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| **Please visit the official Hypnobabies website for more detailed information** |
| What Is Hypnobabies? |
| What Are The Benefits Of Using Hypnosis For Childbirth? |
| Why Choose The Hypnobabies Program? |
| What is Hypnosis? |
| Can it really be painless? |
| When is the best time to take Hypnobabies during my
pregnancy? |
| How does it work? |
| Should I take Hypnobabies classes if I'm planning on
using medication? |
| I have a low pain tolerance. Will
Hypnobabies work for me? |
| Should I take Hypnobabies if I'll be having a cesarean birth? |
| Why should I use the Hypnobabies program
instead of a hospital prepared childbirth or other independent class? |
| Should I take a live class or order the Hypnobabies Home
Study course? |
| Do I need a partner? |
| I have fast labors. Will Hypnobabies work for me? |
| I have long labors. Will Hypnobabies work for me? |
| I'm a first-time mom. Will Hypnobabies work for
me? |
| I've had a baby before and it really hurt.
Will Hypnobabies work for me? |
| I'm very analytical. Will Hypnobabies work for me? |
| Will I be in a trance or disconnected from the
experience? |
| Will my mind be under someone else's control? |
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What Is Hypnobabies? |
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Hypnobabies is a 5 week *complete childbirth education course* using Gerald Kein's Painless Childbirth techniques instead of simple relaxation, breathing or guided imagery. We use our Hypnobabies Workbook, CDs and hypnosis scripts to train the inner mind that contractions in labor will be felt only as pressure and tightening sensations. Hypnobabies uses the same kind of hypnosis techniques that people employ when preparing for surgery without any medication, which is called hypno-anesthesia. Our classes also teach the Hypnobabies Birth Partners how to fully support our Hypno-moms, although Hypnobabies can also be used very successfully by single mothers. Although not every woman will have a completely pain-free unmedicated birthing experience, that is exactly what we aim for and our success rate is about 70%, far above any other childbirth method, which is very gratifying.
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| Back to Questions. |
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What Are The Benefits Of Using Hypnosis For Childbirth? |
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~ Hypno-couples are deprogrammed from the usual negativity of childbirth stories and scenarios they've always heard, by way of training in Hypnobabies classes, and the CDs and scripts which have positive and deeply implanted messages. This automatically sets them up for a better attitude and confidence in birthing.
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| ~ The Hypno-mom will use fewer drugs or no drugs, which means less risk of side effects for mother and baby, due to elimination of the Fear/TensionPain Syndrome as well as using powerful post-hypnotic suggestions.
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| ~ Most hypno-mothers have shorter Birthing Times since there is less resistance of the birthing muscles when pain and fear are minimized or eliminated.
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| ~ The birthing woman generally has much more energy throughout first and second stage, due to total relaxation throughout the birthing process.
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| ~ The birthing environment is much more calm and peaceful when the natural childbirth mother is comfortable.
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| ~ Hypno-babies are born gently without drugs in their systems or hearing their mothers cry out in pain.
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| ~ Breech and posterior babies can be turned using hypnosis.
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| ~ Blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature can be lowered and nausea, back and hip pain eliminated with hypnosis during pregnancy and birthing.
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| ~ There are fewer interventions for failure to progress and therefore fewer fetal and maternal complications during birthing.
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| ~ The deep relaxation in childbirth hypnosis sessions has also helped many a nervous dad to cope, and the skills that the hypno-couple learns for relaxation and hypnosis will benefit them for the rest of their lives. In Hypnobabies, our Hypno-daddies also get their own relaxation CD. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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Why Choose The Hypnobabies Program? |
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We are not a regular “hypno-birth” class. Hypnobabies is very detailed and successful, uses medical hypnotic anesthesia techniques, from Gerald Kein's amazing Painless Childbirth program, as opposed to simple visualization and imagery, and contains the same kinds of hypnotic scripts used by people who undergo surgery with hypnosis as their only anesthetic. We also *fully* train the Birth Partners by giving them their own Birth Partner’s relaxation CD, and their own detailed Birth Partner's Guide for labor, which allows them to fully grasp their role in the preparation for baby’s birth as well as their partner’s birthing. This is unique to Hypnobabies and we are very proud of this feature. |
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| Hypnobabies classes also provide excellent and *complete childbirth education*, lacking in most birth hypnosis programs. Providing this *complete childbirth education* ensures that our wonderful students will not have to take other natural childbirth classes whose philosophy is so different that it negates what they have learned in Hypnobabies. "Pain management and coping skills" are actually opposite of what is learned in Hypnobabies; we teach Pain Elimination by using real hypnosis.
