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The psychological consequences of induced abortion are complex and subject to both considerable controversy and methodological criticisms. While many women report feelings of relief immediately after the procedu

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This guide will help to educate you on pregnancy and childbirth so that you can overcome your fears and convert them to joy.

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Childbirth

Surprised? Well you may be even more surprised to discover that it’s not a new development but a simple therapy that has been around for centuries. This miracle cure for all the modern-day trials of childbirth was pioneered by Dr Grantly Dick-Read, the founder of the National Childbirth Trust no less. He was a leading proponent of the use of hypnotherapy in labour when he wrote ‘Childbirth Without Fear’, originally published in 1933.

Inspired by the good doctor, the HypnoBirthing movement gathered pace in the US in the latter part of the 20th century. Created by hypnotherapist Marie Mongan, it provides a structured training programme for practitioners as well as books and CDs offering practical advice and information for expectant parents.

Extensive research, mainly in the US but including some small studies in the UK, demonstrates without exception the many benefits of hypnosis in childbirth. Despite this and the fact that there are a growing number of hypnotherapists trained to support maternity services, HypnoBirthing is not available within the NHS.

Midwives in Scotland who dipped into their own pockets to pay for hypnotherapy training earned numerous testimonials from happy parents for their trouble. But, as is the case with the majority of alternatives to drug-centred treatment, the medical establishment is reluctant to acknowledge hypnotherapy as a valid treatment for any kind of condition. And this is even though a study conducted back in the 1950s gave it sufficient credibility for the BMA to recommend that hypnosis techniques should be taught to all medical students. Needless to say, the recommendation was never taken up.

However, the National Childbirth Trust is a testament to parent power, proving that sizeable numbers of us would prefer to keep medical intervention in childbirth to a minimum using safe, simple, tried and tested methods. On the whole, our heroic midwives support this aim and we are fortunate indeed to have all the technology NHS budgets can afford to provide life-saving treatment when things don’t go to plan. That said, if you do a straw poll of any number of mums in your acquaintance you’ll find an unsettling number pale at the memory of their labour and, if pressed, will reveal something traumatic about the birth of their cherished little ones.

In fact, I’d describe my own two experiences of childbirth as harrowing to say the least and believe they would have been very different if I had the knowledge I have since gained as a clinical hypnotherapist.

So let me explain how hypnotherapy helps mother and baby, making the job easier for attending midwives and ultimately reducing complications and subsequent costs. Dr Dick-Read rejected the need for pain relieving drugs during childbirth on the grounds that pain was principally a product of preconceived fear and tension. He called it the ‘fear-tension-pain’ syndrome and believed that women who were properly prepared could control labour pain themselves without having to resort to medication.

Our innate fear of childbirth is a belief derived from cultural conditioning. There are non-westernised cultures where it is considered normal for babies to be delivered without pain. But, for us, the term ‘labour’ automatically conjures up thoughts of pain and struggle. And we relate hospitals to sickness and death, not life.

So, two evocative negative images already exist deep within our psyche, in the subconscious, where thoughts and beliefs gathered through a lifetime are deeply embedded. It is this part of the mind where hypnosis does its work and where hypnotherapy can begin to transform the birth experience by dislodging negative conditioning.

Contrary to popular belief and a mystique cultivated by stage performers, hypnosis is no more extraordinary an experience than day-dreaming. It is a trance-like state between waking and sleeping which we frequently go into quite naturally during the course of a day. What is exceptional about hypnosis is that it enables us to access the subconscious part of our brain and change our way of thinking through imagery and suggestion.

We cannot consciously ‘unthink’ long held beliefs any more than we can learn not to read any more. We cannot, through sheer force of willpower, decide not to feel pain. But hypnosis enables us to overcome fears and focus our attention away from pain to a degree that makes it possible to block it out completely.

This is powerful stuff so it’s worth stating loudly that no-one can be hypnotised against their will or be forced whilst under hypnosis to behave or think in a way they do not wish to. The act of becoming hypnotised is, in effect, self-hypnosis, whether induced by a therapist, by listening to a CD or simply by relaxing and using well-practiced techniques. This alone reduces tension and creates a feeling of well-being and calm.

