How can haptonomy help with your pregnancy and delivery?

What is haptonomy?

In haptotherapy and haptonomy you learn to reconnect with feelings that are stored deep in your body through touch, in order to strengthen your emotional experience towards others and yourself. Through this personal development your body and self-awareness gets a boost, which addresses both mental and physical problems. For example, it can help with chronic pain, relational problems, stress and burnouts, the processing of trauma, fatigue, etc., but haptonomy can also be applied during pregnancy and childbirth.

Prenatal session haptonomy

With the therapist, the mother and father (and possibly older brother or sister) learn to interact with the baby, for example by placing their hands on the belly and exerting very light pressure or stroking. The baby feels this and responds with movements to then come to rest against the hand of mother or father. This can be quite impressive, especially at the end of the pregnancy. By starting this early, a mutual emotional bond between the parents and the child is created long before the birth. The last sessions are more focused on the birth itself: the mother learns how she can support her child during the birth.

The biggest advantage of haptonomy? That the partner is closely involved. During the sessions, the gestures are accompanied by the partner's voice, so that the baby gets to know them very early. The fact that you as a partner also actively experience the birth, for example by sitting behind the mother and putting your hands on her belly instead of standing on the sidelines, makes the event even more special.

Also read: Contractions: the different types and how to recognize them

Unlike many other prenatal workshops, it is best to start early, because it takes some time and practice to master all the techniques. Around week 20, you can usually feel the baby moving well, so it is better not to wait too long to start the sessions. The number of sessions usually varies between 4 and 10 sessions, of which at least one after the birth to look back together on that birth and the first weeks together with the baby.

Also read: Importance of the pelvic floor: 'Half of pregnant women suffer from urinary incontinence'

Postnatal haptonomy lessons

Perinatal haptotherapy can also extend further if the mother wishes. For example, a session can be planned at important moments in the development of the child: around 3 to 4 months, around 9 months, when the baby learns to walk… For example, you learn to carry your child, massage, relax, etc.

The list of independent midwives specialized in haptonomy can be found at www.vlov.be.

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