BABY
AYANNA
CHILDBIRTH
LETTER
Dear Laura:
So how did this all begin... I had many emotions
when I found out I was pregnant. I felt excited,
anxious, joy, and worst of all a deep seated
fear of going through labor and delivery.
I was never really good at handling pain.
In fact, when I have blood drawn at the doctor's
office, I usually bring someone to hold my
hand (yes, even as an adult). So how was I
going to deliver a baby?
About a year and half ago I saw a special
on Dateline about women who used hypnosis
to get over their fear and pain of childbirth.
I figured I had nothing to lose so I started
looking for a hypnotherapist in the Atlanta
area. That's when I found you Laura. I had
emailed you about information on hypnosis
during childbirth and you said to give you
a call. I didn't actually make that call until
about six months later. I think I was in denial
for the first six months or so that this thing
that was kicking me left and right, actually
had to come out one day. As my delivery date
was approaching, I thought it best I get back
to reality and start dealing with my issues.
You
made a very good first impression on the phone
when we spoke. You really cleared up my misconceptions
of what hypnosis really is. All I had ever
really seen were shows where audience members
of hypnotized and told to do silly things.
So I made an appointment. Our first session
was wonderful. I did not think I would get
so much out of one session. You told me I
was going to feel very good after I left and
I did. I felt good about opening up about
a lot of issues that were going on in my life
at the time. When I left, I ran home to tell
my cousin how good it was and how it was really
helping me to see many aspects of my life
in a different light. I continued to come
back for a few more sessions. I could certainly
see where it was helping me with different
things in my life but could it really get
me through childbirth. After all, that is
the ultimate pain, or so I thought.
During
my eighth month, I began taking a childbirth
class. One of the things they taught us was
about the different stages of labor and approximately
how long each one lasts. You and I discussed
this in one of our last sessions. You asked
me how long I thought I would be in each stage
of labor and what and where it is I would
be. You wrote it down and then added up the
time. It came out to 10 hours. I thought that's
too short for the first baby. After all, there
are some women who are in labor for a few
days. You told me my labor can be what I want
it to be and not what some book says it should
be.
Around
6:30am I called the doctor to tell her about
my contractions.At 7:45am as I was putting
on my coat to leave for the hospital I felt
a pop and suddenly my pants were all wet.
My God, my water had broken. This was for
real. The baby was really coming.
When
I was Ten centimeters the nurse said, You're
ready to push. I started pushing at 11:30am.
At least I felt like I was pushing. I started
to hear your voice from one of our sessions
as you told me to visualize the baby coming
through the birth canal. I really felt like
I could see this and I was able to focus on
where I needed to push (even though I still
couldn't feel it). At 12:10 my beautiful baby
girl was born. The whole labor and delivery
lasted 10 hours, just like I said it would
during our last session. In fact, the whole
thing occurred almost exactly like I said
it would. How long each stage would last,
where I would be for each stage, how dilated
I would be when I arrived at the hospital,
etc.
This
experience has made me a true believer in
the strength of the mind. About an hour after
she was born, I decided the whole experience
was so worth it, I'm already looking forward
to the next (although I can certainly wait
a few years). I know I babbled a lot to tell
you about this whole experience but I don't
think I could have done it without your help.
You were certainly right about how we can
make things worse than they have to be when
we let things we've heard or past experiences
influence our minds. I have already, and continue
to advocate hypnosis for anyone woman who
fears going through childbirth or for stress
in life in general. If I hadn't gone through
it myself, I wouldn't have believed it could
really work. My daughter, Ayanna, and I thank
you from the bottom of our hearts. Here are
some current pictures of Ayanna who will be
four months old March 26, 2001.
Corinne Matthews
WEIGHT
LOSS LETTER
April
6, 2000
From: Debbie Klarnet
Re: Hypnosis
Since the first of the year, I have been under
a lot of family stress causing my eating to
get out of control. I knew I was eating because
of emotion but I could not stop myself. I
needed help but did not know where to get
the right help. Approximately eight years
ago, I attended several hypnosis sessions
so I knew the positive benefits of hypnosis
but the problem was finding a hypnotherapist
I could trust. Through many e-mails and phone
conversations, Laura and I discussed her education
and experience and through these conversations
I knew she was sincere and someone I could
easily talk with.
I started meeting with Laura in February.
She explained the workings of the conscious
and subconscious minds, exactly how she would
put me under hypnosis, and what I should expect
while I was under hypnosis.
After a hypnosis session, I feel wonderful.
I am back in control of myself. I have plenty
of energy, and feel as if I have slept for
eight hours. (I also meet with a nutritionist
every few months. When I went to see her in
March I mentioned my meetings with Laura.
She asked what suggestions Laura gave me.
When I told her, she said wonderful, very
good suggestions.)
Hypnosis helps you do what you need to do
without having to consciously thinking about
doing. The suggestions become a part of you.
Always remember that even though you are under
hypnosis, your mind will never make you do
something that you would not normally do or
do anything that could harm you. You are always
aware of what you are doing.
I would recommend Laura Pagano to anyone considering
hypnosis. She is very professional and will
answer all your questions and concerns. There
is no voodoo, clucking like a chicken, or
barking like a dog. Hypnosis helps your mind
work better to help you. It helps you to help
yourself!
Sincerely,
Debbie Klarnet