Ante-natal hypnotherapy sessions enable pregnant women to fine tune this natural ability. With the guidance of a clinician, anyone can learn to use what is described as the ‘hypnoreflexogenous protocol’ to create a ‘conditioned reflex’. Put simply, it is possible through hypnosis to prepare emotionally to remain in control of and respond confidently to the physical process of childbirth. So, women giving birth can overcome the ‘fear-tension-pain’ syndrome using self hypnosis to achieve the best possible outcome in their given circumstances. There are even examples of caesarean sections being carried out using hypnosis alone as anaesthetic. But this is at the extreme end of the spectrum of uses of hypnosis because of the degree of preparation required for a patient to undergo any kind of surgery in this manner.

All you have to do is Google ‘HypnoBirthing’ or ‘hypnosis and childbirth’ and you will find numerous clinical studies revealing to varying degrees, but nonetheless quite staggering, statistical success stories. Time after time you will find evidence of considerably shorter labours, particularly for primigravid women, with the first stage reduced by three hours or more. Typically, twice as many women using hypnosis require no pain medication and the majority delivery spontaneously without any surgical intervention. Interestingly, though perhaps not surprisingly, higher Apgar scores are recorded for ‘hypnobabies’.

What is clear from research findings is that hypnosis is a safe and effective way to decrease the perception of pain whilst increasing your ability to manage the sensations of labour. With plenty of practice, it is possible for some women to use self hypnosis to eliminate pain completely and experience only pressure during contractions. While not all of us can achieve this, we are all capable of decreasing our perception of pain and increasing our coping skills. When tense, anxious or frightened, our bodies create a ‘fight or flight’ response.

Animal research shows that, if threatened by predators, mammals will flood their bodies with ‘fight or flight’ chemicals to stop labour so they can get themselves and their babies to safety. This was also demonstrated during the Blitz when it was noted that women in labour would stop when air raid sirens went off only to start again after the raid was over. In a normal environment, the ‘fear-tension-pain’ syndrome can create the same response, leading to prolonged labour, greater foetal distress and lower Apgar scores.

Conversely, self hypnosis creates a state of deep relaxation whilst fully aware, totally relaxed and in control. It generates feel-good endorphins, making it possible to maintain energy levels throughout the physically demanding process of childbirth. And the benefits don’t stop there. Research reveals that mothers who deliver under hypnosis overwhelmingly report positive feedback on the whole experience. Complications are fewer and more pregnancies go to full-term. Partners are more engaged as they are involved in maintaining the right conditions for hypnosis to do its work and they do not have to experience seeing the mother of their child in extreme distress. Postpartum, these mums recover more quickly and are less susceptible to post natal depression.

Given all this evidence, it is my passionate belief that all parents-to-be should at least be made aware of the incredible power of hypnotherapy and have the opportunity to experience the advantages for themselves.

First, be well informed by reading books and articles. Also, you can watch videos to know the changes in your body, as your baby grows inside you. Share with your friends family and other pregnant women to listen to their own experiences about pregnancy and childbirth.

Now, you needs to discuss with your family either you want  hospital childbirth, go to a birthing center or have your baby at home. During the period, you should to work on your pregnancy diet plan. You can refer to the nutrition guide for pregnant women, which recommends drinking more milk and adding extra protein to your diet. Also, you should to eat more  fruits and vegetables and if necessary, see your doctor to get a prenatal vitamin with folic acid.  Drink plenty of water and switch to fresh fruit juice.

You should be active, you might adopt to a pregnancy exercise regimen that includes swimming, walking etc. Besides that, you should sleep a little longer than usual. Chat with your baby and enjoy the  feeling of your baby inside you. From the research, as early as  the tenth week of pregnancy, babies respond to your touch. Avoid allowing stress by doing some deep breathing and relaxation techniques to tackle the stress. Last but not least, try to feeling confident as your baby grows and enjoy the great time.

Here are ten tips to motivate you:

1.     Be well informed, reading books and articles. Watch videos to know the changes in your body, as your baby grows inside you. Communicate with friends, family and other pregnant women to listen to their own experiences about pregnancy and childbirth. This will reassure you. Enroll for early pregnancy childbirth classes.

2.     Now is the time to think about whether you want hospital childbirth, go to a birthing center or have your baby at home. Your doctor can help you decide. Discussing this in advance will boost your confidence.

