 Hypnotherapy
for labour
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If someone told you that labour and birth could be painless and even
enjoyable you might think they were pulling your leg, but if you prepare
well and approach the whole process with the right mindset then this is
the opportunity that using hypnosis offers.
Here Marianne Monie describes how after a difficult first birth she
was determined to do things differently the second time around.
During my first pregnancy with my son in 2005 I didn't worry too much
about labour. I figured all babies had to come out, it was natural and
it would just happen.
I read up on the process and we took both NCT and NHS antenatal classes
to prepare. I wanted as natural a birth as possible, with as little pain
relief as I could manage. I was bitterly disappointed when by 10 days
overdue I had not gone into labour spontaneously and reluctantly agreed
to be induced because given some complications earlier in the pregnancy
we didn't feel it was advisable to take any chances.
The upshot was that when labour started I found myself totally unprepared
for the intensity and, as I was alone on a ward in the middle of the night,
became very frightened and didn't cope. By the time they finally let my
husband come in after several hours he said I looked like a rabbit in
headlights.
A well-meaning midwife gave me some gas and air and from then on the
rest of the classic intervention cascade followed, ending up in an epidural
and forceps delivery. Whilst it was a positive experience in the sense
that our son Matthew was delivered safely, I felt disempowered by not
being in control and especially disappointed that I had been unable to
actually give birth him myself without intervention.
"Hypnosis is nothing scary or magical, but basically a deep
self-induced state of relaxation"
We knew that next time round something had to be different so that we
would have a better experience. I had heard about the use of hypnosis
for labour as a teenager and had also read in the papers that James Cracknell
(Olympic Rower) and his wife had used it.
Having experienced hypnotherapy for something else when I was younger,
I also understood that hypnosis is nothing scary or magical, but basically
a deep self-induced state of relaxation -you remain totally in control
and it is actually very pleasant. After my son's birth one of my friends
trained as a hypnobirthing® practitioner.
So when I became pregnant again, it was obvious to contact her and arrange
to take some classes. As I explained when we started, I wanted to learn
a technique for helping me to cope with the intensity of labour so that
I would not become frightened and out of control, which was what I felt
was the most important factor in the negative aspects of what happened
first time.
We did 5 sessions in our own home from about half way through the pregnancy.
Learning the techniques was a fair commitment. We had to practice together
several times a week, preferably daily, which was difficult to fit in
round working, looking after a toddler, keeping on top of the house and
the tiredness of pregnancy. I also had a CD to listen to daily and relaxation
exercises I could practice on my own.
 Most
important was the practice together though, as the birthing partner is
really crucial to helping the mum to relax during labour and as we practised
together we learned what helped me to relax most easily.
In the last few weeks I practised in the birthing pool that we had hired,
which helped me to learn to associate the feel of the water and environment
of the room we had prepared with the sensation of deep relaxation.
"I cannot put into words how amazing a labour and birth
like this is."
The exercises gave me images to visualise to associate with different
ways of relaxing and also different ways of breathing to help my muscles
to work effectively in the different phases of labour.
When the big day arrived and labour started, I was able to stay calm
and coped really well. At times it was a bit uncomfortable and certainly
the sensations were very intense, but I did not find labour and birth
painful -a total contrast with Matthew's birth.
Tom, my husband, was a fantastic support and Rhiannon's birth was a
truly exhilarating experience. She was born at home in the birthing pool
and the only part that didn't go to plan was that there was no-one but
me and Tom present, as because I coped so well that we had no idea how
fast labour was advancing and didn't call the midwife in time!
 I
cannot put into words how amazing a labour and birth like this is. I truly
wish that all women could have such a positive and empowering experience
and perhaps if all pregnant women had the opportunity to learn ways of
coping and working with labour instead of being bombarded with scare stories
and having their minds focussed on the need for pain relief then more
would.
The contrast with my son's birth could not have been greater and, whilst
I am very grateful that we have all the wonders of medical technology
available to assist women and babies who need it, the vast majority of
labours and births are do not need to be a medical experience -even if
mothers-to-be choose to labour and give birth in hospital.
Our bodies are perfectly designed to do this, provided they can be free
from tension and fear.
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