My midwifery background meant I was totally sceptical about the effectiveness of hypnosis in labour. I have changed my mind! I would urge you to seriously consider using hypnosis to prepare for labour - you should not be disappointed!
I believe hypnosis is an effective way of maximising the occurrences of a normal vaginal delivery, with fewer complications, less use of analgesics and greater satisfaction with the childbirth process. It increases feelings of calm, control and focus. It is the only method of pain management that actually improves birth outcome and has no unwanted side effects on either mother or baby.
How?
Purely through relaxation. And that is all that hypnosis is - relaxation. As we all know, relaxation is easier said than done, but a skilled Hypnotherapist will help you to achieve that state, and teach you how to do it for yourself. Then somehow, in that relaxed state, your unconscious mind is willing to accept beneficial suggestions.
The textbooks say that 85%-90% of people can be hypnotised; I have always thought the figure was 99.999%! I feel my belief is supported by new research that shows, by the use of modern scanning machines, in the hypnotised state, activity is taking place in one part of the brain (the anterior cingulate gyrus). The hypnotised person is not gullible, easily led or suggestible. Hypnosis is NOT a general anaesthetic. The hypnotised person might indeed be totally aware throughout the whole session of everything that is said.
So how does it work for childbirth? The actual techniques employed by the Hypnotherapist will vary from practitioner to practitioner. It will almost certainly focus heavily on relaxation, thereby interrupting the
fear-tension-pain cycle. My personal feeling is that the Hypnotherapist should take the time to train you to achieve relaxation yourself, and not be reliant on tapes or CDs. Other sessions might include giving you positive thoughts about labour, letting go of fear and visualisations.
Finding a Practitioner
Ensure the person is a qualified Hypnotherapist, who carries insurance for hypnosis and belongs to a professional Hypnotherapists' Organisation.
Ensure they have undertaken extra training in the use of Hypnosis for Childbirth. Ensure the method they use is supported by clinical research and has evidence that it is proven to improve birth outcomes.
It is essential that you feel completely
comfortable with the Practitioner.
It is probably helpful that you find their voice
pleasant.
If the person is also undertaking to do antenatal classes for you, ensure they have been through a substantial period of training, and the advice they give you is supported by clinical evidence. (NCT Antenatal Teachers do undergo extensive training and the information provided by the NCT is evidence based.)
No reputable practitioner should object in any way to your asking for information about the above points - if they do, then perhaps they are not the practitioner for you! Lynn Baxter is a Midwife and Clinical Hypnotherapist
She is always happy to speak to you about
any aspect of Hypnosis for Childbirth. |
