Last week I had the privilege to address new nursing and midwifery staff at Pantai Cheras and give a talk about HypnoBirthing to them. Everytime the hospital hires new staff for their labour and delivery suite, Dr Tan Ee Ping holds briefing/ training sessions to introduce the new staff to HypnoBirthing and waterbirth, and standards of care and protocols.
I started the talk by introducing the concept and basic premise of HypnoBirthing and what parents are taught in class. The I went on to talk to them about their roles as careproviders towards mothers wanting a natural birth from my perspective and experience as a Doula and HypnoBirthing Childbirth Educator.
Many of them were visibly intrigued to learn about the HypnoBirthing philosophy and principles, and the non-medical aspect of birth. A few were touched when I talked about the power that nurses and midwives assume when caring for a birthing mother.
After that, Dr Tan talked on her take on HypnoBirthing as an ObGyn. I must say, it was such a privilege to be present at a talk where an ObGyn teaches her staff about HypnoBirthing and natural birth! It’s one thing coming from a non-medical professional, but quite another coming from an ObGyn. At one point, Dr Tan took out her handouts and explained that HypnoBirthing mothers use very different vocabulary and nurses were not allowed to ask the HypnoBirthing mother if she feels pain. That was truly a notable moment!
Later Dr Tan talked about waterbirth and covered the standards of care for waterbirthing mothers as well as positions and other protocols. I learnt a thing or two about their standards of care and protocols, and am grateful to have some extra info to share with my mothers.
All in all it was a great experience… and I left with a feeling of hopefulness for mothers who will birth in Pantai Cheras in the future.