3.     Work on your pregnancy diet plan now. Refer to the nutrition guide for pregnant women, which recommends drinking more milk and adding extra protein to your diet. Add more fresh fruits and vegetables. Get your doctor to prescribe a prenatal vitamin with folic acid. Drink plenty of water and switch to fresh fruit juice.

4.     Now is the time to drop your smoking habit. Also consider avoiding alcohol and drug use. If you are on any medication, talk to your doctor about what to do.

5.     Be active. With the advice of your doctor, you might want to adopt a pregnancy exercise regimen that includes yoga, swimming, walking etc.

6.     Work in sufficient rest via short breaks through the day. You may also want to sleep a little longer than usual.

7.     Enjoy the feeling of your baby inside you and establish an early bond as you chat with your baby. According to studies, babies respond to your touch as early as from the tenth week of pregnancy. Now is the time to pick out your favorite music and share it with your baby.

8.     Avoid allowing stress to develop and learn how to tackle them, should such a situation arise. Deep breathing and relaxation techniques are all useful ways to de-stress.

9.     Make a note of all the questions you have about pregnancy and childbirth and your pregnancy diet plan. Consider enrolling for Lamaze classes that can help you understand the right positions, movements etc. through labor.

10.  Make the most of this lovely time, feeling confident as your baby grows.

Pregnancy and childbirth are a memorable time in your life. Be happy, be informed and give birth to a healthy baby.

Most people do not understand what hypnosis really is and therefore cannot appreciate how vital its use can be in taking control of your pregnancy and well being.  Hypnosis is normal and natural and is finally becoming recognized in the medical profession as an extremely valuable tool to assist in many areas of health, not just in pregnancy and childbirth.

In the Jenkins and Pritchard study referred to above, not only was delivery time dramatically reduced, significantly less pain medication was administered.  They also found that the incidence of postpartum depression was reduced and the incidence of spontaneous deliveries was increased. All this of course, is better for mother and child, and also the medical personnel dealing with mother and child.  In the Omer study mentioned above the birth weight of the babies was significantly greater than in a control group.  Again, this is much better for the baby.

Hypnosis is also known to be a natural aid to increasing your chances of conception.  This makes very good sense as hypnosis is a state of relaxation and reduces stress which is known to be a barrier to getting pregnant.  It is also quite logical that the more relaxed you are during pregnancy the more comfortable and relaxed your baby is as well.  Once again, medical research supports this phenomenon. Mothers using self hypnosis to reduce stress and anxiety whilst pregnant had fetuses that moved more actively than those who didn’t. (Zimmer, Perets, Eyal and Fuchs).

Other than the prime importance of having a healthy baby, the thing that every single prospective mum is interested in is, of course, pain control.  A lot of research has been carried out in this field and so I’m not going to refer to particular studies, but merely say that its effectiveness has been sufficiently well proven.  Simply type “hypnosis for pain control in childbirth” into Google and a whole host of information will appear.  It is worth remembering that before pharmaceuticals became available to assist in pain control, the only technique available was mind control; and you can learn to use your mind to put your natural opiates to work.  I’m not advocating that you use hypnosis instead of pharmaceuticals; simply that this is a natural option open to you and both are complementary.  

I think everyone will agree that in the Western world medicine in general has moved from one end of the scale to another with the advent and easy availability of so many new pills and potions.  It has become the norm to look to the medical profession to provide a pill in answer to every circumstance instead of looking to see if there is anything you yourself can do to assist.  For best results, a combination of mind and medicine cannot be too highly recommended.

In what other ways can hypnosis assist in making your pregnancy a more comfortable experience? How would it feel if you could overcome morning sickness?  Or have a confident body image through pregnancy and after the birth?  You can also use hypnosis to avoid the baby blues and overcome post natal depression…and help is even at hand to get your baby to sleep well!

So you can now see that there are many, many ways in which hypnosis can help you to have a comfortable and relaxed pregnancy and an easy childbirth.  Suggestions can be given which will help you through each of the three trimesters, assisting you in reducing not only anxieties and tensions and emotional ups and downs but also physical symptoms like aches and pains, heartburn, flatulence, backaches, swollen feet and legs, high blood pressure and so on. 

