Hypnobirthing
What is hypnobirthing
Hypnobirthing is a logical approach to childbirth. The tools and techniques you will learn on a course are hugely beneficial for mums, birth partners and babies! You will find the relaxation techniques you practice in pregnancy can be used not only for birth but life in general.
We passionately believe that birth experience matters. Many studies have shown that a positive birth experience has a profound impact on maternal psychological and emotional wellbeing and enables women to embark on motherhood feeling confident, strong and capable. This is why hypnobirthing is for all births; a course will equip you with the skills needed to navigate your birth, whether that be at home, hospital or in theatre, feeling empowered and in control.
IS HYPNOBIRTHING FOR ME?
This question is asked a lot. The easy answer is YES: If you are growing a baby in your uterus, hypnobirthing is for you.
It doesn't matter how your baby is going to make an appearance, or when or with what help. It doesn't matter if you're planning a home water birth or an induction in hospital. What matters is that you are fully informed and feeling confident, armed with practical tools to help you remain calm and relaxed throughout and empowered to make the right decisions for you and your baby. It matters that for the rest of your life, when you reflect on your birth, you remember it as an incredible and empowering experience, rather than a traumatic one. Hypnobirthing will help with that. There is no scenario where what you have learnt won't help you.
So can it really work – what’s the evidence?
Not many studies have looked at the effects of hypnosis in labour and childbirth. Although one review of what studies have been done found that hypnosis might reduce the overall use of pain relief during labour except for epidural use. Hypnosis doesn’t seem to make a significant difference to how satisfied women are with pain relief or their sense of coping with labour or birth.
What are the advantages of hypnobirthing?
Some women find hypnobirthing helps them to have a calm and positive birth experience. With some reporting less need for pain relief.
Hypnobirthing focuses on relaxation for self-hypnosis and releasing fears related to pregnancy and childbirth.
It’s thought that some mums benefit from hypnobirthing because it keeps them more relaxed, reduces pain and encourages a shorter labour.
NICE states that women who choose to use hypnosis during childbirth should be supported in doing so.
A review of the evidence suggested hypnosis might help to reduce the pain of labour and does not seem to have any adverse effects on outcomes.
If I try hypnobirthing will I be aware of what is happening?
A common misconception about hypnobirthing is that women lose control of their thoughts and actions in a hypnotic state. In fact, women who learn hypnobirthing use it to be less aware of external stimuli. They also learn to have a more focused attention and responsiveness to verbal or non-verbal suggestions. The idea is that these suggestions might make her feel safer, more relaxed and comfortable, and give her some relief from her pain.
So women who use self-hypnosis during labour are fully in control and aware of what is happening to them and to those around them. What hypnobirthing actually aims to do is help a woman focus and enhance her birthing experience.
