Natural Childbirth (Hypnobirthing)

In western culture the prospect of childbirth can instil as much fear as it does feelings of joy,

especially as the pregnancy progresses.  Old fashioned films involving hot towels, basins of

water and men listening at doors to screaming women have done nothing to help.  Neither do the exaggerated horror stories of other women as they revel in their own bravery.  It is such as pity that one of the most life changing moments in anyone’s life should be dealt with in this way.  In other cultures women leave the fields where they work to give birth in what is often no more than a shack, and then, with their newborn strapped to their bodies, they return to work in the fields that same day.  We are privilaged to have the benefit of medical support when its needed by mother or child, but that does not mean that a woman should lose her sense of personal control as her labour begins.  This is not beneficial to the mother, child or medical team.

When a woman chooses to deliver her baby in a hospital she may feel vulnerable, excited and over - awed as she arrives at the hospital.  Getting dressed into nightwear, lying in a bed or walking through hospital corridors in slippers,surrounded by hi-tech equipment and efficient looking staff are all things that can quickly take away the woman’s feelings of personal control and competence.  Just as we may slip back into the role of the youngest / eldest / bossiest etc. when we are reunited with our families, we can also very unconsciously slip into the role of passive patient when we enter a hospital.  This is not what your Obstetrician / Gynacologist would probably recommend for you.

Whether or not you choose to use analgesia during your labour Educate Yourself.  How available is medical analgesia to you ? What types will be offered at different stages of labour?  Does it depend on how busy the anaesthetist / anaesthesiologist is on the day in question?  Be an active participant in the management of the birth of your child, instead of an apprehensive passive patient.  Talk to your doctor about the interaction of pain and fear (see also Coping with Pain for more information on the interaction between anxiety and pain). They will possibly also mention how anxiety in the body tenses the muscles and therefore impedes the passage of the baby through the birth canal, prolonging labour.

You do not have to be “hippy trippy (!)  ”into all that alternative stuff” to use psychological

techniques to reduce pain in labour. Remember all thoughts and emotions are changed (transcribed) into chemicals which then travel thoughout the body.  Thoughts change the biochemistry of the body every moment of every day so it is well worth learning how to choose what you think about.  Learning how psychological techniques alter the experience of pain and the physiology of the birth process will help to clarify how you can benefit.  Use these techniques instead of, or in addition to standard drug analgesia (pain relief).

Susannah Healy’s articles on Hypnosis for childbirth published in Easy Health and Living magazine

and also The Irish Medical Times.

What is Hypnosis, how does it work and what is is useful for?

also available soon: