CELEBRITY STYLE SPY: See all the latest celeb photos

Is hypnobirthing the way to pain-free childbirth?

By Lucy Halfhead on Wednesday 14 April 2010

Print
Share
Comment

Marie Claire Health News: Mother and baby

A new approach to natural childbirth - hypnobirthing - is being championed as a easy, comfortable and positive way to go through labour, during which pain is greatly reduced.

The method focuses on self-hypnosis and relaxation techniques. The ultimate aim is to achieve the best birth possible, ideally as natural as it can be, because that is always better for the mother and the baby.

Pauline Taylor, a clinical hypnotherapist and qualified hypnobirthing coach in Edinburgh, says, ‘We can't guarantee you'll have a pain-free labour, but over 80 per cent of my parents have natural childbirth with little or no drugs whatsoever.'  

Taylor was among the first to teach hypnobirthing in Lothian and has helped bring more than 150 babies into the world in her four years of practice. And, though it is not yet widely available on the NHS, it is growing in popularity as the word spreads.

  ‘It's about self-hypnosis - a deep relaxation, if you like - and being able to access this state at will. Breathing techniques are really important, plus massage, and women also learn everything about how their bodies work, so they are fully prepared.'

  Hypnotist Paul Hazell managed to ease a mum's pain during labour armed with just a calming voice and a positive attitude, reported the Daily Mail.

Louise Walker, 30, was anxious of how she would cope with the pain of childbirth, as she is terrified of needles and scared of gas and air. Six hours into the labour, Louise, from Hull, was doubled up in agony.

‘I thought I was going to need all the pain relief going, it was absolutely agonising. Paul arrived when I was in the middle of a contraction, but as soon as he started talking to me I felt like a completely different person - and I'm the biggest sceptic!' said Louise. ‘All he did was get me to picture my wedding, but it didn't feel like an out-of-body experience. I was still there, but the pain was gone.' 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH NEWS

Wednesday 14 April 2010

Have your say ...

Add your own comment

Having just completed a hypnobirthing course I am looking forward to putting it into practice. I found the whole course reasurring, positive and a whole new way of thinking about child birth, without the terror!
Comment by Cathy on April 13 19:07

My wife and I used Sophie from hypnobirthingforyou.co.uk and the whole process was excellent and well worth spending a small amount for the pain and stress relief my wife benefitted from the course. Have told all my friends and would recommend it to anyone!
Comment by Matthew Fox on April 14 14:03

I did the hypno-birthing course whilst pregnant with my first child. As soon as labour started it all went out of the window. I ended up, after failed forceps and ventouse, with an emergency C - section and 9 days in hospital. Cannot say that it helped at all.
Comment by chris on April 14 19:41

I read the hypnobirthing book a month before having my second child. The breathing techniques were brilliant and I found the postive approach to be so empowering. I got my husband to read extracts from it during the labour. I also used a guided meditation C.D. I was very stressed the first time round, I only wish I could have tapped into this state of deep relaxation as I believe it made an enormous difference to the labour.
Comment by Natalie Melia on April 15 11:40

Even if i don't have the incredible 'natural' birth that every woman dreams of, I'd still champion HypnoBrith 100% as it has made my pregnancy so much calmer and worry free. Since I began the class and have been practicing the techniques I have not stressed about the labour once, to the point that I have npw planned a homebased water-birth, something I could have only drempt of going through with prior to the course. I would suggest the course for believers and skeptics alike...even my other half liked the relaxation techniques!
Good luck to all the mummies to be

Comment by Charlee hammond on April 17 16:26

I think Hypnobirthing is great. I used it with my first born and hope to use it now I am expecting twins in the summer. The key is to go into hospital and not feel fear. Prior to hypnobirthing I was terrified and adopted an Ostrich Head In The Sand approach to child birth.
Comment by A;o on April 27 22:42

Read all 6 comments