frequently asked questions

Hypnosis is simply the natural learning state of the mind, accessed when you are deeply relaxed or in a daydreaming state. In fact, you’re passing through hypnotic states every time you drift off to sleep, when you are driving on the highway, or watching tv. This is simply a slower brain wave state that is responsible for absorbing/processing lessons from the environment. The repeated messages that go in from the environment eventually become the programming for life. While adults typically only reach hypnotic states in rest, children until age 7 or 8 spend most of their waking time in hypnosis. Which is why we call them little sponges. If we had to rely only on the conscious (or higher) brain wave state, we simply wouldn’t survive. This is where the subconscious mind comes in.

The subconscious is like the software on the computer running in the background and governs 95% of our experience. Hypnosis allows us to access our subconscious programming - the memories, beliefs, fears, patterns of movements, etc. - and throw out the negative in favour of new positive messages. Everything comes first from the mind, so we can use the mind to have very real impacts on our experience.

It’s not mind over matter, nor blind positivity, nor is it simply knowing more information. It’s not enough to just will something into existence, we have to work with the body through our physiology. We do that using our biggest tool, a relaxed state of mind, to retrain the nervous system out of a chronic fight, flight, freeze cycle so that natural functions, like birthing, aren’t impeded by stress and tension. Read more on hypnosis here.

During hypnosis, people generally feel relaxed, more easily able to access a place of quietude and inner knowing. They feel more at peace and connected to what is going on on in their bodies, better able to sink into the process of birth and adapt to any changes. All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; that means you remain in full control.

HypnoBirthing is a practical approach for all types of births. It is a powerful way to induce relaxation but also to produce physiological changes, like turning a breech baby or moving a low lying placenta. It’s particularly useful as a way of dealing with the impacts of fear on the body.

We all have fear. Understanding how fear is held in the body and how the nervous system responds to perceived threats in the environment is a crucial part of this program.

Maybe you have fears about your ability to tolerate labour, or worries about the extra load of parenting a second child; maybe there has been a lot of talk of induction, baby being ‘too big’, or being in an unfavourable position, and what the obstetrical implications of that are. Having more knowledge about the body and birthing context, a set of techniques you can fall back on to keep you grounded and the advocacy skills for making informed decisions is an invaluable part of this program.

What makes this program special is that it was created by an award-winning hypnotherapist who designed a powerful process not just for safer birthing but for personal discovery and development. As a certified HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator, I have in my toolbox a number of powerful hypnobirthing scripts for supporting people with key areas that can impact a birth’s progression and I’m there as a facilitator for the deep work that will help you stay attuned to your body and the process.

While there are tons of books and online courses out there (I’ve tried many myself!), this program truly covers everything you need for a safe and healthy pregnancy, labor, and postpartum experience—plus the hands-on support and coaching to get you there.

It’s not enough to simply want better birthing. Having a desire for something is step one, but we have to go deeper. You see, most of our programming comes from negative influences of other people, and much of this has been around for a long, long time. So no matter how many positive affirmations, visualizations, or breathing exercises one does, if there’s a conflicting negative belief already with a stronger hold on the subconscious, we can only get so far in our ability to influence change. Working with the subconscious is delicate but powerful work. Having a guide to help you undergo this process is truly invaluable. And I take my role as your birthing educator and guide in this space with great responsibility.

I have been awestruck by the outcomes families have experienced with this program and can honestly say, it’s an investment in yourself and your family that keeps on giving.

At the end of the day, any program or learning process is what you make of it. I support your ability to make the choice that is right for your family. If you want to talk it all through, book a free consultation. I’d love to meet you!

You can take this program anytime within the 2nd and 3rd trimesters, but optimally you would begin before reaching 32 weeks. Ideal time to start is around 20 weeks. This would give you enough time to practice the techniques and prime the system before reaching term.

Yes, in fact it is highly encouraged that you take this program together. Your partner will learn ways to support you in preparation for and during labour. If you don’t have a partner, no problem - bring any birth companion who is able to support you in the birthing room.

You can take this course with whomever is supporting you with birth. This could be your doula, grandmother, mother, or friend.

The program is for everyone, no matter how many times you have given birth before. Folks having given birth before may especially find it useful for working through a prior difficult birthing experience. Every labour and birth is unique and preparing fully for each time can help one to tune in and connect with themselves and their babies.

Your birth, your choice. My priority is to support and encourage agency in the birthing process. I support a process to get clear on what you want and help you make an informed choice.

Many people find that the techniques can be helpful for the coping with the first stage of labour until they get their epidural. In fact, learning the body’s natural physiology is crucial for understanding and navigating birthing decisions about any type of intervention.

Absolutely! HypnoBirthing is for all types of births. All techniques are fully adaptable. If a cesarean section is elected or required, the relaxation and self-hypnosis practice can be highly beneficial for coping with and recovering from potentially stressful situations.

When there are multiple couples looking for similar dates, I can offer a group rate at a discounted price. Groups are kept small (max of 4 couples) to allow for the right balance of supportive learning. The minimum enrolment for the group rate is 2 couples.

Please inquire if you are interested!

I am not attending births at the moment but as part of the program course fee, I do provide a 30-minute private call for you and your birth companion to ask any last minute questions or get further support at term.

I also offer additional 1-hour, 1-to-1 HypnoBirthing sessions close to birthing time, if booked in advance. Get in contact if you are interested.

Booking a full 1-hour, 1-to-1 session is often helpful if there are specific issues you feel are blocking you from your goals. For example, you feel you need an additional fear release session or you want to customize the scripts for a planned cesarean or baby in breech position. Please note however, I am not a therapist or a medical professional, so can only work within my scope.

Your course booklet also contains multiple self-guided hypnosis scripts that you and your partner can use whenever you need it leading up and even during birth.

Typically, all my programs are run virtually, live on zoom. I find this is most flexible for folks and allows people to just show up and really relax into the process. **Think, at home in your jammies, creating your preferred relaxation atmosphere for labour.

If you are a local Whitehorse resident and are interested in an in-person series, please get in touch at molly@embodiedbirth.ca. This might be able to be arranged.

I am not a hypnotherapist, counsellor or medical professional and do not deliver medical advice, diagnosis or prescription, nor do I interfere with the care provided by healthcare professionals. I do not offer mental health therapy, counselling or hypnosis scripts beyond those provided to me within the HypnoBirthing® program curriculum. All hypnosis scripts I use and provide to clients were written by hypnotherapists, specializing in birth hypnosis.

Please read over my Terms of Service for more about my scope and role in supporting you.

I offer 1-to-1 HypnoBirthing support sessions to folks currently or previously enrolled in a HypnoBirthing Mongan Method program. These are useful for folks looking for extra support working through fears, achieving deep relaxation, dealing with specific circumstances like breech, placenta previa or preparing for c-section, and more.

I also am a certified energy worker and I offer 1-to-1 energy healing sessions outside of the HypnoBirthing curriculum for anyone, whether or not they are on the birthing journey. These are safe, complimentary sessions that promote relaxation and healing for your system.

Energy healing is a holistic modality aimed at promoting better integration between all aspects of health, including the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual. If interested, please read more here.