Thank you for your interest in the Hypnosis for Childbirth Class. Scroll down to the end of the page to see the 2013 schedule of classes.
Below is a list of frequently asked questions about the class. Please read through it prior to registering for the series or sending questions that may be answered on the list. If you do need any clarification or have other questions, please contact us through email or by calling the Center of Birthing Transformation at 708-725-3025. We hope to meet you in an up-coming class!
Warmly,
Tanya C. Mchale, RN, CH
Founder, Center of Birthing Transformation
FAQ’s
1) What will I learn from the class?
2) What is the class structure?
3) When should I begin this series?
4) Who teaches it and what are her credentials?
5) What are the differences between this class, HypnoBirthing and HypnoBabies?
6) Does my partner attend the class?
7) Do I need another class to get other labor preparation skills if I attend this class?
What kind of results can I expect from this class? Will the skills I learn help me to have a natural childbirth?
9) When I finish the series can I come back to a class for a review right before the birth?
10) What is the cost of the class?
11) Does health insurance cover some of the cost of this class?
12) How do I sign up for the class?
ANSWERS
1) What will I learn from the class?
The class covers: How to use hypnosis for labor and birth * how to reduce discomfort from contractions * massage for labor * slow deep abdominal breathing * relaxation techniques * labor positioning * how partners can assist during labor * how to work with your hospital staff * understanding the stages of labor and when to use specific skills learned in class * the emotional experience of birth for the baby * the physiologic value of natural childbirth * normal newborn appearance after birth * bonding with the baby * breastfeeding * newborn care basics * newborn jaundice * understanding circumcision * co-sleeping and other attachment parenthood ideas
2) What is the class structure?
The class is taught in a 5-week series. In each class there is a combination of didactic information with practice of new skills. There is a new CD given in 4 of the 5 classes, recommendation for homework between classes, and recommendation for practice after the class is finished. There is also a book included in the class that provides additional information. The 5th class is an optional newborn breastfeeding class, held only at the Illinois Masonic location (regardless of where you attend the other four classes). The breastfeeding class is held on the first Wednesday of every other month.
3) When should I begin this series?
Ideally it’s good to begin the class between 20-28 weeks in your pregnancy. Some couples do take it later. The value of starting it earlier however is that you have adequate time to create a practice with the skills that you are learning, and yet not have to pressure yourself to practice daily in case something comes up. When you take it later, it can still be very useful, but it would be important to practice skills daily in order for you to get the most value from the class.
4) Who teaches it and what are her credentials?
Tanya C. Mchale, RN, CH is the primary teacher of this course. Tanya has worked in maternal child health for the past 25 years, has been a certified childbirth educator since 1988, has been a certified hypnotherapist since 2001, and has taught hypnosis and childbirth related courses since 2001. Additionally she is a labor monitrice and attends approximately 5 births a month, assisting clients with hypnosis and other tools during their labors. She has worked in labor & delivery, postpartum, and with babies and their families through the first year of life for her entire professional career. She is also a member of APPPAH, the Association of Pre- and Peri-natal Psychology and Health. She teaches families how to understand the emotional experience of birth from their babies’ perspective, and assists with reparation work for babies and parents when trauma has occurred during the birthing process.
5) What are the differences between this class, HypnoBirthing and HypnoBabies?
HypnoBirthing is a class that is a trademarked curriculum and is owned by Maria Mongan; HypnoBabies is a home study course that is owned and distributed by Kerry Tushhoff. Originally, Tanya was trained as a HypnoBirthing instructor and worked with the HypnoBirthing Institute from 2001 to 2005. Tanya left the Institute in 2005 to create her own course, based on the feedback she was receiving from her students. A frequent complaint that Tanya heard while she was teaching HypnoBirthing was that the CD and course curriculum did not help clients through active labor as much as they thought it was going to help them. Because the course is trademarked, no alterations can be made from the course. Tanya was not satisfied with her students’ feedback about the course, so she created her own course that addressed her students’ concerns in 2005.
Another difference between Tanya’s course and other hypnosis courses that exist for childbirth is pertaining to the belief in the couples’ ability to make good choices for themselves in the labor itself. Tanya’s experience of HypnoBirthing is that the owner of HypnoBirthing is strongly invested in having women follow the course principles exactly during labor. When women follow the principles exactly and have a natural childbirth, then they can say that they had a “hypno-birth.” Tanya does not feel that devotion to a methodology serves families during their labors. She feels the woman giving birth, not the methodology, should be the center of the experience.
As far as differences between HypnoBabies and Tanya’s course, HypnoBabies at this time is a home study course. Home study does have limitations in that you do not have an experienced teacher who can give feedback about your practice of hypnosis and you cannot get feedback specific to local hospitals and providers.
6) Does my partner attend the class?
Yes, it is wonderful if your partner can attend for two reasons. First, your partner is learning about how hypnosis is a useful tool during labor and learning about the other topics the same time you are. Secondly, your partner is directly learning about hypnosis pacing and intonation as Tanya models that within the class. If your partner cannot attend all or part of the class, it may be helpful to bring a friend or relative to class with you so you have someone to practice with in class. If you cannot do that, often there are nursing students auditing the class that can work with you during practice or Tanya may be able to work with you during some practices.
7) Do I need another class to get other labor preparation skills if I attend this class?
In general, no, you do not need another preparatory class. This class is quite comprehensive. The only specialty topics it does not include is infant CPR and infant massage. Tanya does have recommendations for teachers of those topics if you are interested. It also does not include hospital tours, as class participants may be delivering at a variety of hospitals.
What kind of results can I expect from this class? Will the skills I learn help me to have a natural childbirth?
