If you had asked me in high school, or even 10 years ago (yes, I’m that old) what I wanted to be when I grew up, “A Hypnobabies Instructor,” would not have been my first answer…or my answer at all!
The truth is, my path to becoming a Hypnobabies Instructor follows my path into motherhood. I became a Hypnobabies Instructor because I used the Hypnobabies program in preparation for the births of my babies and loved it so much that I wanted to share my experience with other women.
It All Started With Two Pink Lines On A Pregnancy Test
After a miscarriage followed by a year of trying to get pregnant, I had scheduled an appointment to explore infertility treatment. The Saturday before my appointment, I took one last pregnancy test…and I was beyond excited when the second pink line appeared in the test window!
Being the planner that I am, I immediately started looking at options for childbirth education. I had always known I wanted a natural birth—women had been doing it for thousands of years, so why not me?—and I knew I would need some tools to make it happen.
My search took me to hypnosis for birth, and I stumbled across Hypnobabies. After looking at the program and reading reviews by moms who had used Hypnobabies, I knew it was just right for me! I ordered the course and started preparing for my baby’s birth.
My Hypnobabies Tools Kept Me Calm And Comfortable—When I Used Them
Fast forward a few months to my baby’s birthday…we couldn’t wait to meet him! I won’t go into all the details, but suffice it to say that this birth was a beautiful learning experience for me. After hours of using my Hypnobabies tools and feeling great, I kept having the urge to poop. I was fighting the urge when I wasn’t on the toilet, and now I know I was really just fighting against my body opening up and my baby moving down into the birth canal. But while I was fighting those intense sensations, I quit using my Hypnobabies tools and decided to get an epidural.
Had I chosen a different care provider or place of birth, had a doula, or had a nurse who had seen a natural childbirth, maybe things would have gone differently. Hindsight is always 20/20, right? But in the end, things turned out the way they were meant to be. I knew Hypnobabies worked because I had felt great when I was using my Hypnobabies tools. And I was determined that the next time I had a baby I would make different choices and use my Hypnobabies tools the whole time!
A New Baby, A New Care Provider, A New Hospital
So I did just that. With Baby #2, I again prepared for my baby’s birth using Hypnobabies (you can read my whole birth story here). I was more dedicated with my hypnosis practice the second time around, and I had chosen midwives who were fully supportive of my birth plan. My husband was completely on board this time (he had been a bit skeptical about Hypnobabies with Baby #1, but became a HUGE supporter when he saw how well it worked).
The birth of my second baby was one of the most amazing, empowering experiences of my life! Things went exactly as I had planned and hoped. Using my Hypnobabies tools, I had a completely drug-free, comfortable childbirth experience. I actually enjoyed giving birth!
I Knew I Wasn’t Special
In fact, I’m kind of a wimp. I knew that good experiences giving birth—especially my completely comfortable birth–were due, in large part, to my Hypnobabies preparation. I wanted my sisters, friends and every other woman, for that matter to be able to have the knowledge and tools I had to have the best birth possible.
So when I heard about a Hypnobabies Instructor Training, I knew I had to do it! Becoming a Hypnobabies Instructor isn’t for the faint of heart—there are extensive prerequisites, an intense in-person training, followed by taking a test and meeting additional requirements in order to teach.
I LOVE Being a Hypnobabies Instructor
Though becoming an instructor was a lot of work, it has been SO worth it! Being a Hypnobabies Instructor means that couples invite me to be part of their journey into parenthood. I believe the birth of every baby is a miracle, and I feel honored that parents allow me to participate in their preparation for that miracle.
I love to hear my student’s birth stories—all of them. I love to hear how they used the information they learned in class to make important decisions, how they used their hypnosis tools during the baby’s birth. I love seeing pictures of new families—whether it’s a first baby or a sixth—and seeing the changes that families experience as they welcome their little ones. My absolute favorite is students drop by to show off their bundles of joy and allowing me to peek at or even hold their cuties!
So, I may not have known I wanted to be a Hypnobabies Instructor when I grew up, but I feel very blessed that my journey has brought me here!
What journey has life taken you on that you never would have expected?
Written by: Megan Marshall–Hypnobabies Instructor and Doula in Las Vegas, Nevada and the mother of 3 young boys who always keep her laughing. You can read more about Megan’s Hypnobabies and mothering adventures on her website, A Mother’s Wisdom.
