Hypnotherapy for labourIncredible but true … some women don't want artificial pain relief to get through labour. But before you dismiss them as, at best - mad, at worst - superhuman, check out the benefits of hypnotherapy - a natural form of pain management during childbirth.
What is hypnotherapy for birth? Increasingly, hypnotherapy is gaining credence in mainstream medicine for its powerful and beneficial effects at pain control and relief, with no nasty side effects. Its effectiveness has been particularly observed in birth and is now being practised by many women throughout the UK and beyond. The theory behind it is quite simple: that fear leads to tension and that tension leads to pain, as Maggie Howell, clinical hypnotherapist, explains. "If you go into the birth feeling and being frightened, your system will respond accordingly. This fear will lead to increased adrenalin in your body, which leads to increased tension in your muscles and your cervix, with less 'contraction' hormones being produced, so that your uterus is having to work much harder to flex and tighten. This subsequently makes contractions far more painful, in the same way that if you tense up when you are in pain, the pain becomes far greater." Many people assume that a hypnotised person will be in a daze and unable to communicate sensibly with anyone around them. However, this is not the case, as Maggie stresses. "Hypnosis is a natural state, which we all experience many times a day. It is when your conscious (analytical, reasoning) mind takes a step back and your subconscious (feelings, memories, emotions) comes more to the forefront." Once your mind relaxes, you become more receptive to positive suggestions and affirmations and, since your mind cannot distinguish between imagination and reality, the more positive suggestions you give yourself, the more real they become. The benefits of using hypnosis for childbirthHypnosis for birth teaches women simple but powerful techniques to induce feelings of relaxation and peace during labour and birth. This can be used to release any fears and anxieties that naturally affect first-time mums or to reassure those who have experienced previous traumatic labours and deliveries. The emphasis is very much on the woman staying in control of her own mind and body rather than feeling helpless and disempowered. "When you are relaxed, your breathing is even and rhythmical; ensuring a high level of oxygen is entering your body," says Maggie. "This oxygen is passed to your baby, ensuring that he remains calm and stable. Increased oxygen stimulates the production of oxytocin and feel-good endorphins. Your blood pressure remains at a healthy level and you conserve your energy, with all excess energy being channelled through to the muscle that is really working hard, namely your uterus. As the uterus has no resistance or tension from surrounding muscles, the contractions are more effective and more comfortable." Hypnobirthing can be used effectively in all settings - home births, water births, hospital births, etc. And the techniques can be used to help calm and relax you whenever a stressful situation arises, so it's of long-term benefit! Will it guarantee a pain-free birth?This is the key question we all want to ask but unfortunately there doesn't seem to be a clear-cut answer! Although Hypnobirthing UK stresses that "severe pain does not need to be part of labour", it also points out that a totally pain-free labour cannot be guaranteed. It says that 65-70% of mums using hypnobirthing techniques need no pain relief and that around half of these experience no pain, just pressure. A further 20-25% need a mild form of pain relief such as gas and air, with the remaining 5-10% needing special intervention for a variety of reasons. We asked babyworlders if anyone had had any experiences, positive or negative, using hypnosis for birth. One member, Gomi, had a very positive experience, "I tried it and would highly recommend it. I didn't need any pain relief at all as I didn't feel any pain - just pressure. Even the midwife was amazed." However, for another member, Susan, it didn't bring the relief she had hoped for. "I tried it - listened to the CD religiously. It totally went out of my mind after 42 hours of contractions!" How do I prepare?Hypnotherapy or hypnosis for birth is taught by private practitioners throughout the UK, either by particular organisations or by qualified individuals. Specific courses will last approximately 12 hours or so in total, either in several sessions or over the course of a weekend, and take on either small groups or, sometimes, individual couples. As with other antenatal classes, you will learn about anatomical and physiological issues but you will also be taught other essential things such as:
The cost of the course depends on where it is running, who is running it and how many people are taken on. Courses with larger groups might cost around £200 per couple, whilst private tuition can cost up to £450. If you prefer a more private approach, you could try self-hypnosis with a special CD, which first will guide you into a deeply relaxed state and then will guide you through a detailed visualisation of giving birth from a physiological perspective: rather like a dress rehearsal! You will need to listen to this CD repeatedly before labour to help your body and mind associate the birth experience with calm, relaxing emotions and hopefully boost your confidence and reduce any anxiety." What do I need to ask prospective instructors?As with anything related to pregnancy and birth, it is essential to gain the relevant and necessary information to make a considered decision. The sort of questions you should be asking include:
It is also said that hypnotherapy of any sort can only really work if you feel comfortable with your therapist. Therefore, always ask to meet them first so you can gauge if you are likely to get on with them and be able to relax in their presence: if not you are unlikely to gain from the experience. You might like to speak to a couple of hypnotherapists to get a better picture, if this option is available to you. Marianne Monie describes how after a difficult first birth she was determined to do things differently the second time around using hypnotherapy...Read more Where to next?
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