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Lessons from a Birthing Class Misadventure
I had this vivid picture in my mind of how my first childbirth would unfold: gentle music playing in the background, everyone beaming with joy, and me gracefully delivering my baby in the comfort of my bathtub. I had watched the documentaries and was convinced I knew exactly what I wanted. So, when I discovered a hypnobirthing class being offered at the birthing center where I was receiving my prenatal care, I was instantly intrigued. HypnoBirthing promises a serene and beautiful birthing experience, and I thought, “Absolutely, sign me up!”
Fast forward a few months, and my husband and I found ourselves making our way up the stairs to a hypnobirthing class located on the upper floor of a yoga studio in downtown Brooklyn—because, of course. We were welcomed by a calm woman with a friendly smile. After handing over our $350 check (yikes!), we slipped off our shoes and settled into a circle of couples who had already gathered.
The first couple of sessions consisted mainly of our instructor reading excerpts from the book Hypnobirthing Made Easy. I already had the book at home, which was a bit disappointing, but her soothing voice made it bearable. However, by the third session, one of the other moms whispered to me, “What’s going on? Are we ever going to learn how to hypnotize ourselves?” I couldn’t help but agree, relieved to find someone else feeling a bit skeptical. It seemed our instructor was in tune with our thoughts, as she shifted gears and started showing us birth videos.
I had never seen women appear so serene during childbirth. Honestly, I had a more pained expression during a tough workout than any of these ladies did while giving birth. One woman even seemed to experience an orgasm during labor—definitely not something I wanted to witness and have tried to forget ever since. It dawned on me, as I watched my husband’s horrified expression, that maybe I wasn’t cut out for this calm birthing vibe.
Finally, in session four, we dove into hypnosis. The instructor guided us through a visualization exercise, which I was pretty excited about. “Close your eyes, relax your body, and imagine you’re descending a staircase…” she began. As she counted down, I was supposed to feel my body relax, but instead, I was waving my hand like a flag. I peeked around, hoping to see others doing the same, but nope—just me. My husband was out cold, so he didn’t count.
When she finally counted us back up, I elbowed my husband to make sure he was awake. The instructor asked everyone to share their experiences. One by one, the others talked about feeling like they couldn’t move their hands or how they envisioned themselves floating in a lake. I had to confess, “I could move my hand. I mean, I always can! I can’t imagine being conscious and unable to move it unless I was in some freak accident.” The instructor looked at me and said, “Maria, have you always struggled with control?” Touché, indeed.
In the end, my need for control led to an emergency C-section. And while I couldn’t feel my legs afterward, I’m sure the epidural played a part. The takeaway? If you ever feel out of place in a birthing class, don’t sweat it—these classes aren’t meant for everyone. By the way, if you’re looking for more about home insemination, check out this post on Home Insemination Kit. And for a trusted source on insemination options, visit Make a Mom. For more information on pregnancy and IVF, Healthline is an excellent resource!
Summary:
In this light-hearted recounting, Jenna shares her experience in a hypnobirthing class, where her expectations of a calm and serene birthing process quickly unravel. From a series of reading sessions to unexpected birth videos, she realizes that her journey may not align with the peaceful narrative presented. Ultimately, her quest for control leads to an emergency C-section, highlighting that birthing classes aren’t one-size-fits-all.