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rx
imagery
birth: birth visualization
psychospiritual approaches

definition

sequence of presentation:
introductory visualization
exploratory visualization
birth visualization

Birth Visualization

transcript:

....So that just now I'd like you to go ahead and take yourself forward in time now, as if through a time tunnel...just going a little forward in time when your baby will be just a little bit bigger than what you've been seeing....just a little...just right...and as the baby gets very, very ready to dive out...its pituitary gland releases a hormone...a part of it KNOWS when its ready, and then you respond, by CLICKING (synesthesia)...into the response of releasing oxytocin from your pituitary gland...and as that happens the head also becomes... (tone shifts to very deep and heavy, tonality falls low) very, very, HHeavy...comes right DOWN on the cervix...so that even right now as I speak, the hormones are already softening the cervix on the inside in that last month of pregnancy (shift in time from future to present is intentional) already adjusting on the inside, so it's like a soft pillow, the inside tissue of the vagina...that surrounds the opening, very soft tissue, on the inside...as the baby's head comes DOWN the cervix begins to oopen, so that you might be going through early contractions very soon in the next few weeks. You might have a twinge here and a twinge there, as the head comes down a little more and a little more as the baby gets very ready ... to dive full force out...because it wants to see you! And besides you know, it gets very crowded in there after awhile, it does not want to stay in there after awhile, when it's ready to come out, it WANTS to be out, very much wants that, and that's something that mothers can know, can feel very good about knowing that their babies in labor very much want to come out of that space and into their arms. It's just a natural, INSTINCTIVE process...natural LIFE process...just doesn't wanna stay in there anymore then...and then there'll come times when the contractions are coming and GOING and coming and GOING but always the head is the heaviest part of the baby's body now, so the baby's head comes right down on the cervix, comes right Down, that's the way nature has it, comes right Down on the cervix,'cause of gravity, so that ... as a contraction comes it's like a wave were building on the ocean, and it's coming and it's Building, and it's BUILding, and it's BUILDING, and the baby's head is Diving Diving Diving right down on the cervix, and you can feel the baby's head diving right down, and firmer and firmer and OOPening and OOPening, and OOOpening, and you begin to breathe and breathe and breathe right through it as the baby dives and dives and dives...but then the wave comes to shore...the wave comes to shore (voice tonality falls, slow) and then the contraction ebbs away and you always know that each and every wave, is very, very safe, and the most effective it can possibly be...very safe because the wave always come to shore ....Always, and you know that. You know it more and more as you continue into the next contraction and the next one (refers to both the visualization and th actual labor)... and in between each and every contraction, you can sink Down (voice falling in tonality, slows, then picks up) deeper and deeper down into your own resources, and just resting in between even as you do things, in early labor...internally you'll be resting, and very, very peaceful, and noisy (refers to noise outside) as the case may be...

Comments

Voice tonality and texture is so subtle and varied at this point it is virtually impossible to fully convey the nuances of technique in written word alone. Voice intensity rises and falls with contractions creating synthesia - mixing the auditory with the implied somesthetic sensations for labor, yielding an experiential participation in the process. The ocean metaphor continues, used to embed truisms and other forms of suggestion that can be triggered in labor. The ocean matches her geographical environment. Metaphors are most effective when matching the physical habitat in which the woman lives. In the southwestern part of the country, desert and mountain imagery with running streams work well, while in the Midwest, the sound of traveling vehicles coming down a winding country road has been useful. Any metaphor may work for embedding suggestions but naturally occurring images of the woman's environment may be more readily accepted be the woman as it already represents an intimate part of her daily experience. Additionally, when a woman feels alienated from where she is living, metaphors matching her childhood environment can return her to the sense of communion with Nature that is so helpful for labor.