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| Long before they ever step foot in their first Hypnobabies class, our hypno-moms get to meet their baby and bond with him/her in a tape/CD called Your Special Place, and the second track is Painless Childbirth, which helps teach them how childbirth can easily be so comfortable. (deprogramming them from the usual childbirth horror stories.) They go on to learn the Hypnobabies Techniques in class, bringing their Birth Partner into the preparation, and also how to use hypnosis for many other things: nausea elimination, back and hip pain, insomnia, pre-term labor, pre-term bleeding, perineal massage, internal exams, turning a breech, etc.
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| One main difference is that our students participate in a hypnosis script each week in class and then have that *same script to work with* for reinforcement during the next week, which makes a huge difference when programming the inner mind for success. It is called "compounding" in the world of hypnosis, is necessary for hypnotic suggestions to be retained by the woman's subconscious, and many other birth hypnosis programs do not have it.
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| In addition, Hypnobabies requires that their Certified Instructors have a trained background in *both* Childbirth and Hypnosis before becoming trained in Hypnobabies, so that all childbirth questions and concerns from each Hypno-couple can be addressed, hypnotic depth can be assessed, and problems such as resistance and abreaction can easily be dealt with.
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| Hypnobabies also has "Eyes Open Childbirth Hypnosis", which allows the hypno-mom to walk and talk and move around freely yet remain very relaxed, fully present, aware and in touch with her body and baby and *completely comfortable while doing so*. Other programs rely on complete immobility for focus and concentration. We also do Birthing Rehearsals in class # 5 so that our hypno-moms can experience using their Hypnobabies techniques *while in hypnosis in class*, which is invaluable, and also shows the Birth Partner hands-on exactly how to use his/her cues and assistance. What a confidence builder!
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| Our students also never have to guess how to make a cohesive *plan for birthing* using the Hypnobabies techniques; it is very clear and concise and includes a Quick Reference Guide for each birthing couple to use during their labor, as well as a Birth Guide CD which keeps the Hypno-mom deeply in hypnosis with constant hypnotic anesthesia suggestions. Our students tell us this "Pure Gold!"
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| Our Hypnobabies Instructors are always available for help before, during and after the hypno-baby is born, and we also have a free Hypnobabies Yahoo e-mail group for our moms to join for support and encouragement after their Hypnobabies class has ended, so that they can enjoy a community where others are using hypnosis for childbirth as well. We have daily tips and advice, a weekly chat, additional free hypnosis scripts, childbirth hypnosis birth stories and a great deal of camaraderie. |
| Other programs have shorter and simpler childbirth hypnosis classes (8-10 hours of instruction as opposed to our 15) and may contain some excellent hypno-tools for birthing, but none contain the amount of information and support of Hypnobabies. All elements have been carefully designed to work together and the results are amazing even to me. Not all of our Hypno-moms will have a completely pain-free birthing, yet for most it will be very close to it, and this makes all the difference in the world to so many women. Very gratifying!
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| ~Kerry Tuschoff, HCHI, CHt |
| Founder of the Hypnobabies Network |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Hypnosis is a natural state. It's that deeply relaxed place between sleep and
awake. We all experience hypnosis every time we go to sleep and every time we
wake up. We experience hypnosis when we watch TV or a movie, drive a car, do
repetitive tasks, or daydream. We are awake and aware of what's happening around
us--we just tune it out because we're focused on something else. |
| When we're in a hypnotic state we are still in control of our mind and will.
We cannot be forced to do anything we don't want to do. If someone suggested
that we reveal confidential information or act in a way that goes against our
personal moral standards we would come out of hypnosis. |
| We cannot get "stuck" in hypnosis because all hypnosis is self-hypnosis--we
are always in complete control of our thoughts and actions. We cannot be
hypnotized if we don't want to be. We aren't in a strange trance or "another
realm". We are simply in that natural, deeply relaxed state that we all go
through every day. |
| Because hypnosis is a natural state--one that we've all experienced every day
of our lives--it's easy! Anyone who wants to be hypnotized can be. |
| For more information, read
The Healing Power of Hypnosis, a Prevention article... reviewing what
hypnosis is and how it works. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Although the Hypnobabies
success rate is the best that exists in the childbirth hypnosis field, I
cannot promise you a completely pain-free birth experience. Around 70%
of moms who use Hypnobabies report painless/very comfortable birthings with
another 15 - 20% saying their births were not painless, but still quite
manageable. There are many things that will affect your success, especially
your choices in childbirth and your commitment level. If you
take your Hypnobabies training seriously, practice your hypnosis cues, and
continue to do your maintenence work until the baby comes, you will be amazed
and thrilled with your birthing and create fascination and happy surprise all
around you as you use your Hypnobabies techniques! If you do the Hypnobabies
program as outlined, you have a very good chance of giving birth without any
pain. Hypnobabies works, so work the program! |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| You may take Hypnobabies
classes at any time prior to giving birth provided you start the program 5
weeks or more before your estimated due date. Keep in mind that once you
finish the course you will need to continue to maintain your hypnosis
techniques through daily practice. If you choose to take the course early in
your pregnancy, realize that you still must commit to practicing every day
until the baby comes. Many women find that starting their Hypnobabies
classes toward the beginning of their third trimester to be an ideal time, but
you will know what works best for you. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Hypnobabies
is a highly successful program of hypnosis for childbirth, based on the work
of Gerald Kein and his Painless Childbirth program. Rather than using mind
tricks or distraction techniques, you will learn hypno-anesthesia techniques
that will allow you to create and control your own anesthesia while birthing.
