Why Use Hypnobirthing Techniques During Labour

Labour and birth is necessary for all mammals, including human beings as a means to continue our species. So why is the birth experience so varied between different cultures of human beings? Indeed in the Western world, labour and childbirth is considered a painful ordeal to be endured to achieve motherhood. However, in less developed cultures women seem to give birth easily and without undue discomfort and intervention. I believe birthing can be a comfortable, and even a spiritual experience for both mother and baby.

So why do women today want to explore more natural methods of childbirth? Firstly, they want to take back control of their own mind and body. They also want the choice to give birth without undue discomfort, and avoid a cascade of intervention and its common consequences of a more medicalised birth. Modern medicine offers a vast choice of drugs that can be used to control the pain of childbirth, and stimulate labour, but all of them come with side effects of some description to both mother and baby. Of course there is a place for medical intervention in situations when it is necessary, and indeed to save lives. However, the majority of times these could be avoided by a few safe, natural and non-invasive technique such as self-hypnosis, breathing, and maternal positioning in pregnancy and labour.

With knowledge, mental and physical preparation during pregnancy, hypnobirthing can help women to achieve their desire for a more natural and gentle birth for themselves and their baby. Women the world over, are learning to use the power of their minds to achieve deep physical and emotional relaxation, which leads to a reduction in tension and fear. A reduction in tension enables their bodies to perform the primal function of labour and childbirth just as nature intended.

In my antenatal classes my group of prospective parents often say they wish there was a natural, safe and effective analgesia for childbirth. I reassure them that there is indeed such a thing, called hypnotherapy! Hypnosis is safe, non-invasive, nontoxic, and most importantly allows a woman to fully experience the joy of childbirth, without fear or anxiety, and in the majority of cases without discomfort.

I discovered hypnobirthing in 2003, which led to my “eureka moment and increased my determination to offer more choice to women to help them achieve a natural and easy birth without discomfort. In an era of high tech labour and birth, where women no longer believe they can give birth without drugs and technology, I wanted to teach them that all they had to do was relax and trust in their own innate wisdom to give birth.