FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. Who can benefit from the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method?

   This method is for anyone who is having a baby and has even a slight interest in natural childbirth (also known as an unmedicated birth). Knowing that the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method focuses on natural birth does not mean that as you read this you need to be 100% committed to having a natural birth. You may already be there or you may be far from there. My intention is to provide you with information and facts so you can decide for yourself what's right for you and for the birth of your baby. Many women change their preconceived plan to have a medicalized birth once they become educated about having a natural birth. The Birthing Through Hypnosis materials teach you how to increase your odds of having a natural childbirth through planning, learning the ins and outs of natural birth, and practicing specific techniques of breath, position, hypnosis, relaxation, and touch. Many couples report that the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method helped them to have an empowering and serene birth experience.

2. What will I learn from participating in the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method?

   The Birthing Through Hypnosis Method teaches you those proven techniques and tools for coping with labor in a straight-forward, simple manner. When you practice the Birthing Through Hypnosis techniques after reading about them in the manual, hearing about them in the recorded class, talking about them in the tele-classes, and/or listening to the relaxation, hypnosis, and instructional audio tracks, your body will respond and will clearly tell you which techniques work well for you. The Birthing Through Hypnosis techniques are designed to work in harmony with the physiological and psychological components of labor.

3. Why would I want to aim for a natural childbirth rather than planning to get an epidural or planning a scheduled cesarean section?

   There are many reasons to set your sights on having an intervention-free, vaginal birth. Two of the many reasons are that you ensure that you and your baby do not have any negative reactions to drugs (simply by declining their use), and your recovery from childbirth will be easier and more rapid after natural childbirth. You'll find more reasons here.

4. Will I be able to handle natural childbirth?

   YES!! Remember that although this experience is new to you, women have been birthing outside of hospitals without drugs for over 200,000 years! Your body already knows how to birth your baby – you just have to believe in your ability to do it and learn ways of working with your body instead of against it. There are some physical reasons why a vaginal birth is sometimes impossible, but these cases tend to be rare. In my experience every woman has fears about whether she will be able to handle the intensity of birth. The Birthing Through Hypnosis Method can help you manage those fears and provides you with a clear process and basic instructions on how to prepare your body, mind, and spirit for the birthing of your baby.

5. What is included in the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method?

   With the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method You Will Receive:

   • A downloadable Birthing Through Hypnosis Manual written by Kristin Nemzer, LMFT, CH (140 pages).
   • Downloadable relaxation, hypnosis, and instructional audio tracks, created by Kristin Nemzer with music by her husband, Eliot Nemzer (over two hours of recorded material).
   • A downloadable Birthing Through Hypnosis Natural Childbirth Preparation Class audio track with Kristin Nemzer (over three hours of instruction).
   • Monthly live question & answer tele-classes with Kristin Nemzer.
   • Online one-on-one natural childbirth preparation mentoring with Kristin Nemzer.
6. What is included in the Birthing Through Hypnosis Manual?

   The Birthing Through Hypnosis Manual has been written by Kristin Nemzer based on the Birthing Through Hypnosis childbirth classes she has been teaching for many years. The manual is 140 pages long and is packed with valuable information and beautiful images. You will find yourself repeatedly reading and referring to this manual during your pregnancy. To give you a sense of the content of the book, here are the Birthing Through Hypnosis Manual Chapter Titles:

   1. What is Birthing Through Hypnosis?
   2. What is Natural Birth?
   3. What is Hypnosis?
   4. Mind-Body Connection
   5. The Role of Fear
   6. How does Birth Work?
   7. Avoiding Stress in Labor
   8. What about the Pain?
   9. Techniques for Stage One: The Opening Phase
   10. Techniques for Stage Two: The Birthing Phase
   11. Stage Three: Birthing the Placenta and Bonding with Your Baby
   12. Time in Labor – Your Animal Brain
   13. Techniques for Your Mind
   14. Techniques of Touch
   15. Additional Strategies
   16. Birth Partner
   17. Birth Doulas
   18. Where to Give Birth
   19. Positioning of the Baby
   20. Fear – Letting Go
   21. Suggestions for Practicing the Birthing Through Hypnosis techniques
   22. Parting Words
   23. Who am I?
   24. Appendix

   The manual can be downloaded immediately upon purchasing the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method. Once your payment has been received for the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method, you'll also have the option of purchasing the manual in a spiral-bound color copy that will be shipped to you.

