The image is classic. A very pregnant woman declares "It's time!" and chaos ensues. The husband drives at breakneck speed to the hospital's maternity ward. The laboring woman curses a blue streak at her beloved, while a nurse with a drill sergeant's demeanor barks orders to "PUSH!" The husband begins to slide down to a horizontal position at the sight of blood, as nervous family members pace up and down the hospital corridors waiting for the big news.

That's some pretty intense stuff for a baby in a size-zero onesie to ignite. The fright, anger, tension and anxiety can almost (and sometimes does) overshadow the joy that is about to come.

But Lancaster resident Michelle Wann would like you to close your eyes, take a deep breath and imagine a much different birthing experience. Something more positive. Even peaceful.

As a certified hypnobirthing practitioner, Michelle offers pregnant women a tool to manage the pain and anxiety that they have come to expect from labor and delivery.

"Hypnobirthing is about teaching you how to deeply relax," Michelle says. "Your body and baby know what to do." She goes on to explain that the fear of pain makes your body, and the muscles involved in childbirth, tense up. The contracted muscles are inhibited from doing what they need to do, making the birthing process more difficult and, consequently, more painful.

While she quickly acknowledges that there are risks, complications and, indeed, pain for some women during labor, Michelle maintains that most childbirthing experiences can be much more comfortable -- even largely pain-free -- if women are able to erase the negative thoughts associated with the experience. Through the repetitve use of relaxation CDs and music, breathing and positive imaging, Michelle works to reprogram women's expectations of labor, creating a more positive image of what's to come. With enough practice, this image brings about a deep state of relaxation, which can make the labor less painful.

"Your brain is a powerful instrument," she says. "If you visualize every day, it's amazing what the brain can help your body achieve."

Michelle's journey into hypnobirthing was as natural as the method itself. After several frustrating years trying to conceive, which included two miscarriages and advice from the country's top fertility doctors, Michelle eventually turned to a local midwife for help. Through the midwife's involvement, Michelle discovered and corrected a hormone imbalance and became pregnant within a month. The experience opened her eyes to more unconventional methods and medicines. Once pregnant, Michelle began preparing herself for a natural childbirth at home without medication. "I wanted to be as lucid as possible to really enjoy the first moments with our baby," she says. "I read the hypnobirthing Web site and knew it just made sense."

While the goal of hypnobirthing is a natural labor free of drugs, Michelle emphasizes that any type of childbirthing experience can benefit from this relaxation tool, whether the mother chooses to have an epidural, medication or even a C-section. And, while it may be more difficult to employ the method outside of an environment that you can control, like your home, hypnobirthing can be used in the hospital or a birthing center.

So ... if done correctly, what exactly does a woman feel -- or not feel -- by using hypnobirthing during labor?

"I felt some pressure, almost like menstral cramps," Michelle recounts of her sons' deliveries. "But it came in surges and was very, very manageable." 

Manageable. Not a word that's often associated with labor and delivery. But with some practice and imagination, perhaps women will can erase that age-old image of childbirth and create something of their own.

To learn more about hypnobirthing or to find a local practitioner, including Michelle, visit www.hypnobirthing.com.
 
 
Family: Husband, Mike, married 11 years; children Topher, 3, Danny, 2. 

Pets: Cats, Bela and Kiki.

Employment: Medical sales representative with Johnson & Johnson.

How I met my husband: We met the first week of college at the University of Richmond and dated our senior year.

My favorite spot in Lancaster County: The drive on 896 from Strasburg to Delaware, and my parents' house because everyone is so comfortable there.

The best shortcut I take: Roll-out chocolate chip cookies.

The book currently on my nightstand: "The Alchemist," by Paul Coelho, a hypnobirthing book and a journal I keep about what the kids are doing.

My ideal weekend: A lake and a good book.

I'm passionate about: Time with my family.

Exercise of choice: Body pump classes, but I don't go enough. And walking with my kids in the stroller.

How I indulge: When trying to balance work and kids becomes too much, a massage seems to help.

A surprising fact about me: That we gave birth to both of our sons at home, and one was delivered by my husband before the midwife arrived!

My favorite TV show: "American Idol."

The most influential people in my life: My parents.

Person I'd like to meet most: The president [of the United States].

My family's favorite meal: I love anything Mike makes on the Big Green Egg [grill], but as a family we love pizza night at My Place Pizza [in Lancaster].

What I always tell my kids: To tell the truth, and we try to do the same with them. And I tell them as much as I can how much I love them.

My favorite movie: "Love Actually." I'm a Hugh Grant fan.

Photo: Michelle Wann poses with son Danny in their Lancaster Township home.   Photo credit: Blaine T. Shahan