What’s great about hypnosis as well is that the more you practice it the deeper the states are that you will achieve.  As you relax in hypnosis your brain wave patterns change from the beta waves of normal waking consciousness to the alpha waves of drowsy relaxation to the theta wave patterns associated with dreaming.  You have plenty of time whilst pregnant to practice your hypnosis so that you can readily access the deeper states (just as yogis learn to do this) which will allow you to more greatly numb your perception of pain at the time of the birth. 

On top of all this good news, you can get hypnosis downloads instantly and listen to them in the comfort of your own home, and they are really very inexpensive. 

Roseanna Leaton, specialist in hypnosis downloads for healthy pregnancy and easy childbirth.

Hypnosis has been used for quite some time to help in numerous health-related issues, from relieving IBS symptoms to preparing for surgery to alleviating fear of dental procedures. Many pregnant women are now enjoying the benefits of hypnosis, allowing them to experience natural births with minimal pain.

In order to better understand how hypnosis can help pregnant women, it helps to gain a better understanding of hypnosis itself. To put it in simple terms, hypnosis is intense focus and concentration. Many people have likened the concentration with getting lost in a good book or television program. Utilizing that intense focus, hypnosis can actually slow down your brain waves.

Right now you’re probably in your waking state, which is Beta consciousness. But, by altering your conscious state through hypnosis, you are able to enter Alpha consciousness, where your brain waves actually slow down. And, when you slow down your brain waves you lose the “critical chatter” of the conscious mind and are able to slip in positive suggestions to the subconscious mind. These positive suggestions can be about any behavior you’d like to change, or any outcome you’d like to see take effect, such as having a natural, easy birth.

In addition, when you’re in a relaxed stated and imagining a desired outcome, the brain can’t tell the difference between reality and fantasy, and reacts as if the desired outcome was a reality. This phenomenon can be seen in pain management, when hypnotherapists use hypnosis and imagery on pain sufferers to help them lessen the intensity of their pain.

Hypnosis can aid pregnant women in so many different ways and in so many different stages of their pregnancies.

Hypnosis Can Aid in Fertility

Where inability to become pregnant is not due to a medical condition, many women have found relief with hypnosis. There are many who believe that if you can imagine it you can create it, and hypnosis is often paired with imagery to “visualize” oneself becoming pregnant and imagining a baby coming into one’s life. Hypnosis is also used to alleviate stress, which may be inhibiting a woman from becoming pregnant. Of course, women aren’t the only ones whose stress and anxiety may be inhibiting pregnancy. Many men feel the pressure to help their partners conceive. This stress can affect men’s sperm quality.

Hypnosis Can Aid in Helping a Woman Become More Comfortable

Many women experience discomfort from being pregnant, such as morning sickness, the intensity of which can be lessened through hypnosis. In women with high blood pressure, hypnosis can be helpful in helping them to relax, which in turn can help control the symptoms.

Hypnosis Can Help in the Actual Birth Process

Many women are now using hypnosis to help them have their baby naturally with no drugs. Utilizing hypnosis, women can help themselves relax during the baby’s birth. Since pain responses are greatly enhanced with fear and anxiety, creating a sense of calm helps in reducing the sensation of pain. The women will be awake and aware of everything that’s happening, including the contractions, but will be able to dictate to a great extent the intensity of the sensations she feels.

There are numerous hypnosis tapes and CDs available which can help reduce the fears and anxieties associated with pregnancy and the birthing process. If at all possible, it’s preferable to meet face to face with a hypnotherapist who can tailor the hypnosis to your specific fears, anxieties or needs.

How to Find a Hypnotherapist

The first place to look is your own doctor. (It’s always good to have your doctor’s input before beginning any treatment programs). Ask him or her for a recommendation to a good hypnotherapist. If your doctor does not have a recommendation you can utilize internet hypnotist referral networks to find one in your area. One good referral website is www.registeredhypnotist.com, where you can look up hypnotherapists in your area.

Another good internet resource is www.hypnobirthing.com, which lists practitioners across the country who’ve gone through the HypnoBirthing® The Mongan Method, a program specifically tailored to natural birthing.

Whether you plan on a natural birth or not, hypnosis can still help you relax more about the entire birthing process. Becoming more relaxed can help you gain control over your pregnancy, rather than have your pregnancy gain control over you.