Hypnobirthing

Alternative forms of pain relief are becoming more popular all the time. Hypnosis could be your ticket to an easier labour. Midwife and hypnotherapist, Amanda Gwynne Long, reveals all…

Hypnobirthing is a proven pain relief method, based on research carried out in the 1920s by British obstetrician Dr Grantly Dick-Reid. His theory is that what makes birth particularly painful is panic and fear (plus lots of nerve-endings of course).

So, reducing the fear women have about childbirth will make labour easier and less painful.

What is hypnosis?

By awakening parts of your brain that you don’t normally use through techniques like visualisation, hypnosis creates a feeling of deep relaxation, although you’ll stremain alert and aware of your surroundings throughout. It taps into the power of your subconscious mind which knows how to give birth without fear and anxiety. Self-hypnosis works because it stimulates the body’s own natural painkillers to fight off pain and gives you the confidence in yourself and your body that you have the ability to give birth without problem.

You can also use hypnotherapy during pregnancy – it can help with niggles such as morning sickness and tiredness, and it can also improve your general wellbeing. Dr Martin P Williams, a member of the British Hypnotherapy Association and founder of the Hypnonatal programme for painless childbirth, says that using hypnosis in early pregnancy causes feelings of nausea and sickness to subside, in most cases within one or two sessions. Something to remember next time you’re hugging the toilet bowl for two hours despite eating as much ginger as you can stomach.

How it works

OK, let’s deal with the misconceptions. Hypnobirthing does not involve a scary bloke standing in front of you in the delivery room with a pocket watch swinging in front of your face. You will be taught self hypnosis methods in the run up to the big day so that you can detach yourself from the reality of labour and feel more in control.

Hypnobirthing classes generally start when you’re around 30 weeks. You’ll be taught in small groups by qualified and experienced hypnosis teachers who know lots about pregnancy and labour as well. You can also visit a therapist for one to one sessions for a bit of extra help.

During your first session your hypnotherapist will induce hypnosis using muscle relaxation and slow breathing techniques. Your subconscious mind will then be more open to suggestion and your attitude to labour and delivery can be influenced as your therapist encourages calm and positive thoughts. You’ll feel more confident about the birth once you better understand the processes and you’ll see labour as a natural process that your body is equipped for.

During subsequent sessions, you’ll be taught how to breathe in rhythm when your contractions start and learn relaxation techniques. Bonding with your baby is encouraged by the therapist as she helps you visualise him growing inside you.

And your therapist will help you imagine your whole labour step by step to prepare you for every stage, and quash the fear of giving birth. She’ll also teach you pain relieving techniques, such as glove anesthesia.

Strangely enough, no gloves are actually involved – but mind over matter means that through the power of visualisation, it feels as if you have put your hand in an ice bucket and numbed it! This pain-killing effect can be transferred to whichever part of your body is affected during your labour and birth.

So is hypnobirthing soun too good to be true? A study published in the British Medical Journal on 70 women treated by hypnosis, found that the lengths of their labours were considerably reduced – and nearly 60 per cent required no pain-relieving drugs at all. Worth a try, we reckon!

‘I felt totally relaxed and in control’

Caroline Lister, 30, is mum to Cameron, seven months. She used hypnotherapy during pregnancy and labour

‘At 17 weeks pregnant I was admitted to hospital with severe morning sickness [hyperemisis gravidarum]. I was very dehydrated. The doctors called a hypnotherapist, Rhona, in to help me.

She made me feel very relaxed by saying things like I had a warm, healing feeling inside me and that the sickness would go away over and over again. She also repeated positive statements like I was healthy, calm and less tired. I was discharged the next day.

After that I continued to have hypnotherapy sessions throughout my pregnancy to rebuild my mental and physical strength. It made me feel much happier and healthier.

‘I practiced breathing and deep relaxation every day to help me with the birth, and Rhona was with me during the labour. Just hearing her voice relaxed me. The contractions were uncomfortable but I felt totally relaxed and in control and I progressed so quickly that my husband almost missed the birth!

‘Afterwards, I was able to bond with my baby quickly and easily because I’d been sending him positive thoughts in my womb.’

‘Hypnotherapy gives me the confidence to give birth without worrying’

Julie Tucker, 35, is 32 weeks pregnant and mum to Brandon, aged 18 months

‘I only had gas and air during my last labour but during this pregnancy I began to feel apprehensive about the birth.

I’d heard about hypnotherapy and decided to give it a go. During the sessions my therapist helped me to visualise the three stages of labour progressing with minimum pain. She encouraged me to imagine my cervix opening up like a flower to full dilatation.

Then she helped me imagine the actual birth itself happening in a calm and normal way followed by a natural delivery of my placenta. We even went through positive breastfeeding and bonding with the baby visualisations. I felt very relaxed– so much so that I felt I was asleep yet totally aware.’

12 reasons to try hypnobirthing

1 It can help pregnancy niggles like sickness and tiredness
2 It has been shown to shorten the first stage of labour by several hours
3 You’re more likely to get through labour without drugs
4 It can give you more energy during labour.
5 You’ll be calmer and more controlled during labour – and your baby will be too
6 Hypnobirthing has been shown to help women cope better if complications arise
7 Your partner can get more involved by helping you use hypnobirthing techniques
8 It can help you and your partner bond with your baby
9 It may help you recover more quickly after the birth – physically and emotionally
10 It can help boost your confidence for breastfeeding.
11 Some experts say hypnobirthing encourages your baby to be content and to feed and sleep well
12 It’s completely safe for you and the baby!

DIY hypnobirthing

Amanda suggests this tip you can use to help the pain in labour. ‘Anchor the discomfort during contractions by rubbing your thumb and forefinger together and repeating the words “calm and relaxed”. This will help you cope with the pain.’

I want to try it!

Amanda Gwynne Long is a midwife and hypnotherapist working in the Inverness area – contact her for classes and info on 01463 741504 or amandagw@btinternet.com

Hypnobtherapy for Birth therapist Rhona Gethins, 01738 624917

HypnoBirthing UK  www.hypnobirthing.co.uk

The Birth Preparation CD from Natal Hypnotherapy costs £16. Call 01428 712615 or visit www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk