Hypnosis & Birth

There are so many professionals now using hypnosis that it must be really confusing to know which one to go for and what each one involves. The most recognized names include HypnoBirthing, Natal Hypnotherapy, Hypnobabies and Leclaire Method.  But what is hypnosis in childbirth? What’s it like? How does it work?

Sometimes the perception of hypnosis in childbirth is that it’s a special state, something like you’ve seen in stage hypnosis, which couldn’t be further from how it all works!   So to help clear things up for the reader, here’s my own view on this (as a hypnotherapist and a mother who has used hypnosis in her birth).

Hypnosis is among the oldest phenomena known to man and is found, in one form or another, in virtually every culture throughout the world.  In the case of childbirth, it’s the complete inward focus on birth which is the natural trance (“hypnotic”) state. This trance state, which can only happen when a woman is completely relaxed and feels safe during her birth has been happening since the beginning of birth itself.

If you haven’t already experienced childbirth and wonder what this trance state feels like, you have probably actually experienced it before without knowing. Think of a time when you were so focused on something, that you had no perception of time, of people around you or of other noises wherever you were. Sometimes this can be through listening to music, reading a good book or being mesmerized by a great movie. It’s also the state we go into just before we nod off and fall asleep. It’s this ability which you already have which is called on for giving birth.

By practicing this existing skill before you give birth, you can help increase your confidence about your ability to birth gently and calmly. A great way to practice this calm inward focus is to do so while listening to relaxing music you may have chosen to be played at your birth, so you automatically link the two together, plus visualize your birth unfolding just as you would like it too.