Hypnobabies teaches a variety of techniques to relax and enter hypnosis
instantly and create anesthesia while still allowing you to open your eyes and
move or talk while remaining comfortable in hypnosis! Other childbirth
methods teach wonderful relaxation techniques for use during birthing. While
relaxation does help reduce discomfort, many women find that hypno-anesthesia
techniques to be much, much more effective (as is evidenced by the very high
percentage of Hypnobabies moms reporting painless childbirth). |
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best aspects of this class is that you will be able to eliminate the fear that
causes tension and pain in birthing, a necessary step for any woman soon to
give birth. Fear causes tension, which is a source of pain while birthing. |
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| Hypnosis is a tool. Medications
are other tools available for you to use. You make the choice that is right
for you. However, you will be most satisfied with the results of your
Hypnobabies training if you fully commit to doing the program as
outlined. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Using the deep relaxation and
hypno-anesthesia techniques taught in Hypnobabies classes you will know how to
create and control your body's own natural anesthesia so that you will reduce
or even eliminate pain while birthing. Where there's little or no pain, you can joyfully, calmly, and
comfortably experience natural, unmedicated childbirth. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Hypnobabies has recently
developed a Cesearean Birth preparation program using hypnosis so that moms
giving birth surgically can also do so calmly and joyfully. Please contact
Hypnobabies for more
information or to order the program. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Hypnobabies classes differ from
hospital or other traditional natural childbirth classes in several key ways:
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| Most childbirth classes teach
that pain during childbirth is inevitable. They
give you ways to cope with the pain. Hypnobabies classes teach you that
pain during childbirth is not inevitable. While most childbirth
classes teach that the more relaxed you are, the less pain you will have,
Hypnobabies classes teach you how to actually create and control your
own hypno-anesthesia, which will reduce or even eliminate pain while
birthing. Although the Hypnobabies success rate is the best that exists in
the childbirth hypnosis field, I cannot promise you a completely
pain-free birth experience. Around 70% of moms who use Hypnobabies report
painless/very comfortable birthings. These moms worked the program, so the
program worked for them. |
| Independent Hypnobabies
classes teach you how to plan the birth you want, not the birth that someone
else might expect you to have. We teach you to remember that this is your
experience and your baby's one and only birth. Hypnobabies covers a lot of
consumer information, including the benefits and risks of the more common
medical interventions in American birth today. Women who have full
information about their prospective choices will make informed decisions. If
you don't know your options, you don't have any! |
| Hypnobabies works wonderfully
with a "coach" (we call them Birth Partners) or alone. All hypnosis is
self-hypnosis and your own personal commitment and practice as the one
giving birth will have the greatest impact on your experience. With
Hypnobabies your Birth Partner(s) will be very knowledgeable and experienced
in aiding your comfort and hypno-anesthesia. If you do not have a partner
(or friend or sister or mom) to attend classes with you, consider hiring a
doula
(professional labor support person) to be with you during your birthing
time. I will be more than happy to help your doula to understand how best to
help you as a hypno-mom and your doula is welcome (and encouraged!) to attend
classes with you. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| The Hypnobabies Home Study
course works wonderfully. There are many benefits to using it. There are also
many benefits to taking a live class. A live class gives you the opportunity
to interact with other students and an instructor who can answer your
questions as they come up. Attending a class will motivate some students who
may not exercise the discipline necessary to complete a home study option
(Birth Partners generally benefit from live classes in particular). There are
elements of a live Hypnobabies class that are not included in the home study
option due to the restrictive nature of packaging a course for
self-instruction. Live Hypnobabies classes are just a lot of fun, too! The
Hypnobabies Network strongly encourages taking a live class if there is one
available near you because more is included in the course. |
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| If you live too far away from
an instructor to feasibly take a five week series of classes, you might
consider contacting the nearest instructor to see if you can come to Class 5
so that you can participate in the Birth Rehearsal and watch the Hypnobabies
birth videos. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| No. Hypnobabies works
wonderfully with a "coach" (we call them Birth Partners) or alone. All
hypnosis is self-hypnosis and your own personal commitment and practice as the
one giving birth will have the greatest impact on your experience.