transcript continued:
...but then with the next contraction, you can Feeeel it coming; it's as if another wave is building, and it's swelling up in the ocean and it's building, and it's BUILDing, and the baby's coming down Firmer and Firmer on the cervix, Diving and Diving and OOpening and OOpening, and you're breathing and breathing and breathing right through...and you always know, the wave will come to shore (tonality begins to fall now, after previous build in intensity) always know it, so that, just now the contraction ebbs away, (in a whisper) and the ocean, when the wave goes in, it takes sand with it and the sand goes very DEEEP DOWN into the bottom of the ocean so that the ocean is always WASHHHING the sand ....repLENISHING it ...from the bottom of the ocean...the sand goes DEEEPER and DEEEPER (tonality lowers and softens)DEEEPER (tonality lowers more, softens more) down...in between...each and every contraction the sand...sinks down...to the very bottom. There's an inCREDIBLE amount of resources...on the bottom of the ocean...kelp, seaweed has ALL the minerals and trace elements known and not known to man...incredible amount of resources on the very bottom every element is there... (suggestions for labor)... and you rest, and your baby rest....Now another contraction is coming and you can feel it swelling and you can hear it almost as the wave build. Diving and Diving and Diving right Down on the cervix, and your breathing and breathing and breathing right through, and your cervix is OOpening and OOPening and OOOPening and you're breathing and breathing and breathing right through, and this one is STRONGER and FASTER (said very quickly and with emphasis) than the one before and it's coming faster and FASTer into shore as it's still building and building and building...and the baby's diving and OPening and the cervix OPENS and OPENS and OPENS, and then the wave comes to shore (tonality lowers, softens, slows) and you always know it will, it'll always come to shore...can feel so safe and secure so secure, always make it to shore...the waves of the ocean always make it to shore...and again taking the sand back down as it goes deeeper and deeeper down into the bottom (voice fading to a whisper)... the sand drifting, drifting, down...and then you rest...and your baby rests...in between, each and every contraction. And just the sense of knowing...Tom's there, just the sense, reminds you...to sink down (voice very soft, drops even lower in tonality on this word) to the bottom of the ocean...sink down (barely audible)...just his voice and his face, his touch...guides you down, into the bottom of the ocean. All the elements are here...trace elements needed in the earth...are there...and there's even little fish down there (little louder, even tone) and the ones on the very bottom of the ocean even generate their own little lights, as they travel... little schools of fish...you might even see a school, yellow fish coming out of ...a coral...caaave...coming right out...of a cave...almost as if they're being pushed out of there by their Mama fish shooing them along, shooing them along. They must go somewhere else to find something to eat now. And some of them...some of the little babies...stop and gather something to eat They might even get a little stuck 'cause they're so little thy might get stuck onto a rock here or there but always their mother comes and pushes them along, pushes them along and so they never are in danger of ever getting stuck or left behind...and with the help of the water...they swim on, to a place where they need to go to find new food...a place they need to go ...'til they come to, perhaps, the arms of an old crab, that they can then...eat from. But now another wave is coming....

Comments

It is important to link suggestions to naturally occurring factors (such as Tom's presence) to secure the triggering (accessing) of suggestions to labor at the time it occurs. I link all of the suggestions from the ocean metaphor (security, replenished resources) to seeing, touching, hearing, or knowing Tom is there. Her senses are directly linked, via Tom, to stimulating the suggestions given during the actual labor process. This is sometimes referred to as post-hypnotic suggestion. Linking future occurring phenomena to present suggestions forms a linkage that can be associated to. Seeing and touching Tom forms a truism in experience when it occurs in labor, increasing the likelihood of the suggestions and feelings from the birth visualization be triggered in association as they have been mentioned in the visualization and will predictably occur naturally in the labor environment of the future. Physical settings (such as going to the hospital, birth center, etc.) can also be used in this way.

transcript continued:
...you can feel it surging and surging and building from the inside, and this one is more and more powerful, more and more effective at moving the baby right down and it's building and BUILDing and BUILDING and the baby's diving and diving and diving right down towards the cervix, and the cervix is OOPening and OOOpening and OOOPENing and the baby dives and dives and the wave builds and builds, coming faster and faster into shore, faster and faster into shore (emphasis on the "s" sound, and with speed) and more and more effective, at getting there...and the baby's coming now...the baby's head is coming right through as the cervix is completely oopen and free, and the baby's diving right through it now...then the wave ebbs away (tonality continually falling in volume, intensity) the wave always comes to shore...ALWAYS comes to shore, always comes to shore. It feels good...your baby's head is coming right through your cervix... (in a whisper) right Down...it's like it's coming home, it's coming into its own home...your own house where you live, it's coming...it's coming home in that way...as it comes out...to its outer home in your arms, and now you rest, and your baby rests, in between each and every contraction, you rest and your baby rests, always sinking deeper, deeper down (sing song tone) deeper and deeper down into the bottom of the ocean...now another contraction is coming it's building and building (tonality accelerates, gaining in volume and intensity) it's coming faster and faster than the one before, as the baby slides down, as it slides down through the slippery, slippery, shimmering...shimmering cells of the sides...and it's gaining momentum, and now the baby's DIVing and DIVING and DIVING down for the opening, and you begin to push, and to push, and to push, and to push, and the baby's diving and diving, and diving right down towards the middle of the vagina...but then the wave comes to shore and you always know it will, you always know it will...and very soon, in the next, perhaps, several contractions, as the baby dives through the vagina...the wave will bring your baby out the waters will bring your baby out, waters'll bring your baby out...sinking deeper and deeper down to that place, Tom reminds you Tom reminds you of it...place in yourself, bottom of the ocean, psoas muscles....Now another contraction's coming and this one's building faster and faster and faster, and the baby's diving, and diving, and DIVING right down...you begin to push, and to push and to push right out and the pressure's coming right down as the baby's head DIVING DOWN for that opening and your vagina's (very forceful, but with less volume) beginning to open and OOpen and OOOPen as the baby comes like a ripple, just like a ripple...and the the contraction fades, and you rest, and the baby rests, always sinking deeper and deeper down, always deeper and deeper down in between...each and every contraction ... and with the next contraction now you can feeeel the baby coming down. Lots and lots. Lots and lots. The wave's building, and building, and BUILding, and BUILDING and you beginning to pant and open pant and open pant and pant and pant and pant and pant and pant... and right out comes the baby's head (tonality communicates excitement) slippery and warm, between your legs, right out it comes, right between your legs, right there...you can hear it breathing (soft whisper) there's another contraction coming...and it's building...and it's building...and it's building...and you begin to pant and pant and pant and pant and pant and right OUT comes the baby's shoulders, right OUT (tonality communicates enthusiasm and relief) slippery and warm baby, and just as you see it, you reach down to HOLD the baby in your ARMS, Celine, (refers to holding in arms now instead of womb) that's where it's headed, headed for your arms, Celine, and this isn't even that far away....very, very much yours, your right to feel that baby in your arms, now, and as you feel that as you see it, as you hear it, your body will even continue, to contract down without you even needing to think about it...and right OUT will come your placenta, very whole and full, and you'll feel very, very good, very good, very good to have the placenta to come out...and then your uterus continues to contract DOWN, very Firm, and hard like a rock, very Firm, very fast...because that's the way the body's made, as you continue the process as you look at the baby, as you hear it, it stimulates the oxytocin in your body to continue....being.....made....

