General use during pregnancy

Evidence suggests there may be value in using hypnosis for a wide range of pregnancy related problems, such as heartburn, high blood pressure and postnatal depression.

Practitioners believe that during pregnancy and prior to birth, the use of hypnosis can significantly shorten labor and reduce the need for intervention. Practitioners also believe that babies born to mothers who have used hypnosis to relax and calm themselves will sleep and feed better. However there is little scientific evidence to support these claims.

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 1930's in his work on natural childbirth and since the 1980's a range of different techniques have been developed that utilize hypnosis in a natural childbirth. These include the Mongan method (also known as hypnobirthing), the Lamaze method, and the Natal Hypnotherapy method.

Research

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.

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

1) reduced the length of labour
2) reduced the incidence of pain medication use
3) produced higher apgar scores
4) reduced the incidence of postpartum depression
5) increased the incidence of spontaneous deliveries

Natal Hypnotherapy

Natal Hypnotherapy is a UK-based method of preparing a mother for childbirth taught through courses and CDs. It was developed by Maggie Howell D. hyp, C.hyp, UKHypReg, C.tshyp, who used self-hypnosis for the birth of her first child and then went on to train as a Clinical Hypnotherapist before developing the Natal Hypnotherapy method. It has been found that listening to self-hypnosis CDs before and then during labour stimulates the postive mental images and deep relaxation that have been practiced earlier.

Mongan Method

The Mongan method is often known as hypnobirthing, and is a US-based method of preparing a mother for childbirth taught through courses. It is named after its founder Marie (or 'Mickey') Mongan M.Ed., M.Hy., a hypnotherapist, Harvard Fellow, and author of "HypnoBirthing: A Celebration Of Life", published in 1989. Work is closely compared to that of Michelle Leclaire O'Neill, another leading practitioner and author on the subject.

References

British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 100(3), 221-226, 1993

Jenkins, M.W., & Pritchard, M.H. 'Hypnosis: Practical applications and theoretical considerations in normal labour'. (British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 100(3), 221-226, 1993)

Sheila Kitzinger, ‘Birth Crisis’, Routledge 2006, ISBN 0-415-37266-6 p. 97

Marie Mongan, 'HypnoBirthing: A Celebration of Life'.