7. How do I download the manual?

   You will be given instructions about how to download the manual after you purchase the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method. Just a few clicks and it's yours. It's possible that you will not be able to download the Birthing Through Hypnosis Childbirth Preparation audio track if you do not have high-speed internet service. If that is the case, you will need to purchase the hardcopy of the manual and the audio tracks after signing up as a member.

8. Do I have to print the manual?

   You can read the manual on your computer or it can be printed out. You will also be given the option of purchasing the manual in a spiral-bound color copy that will be shipped to you for an additional charge.

9. What are the Birthing Through Hypnosis audio tracks?

   The Birthing Through Hypnosis audio tracks have been created and recorded by Kristin Nemzer and include music composed and performed by her husband, Eliot Nemzer. The audio tracks include relaxation, hypnosis, and instruction and are all part of your natural childbirth preparation and training. The audio tracks are an invaluable tool for practicing the Birthing Through Hypnosis techniques while you are pregnant as well as being an incredible tool for staying relaxed and focused during labor. Kristin's vast experience as a hypnotherapist is evident in the quality of the recordings. These audio tracks total more than 2 hours of instruction and practice.

   To give you a sense of the content, here are the titles of the Birthing Through Hypnosis audio tracks:

   1. Vacation Visualization
   2. Head to Toe Relaxation
   3. Rainbow Chakra Meditation
   4. Sacred Birthing Circle
   5. Fear Release
   6. Practice balloon breath
   7. Practice top-down breath
   8. Mock Birth Instructions
   9. Mock Birth Solo Practice
   10. Mock Birth Practice with Birth Partner

   The audio tracks can be downloaded immediately upon purchasing the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method. Once your payment has been received for the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method, you'll also have the option of purchasing the audio tracks in the form of three Compact Disks that will be shipped to you. These audio tracks are only available through the Birthing Through Hypnosis web site.

10. How do I download the audio tracks?

    You will be given instructions after you purchase the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method about how to download the audio tracks. There are just a few simple steps to follow. You will be able to listen to the audio tracks on your computer or, if you have the technology, you'll be able to burn them onto a CD or listen to them on your iPod or MP3 player. You'll also be given the option to purchase the audio tracks in hardcopy (as three Compact Disks) for an additional charge.

    It's possible that you will not be able to download the Birthing Through Hypnosis Childbirth Preparation audio track if you do not have high-speed internet service. If that is the case, you will need to purchase the hardcopy of the manual and the audio tracks after signing up as a member.

11. What is the Birthing Through Hypnosis Natural Childbirth Preparation Class audio track?

    The Birthing Through Hypnosis Natural Childbirth Preparation Class audio track has been created and recorded by Kristin Nemzer. The class is another vital resource for learning the Birthing Through Hypnosis method. Kristin covers all of the pertinent material from the manual and walks you through how to best prepare for your baby's birth. The class is approximately three hours and twenty minutes long and contains invaluable information that will help you customize the Birthing Through Hypnosis techniques to you and your unique birthing desires. The class can be downloaded immediately upon purchasing the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method. You will be given detailed instructions on how to download this class so that you can listen to it at your leisure on your computer or, if you have the technology, on a CD or your iPod or MP3 player. Once your payment has been received for the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method, you'll also have the option of purchasing the childbirth preparation class audio track in the form of three Compact Disks that will be shipped to you.

    It's possible that you will not be able to download the Birthing Through Hypnosis Childbirth Preparation audio track if you do not have high-speed internet service. If that is the case, you will need to purchase the hardcopy of the manual and the audio tracks after signing up as a member.

