DaddiLife has just published the first ever Hypnobirthing book for dads. In this article we talk about the motivation for doing so, the makings of the book, and what you can expect from it.
What is hypnobirthing?
We've written previously about hypnobirthing, and specifically the role of dads in hypnobirthing, and in its simplest terms, hypnobirthing is a set of relaxation and visualisation techniques designed to help women eliminate fear and anxiety about birth and replace it with a positive and calm approach. More and more women are turning to hypnobirthing if they want a natural birth, and feeling as in-control as possible.
Why write a book on hypnobirthing for dads?
There were quite a few reasons behind this book. The first being that 1 in 3 women experience serious birth trauma, which in turn not only contributes to post-partum issues all round, but also leads to genuine birth fear in the future.
The other reason is all about re-thinking things that we’ve taken for granted. We’re taught so often that birth is something to be feared, something to go into some trepidation with. And of course there are some very real challenges that occur during pregnancy and birth, but there's also a lack of awareness generally about how much better the birth experience can be, and also the rights that partners have in the process.
It all comes together in this book to try and inspire what the optimal birth experience for mother, baby, and dad can be. It's something we cover in more depth across the 'Guardian of the cave' chapter about understanding how humans used to birth (literally guarding our partners against predators), and how we have an opportunity to increase the oxytocin that mothers get to drive far more optimal births.
There's an all too common perception that dads have a very limited role at birth - usually the chair in the corner at best. But with Hypnobirthing it can be so so much more, as Ben G, one of the dads in the community we interviewed attested to
A Positive Birth - key features
In 224 pages, we've packed in a whole lot of insights and learnings for dad, including:
The science of birth
Where we shine a light on the role of dads at birth, looking at the experience in a way that goes way past tradition and convention.
The principles of hypnobirthing for dads
The four legs of hypnobirthing (Trust, Calmness, Education, and Confidence) - and bringing those altogether with your partner.
A unique toolkit for dads
Working with hypnobirthing experts, we've created a dedicated toolkit for dads which covers everything from affirmations and scripts, through to breathing techniques, anchors, and more.
Before the birth
The where, how, and who questions, and how to create an aligned birth plan with your partner.
The birth itself
Navigating the 3 stages of labor, and the frequently asked questions for dads to be aware of as a true advocate during birth
We also have a section dedicated to beyond the birth, and the book also contains insights from over 20 interviews with hypnobirthing dads so you can learn from their experiences too.
A Positive Birth - A Dad's Guide To Hypnobirthing & Becoming a Confident Birth Partner, is now available on Amazon.
