Christianity and Hypnobabies
Some Christian moms feel uneasy with the thought of being in an altered state, unsure if it will conflict with their beliefs. This worry is understandable, but Christian moms should rest assured that Hypnobabies contains no content that might conflict with Christian beliefs. It is truly designed for women of every faith and belief system to use.
We are all automatically in hypnosis when driving, swimming, doing other sports, sitting in church or a lecture, reading, watching television or movies or on the computer (or a screen of any kind), and when waking up or going to sleep. With Hypnobabies, we are simply guiding that process in a very positive way to create an easy, fear-free, comfortable childbirth experience.
Many of our Hypnobabies moms are Christian and have had wonderful success with Hypnobabies while incorporating their beliefs into our hypnosis scripts and practice, as well as adding prayer into the actual hypnosis when giving birth.
Here are some comments from Christian hypnomoms who have used Hypnoabies:
Sarah C: As a Christian, I believe that Christ suffered in Gethsemane so we wouldn’t have to feel pain unnecessarily. He gives us a way out. To me Hypnobabies was the method that felt inspired. It embraces the power of our God given bodies and helps eliminate fear (the opposite of faith/hope) through natural means. Charity is proclaimed as the greatest quality which is love in its strongest, purest form. There is so much focus on love for your mind, your body, and your baby that it felt like what Christ would want for mothers.
Emily F: As a Christian myself, I believe that hypnosis is a wonderful tool given to us by God, that has gotten a bad rap from people who have misrepresented it and/or misunderstood it. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis. No one will be exerting mind control over you to get you to do evil things. Some people are concerned that being in hypnosis opens up the subconscious mind to demonic spiritual control or influence. In fact, while in hypnosis you are in complete control of the experience. No one can cause you to act in a way that conflicts with your core beliefs or values. Choosing to enter hypnosis does not remove the covering of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit. I believe that as a Christian you are protected from all evil and the devil cannot lay claim to your mind even in a relaxed state. I can say wholeheartedly that my God is much bigger than that!
There may be a few hypnotists and/or hypnotherapists that incorporate occult practices into their scripts but I can guarantee you that this is NOT the case with Hypnobabies and is completely separate from the art and practice of hypnosis. I have listened to (and used!) all of the Hypnobabies scripts myself and they are spiritually neutral. There is no mention of chakras, past life regression, remote viewing, leaving your body or any other similar thing. The founder of Hypnobabies has worked diligently to ensure that Hypnobabies is based on medical hypno-anesthesia techniques without all the extra spiritual froofroo. These are the same techniques patients use to undergo major surgery when they are allergic toanesthesia. If you are still skeptical I encourage you to listen to the Hypnobabies free “Relax Me!” hypnosis track to get a better idea what learning Hypnobabies will be like. You can even choose to listen to it consciously (instead of entering hypnosis) while you are around the house washing dishes or vacuuming or such. Please do not listen to it while driving however!!
Crystal I: As a Christian, using Hypnobabies was the most natural thing in the world for me. The slowing of brain waves that occurs with deep relaxation and hypnosis is the same state that occurs when we pray. That to me says that there is no conflict between hypnosis and Christianity, because God would not leave me vulnerable when praying, when praying is something I do so often! Since you are always aware while in hypnosis, only thoughts that you desire will be accepted, you are always in complete control of your mind, just as you are when praying. While some segments of Christianity feel that pain is still a necessary part of childbirth, others feel that since Christ died for our sins, we are no longer required to experience pain during birth. Since the vast majority of women choose some form of anesthesia, and most churches support them in this, hypnotic anesthesia is no more in conflict with our theology than an epidural. In short, I can find no theological reason not to use Hypnobabies.
Brittany C: My reason for using Hypnobabies? After two hospital births with epidurals that didn’t work (and boy do I wish they did!) I used Hypnobabies for my 3rd birth. It worked so well I didn’t know it was my birthing time until my water broke! My son was born in the car! My last Hypno-baby was born at home, painlessly, and joyously. For us, Hypnobabies was successful beyond our wildest dreams.
As a Christian mom, I believe that God built into women to have the power to allow us to have safe, comfortable births. I feel Hypnobabies is a great way to use the power of God’s wonderful creation of the human brain and body. I have always loved the account found in Mark 4:36-39 of Christ calming the sea. I found that this story related wonderfully to Hypnobabies, because the word “waves is” used in Hypnobabies to describe uterine contractions and because the word “peace” is used as a cue for comfort. I likened the pressure waves to a storm and the “peace” cue to Christ calming the storm of my birthing by saying, “Peace, be still.”
Sarah C: ALL hypnosis is SELF-hypnosis. It’s not magic (which some Christians believe to be evil). It is simply using our minds to control our bodies, something we do naturally every day. Hypnosis is just an elevated focus on that control and it enables us to shut down our thoughts, release emotions, and completely relax our bodies. As a Hypnobabies graduate and Christian, I can’t think of a better way to welcome a baby into this world.
Liz S: I’m a Christian and used hypnobabies for the birth of my daughter. My degree is in theology and Biblical studies, there is nothing in the Bible that conflicts with the hypnobabies program. Self-hypnosis isn’t what you see on stage with hypnosis shows. I felt like hypnobabies was more deep relaxation and controlling my mind. No one can tell you what to do or make you do anything. I studied it a lot before I made my decision because I had the same concern.
Bridget E: The Bible tells us not be afraid and have a spirit of peace. So how much more should we strive for that in childbirth? Some Christian women still think we need to labor under the curse of Eve that birth must be painful, but Christ broke that curse when he died on the cross and delivered us from sin and sickness. Hypnobabies was the perfect tool to help me have the calm, peaceful, fearfree births I believe God wants us to have. Hypnobabies reinforces the fact that we are fearfully and wonderfully made and our bodies were made perfectly to birth our babies. What a great thing to meditate on!
Jessica L: I am a Christian and had my first two children all natural with Hypnobabies. I incorporated bible verses into my script and that my husband read to me. I felt it was exactly how God created our baby’s to come into this world. I did not see any conflict.
Betsy A: I remember reading that disciples meditated all the time, as they were told to do in order to better connect with God…self-hypnosis is meditation at its best. In the bible, Job explains that we should suffer great pains during childbirth, but what he fails to do is define pain…that is where individual interpretation comes into play. There are several meanings of pain, one being the obvious, but another being putting in a great amount of effort…that is the definition I chose. As a Christian, I found my Hypnobabies experience to be in connection with God and my spiritual beliefs. During my hypnotic practices, I always asked God for strength and peace, and to help me use the tools He gave me within my body to give birth peacefully. Hypnobabies can open doors to God, rather than demons as some fear. Even though I was in control, that strength came from God and I suffered great pains (ie, spent many hours and worked very hard) to build that strength. Hypnobabies is a blessing!
Jenn C: I did not see any conflict. Using Hypnobabies with my second natural birth was an incredible gift that allowed me to focus on my body and my baby, as God had designed. I was perfectly in tune with my baby and was comfortable as I progressed through my birthing time without fear. It was FANTASTIC.
Jennifer T: I am a Christian as well and I know that my daughter’s birth story was so peaceful, beautiful and spiritual because of Hypnobabies!