Hypnosis for Birthing

Lia and Liam born 3/31/07 Twins 2lbs.

The benefits and the advantages of hypnosis are.....

1) Reduction or eradication of fear, tension, and pain before and during labor with a consequent rise in the pain threshold.

2) Reduction of chemoanalgesia and anesthesia or their complete elimination in good hypnotic subjects.

3) Complete control of painful uterine contractions; the mother can choose to experience the sensations of childbirth or not, as she sees fit.

4) Decreased shock and speedier recovery.

5) Lessened incidence of operative delivery since the responsive patient cooperates more fully, particularly during the expulsive stage. Relaxation and anesthesia of perineum are produced by autohypnosis or by direct suggestion from the hypnotherapist; this eases delivery, episiotomy, and suturing of the perinuem.

6) Lack of undesirable postoperative effects such as may be encountered with drug anesthesia; hypnoanesthesia is also more readily controlled.

7) Hypnosis shortens the first stage of labor by approximately 3 hours in primiparae and by more than 2 hours in multiparae.

8) Hypnosis raises the resistance to fatigue, thus minimizing maternal exhaustion.

9) Hypnosis can be used in debilitated individuals, in those who have ingested food shortly before delivery, and in those who are allergic to drugs. Also, it is indicated in premature delivery.

10) Hypnotic rapport can be transferred to an associate, an intern or a nurse, or to the husband, any one of whom, without previous training, can readily induce and maintain the hypnotic state by means of a prearranged cue (this can only be accomplished with the patient’s permission).

11) No elaborate education or ritualistic exercises are needed to achieve the strong interpersonal relationship essential to the success of childbirth under hypnosis.

12) There is no possibility that harm will be done to the mother or the baby by hypnoanesthesia. On the other hand, the literature offers a considerable amount of evidence that when drugs are given for pain relief they may decrease the oxygen supply to the fetus. Combined with other asphyxial factors such as trauma or difficult delivery, this may produce fetal anoxia and, it its wake, severe brain damage. With hypnoanesthesia, the danger of fetal anoxia is markedly decreased.

13) Childbirth under hypnoanesthesia is an intensely gratifying emotional experience for well-adjusted mothers. Hearing the baby’s first cry or seeing him or her immediately after birth are thrills that mothers can never feel if they are "knocked out."

14) Hypnosis can be life-saving for mother and baby in obstetrical emergencies. Its successful application has been reported in abruptio placenta with delivery of a live baby.

What about Hypnosis for Childbirth?

Hypnosis is used in medical and dental procedures with great success by patients who have life-threatening allergies to anesthetics, allowing them to undergo surgeries with no drugs and no pain. We know therefore that the mind can be trained to experience discomfort as only pressure, and that is what is achieved in childbirth hypnosis as well. In addition, with labor, the more relaxation the mother experiences, the more comfort she will have, and the depth of relaxation necessary can easily be achieved with hypnosis, as physical relaxation is learned and practiced daily in preparation for birth using guided visualizations followed by positive hypnotic suggestions. When the critical conscious mind is by-passed with hypnosis, the inner mind can literally be reprogrammed to believe that birth will be comfortable, easy and joyous.

Hypnosis for childbirth teaches a woman how to enter into self-hypnosis instantly, and create her own natural anesthesia whenever and wherever she needs it. She has total control over her body, and is an active participant in her birth process. As labor progresses, she relaxes even more, goes deeper inside herself, trusting in her body's natural ability to give birth with ease and comfort. Her mind is programmed to give her exactly what she needs.

Benefits of using hypnosis for childbirth:

• Fewer drugs or no drugs at all means less risk of side effects on mother and baby.
• Shorter labors - resistance of the birthing muscles as a response to pain is minimized or eliminated.
• An awake, energized mother, due to total relaxation throughout the birthing process.
• A calm, peaceful birthing environment.
• Breech and posterior babies can be turned using hypnosis.
• Fewer interventions and complications during labor.
• Babies who are better sleepers and nursers due to fewer drugs in their systems.

Evidence of the effectiveness of hypnosis in the management and prevention of anxiety and postnatal depression

Hypnosis has recently becoming advocated as a useful non-pharmacological intervention in the treatment of depression . There are several reports of a low incidence of postnatal depression associated with women preparing for childbirth using hypnosis techniques although comparative data is lacking  In addition, there is convincing evidence in the pre-operative setting that the use of hypnosis decreases patient anxiety and reduces overall costs

1.  Four one hour sessions where you will learn how to relax and lessen the stress of birthing

2.  Learn self hypnosis where you can practice your relaxation

3. Visual imagery for your labor to make for an easier delivery

4. Reduce the amount of pain you will encounter

5. Fewer drugs or no drugs at all means less risk of side effects on mother and baby

6.  Free CD's for stress and relaxation.  Use for delivery and after.

$425 for complete sessions

Group sessions $250 (eight couples, three sessions including CD's)