considered ideal for labour because it’s statistically safest for both mum and baby.

If you’re being cared for by the UK’s NHS and your baby is in a breech position at 36 weeks, you will usually be offered an external cephalic version (ECV). This is when a healthcare professional, such as an obstetrician or midwife, tries to turn the baby into a cephalic position by applying pressure to your abdomen. It's a safe procedure, although it can be a bit uncomfortable.

Hypnobirthing experts believe that a baby’s position can be altered by visualisations and reciting something called the Mirror Mantra. Unii wishes to emphasise that it is essential to prioritise the medical advice you receive about your baby’s position. Still, this whole course works on the premise that what you imagine impacts your body (including the baby you’re growing), and if you’ve come this far, we think you’ll find the following information helpful.

Your unborn baby is connected to you, and hypnobirthing experts believe thatimagining their ideal position for birth will encourage them to get into it. From 30 weeks on, Tamara suggests performing the following exercise daily:

Get as comfortable as you can be and shut your eyes.

In your mind’s eye, look inward to your baby, and, as you picture them in the cephalic position, stroke your tummy in a circular motion and “My baby is...

Head down
Chin to chest
Hands to heart
Back to the belly

Whether or not your baby is in this position, it is important to focus inward and imagining your baby in this position. If you know they are not in this position, getting on your hands and knees, being aware of your posture and sitting on a birthing ball can all help your baby get in a more optimal position for birth.

What is fear release, and how do you achieve it?

In episode four, we covered how expectancy is a form of hypnosis. Releasing any fears you have about birthing, whether prompted by external sources or a personal experience, is an important part of your hypnobirthing journey. The Cove of Confidence track available with this course aims to help you release fear through self-hypnosis and positive visualisations, but there are also a number of conscious steps you can take to free your mind.

Be prepared. A birth plan that includes options for alternatives you find acceptable should unexpected situations arise, as well as clear statements about what you don’t want, can give you peace of mind.
If you are making any changes to your home for the baby, try to have your partner take any project management stress off your shoulders.
Do you have people who can support you and your partner in the fourth trimester? If family is unavailable, some mums like to recruit a trusted “pregnancy pal” to care for pets, bring food, or do household chores. You could even give them a spare key so they don’t have to disturb or wake you.
Write your personal birth affirmations and display them prominently in your home and workspace. Examples of positive affirmations include: “Every surge brings my baby closer to me” and “My baby is in the perfect position for birth.” Repetition is recognition.
Check in with yourself and your partner. How are you feeling about becoming a parent? What are the sources of your fears and anxieties? We strongly recommend that you make peace with what you can’t change and work to overcome what you can as early as possible.
Are you worried about how having a baby will impact your career? Many parents find it useful to speak to others in similar roles who are farther down life’s road. Your own path can never be identical, but just talking can give you confidence and inspiration.

Preparing to Meet Your Baby

Bonding, breathing, and connecting with baby before birth.