Why choose hypnosis for birth with New Family Beginnings? I received my certification as a childbirth educator from the International Childbirth Education Association (ICEA) in 1998, and from the HypnoBirthing Institute in 2002. I have been teaching childbirth classes since 1997, and used hypnosis in the birth of my three children - and had wonderful birth experiences! I am unique in that I am experienced in both hypnosis and teaching about childbirth, something you won't find with many other hypnotists.

I typically work with couples for 4 sessions, and these sessions are usually scheduled about a week apart. Each couple is provided with a CD with several tracks on it for self-hypnosis practice and a folder containing several handouts, including a page of tips from past hypnobirthing moms that I have worked with.

More about Hypnobirthing

The word is out! Hypnosis is a powerful and effective tool for helping women experience an easier, safer, more comfortable birth. It really works, as I can attest from my own three birth experiences, as well as from the couples I have worked with over the years.

Hypnosis for birth is essentially teaching a couple self-hypnosis, so that both partners can help the birthing mother's body remain relaxed throughout the birthing process. When the body is relaxed, it can do what it knows how to do - to smoothly and comfortably bring a baby into the world. It also involves teaching women how to use their own thinking to be more physically comfortable. One way this is done is by teaching women to re-frame the idea of contractions as "surges" - a wave of energy that begins softly, grows, peaks, then dissipates. In hypnobirthing, the type of birth hypnosis that I teach couples, surges are described as pressure or tightening (rather than "painful" as is so often the case in other childbirth classes). I will let the woman know that she will be aware of the growing intensity of the surges over time, but that just as one can experience a lot of pressure or tightening and still remain comfortable, so can she remain comfortable throughout the surges of birth.

Another way I teach women to use their own thinking to be more physically comfortable is to teach them techniques such as "glove anesthesia." This is a technique that anyone might use if they wish to avoid the use of medication for surgery or dental work. Glove anesthesia allows the birthing mother to create a completely natural, safe mental form of anesthesia beginning in the hand, and to then be able to apply that anesthesia anywhere on the body needing comfort. In order to be effective, regular practice of the self-hypnosis is a must. Women are encouraged to practice the self-hypnosis daily. This frequent practice serves two purposes: it helps develop the woman's skill in using self-hypnosis so that she will be ready to use it with confidence during the birth, and more importantly, the repetition serves to override the "old programming" the woman may have about birth as a difficult, painful experience. Repetition is a key technique in hypnosis, so all of that practice is very important in helping a woman to have the kind of birth experience she is looking for.

Significant research has been done regarding hypnosis for birth. An excellent study conducted in 1990 (Harmon, Hynan, & Tyre) demonstrated that "hypnotically prepared births had shorter Stage I labors, less medication, higher Apgar scores, and more frequent spontaneous deliveries than control subjects' births." Other studies confirm that hypnosis reduces the length of labor and increases women's perceptions of comfort during the birth.

Birth has the potential to be a tremendously empowering experience for women and their partners. Birth hypnosis can help women realize that potential! It truly is a wonderful way to help women have a safe, easy, comfortable birth.

Harmon, T., Hynan, T., & Tyre, T. (1990). Improved obstetric outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skill mastery combined with childbirth education. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology. 58, 525-530.