A Joyful Family Experience that will introduce you to the techniques of deep relaxation, self- hypnosis and autogenic training, and helping yourself and your baby in OPENING THE WAY for a bright future!

Indication for Hypnotic Childbirth:

• REDUCTION or eradication of fear, tension and discomfort before, during and after labour and delivery.
• AMELIORATION of undesirable postoperative effects.
• DECREASED shock and speedier recovery.
• RELIEF from morning sickness.
• PARTICIPATION of your partner in a joyful birthing experience, free of worry, fear and anxiety.
• IMMEDIATE bonding with your baby.

EVERYTHING YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO KNOW ABOUT PAINLESS CHILDBIRTH (But didn't know whom to ask)

(AT- profound relaxation) can be taught and trained-to calm down and to turn on the restorative rhythms.

Wouldn't it be great to have a baby without experiencing fear, anxiety or extreme pain?

It is possible to have this kind of experience using a special process of DEEP RELAXATION that can be incorporated with the childbirth method of your choice.

The use of hypnosis during labour and delivery can enable the mother to relax more completely than any other natural childbirth method. However, it is recommended that hypnosis be used as an adjunct to the various prepared childbirth techniques. In order to obtain the optimum results and therapeutic objectives of hypnotic childbirth, the patient should be well trained in using self-hypnosis and participate in a professionally recognised childbirth education class.

Preconditioning for hypnotic childbirth should begin during the third or fourth month of pregnancy. The number of sessions required teaching the patient and partner hypnosis techniques might vary from one to twenty. Six training sessions, prior to the patient's presentation for childbirth are usually sufficient to insure a rewarding birthing experience.

We need to learn how to alleviate our anxiety, tension and fears especially during pregnancy and to be trained by a Certified Hypno-Anaesthesia Therapist for a pleasant childbirth Dr. Christa Hall-Sanford, Certified Hypnotherapist (non-medical) recognised expert in this field, she received the Educator of the Year award (1991) at an international holistic health care conference in the USA. Christa, born in Vienna, Austria, studied in the USA and with her proven method, is successful in private practice in Cape Town since 1990. She has given educational talks on radio and television, schools, companies, groups and organisations. Christa is proud to announce the association with Mr. Malcolm Hendry-Holland, an expert in analytical therapy. His dynamic presentation of hypnosis adds to the success of the MASTERMIND CENTRE. In a continuing effort to educate and inform the public on the often-misunderstood subject of HYPNOSIS the next few paragraphs answer some of the most asked questions about this valuable tool:

Q.: "How would you define hypnosis?"

Because of its very nature, hypnosis does not easily lend itself into a concrete definition. However, it is a state of heightened suggestibility and a communication tool between our intellect and our subconscious mind (feeling mind). It is a natural state of extraordinary quality of relaxation, heightened and selective sensitivity received by the 5 senses. Hypnosis is based on the natural functioning of the brain. It encourages a state of relaxation and heightens sensory awareness that allows visual memories, feelings, sounds and ideas to be more easily recalled. Deep relaxation and hypnosis will only succeed with the full co-operation of someone who desires change.

Q.: "What about the person who is tens or afraid of hypnosis?"

Anxiety, tension and fear are not natural body processes. They result of undue pressures and are often at the root of many diseases, allergies and chronic pain. Pain can be a waning signal of malfunction or the result of tension, fear or panic. In a natural process like childbirth there is a normal amount of discomfort, however, pain is not a necessary part of the normal birthing experience. The discomfort of childbirth can be almost negligible when you are relaxed in body and mind. Labour - is hard work... but it does not need to be painful. Hard work should leave you pleasantly tired and relaxed.

Q.: "How does if feel to be in this state?"

When in a trance (physically and mentally totally relaxed), people can usually think and perform better than they can in their ordinary state of awareness, probably because of the intensity of their ability to focus. They can more easily recall visual memories, feelings, sounds, and ideas from recent or distant past; quickly and creatively construct mental images (either realistic or fanciful), and remove old attitudes and develop new ones - maintaining the new ones after returning to normal consciousness.

Q.: "What are the indications for Hypnotic Childbirth?"

• Reduction or eradication of fear,
• Reduction of the amount of pain medication - if necessary!
• Speedier recovery
• Amelioration of undesirable post operative effects.
• Hypnosis shortens the first stage of labour by three to four hours for mothers who are experiencing labour and delivery for the first time.
• Maternal exhaustion can be alleviated and the mother is more alert and aware when the baby is born.
• Hypnotic rapport can be transferred to a husband ( coach) or nurse, associate, friend etc.
• Hypnotic natural childbirth is an intensely gratifying experience for well-adjusted mothers. Hearing baby's first cry, seeing the newborn and holding the baby in the delivery room is a joyful experience

Q.: "What are the contraindications?"

There is no possibility that harm will be done to the mother or baby when self-hypnosis is used for anaesthesia. However some literature does offer considerable evidence that when drugs are given for the relief of pain during childbirth, they may decrease the oxygen supply to the foetus. A decreased amount of oxygen being supplied to the unborn baby through the placental membrane or decreased amounts of oxygen due to asphyxias factors such as trauma or difficulty in delivery may produce foetal anoxia. Foetal anoxia may cause severe brain damage. The danger of foetal anoxia may be markedly decreased when the mother is using self-hypnosis techniques during childbirth.