Advantages of Hypnosis in the Birthing Process
Hypnosis has been in use since about 3000 B.C. by the ancient Egyptians and Greeks in what was then known as Sleep Temples. Their records reveal that doctors and healers would take their patients into these temples and place them in a trance (hypnosis). They performed healings both physical and emotional by having them dream about their illness and what was needed to cure them using the knowledge of their own minds. They also performed surgeries with little or no pain while the patient was in the hypnosis. In India, during the 1800’s, hypnosis was the only anesthesia used for surgical procedures, ceasing only when ether was discovered and brought into use.
Sadly, in today’s society, most people’s exposure to hypnosis is based upon stage shows, where they've seen people appear to surrender control of himself or herself, acting goofy, maybe barking or quacking to provide entertainment for the audience. There have also been some television programs that have misled the public by promoting hypnosis as a way of controlling another person’s mind as a means to make them do the hypnotist’s bidding.
In reality, hypnosis is a trance-like state or focused concentration where the body and mind meld into a natural state of being. The body is extremely relaxed, while the mind achieves a higher awareness and becomes more focused. We have all experienced hypnosis while watching a movie, reading an engrossing book, or "automatically" driving yourself home. Your mind was so intensely focused that you weren't consciously aware of your surroundings because they didn't matter to you at the time.
In hypnosis, you remain awake and aware of everything taking place, including the hypnotist’s suggestions. Your mind has the ability to accept suggestions and act on them as real. You always have the ability to reject or accept these suggestions. You remain in control.
Hypnosis During Birth
During the birthing process, hypnosis will enable you to remember the full experience of the birth of your child. The subconscious mind is given positive suggestions and beliefs about childbirth, and the expectant mother is shown how to instantly relax both physically and mentally so that she can have an easier and more comfortable natural birth.
Hypnosis is used in painless childbirth to teach the expectant mother and birth companions how to achieve deep levels of relaxation, eliminating the fears that cause stress and tension which ultimately lead to pain.
Purpose of Hypnosis During Childbirth
- Hypnosis and pain controlled child birth is used to help the expectant mother to prepare for her baby's birth in a way that helps her fully enjoy the rest of her pregnancy in health and peace, so that she eagerly looks forward to her birthing day and the experience of giving life to her newborn baby
- To educate and support all birth companions, so that they too can look forward to and enjoy the birth of the child with confidence, retaining the memory of childbirth as a beautiful, inspiring life event.
- To help babies be born as gently and safely as possible, so that their entrance into our world can be one of joy and wonder, quiet and peace
- To support our expectant mothers, no matter what their choices are, before, during and after their babies are born. Every mother counts, every unborn child is loved, every birth is a gift of life.
- To educate the medical community on the benefits of natural childbirth, how to work with couples who have chosen this wonderful way to give birth, and to respect each expectant woman's choices as she comes to them for prenatal care and birthing assistance.
- To educate the natural childbirth community on the special needs and desires of birthing couples, towards a calmer, easier and more enjoyable experience for all involved in the birthing process.
Benefits of Hypnosis in Painless Childbirth
- Greatly reduces and often eliminates the need for chemical painkillers and drugs, which may have undesirable side effects
- There are significantly fewer caesareans and surgical births with the use of hypnosis and painless childbirth
- The risk of post-natal depression is greatly reduced, and in many cases eliminated, when hypnosis is used in the birthing
- Can shorten the first phase of labor by up to 4 hours
- Reduces the risk of pelvic floor damage
- Leaves mother alert, fresh, awake and energetic
- Helps keep oxygen supplied to baby during birthing so baby remains calm
- Reduces the need for an episiotomy
- Reduces and often eliminates fatigue during and after the labor experience
- The birth companion learns simple techniques to assist in the release of pain-numbing hormones
- The companion is taught how to physically and emotionally support the mother throughout labor and birthing
- Teaches powerfully effective breathing techniques that allow the mother to gently bring her baby into the world without the violence of hard, physical pushing during the labor process
- Eliminates risk of hyperventilation and anxieties through the use of proper breathing methods and self-hypnosis techniques
- Often, babies are more alert and content and subsequently sleep and feed better after their birthing experience using hypnosis in the process
- The mother’s healing and recovery time is reduced
