Glucose Test and Talking with Doctor About HypnoBirthing

Today, I had a doctor’s appointment to take my glucose test and to talk to my doctor about doing HypnoBirthing during my labor. A glucose test checks for gestational diabetes and is usually done between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy (I am currently 24-weeks). The liquid I drank for the glucose test was orange and sugary that came in a 10 fl. oz. bottle. I downed the drink in two minutes, mainly because I was thirsty. After drinking the liquid, I had to wait an hour, from 11:17a to 12:17p, until the nurse drew blood from my arm. She took two tubes of blood and then the doctor told me to see her in three to four weeks, which will be around my 27/28-week of pregnancy. So exciting! I will get my glucose test results then and let you know the results.

My doctor is pretty frank and honest when it comes to her profession as an obstetrician. That is what I like about her. She will tell you the good and the bad. When I told her that I wanted to do HypnoBirthing during my labor, she was not sure what it was. I explained to her that it is a natural method to giving birth, with no epidural or medical drugs during the birthing process, that includes self-hypnosis. She responded that she was open to anything that her patients want to do when it comes to their birthing experience. Although her statement relieved my concerns that she was open to the way I wanted to give birth, she went on to explain that labor and birthing a child is one of the most painful experiences that a women can go through. She told me a few stories of women who made her promise not to give them an epidural in the delivery room, but in the end, they begged for that epidural to ease the pain. She stated, "If you were taking a trip to California from New York, would you pack up your belongings and walk there or take an airplane to avoid the long journey?" I get where she is coming from, but at the same time, that statement does not compare to my decision to do HypnoBirthing due to the fact that this method allows for relaxation, which therefore lessens the pain where it can be managed by the birthing mother naturally. A better comparison would be to say, "If you were taking a trip to California from New York, would you pack up your belongings and take a sleeping pill to avoid the fear of heights that you have while flying or would you rather take the plan knowing a relaxation method that can ease your fear so you can enjoy looking at the beautiful horizon while you fly?" Although the destination is the same, the way fear is coped with is entirely different, as in coping with the pain is entirely different when it comes to taking an epidural or doing Hypnotherapy.

Not to say I am better at copping with pain than other mothers-to-be, but I will prepare myself by getting the proper education and relaxation techniques for Hypnobirthing. I am optimistic about incorporating this method into my birthing experience, but I do know that proper preparation is needed in order for the method to be a success during my labor.