Comments:

Seeing, hearing, touching, or even knowing the baby is born linked to the placenta coming out with continued linkage for the uterus to continue contracting down to a pre-pregnant size.
Some very interesting research by Niles Newton and Margaret Mead have substantiated the fact that oxytocin is released as a mother sees, hears and touches her baby. Even more interesting is the data Margaret Mead collected on tribal people who believed that it was necessary and important for the mother to see, hear, and touch her baby after birth in order for the placenta to be expelled! Perhaps indirect hypnosis is simply another kind of knowing, or intuitive body language.

transcript continued:
... so that now you can just enjoy, and indulge in holding your baby with Tom ... the most important thing in your arms right now ... and the trust ... it has, and have ... in your love (in a slow, deliberate whisper) the trust in you love ... trust in your love ... trust your love (changes to a statement, tonality remains soft, gentle, but firm) ... (very long pause)+ ... Now, very gently, you can just let that scene begin to fade into the future very much where it belongs, as the baby gets very, very ready to be born, to dive down ... you can very much, just let that fade into the future now, taking yourself back now, to your breathing, to your body on the inside, very much giving yourself the right to enjoy this last bit of pregnancy (tonality sounds like a question) ... just fully enjoying this last bit of pregnancy (voice tonality drops on the last word, sounding like an answer to a question) ... even though you may be very, very ready ... to have it be over, and to have your baby in your arms, just fully enjoying, the last bit of pregnancy (intent to build a sense of the inevitable end of pregnancy, thus the implied suggestion of the inevitable beginning, or starting of labor) ... (long pause) ... so that just now as you're breathing [L] without yet opening your eyes, you can just BECOME AWARE of yourself in the room now [E] (tonality gradually becoming louder to a normal, conversational level) just SENSING how far your body is from the ceiling [E], locating your body in the room, how far you are from the walls, very much the CENTER of the room right now, very much the CENTER ... and as the center [L], you can become ... very ENERGIZED (emphasized to sound full with energy), reorganized (referring to the many suggestions throughout the the relaxation) ... and whole ... and just taking your own time, I'd like you to just think about coming to a comfortable sitting position, but only in your own time ... giving yourself the right to imagine moving each muscle, and maintaining that relaxation [E] (refers to all suggestions, experience within the relaxation/visualization) as you come to a natural sitting position [L], just moving each muscle that you need to get there and relaxing each muscle after you move it ... just like a cat moves in the warm sun [M], just taking your time ... (implied suggestion to sit up) ...

comments:
Celine took a copy of the audiotape home with her to use for relaxation purposes as she desired. Her copy of the tape did not contain her own verbal statements in the exploratory part of the visualization, since hearing herself in the past would not necessarily serve her in future and changing experiences when listening to the tape at home. Copies of tapes made for client's use do not include client statements but contain only the guided experience to re-use on their own. Change naturally occurs, and varying suggestions may stand out, at different times that the client utilizes the audiotape. The client is not held back by reminders of their own experience in past sessions. It is not advisable to tape the client's response on a tape that will be utilized at home as it may also contain awareness of issues or beliefs that the woman is not willing to be aware of in her regular waking state. If she is not ready to be reminded of such associations, she will be likely to reject the visualization altogether and not make use of it.

Celine's Birth

Celine's waters broke on a Monday morning at 1:35 A.M., approximately four weeks after the visualization session. She was not, however, in labor when she called her midwife at 2:30 A.M. Contractions had not yet started (Celine's fear). She decided to take a bath, and then lay down to listen to the tape of the visualization. She fell asleep listening to the tape and awoke a few minutes after 7 A.M. with very strong contractions. Her labor picked up quickly in speed and intensity. She gave birth to a healthy seven pound, twelve ounce baby girl at 11:26 A.M., with no complications. Her total labor was less than four and one-half hours, and she had no perineal tears.
(Peterson and Mehl, p. 236-243)

next see:
imagery: birth: birth visualization

see also:
imagery: Taueret journey
hypnotherapy: techniques of trance
imagery: birth: introductory visualization
imagery: birth: exploratory visualization
imagery: birth: exploring phobias
imagery: birth: complication - breech
imagery: birth: complication - past complications
imagery: birth: complication - fibroids


footnotes