Prenatal & Birth Research
Research: Hypnosis for Pregnancy and Childbirth
The
results from research studies echo benefits my birth clients enjoy, finding
hypnotherapy a natural, safe and effective method for creating a wonderful
birthing experience.
Hypnosis can reduce fear and pain
Reduces fear of birth (Mehl-Madrona, 2004)
Reduces anxiety and stress during pregnancy and
birth (Mehl-Madrona, 2004; Brann & Guzvica, 1987)
Reduces pain and perceptions of pain (Harmon et al,
1990; Tiba, 1990; Guthrie et al, 1984)
Hypnosis can reduce medical intervention
Reduces incidences of women being induced (labour
augmentation) with synthetic oxytocin (Harmon et al, 1990; Martin et al, 2001,
Cyna et al, 2006)
Hypnosis significantly reduces need for chemical
analgesia (i.e. drugs) (Jenkins & Pritchard, 1993; Davidson, 1962; Martin
et al, 2001; Bobart & Brown, 2002; Cyna et al, 2006)
Reduces complications and postpartum medication
(Martin et al, 2001)
Fosters quicker recovery from birth (Moya &
Jones, 1982; Gross & Posner, 1963)
Hypnosis can decrease duration of labour
Labour duration is significantly longer in women
with fear of childbirth (Adams et al, 2012)
Hypnosis significantly decrease length of labour for
both first time and second time mothers (Harmon et al, 1990; Jenkins &
Pritchard, 1993; Davidson, 1962; Brann & Guzvica, 1987)
Hypnosis increases speed and ease of labour
(Gross & Posner, 1963)
Hypnosis can help rotate breech babies
Hypnosis significantly increases incidences of
conversion from breech to vertex presentation – in a study of 100 women 81% of
the group receiving hypnosis experienced a conversion to vertex presentation
compared to 48% of the control group, some of which had an external cephalic
version to assist rotation (Melh, 1994)
Other benefits of using hypnotherapy to prepare for birth
Newborns are more likely to have higher Apgar
scores. Apgar is a scale used to determine physical condition of newborn
and determine if medical care or intervention is required. Higher scores
indicate good condition. (Harmon et al, 1990)
Mothers are more satisfied with the birthing
experience (Brann & Guzvica, 1987) and are less likely to experience
post-natal depression (Harmon et al, 1990; McCarthy, 1998))
Aids pregnancy disturbances such as getting to sleep
(Brann & Guzvica, 1987)
Reduces post partum insomnia, headache and breast
discomfort (Moya & Jones, 1982)
Can prevent pre-term delivery (Reinhard et al, 2009)
References
Adams,
S. S., Eberhand-Gran, M., & Eskild, A. (2012). Fear of childbirth and
duration of labour: a study of 2206 women with intended vaginal delivery. BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics
and Gynaecology, 119(10), pp1238-1246
Bobart, V., & Brown, D.C. (2002). Improved obstetric
outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skill mastery combined with childbirth
education. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology
(Brann, L. R., & Guzvica, S. A. (1987). Comparison of
hypnosis with conventional relaxation for antenatal and intrapartum use: A
feasibility study in general practice. Journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners, 37,
pp437-440
Cyna, A. M., Andrew, M. I., & McAuliffe, G. L. (2006)
Antenatal self-hypnosis for labour and childbirth: a pilot study. Anaesth Intensive Care, 34(4), pp464-469
Davidson, J. A. (1962). An Assessment of the Value of
Hypnosis in Pregnancy and Labour. British Medical Journal, 2(5310), pp951-953
Gross, H. N., & Posner, N. A. (1963). An evaluation of
hypnosis for obstetric delivery. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology, 87,
pp912–920.
Guthrie, K., Taylor, D. J., & Defriend, D.
(1984). Maternal hypnosis induced by husbands. Journal of Obstetrics Gynaecology, 5,
pp93-96
Harmon, T. M., Hynan, M. T., & Tyre, T.E. (1990). Improved
obstetric outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skill mastery combined with
childbirth education. Journal of Consulting and
Clinical Psychology, 58, pp525-530
Jenkins, M. W., & Pritchard, M. H. (1993). Hypnosis:
Practical applications and theoretical considerations in normal labour. British Journal of Obstetrics and
Gynaecology, 100, pp221-222
Martin, A. A., Schauble, P. G., Rai, S. H., & Curry, R. W.
jr. (2001). The effects of hypnosis on the labor processes and
birth outcomes of pregnant adolescents. Journal of Family Practice, 50, pp441-443
McCarthy, P. (1998). Hypnosis in Obstetrics. Australian Journal of Clinical and
Experiential Hypnosis, 26(1) pp35-42
Mehl, L. E. (1994). Hypnosis and conversion of the breech
to the vertex presentation. Archives of Family Medicine, 3(10),
pp881-887
Mehl-Madrona, L. E. (2004). Hypnosis to facilitate
uncomplicated birth. American
Journal of Clinical Hypnosis, 46(4), pp299-312
Moya, F., & Jones, L. S. (1982). Medical hypnosis for
obstetrics. American Journal of Clinical
Hypnosis, 24, pp 149-177
Reinhard, J., Huesken-JanBen, H., Hatzmann, H., &
Schiermeier, S. (2009). Preterm Labour and Clinical Hypnosis. Contemporary Hypnosis, 26(4), pp187-193
If you'd like to find out how hypnotherapy could help you optimise your mind and body for fertility