Is hypnotherapy effective?

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Without a doubt, it's essential to stay in control of your labour, whatever way you choose to give birth, as this is the key to being relaxed. Thousands of women appear to have achieved this through a form of hypnotherapy.

If you go into birth feeling frightened, your system will respond accordingly. This fear will lead to increased levels of adrenaline in your body, which causes increased tension in your muscles and your cervix, with fewer 'contraction' hormones being produced, so your uterus has to work much harder to flex and tighten. This subsequently makes contractions far more painful. In the same way, if you tense up when you're in pain, the pain will become far more unbearable.

Hypnotherapy for labour acknowledges that you may still end up being induced or having a Caesarean section, and it doesn't promise you the 'perfect birth,' but it can still help to make the experience a very positive one by enabling you to remain in control and free from fear.

One woman may achieve this through hypnotherapy at home, and another may achieve it through having an epidural. In the end, control means different things to different people. If you explore all available options, you'll discover what's right for you.

Visit www.natalhypnotherapy.co.uk or www.hypnobirthing.co.uk for more information.

What mums say

'My labour seemed to go on for ever, and then I had a Caesarean as I 'stuck' at 9cm dilated. I walked into the operating theatre still not using pain relief, the doctors couldn't believe it. The breathing I'd learnt for hypnotherapy helped relax me, and though I'd not planned on a Caesarean, I still felt in control.'
Liz, mum to Harvey, 4 months

Anne Richley, midwife.

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