However, if you are going to have a support person be with you as you birth,
it's best if he or she knows how to help so that he or she doesn't
unintentionally hinder your efforts. This is why partners (or another support
person) are encouraged to attend the classes as well. With Hypnobabies your
Birth Partner(s) will be very knowledgeable and experienced in aiding your
comfort and hypno-anesthesia. If you do not have a partner (or friend or
sister or mom) to attend classes with you, consider hiring a
doula
(professional labor support person) to be with you during your birthing time.
I will be more than happy to help your doula to understand how best to help
you as a hypno-mom and your doula is welcome (and encouraged) to attend
classes with you. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Obviously your body is already
very comfortable with opening to birth your baby. Short labors can be more
intense, which is why Hypnobabies is so great. Using your Hypnobabies skills,
you'll be able to create instant relaxation and hypno-anesthesia so that the
experience of your labor--even if it proceeds quickly--will be more
comfortable and less intense. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Labor lengths vary greatly from
woman to woman and many factors come into play, only some of which can be
controlled. Genetics and your own body's ideal birth progression rate are what
they are. You can't change them. Other factors that come into play are your
choice of provider (a supportive provider will allow you to relax and feel
safe), your choice of birthplace (an environment in which you feel safe and
relaxed will allow you to open more easily), fetal position (babies can be
encouraged to adopt optimal position, but sometimes babies persist to present
awkwardly), your beliefs about birth (fearing birth or believing birth to be
safe and normal), and your level of relaxation during labor and birth. |
| Hypnobabies
teaches about all of these other factors and focuses heavily on the last two:
releasing fears about birth so that you can relax and teaching you
how to relax and create hypno-anesthesia instantly so that your labor will
be comfortable. You will learn in class how your body works more easily and
quickly when you are relaxed. Hypnobabies moms typically see a reduction of
labor length because they are so relaxed. Even if your labor is longer than
average, Hypnobabies will allow you to perceive the time as passing quickly
and will help you from becoming fatigued. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Yes.Hypnobabies works wonderfully for first-time
mothers. The great thing about giving birth for the first time is that you
don't have past experiences to create certain expectations. You can adopt
positive beliefs about birth more easily and can make good decisions to create
a positive birth experience without having to go through a negative experience
first. |
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| Yes.Hypnobabies works fantastically well for women
who have given birth before. The great thing about having given birth before
is that you have a good sense of what you liked and what you didn't, which
helps you make more focused decisions the next time around. Hypnobabies helps
you release your fears, anxieties, and limiting thoughts about birth which in
turn gives you the ability to relax deeply. Hypnobabies also gives you powerful hypno-anesthesia
techniques which enable you to give birth very comfortably. With your new
Hypnobabies skills your future birth experiences will be profoundly different
from past birth experiences. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| Yes. All hypnosis is
self-hypnosis. If you want to reach a state of hypnosis, you will. If you
believe Hypnobabies will work and you practice the techniques, it will work.
Hypnobabies works for all types of thinkers, learners, and personality types.
The smarter you are, the more effective hypnosis is. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| No. Think about a time when you
were lying in bed, not quite awake and not quite asleep, either. It's a very
peaceful, relaxed state. You're aware of things going on around you (such as
music playing, the wind blowing, traffic outside, etc.), but you just don't
care. You could wake up if you wanted to or if you needed to, or you could go
to sleep. This is the place Hypnobabies teaches you to reach during your
birthing. You will always be aware of what's going on around you. Using the
hypnosis techniques taught in Hypnobabies you will always be relaxed with
hypno-anesthesia flowing exactly where you need it, even when you choose to
open your eyes and move around. |
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Hypnobabies, you will be in a heightened state of awareness. You will feel
more in tune with yourself and more connected with your baby. You will not be
passive. You will feel the power of your uterine muscles as they surge with
each birthing wave, these sensations will simply be free of discomfort. You
will be in tune with your instincts and will do what your body tells you you
need to do. |
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| Back to Questions. |
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| No. All hypnosis is
self-hypnosis. No one can guide you into a state of hypnosis unless you want
them to. Once in a state of hypnosis, no one can tell you act in a way
contrary to your core values or cause you to believe something that goes
against your core beliefs. It's up to you to choose which suggestions you will
accept and which suggestions you will reject. If someone tried to manipulate
you into doing something that you didn't want to do, you would come out of
hypnosis instantly. You are always in control. You are welcome (and
encouraged) to listen to each of your Hypnobabies cds in a normal waking state
prior to listening to them for guided hypnosis. This will allow you to know
exactly what suggestions will be given. |
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| Back to Questions. |
| Content is adapted from the Hypnobabies Network site at www.hypnobabies.com and www.enjoybirth.com
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