12. How do the tele-classes work?

    The Birthing Through Hypnosis Method also includes monthly live question & answer tele-classes with Kristin Nemzer. As you read the manual, listen to the class, and practice with the audio tracks you can make note of any questions you have with which you would like help. Kristin will be available to answer questions from the Birthing Through Hypnosis community during these monthly classes. The live discussion allows for a deeper exploration of your questions. Each tele-class will last up to two hours. Once your payment has been received for the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method, you'll have immediate access to the information required to call in to these monthly classes. At the pre-scheduled times you will be able to call the assigned number, enter the password, and not only listen in on the call but also participate by asking questions. The live discussion allows for a deeper exploration of your questions and you will find that you will learn from the questions that other people in the Birthing Through Hypnosis community ask as well. The calls will be up to 2 hours long and Kristin will be answering your questions and discussing the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method in more depth during that time.

13. What are the dates and times for your upcoming tele-classes?

    You will find the schedule for upcoming classes on the TELE-CLASS SCHEDULE section of this site.

14. What if I can't participate in a weekend tele-class?

    If your schedule will not permit you to participate in a tele-class on the weekend or at the times the class is occurring live, you'll still be able to ask me questions through the one-on-one online mentoring.

15. How do I contact you for one-on-one online mentoring?

    Once you have purchased the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method, you will be given an individualized password and you will be able to access the one-on-one mentoring area of the web site. You will be able to direct private questions to me through the site and I will respond directly to your inquiries within 48 hours. There will be a schedule posted on the site that will alert you to dates during which my response time may be longer than the normal 48 hours. This will be the exception and not the rule.

16. Should my partner participate in the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method with me?

    There is not a one-size-fits-all answer to this question. If your birth partner is also your life partner, this program will benefit both of you. One of the nice things about the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method is that you can do it at your own pace. Some partners want to be involved with the program each step of the way – they want to read the book, listen to the audio tracks, and participate in the tele-classes. Other partners are less involved and will read the pages of the manual that the pregnant mom earmarks, will listen to just her favorite audio tracks, and will participate in a tele-class only if requested to do so. However you and your birth partner choose to negotiate this path, I think it's important that the mom-to-be receives the support she feels she needs. If your birth partner will be someone other than your life partner (a friend, doula, parent, etc.), you might want to have them participate in the parts of the program that resonate most deeply with you. There is a section in the manual that is specifically written for birth partners. There are also parts of the audio tracks that guide birth partners on how to help the mom in labor. And, there are parts of the tele-classes that will answer questions for the birth partner. So – YES – your partner should participate in the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method! How you navigate this participation is totally up to you.

17. How long can I have access to the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method after I purchase it?

    You will have access to the Birthing Through Hypnosis members-only site and members-only benefits through the due date of your baby (plus an extra month – just to be safe). At that time your password will expire and you will no longer have access to the members-only part of the site.

18. Who are you?

    My name is Kristin Nemzer and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Hypnotherapist, and a Childbirth Educator. I am also a wife and the mother of three small children. I started off my first pregnancy fearful of childbirth and unsure of the path I wanted to take through the maze of choices I saw before me. I ended up giving birth to all three of my babies at home using techniques of hypnosis to help make their births manageable, smooth, and magical. My intention with this program is to pass along the wisdom I have gained personally and professionally to other parents who are also embarking on this exciting journey.

    I have a counseling practice in Santa Cruz, California where I conduct private sessions both in person and by phone. I also teach Birthing Through Hypnosis Natural Childbirth Education classes to clients in the Bay Area of Northern California both through group classes and private sessions. I work with clients throughout the world via my online Birthing Through Hypnosis Childbirth Program. I also speak on topics of childbirth, relationships, depression, anxiety, and hypnotherapy (to name a few) to parents and professionals throughout Northern California.

