Trust Your Body: Hypnobirthing and the Natural Reflex You Already Know

How I Found Out About Pain-Free Birth & 2 Short Birth Stories

Everyone around me seemed convinced birth was going to feel like a marathon… in fire. I nodded politely, but in my head I was thinking: Surely there’s a better way to do this.

I first stumbled onto hypnobirthing after reading an article about painless birth… Naturally, I was curious — if I was already expecting pain, why not at least try something that might prove me wrong?

I discovered hypnobirthing — and I quickly went down the rabbit hole. Turns out, hypnobirthing isn’t about unicorn rainbows or pretending contractions are “just little hugs.” It’s about understanding what your body is doing and giving it the best shot at doing it well. Think of it as working with the tide instead of flailing in it. 

My guide into this new world was my coach, Helianthe — founder of MuchaMama. She taught me the Marie Mongan Method and brought my husband into the process, giving us both the confidence to approach birth as a team. Self-analysis and coping with family or childhood trauma is part of the path to birth ... as a new cycle of life is about to begin with the birth. 

For self-guiding the book HypnoBirthing: The Mongan Method  is an excellent place to start, with breathing techniques, a memorable story about a birthing cat, and even a chapter on pooping that’s far more relevant than it sounds. It matters. Trust me.

Somewhere down the rabbit hole, I landed in an Orgasmic Birth Course.
Yes, you read that right.

The idea is pain-free birth and an orgasm. Sounds like winning the birth lottery, right? While I didn’t reach that outcome, the idea that birth could be experienced in such a way expanded my sense of what was possible.

That rabbit hole led to Birth as an American Rite of Passage by Robbie Davis-Floyd. A deep dive into how modern birth practices act like rituals — sometimes empowering, sometimes limiting. It opened my eyes to just how much culture shapes our birth stories.

The TENS device entered my story thanks to a chance meeting. At my midwife’s office, I met a woman who had just given birth. She was praising this TENS devise for relief, I had no idea what it was, probably some witchery. I was wrong... just a bunch of electric pulses with magic power of massaging. It relieves stress in the lower back - anything that brings pleasure during the birth triggers the strongest pain-killer, the natural oxytocin, which then guides the process of birth with low or even no pain.

Then there was acupuncture. I used it twice as a natural induction to influence my birth time. The first time, my girl arrived exactly on the due date, only 2% of babies do. The second time, the boy came early — with a kick so strong it broke my waters, and then, with my guidance, practically crawled out.

“For me, having tools that gave me a sense of control and independence felt empowering — it was my way of doing things.”

By the end, I had more than just a birth plan — I had a whole toolkit. Empowered Mama Reads, is my short list of books, ideas, and little discoveries that carried me from pregnancy into motherhood.

The Theory Behind: What Is Hypnobirthing?

It's a childbirth approach that uses breathing, visualization, and relaxation techniques to help you stay calm, confident, and in control during labor. It’s built on the belief that birth is a natural process your body already knows how to do — when your mind stays relaxed, your body can work more efficiently.

Why Hypnobirthing Works

Fear and tension can slow labor and increase pain. Hypnobirthing teaches how to stay relaxed, breaking the fear–tension–pain cycle. It also encourages trust in the body and promotes a calm, peaceful birthing experience, whether at home, in a hospital, or anywhere else.

The Three Types of Hypnobirthing Breathing

1. Calm Breathing (for Early Labor)

• Breathe in through the nose for a count of 4
• Exhale gently through the mouth for a count of 6–8
• Use this throughout labor or when resting

2. Surge Breathing (for Contractions)

• Breathe in as the contraction begins, imagining a wave rising
• Exhale slowly, visualizing the wave falling
• This helps your body stay calm and work with the contraction

3. Birth (J) Breathing (for Second Stage)

• Breathe in deeply through the nose
• Exhale downward, guiding the breath toward your pelvis (in a "J" shape)
• No forceful pushing — just breathing your baby down

Practicing these techniques regularly during pregnancy can help your body automatically use them during labor.

What do Pooping & Birthing have in common?

It might sound humorous , but comparing pooping to birthing is a  helpful way to understand how natural the birthing process truly is. Both are involuntary, natural reflexes involving the same muscles — and both are easier when you're relaxed and private.

Key Similarities

• Involuntary reflexes: Just like you don’t force a poop, your body knows how to birth with minimal pushing when left undisturbed.
• Privacy helps: It’s easier to relax and allow natural processes when you’re not being watched or interrupted.
• Tension inhibits progress: Anxiety and stress can literally close off the muscles needed for both processes.
• Relaxed breathing helps: Deep, calm breathing supports progress and eases discomfort.
• Same muscle groups involved: The core and pelvic floor are key players in both pooping and birthing.
• Hormonal support: Your body produces hormones like oxytocin and endorphins to help both processes along.

Trust Your Body

If you can poop, you can birth. Seriously. Understanding this connection can help take fear out of childbirth. Just like you trust your body to poop, you can trust it to birth.

Your body knows what to do — it just needs the right conditions: calm, privacy, breath, and trust. Just like you wouldn’t particularly want an audience when going to the bathroom, the same logic applies to giving birth. And if you are someone who does enjoy public pooping, then maybe public birthing is your go to strategy. We are still all very different and those differences are there in our birthing.

Hypnobirthing gives you the tools to support that natural process and release fear. With practice and preparation, you can birth like you breathe — naturally, peacefully, and powerfully.

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