Techniques ease trauma of childbirth; In association with the NHS North East Giving birth need not be a frightening experience, and experts in alternative therapies are finding ways to make the big day as comfortable as possible. As part of Pregnancy Health Awareness Month, reporter JANE PICKEN finds out more

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Sept 17, 2007

Byline: JANE PICKEN

FIRST-time parents Faye Buxton and Scott Barclay, from Durham City, couldn't be more relaxed about the birth of their baby early next month.

And when the contractions take their toll or Faye, 32, needs a little stress relief, Scott, 32, will be there to gently massage her back or go through special birthing breathing techniques.

Their preparation is all thanks to a new concept called HypnoBirthing, which teaches parents to fight the fear of childbirth and instead think positive, practise relaxation and breathing techniques to do during the birth together and learn more about giving birth.

It's also about boosting the medical care from midwives and trying to use more natural techniques to ease pain and bring about calm.

Former primary school teacher Chris Shaw holds courses in the technique for couples just like Faye and

Scott at her practice in Langley Park, County Durham, and they're proving to be a big success.

"With this being our first baby, you find yourself thinking about that stigma people attach to child birth when they says it's a painful and horrendous experience," said administration assistant Faye.

"I really wanted to dispel those thoughts from my head, and that's what Chris did with the HypnoBirthing. I didn't want to think I was just going to go in there and rely on drugs to get me through it. Medication is definitely important, but I want the birth to be as natural as possible.

"I'm really into alternative therapies and doing things the natural way, so I was really interested in finding out more about HypnoBirthing.

"I've completed the course now, and we know how to be relaxed during the birth, which I think will help us appreciate those first few hours with the baby."

Through the course with Chris, which is usually held over a five-week period, with two-and-a-half hour sessions, student teacher Scott and Faye have learned deep relaxation, breathing and massage techniques, which they practise at home, as well as learning pregnancy facts such as which muscles are used to improve their understanding of what will happen when Faye gives birth.

"Part of the course is talking through any fears you've got about giving birth and seeing things in a gentler light," said Faye. "And because Scott can give me massages during labour, he will feel like he is playing a big part and doing something useful."

Other topics covered on the course include the history of women and birthing, how fear affects labour, hypnosis and deep relaxation, nutritional advice and post-birth activities.

Chris, who has a masters degree in guidance and coaching, has long been an expert in alternative care and offers a vast number of services from her practice, including aromatherapy massage and Indian head massage. She is finding her work progress more towards helping pregnant couples before and after the birth. But it all started with an interest in offering

HypnoBirthing courses.

"It's really a breakthrough approach to a more comfortable birth, although it's not an alternative to what's already in place," said Chris, who was a primary school teacher in Sunderland for 16 years.

"And it's about giving parents confidence about the birth. At lot of parents can be terrified especially if it's the first time, but HypnoBirthing gives them the skills and positive thinking to change their bad feelings.

"One of the things I do is to teach the parents how the muscles work during childbirth and how to relax them, because where there is fear there is tension."

Chris's classes were a big hit with Sara and Terry Taylor, from Chester-le -Street, after they enrolled just three weeks before the birth of their second child, Morgan, who is now nine months old.

The couple, who also have three-year-old daughter Roya, practically breezed through the birth of little Morgan, at Durham's University Hospital on December 2.

"When I had Roya, it wasn't a great experience, so with Morgan I wanted it to be very peaceful and calm," explained Sara, 26. "He was born on the Saturday, and earlier in the day I was getting little surges, so I knew he was on his way.

"But I still went to do the shopping for Roya's birthday party.

"I felt really good and I was stood in the queue at the supermarket doing my breathing exercises.

"A few hours later I went into the hospital, and within half an hour I had given birth.

"With the HypnoBirthing course you get CDs to take home which help you practise relaxation techniques and they had a brilliant effect, which worked when it came round to having Morgan.

"I think it's made a big difference to him too, because he's such a calm and well-behaved baby."

One of the things I do is to teach the parents how the muscles in the body work during childbirth and how to relax them, because where there is fear there is tension."

Learning more about the work

TO find out more about HypnoBirthing and the other services offered by Chris Shaw, call (0191) 373 4175 or email chris@holistic3.wanadoo.co.uk