19. What do your prior students say about your program?

    Many of the participants who have used the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method have had incredible birth experiences. I receive many inspiring birth stories every week expressing how much pregnant moms and partners who took part in the course benefited from their participation. CLICK HERE to read real-life birth stories and comments from some of my students. It's hard to convey how meaningful these wonderful testimonials are to me.

20. What is the difference between the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method and other childbirth preparation classes?

    There are many differences between the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method and others. Here are a few:

    1. Many childbirth classes are affiliated with hospitals and, therefore, are not focused on teaching you the way Mother Nature designed birth or how to work with your body to give birth naturally. Hospitals are geared towards expecting medical interventions as a part of childbirth. It is essential that a mom who is preparing to have a natural birth learn every aspect of this wonderful process. Many of these aspects will not be covered in a class that expects a mom to be medicated.
    2. Childbirth classes that are focused on natural birth often focus on educating mom about how difficult natural birth will be without giving her the techniques to guide her through the process. Those classes are often unattainable to women because they are pricey (they can cost from $200-$600 per couple) and their schedule can require driving from 4 to 12 weeks to a specific location. Even after paying $600 for a class and driving a great distance 12 weeks in a row, I often hear from couples who have questions that arise after their class is over and before their baby is born. Despite these unanswered questions the instructor is most likely unavailable unless an additional fee is paid.

    The Birthing Through Hypnosis Method solves these problems:

    1. In the program we focus almost exclusively on techniques that you can use in labor, focusing our time and energy on the techniques that will help the birthing mom and her birth partner work together during contractions to make them feel manageable. I teach techniques of breath, position, touch, relaxation and hypnosis in order to positively influence the birthing experience.
    2. The Birthing Through Hypnosis Method gives you specific techniques of breath, position, hypnosis, relaxation, touch, and support that will help you get through the most difficult parts of labor. We don't just talk about the hard parts – we train for them.
    3. The Birthing Through Hypnosis Method costs significantly less than the $300-600 that most childbirth education classes cost. The cost is $59 for the entire program.
    4. The Birthing Through Hypnosis Method can be done at your own pace and in the comfort of your own home. You will not need to drive anywhere in order to get a great education. You may want to participate in one or more of the live monthly tele-classes or you might decide that listening to the downloadable Birthing Through Hypnosis class on your own schedule is right for you. You can read the manual at your own pace and listen to the practice audio tracks as many times as you would like. The information is accessible to you any time – day or night.
    5. The class is not over until you decide the class is over or until your baby is born. You can ask me questions through one-on-one online mentoring and you can participate in the monthly live tele-classes. I'll never leave you hanging with a question unanswered and I won't charge you more for my time. When you purchase the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method you are purchasing access to me and the knowledge I have gained through being immersed in the world of natural childbirth for almost a decade.
21. When in my pregnancy should I sign up for the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method?

    As soon as possible! Whether your baby is due to arrive soon or whether you are early in your pregnancy, the skills learned in the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method will be invaluable for your journey of birthing your baby.

22. How much does the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method cost?

    The total cost for Birthing Through Hypnosis Method is $59.

    This price is significantly less than most couples pay for a traditional childbirth preparation class; not to mention the money you are saving on gas!

    If you prefer to pay a reduced fee and forego the one-on-one online mentoring with Kristin Nemzer, you can use the promotion code "nomentor" and you will receive a 25% discount
    off the total cost of your membership.

23. How do I sign up?

    When you're ready to purchase the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method you can visit the ORDER NOW page. If you're ready to purchase the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method now, CLICK HERE.

24. What happens after I pay?

    Once your order is processed, you'll have access to the members-only site and the Birthing Through Hypnosis materials in a few short minutes. You will be sent a password by email that will allow you to access the members-only web site. You will log in with your password at the MEMBERS LOGIN link on the home page.

25. What if I lose my password?

    If you lose your password, please contact me via the CONTACT page. Please include:

    • Your due date
    • Your full name
    • Your email address
    • The approximate date you purchased the Birthing Through Hypnosis Method

    I will get back to you with a password reminder within 48 hours.