The term ‘hypnobirthing’ is unfortunate because it sounds a bit woo-woo and ‘new-agey’, but it is probably the biggest childbirth red pill one can swallow. It’s not ‘evil’ or ‘Eastern’ or whatever; instead, it stands in precise opposition to what the medical establishment has done to childbirth over the last hundred years.
Hypnobirthing is simply about changing one's mindset.
When a woman is relaxed and confident, her body knows how to birth naturally. Hypnobirthing transforms fear into love and pain into pleasure.
—Katherine Graves, author of Hypnobirthing
On the topic of childbirth, I recommend listening to two of my recent podcasts:
- Stuart Fischbein on why hospital births are not safer than home births, and
- Anthony Levatino on why he stopped performing abortions.
Both of the above conversations are eye-opening.
What is hypnobirthing?
Hypnobirthing is a way to make labour calmer and more positive.
It blends self-hypnosis (hence the name), relaxation techniques, and education about childbirth. The main idea is that by reducing fear and anxiety, women can handle pain better and have a smoother labour experience.
Childbirth is a multi-billion-dollar industry founded on fear and over-medicalisation.
Jerm
