Benefits of using Hypnosis as your Childbirthing Modality

Benefits of using Hypnosis as your Childbirthing Modality

Using hypnosis childbirthing modality  even though the Covid-19 pandemic had an overwhelming effect on the healthcare systems across the world, especially in 2020. Additionally, due to the easy transmission of the virus and subsequent fatalities, several expecting mothers did not feel safe having their deliveries in hospitals.

Childbirth is typically stressful and painful. Even in the most regulated of environments, child birthing is prone to unexpected outcomes, let alone during a period riddled with everyday uncertainties and covid fears. Such worrying about the unknown, frustration, fears, and high levels of stress during pregnancy need to be eased so as to have a pain free childbirth – devoid of anxiety – and the delivery of a healthy baby.

Different methods of Childbirth

There are different methods that can be adopted by expectant mothers to deliver their children into the world. They can make the choice on the basis of their comfort level and a delivery method that is ideal for their medical and personal situation.

Different childbirth options include natural (vaginal) unassisted delivery using hypnosis childbirthing modality, assisted natural childbirth, and childbirth via c-section (Cesarean surgery). Deliveries can occur at home, in a hospital, in a clinic, or in a birthing center. The advantages and risks of each method of childbirth have to be taken into context with the preferences of the mother and her right to select the right option for her and her baby.

In the US, there are around 4 million births every year. Pre-natal, delivery and post-childbirth care is excellent in the US. Fatality due to pregnancy-associated complications is less than 600 cases per year in the US.

The experience of childbirth is unique for every mother, but most of them would inadvertently agree with the fact that childbirth can be quite painful. It is however a temporary trauma and there are several methods that women can adopt to decrease the intensity of such pain and enjoy a pain free childbirth experience. 

Hypnosis Childbirthing Modality

Hypnosis is a type of psychotherapy that is employed by hypnotherapists to drive the patients into a hypnotic state or a hypnotic trance. Hypnosis has been in use for over a century.

In a hypnotic state, patients get the ability to access long-forgotten memories that are hidden in the recesses of the unconscious mind. Some such memories may have their roots in certain traumatizing or agonizing experiences that may be fully repressed from consciousness.

Hypnosis can relax the mind and make it more receptive. During a hypnosis session, there is complete relaxation of the mind. It is popularly believed that patients lose awareness of their surroundings during hypnosis therapy. This is not true; patients are aware of what is happening around them when in a hypnotic state.

When guided hypnosis or hypnotherapy is used during childbirth to alleviate associated pain, then such a delivery is known as a hypnotic birth.

During hypnotic birth, therapists will employ different techniques for relaxation, profound concentration, and extreme levels of attentiveness so as to attain a state of heightened consciousness. Patients will quintessentially achieve an altered state of self-awareness.

Natural Childbirth

A hypnotherapist will train expectant mothers in hypnotic birth. Subsequently, women may or may not choose to have the therapist besides them during delivery. The goal of this hypnosis therapy for childbirth is to decrease tension, fear, and pain for both the baby and the mother during natural childbirth. 

The occurrence of hypnosis during delivery is affected by the surroundings. Any kind of interruption, like which can occur in a shared space or a hospital, can thwart the achievement of required levels of concentrated needed to successfully experience hypnosis.

During hypnosis, a therapist typically asks a patient to look at certain situations and life from a different perspective. For instance, a therapist may push the patient to relive a traumatic event, but then alter the perception of that incident during hypnosis by guiding the patient to accept the trauma and later empowering him/her to realize that he/she has survived that pain.

Hypnosis is a tool used to exert control, and in almost all cases, the patient becomes open to the therapist’s suggestions and readily follows the doctor’s instructions. The therapy can help patients conquer fears, anxiety, pain, doubts, and bad habits like smoking and alcohol consumption; however, it does come with its own shortcomings. One of the major disadvantages is the fact that hypnosis is not a licensed form of therapy and is thus not insured.

Benefits of using hypnosis during natural childbirth

Some of the benefits of using hypnosis during childbirth are listed below:

1. Hypnosis Childbirthing Modality is a natural method to manage pain during delivery and have a pain free childbirth.
2. Since hypnotic birth is natural childbirth, mothers do not need to use a lot of drugs. There is a limited or nil chance of women using painkillers or anesthesia during hypnotic childbirth. It may be noted that medicines that are used during delivery have the potential to harm the child. Thus, this type of childbirth reduces/eliminates all the risks associated with the use of medications during deliveries.
3. The process can reduce fear, anxiety, stress, and tension during delivery
4. It offers relaxation and comfort during delivery
5. The process provides additional tools to increase relief during the many hours of labor
6. It permits the mother to remain relatively attentive during delivery
7. Since there is no anxiety, it helps expectant women to better manage everyday stress
8. It allows mothers to form a new type of bond with their partners. Also, it permits the partner to be an active participant during the process of childbirth
9. Hypnotherapy prepares you to get fully ready for the journey of pain free childbirth. It also empowers the mothers with the knowledge that their bodies “can” handle the process of childbirth.

Different techniques used during hypnotic birth

The approaches to hypnosis are exclusive to patients and are dependent on certain scenarios and the underlying condition. Hypnotic birth techniques can be classified as modern or traditional hypnosis natural childbirth approaches. Some of them are mentioned below.

1. Regulated breathing:

   With this, mothers are trained to control their breathing using the mouth as well as the nose. This approach helps patients remain peaceful and calm during delivery.

2. Cognitive behavioral hypnotherapy:

   It is an empirical-based modern technique that can be employed in varied situations. This therapy involves a view of the current circumstances and the different solutions available for it. For instance, the therapist will help analyze the cause of deep-seated fear of childbirth in patients and then train them to handle and overcome the different triggers. With CBT, expectant women will be able to let go of miserable and unhealthy thoughts and replace them with useful and healthier initiatives.

3. Visualization:

   This method is used to train the mind to focus on positive aspects. Mothers are trained to focus away from childbirth-associated fear and pain to things, fantasies, and events that bring thrill and joy.

4. Ocular cues:

   Also known as eyes-open delivery hypnosis, this technique occurs unconsciously or consciously in a non-verbal form. During childbirth, the mother and her partner can resort to eye cues to distance the consciousness away from labor.

5. Meditation:

   This approach helps redirect the mind away from the stress and pain of labor. It also helps manage the sensation of bodily pain during labor.

It is known that childbirth can be painful. Hypnotic natural childbirth is a good alternative to painful delivery. It is recommend for expectant women to consult their primary health care providers about hypnotic childbirth before going forward with it.