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HypnoBirthing.

Article in The Australian journal of holistic nursing · May 2005

Source: PubMed

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 HYPNOBIRTHING.

Julie Phillips-Moore

M.Sc.(Behav.Hlth). B.A.(Psych.),Dip.C.H.

When I first walked into a hospital here in Sydney and introduced myself as a

HypnoBirthing practitioner I was greeted with a blank stare. Now, the greeting is

different as more and more midwives are seeing for themselves how calm and relaxed

the mothers are as they birth their baby and also how much shorter and less painful

the labour is.

HypnoBirthing really started to take off in Australia with the training of the first group

of hypnotherapists and midwives by Marie Mongan (the founder of HypnoBirthing)

during her visit here in 2001. Since then, more and more mothers-to-be have learnt

the technique (with great success) and are telling their friends and families – it’s

wonderful to hear positive birth stories for a change!

The HypnoBirthing method of childbirth is based on the work of an English

obstetrician, Dr. Grantly Dick-Read, the pioneer of natural childbirth, who wrote the

book, Childbirth Without Fear. He observed that mothers in labour who were free of

fear had more relaxed bodies and had a much easier birth. An American

hypnotherapist, Marie Mongan, incorporated his fear-tension-pain theory into a

method that utilises specific breathing, deep relaxation techniques and visualisation to

bring about a more comfortable and satisfying birth.

The main premise in HypnoBirthing is the belief that women can experience birth

through the natural flow and rhythm of their labouring body by turning their birthing

over to their mind and body and trusting their body to function as nature intended. In

other words, assuring both a psychologically and emotionally satisfying birthing

experience.

During the five sessions, the physiology of the birth process and the “fight-or flight”

response, which usually accompanies labour, is explained and, more specifically, how

the “fear-tension-pain syndrome” develops. The couple is then taught how to break

that response through special relaxation techniques and through fear-release. In this

way, the mother is free to connect and work with her body as she experiences labour.

The birthing mother learns to apply self-hypnosis during the birthing process allowing

her to maintain a deep relaxation. She is taught specific breathing techniques which

help her to work with her body and it is these techniques, plus the ability to deeply

relax, that enables the cervix to dilate relatively quickly and the pelvic muscles to
open and allow the baby to be born easily. Her partner is taught how to become part

of the birthing experience by helping her to achieve and maintain relaxation and focus

rather than being left out of the picture – as is far too often the case!

One unfortunate aspect of orthodox medical practice is the use of negative

terminology. For example, contractions are defined as “labour pains” thus

guaranteeing that the mother will interpret any sensations as pain. With self-hypnosis,

she learns to interpret uterine surges (contractions) as numbness, stretching and/or

pressure.

The HypnoBirthing method is taught by professional hypnotherapists and midwives

who are trained in the techniques of hypnoanaesthesia. The goal is to teach the

mother and father various techniques of working together to bring the mind and body

into perfect harmony, thereby creating a peaceful, non-complicated birth.

The HypnoBirthing method is designed to work hand in hand with the obstetrics staff

and its philosophy does not preclude the introduction of medical intervention should it

be necessary. This programme of childbirth is in no way intended to interfere with

necessary hospital procedures.

I look forward to the day when more mothers can birth their babies as nature intended

– free from fear that causes pain and discomfort and free of harmful drugs and

unnecessary intervention. I also hope that midwives and other members of the

obstetrics staff will soon experience for themselves this relaxed way of birthing and

incorporate it into their birthing centres.

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