Like all things, the results can vary depending on the amount of work you put into developing the skills. If your baby is well positioned when you go into labor (and part of the curriculum gives you resources to increase the likelihood of this), most women will be able to labor at home until late active labor (7cm’s or more) and have a natural birth. If there are unexpected complications in the labor and birth, part of the curriculum addresses how to handle the unexpected.
There are three skill sets you learn from the class: 1) physical and mental relaxation; 2) attention to normal labor physiology and 3) attention to a neutral sensation while you are having strong contractions (hypnosis). All skills taught in the series require regular practice between classes and after the classes are over. These are very valuable skills for labor and other times of your life, such as early parenting.
9) When I finish the series can I come back to a class for a review right before the birth?
Yes, you can without additional charge. In fact you are more than welcome to do this for any class held at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Our space is more restricted in Oak Park, so make sure you check with the instructor first when attending a review class in Oak Park.
10) What is the cost of the class?
It is $350 per couple. Class includes a book, 4 CD’s, and a binder of handouts. An additional practice DVD is available for $25. You can pay for the class with a check or credit card through Paypal. Ask the instructor for a Paypal link if you intend to pay this way. There is an additional $5 charge for paying through Paypal to cover transaction fees.
11) Does health insurance cover some of the cost of this class?
It may, depending on your policy. Sometimes a portion of the class is covered under “childbirth education.” Usually if you have a flexible spending account this expense is covered through it, although because I am not a medical office, if you received a flex spending credit card, the card will not work through Paypal. If you are trying to find out from your health insurance whether they cover this. The procedure code for hypnotherapy is 90880; the ICD-9 code is anxiety (labor) 300.01.
12) How do I sign up for the class?
If you’d like to sign up send an email to tanya@tanyamchale.com and state which class month and location you’d like to sign up for. Remember that the ideal time for enrollment is between 20-28 weeks. People do sign up later but it requires more regular practice on your part to get the highest value from the class.
After you email Tanya, she will send you back registration forms. Keep the schedule and logistic information page; mail back the ‘Hypnosis for Childbirth Registration’ form and the ‘Please Enroll Me’ form. Mail forms to Tanya Mchale, 715 Lake Street, Suite 716, Oak Park, IL 60301 . Payment for the class should be submitted with registration forms. You can pay in full or send a deposit of $100 to hold your place in the series. Please be aware though that the full balance is due by the first class. Once registration forms are received you will receive an email confirmation. If you sign up within one week of the class, speak with Tanya about bringing the forms directly to the class with payment.
Looking forward to meeting you in class!
AIMMC Hypnosis for Childbirth Classes 2013 Schedule
Illinois Masonic - Taught by Tanya Mchale, RN, CH
Please contact Tanya Mchale at 708-725-3025 for any questions or changes.
Place/Directions: Classes are taught at Illinois Masonic Medical Center, Center for Education, 836 W. Nelson, Ringel Rooms 1 & 2. There are 4 consecutive Mondays and 1 Wednesday in each series (with the exception of August). Times of classes are 7 to 9:3PM, approximately, but on some nights we run about 20 minutes late.
Illinois Masonic Medical Center (IMMC) sits between the E/W streets of Belmont and Fullerton and the N/S streets of Halsted and Sheffield, at 836 W. Wellington, in Chicago. Park in west parking lot (on Wellington, near Sheffield), bring ticket in to be validated at front desk (do this step on the way in—validated parking is $4, unvalidated $12) and ask how to get to the bridge for the Center for Education from within the hospital. After entering the Center, take elevator to Ground and follow signs for Ringel Room 1 & 2.
Bring two pillows and a yoga mat to the 2nd and 4th classes (not needed for the breastfeeding class; Illinois Masonic location only).
Dates of Classes at Illinois Masonic (dates marked with an asterisk indicate the Wednesday night optional breastfeeding/newborn class).
Schedule of Hypnosis for Childbirth Classes 2013 at IMMC
January 7, 9* 14, 21, 28, 2013
February 4, 11, 18, 25, *March 6, 2013
March 4, 6*,11, 18, 25, 2013
April 8, 15, 22, 29, *May 8, 2013
May 6, *8, 13, 20, *29 (Tuesday), 2013
June 3, 10, 17, 24, 2013
July 8, 10*, 15, 22, 29, 2013
August 5, 12, 19, September 10* (Tuesday), 2013
September 9, 11*, 16, 23, 30, 2013
October 7, 14, 21, 28, 2013
November 4, 6*, 11, 18, 25, 2013
December 2, 9, 16, 23, 2013
January 6, 8*, 13, 20, 27, 2014
Oak Park, IL – Taught by Tanya Mchale, RN, CH
Please contact Tanya Mchale at 708-725-3025 for any questions or changes.
Classes are taught at West Suburban Midwives, 715 Lake Street, Suite 273, Oak Park, IL. Classes are on Sunday afternoon from 2 to 4:30 PM. West Suburban Midwives is 1⁄2 block east of Oak Park Ave. on Lake Street in Oak Park. Parking is free on the weekends in the parking garage behind this building. Entrance to the parking garage is on South Boulevard.
One breastfeeding/newborn class is included in the series and is taught on a Wednesday evening at Illinois Masonic Medical Center. Illinois Masonic is located at 836 W. Wellington.The class is held in the Center for Education, Ringel Rooms 2&3. Park in the parking garage on Wellington, close to Sheffield, and have ticket validated on your way in. This class is noted with an asterisk.
Yoga mats and pillows ARE NOT NEEDED for the Oak Park location.
2013
January 6, 9*, 13, 20, 27, 2013
March 3, 6*, 10, 17, 24, 2013
May 5, 8*, 12, 19, June 2, 2013
July 7, July 10*, July 14, 21, 28, 2013
September 8, 11*, 16, 23, 30, 2013
November 3, 6*, 11, 18, 25, 2013
January 5, 8*, 12, 19, 26, 2014