Hypnotherapy in childbirth

Hypnosis

Applications
Hypnotherapy Stage hypnosis Self-hypnosis
Origins
Animal magnetism Franz Mesmer History of hypnosis James Braid
Key figures
Marques of Puységur James Esdaile John Elliotson Jean-Martin Charcot Ambroise-Auguste Liébeault Hippolyte Bernheim Pierre Janet Sigmund Freud Émile Coué Morton Prince Clark L. Hull Andrew Salter Theodore R. Sarbin Milton H. Erickson Stephen Brooks Dave Elman Ernest Hilgard Martin Theodore Orne André Muller Weitzenhoffer Theodore Xenophon Barber Nicholas Spanos Irving Kirsch
Related topics
Hypnotic susceptibility Suggestion Post-hypnotic suggestion Age regression in therapy Neuro-linguistic programming Hypnotherapy in the UK
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Hypnotherapy can be used during pregnancy and childbirth to prepare a mother for birth and/or to attempt to treat a number of issues ranging from fears and minor health conditions related to the pregnancy, to the possibility of reducing or eliminating pain during labor.

Hypnotherapy is the process of interactive therapy with a certified clinical hypnotherapist to determine and resolve the root cause(s) of any overwhelming fears, beliefs and attitudes. There are many basic hypnosis techniques that can be used throughout pregnancy and childbirth for the purposes of relaxation, sleep, physical comfort, preparation for childbirth and preparation for parenthood.

History

It started with the work of English obstetrician Grantly Dick-Read (1890–1959), and culminated in his book Childbirth without Fear,^[1] first published in 1942. The work was further developed by Jacqueline Vincent Priya^[2], Michelle Leclaire O'Neill^[3] and later Marie Mongan^[4] and Kerry Tuschhoff in America.

General use during pregnancy

Practitioners understand that during pregnancy and prior to birth, the use of hypnosis can significantly shorten labor, reduce pain and reduce the need for intervention. Practitioners also understand that babies born to mothers who have used hypnosis to relax and calm themselves will sleep and feed better.

Hypnotherapists who specialize in hypnosis for childbirth can offer a tailored approach geared towards individual women. This is especially important if they have additional phobias or fears associated with childbirth. This can include needle phobias, fear of hospitals or even fear of pregnancy itself.

Hypnosis for labor

Hypnosis can also be used as a pain relief method during labor. Obstetrician Grantly Dick-Read first wrote about the phenomenon in the 1930s in his work on natural childbirth and since the 1980s a range of different techniques have been developed that utilize hypnosis in a natural childbirth. These include The Peaceful Pregnancy Program, Hypnobabies, Hypnobirthing (as originally coined by Michelle Leclaire O'Neill), The Mongan Method (also known as "HypnoBirthing"), the Lamaze method, Confident Childbirth (cognitive hypnotherapy), Natal Hypnotherapy, FreshStart and the GentleBirth program.

All of these program promote the well being of mother and baby but all programs are not created equally. Many programs do not require practitioners to be certified hypnotists, master hypnotists or clinical hypnotherapists. All Peaceful Pregnancy Practitioners are accredited hypnotists, master hypnotists or clinical hypnotherapists and have participated in training for the use of hypnosis specifically for pregnancy and childbirth.

Research

According to the Mayo Clinic, research examining the benefits of hypnobirthing is limited: A 2004 research review found insufficient evidence to show that the technique is effective, though a 2006 research review found that hypnobirthing reduced the use of pain medication during labor.^[5]

A post-review of patients who had used hypnotherapy for labor was published in 2004 in the British Journal of Anaesthesia 2004 (93(4):505-511) by A.M Cyna, G.L. McAuliffe and M.I. Andrew. The review suggested that there was evidence of the reduced need for pharmacological analgesia but a more substantial trial was required. Subsequently there is a major controlled trial currently underway in Adelaide, Australia which is seeking to conclusively prove that hypnosis can a make a significant difference to women in pregnancy and labor.^[6]

In 1993, a randomised control trial by M.W. Jenkins and M. H. Pritchard, 'Hypnosis: Practical applications and theoretical considerations in normal labour'^[7] reported that hypnosis, combined with childbirth education,:

• reduced the length of labour
• reduced the incidence of pain medication use

References

1. ^ Odent, Michel; Dick-Read, Grantly (2004). Childbirth without fear: the principles and practice of natural childbirth. Pinter & Martin. ISBN 0-9530964-6-7. ^{[page needed]}
2. ^ Vincent Priya, Jacqueline; Odent, Michael (1992). Birth Traditions and Modern Pregnancy Care (Women's health & parenting). Element Books Ltd. pp. 149. ISBN 978-1852303211. ^{[page needed]}
3. ^ O'Neill, Michelle LeClaire (2000). Hypnobirthing The Original Method. Papyrus Press. ISBN 0-9633087-1-8. ^{[page needed]}
4. ^ Mongan, Marie F. (1998). HypnoBirthing: A Celebration of Life. Rivertree Hypnosis Inst. ISBN 0-9663517-1-1. ^{[page needed]}
5. ^ Roger W. Harms, M.D., Hypnobirthing: How does it work?, Mayo Clinic, April 14, 2011, accessed July 10, 2011.
6. ^ Hypnosis Antenatal Training for Childbirth (HATCh): a Randomised Controlled Trial accessed 12-Feb-2009
7. ^ British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 100(3), 221-226, 1993

External links

• HypnoBirthing Institute (Mongan Method)
• The Peaceful Pregnancy Program
• Inspiring births
• Hypnobabies