At HypnoBirthing of CT:

You Will Learn About Your Rights
1.  Learn about your constitutional right to be in charge of every decision and procedure during your childbirth in CT or NY.
2.  Find out how to legally decline any procedure or intervention you don’t want.
3.  Understand when the usage of drugs like Pitocin is wisely and safely administered vs. when it is unnecessarily and unlawfully applied to healthy women (which is 97% of the time).
4.  Understand the conflict of interest in our complex obstetrics industry and how to maintain control over every decision affecting your birthing.
5.  Hear about the typical hospital, home birth, and birth center protocols throughout Fairfield and Westchester Counties.

You Will Learn About Your Mind:
1.  Find out exactly how your thoughts release chemical reactions in your body that can slow birth and  cause discomfort.
2.  Understand the importance of your words and thoughts. Your subconscious mind interprets information in a manner that either serves or hinders you.  Learn to apply this to your advantage.
3.  Debunk the myths around childbirth.
4.  Figure out how to decide who should be in the room while you’re birthing.  Learn how to prepare those people – be they family or medical staff – to support you in the most beneficial way.
5.  Gain the tools, knowledge and skills to help you to relax and remain calm whenever you experience fear, stress or anxiety.

You Will Learn About Your Body
1.  Understand how your intake of water affects amniotic fluid, and how sonograms can result in misinformation.
2.  Know the common foods to avoid during pregnancy and which healthy foods will reduce your odds of conditions like gestational diabetes, premature rupture of membranes, heartburn and preeclampsia.
3.  Find out safe, fun ways to induce labor naturally.
4.  Know the birthing position that expands your pelvis by 30% so your baby can move through you more easily.
5.  Get an overview of all the major special circumstances surrounding birthing, such as breech presentation, preeclampsia, Group B Strep, early rupture of membranes, prolonged labor, etc.

You Will Learn About Your Baby
1.  Discover what your baby will experience during birth, and how you can make that experience a positive and gentle welcome.
2.  Learn why your baby’s emotions are inextricably linked to your own, and how this affects birth.
3.  Understand what happens in the first hour after birth to allow easy bonding and breastfeeding.
4.  Get to know the seemingly-harmless routine hospital procedure that can greatly impair breast-feeding.
5.  Find out how to reduce your likelihood of having a breech baby or your options for safely turning a baby that’s already breech.

You Will Learn About Your Caregiver
1.  See why some couples change practitioners in their third trimester and how to do so quickly and easily.
2.  Create a thorough birth plan and determine which items you should discuss with your caregiver before you go into labor.
3.  Find out where to obtain unbiased and reliable sources of research data so you can make those important decisions without pressure and before the baby arrives (Vitamin K, PKU testing, erythromycin, circumcision, vaccinations, etc.).
4.  Find out how to tell when your caregiver is genuinely aligned with your birthing goals – and what red flags to look for.

You Will Learn HypnoBirthing Tools
1.  The relaxation and self-hypnosis techniques to eliminate fear and tension.
2.  What your birth companion can do in the birthing environment to increase your odds of an extremely successful, satisfying birth.  (Hint:  It’s not about telling you when to breathe or how to push!)
3.  The three deep-breathing techniques that keep your mind calm and body relaxed.

Beyond HypnoBirthing
At HypnoBirthing of CT, much of the information you will receive through your childbirth classes comes directly from some of the world’s most esteemed midwives and childbirth authors, including Ina May Gaskin and Nancy Wainer.  We pass on to our couples dozens of pregnancy and childbirth tips and recommendations that will better prepare you for a safe, comfortable and beautiful natural birth experience.  In addition, because we have worked with hundreds of couples in Fairfield County, New Haven and Westchester, we will share with you which local OBs and midwives have earned our thanks for treating our couples with respect and helping them to achieve joyful, satisfying births.

HypnoBirthing of CT Offers Extra Information to Couples, Including:
- Why some midwives insist on keeping the cord attached for at least one full hour post-partum;
- The birthing position that expands your pelvis by 30% so your baby can move through you more easily and safely.
- Why some people are refusing “standard” tests, like gestational diabetes and group B strep;
- The immediate 3 things actions to take if you end up with an unassisted birth (e.g. in the car);
- How to prevent premature rupture of membranes;
- The controversy surrounding perineal massage;
- The most important thing to do immediately after giving birth;
- Why avoiding dairy during pregnancy can make birthing safer and easier;
- When breech births are particularly concerning versus when they’re not;
- How conditions like pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes can be avoided;
- Medical interventions – their consequences and appropriate uses;
- Why love and respect must be key elements in any birthing room;
- The primary risk of cord blood banking, so you can make an informed decision;
- Cesarean prevention (that is, avoiding an unnecessarean!)

HypnoBirthing of CT Community
Because HypnoBirthing of CT has provided natural childbirth classes to 400+ couples in Fairfield County and beyond, our classes have evolved into a rewarding opportunity to meet and connect with a deep and wide community of other caring, educated couples.

We have repeatedly seen our couples form close and lasting friendships because of the enjoyable and charismatic style of founder and instructor, Cynthia Overgard, who water-birthed her own babies naturally in Connecticut using HypnoBirthing.  Cynthia provides many opportunities for couples to connect even after the course is over, at birth-preparation and social events hosted at her HypnoBirthing studio in her Westport home.

Where HBCT’s Couples Are Giving Birth:

Danbury Birthing Center				22%
Stamford, Greenwich & Norwalk Hospital				21%
Norwalk (Obs and/or Midwives)				13%
Westchester Hospitals				11%
At Home				7%
Bridgeport, Milford and Yale/New Haven				7%
Danbury Hospital				5%
NYC Hospitals / Roosevelt Birth Center				4%
Other				9%