Hypnotherapy: Applications in Pregnancy and Birth

As always, remember to use good judgement in the application of this information. These are only suggestions. Sources for further information are listed at the end. Being responsible for your own well being may sometimes mean seeking the advice of a health care provider for conditions that persist despite your efforts.

As a Childbirth Educator of over 10 years experience, I am always looking for tools that will be useful for my clients.

When I saw a segment on a news program about painless birth through hypnosis, I was intrigued. I had see painless birth before. Most of the blissful births I had seen had been at home, but as I started seeing a precious few mothers use the same type of technique in the hospital setting, I started to wonder at my assumption that the place of birth was the key factor in painless birth.

There are a number of things that determine birth outcome. Certainly, place of birth and type of caregiver are relevant. Science has proven that at home with a skilled midwife is the safest place to birth for healthy mothers and babies. But, few women are aware of that fact at this time, so for those who choose to be at the hospital, I decided I needed to meet them where they were, so to speak. What was it that made some of the mothers I assisted do so well, despite the distractions they faced in the hospital? Some even with complicated situations cropping up when they least expected?

1.) Communication with their caregivers was vital. These women were comfortable talking to their midwives or doctors about what they wanted in a normal birth. They felt safe knowing that, in the absence of true medical indication, they would be allowed to birth the way they wanted. They were also secure in the knowledge that if their birth required medical assistance, they could defer to their caregiver.

2.) In order for them to have this kind of relationship with their caregiver, they had put a lot of effort into educating themselves. They had taken independent childbirth classes and/or done plenty of reading on their own.

3.) Because they were such informed consumers, and started their quest for safer birth so early in their pregnancies, they were able to be secure in the belief that birth is a safe and normal transistion in a woman's life. (Hang in there, we are almost to the hypnosis!)

4.) All of the above led them to be more relaxed during labor and birth, which led to faster, easier births with less iatrogenic complications.

5.) Labor assistance. While I am an extensively trained birth professional and was a comfort to these mothers, studies show that any mother-type figure can help labor progress more smoothly. The other thing I realized (as I became familiar with hypnosis, see below) is that I naturally facilitated a sort of hypnotic state in using midwifery skills. My manner of speaking was consistant with the way a hypnotherapist might induce hypnosis. The fact that I often acted as a guardian of the mother's privacy by interacting with staff meant that she could stay relaxed and in her 'right brain' place. Massage and visualization helped mothers to stay physically relaxed, which is an important part of hypnosis and self-hypnosis (which ultimately all hypnosis is). By helping a mother move into positions that her body suggested, we were able to find comfort zones that her subconscious mind already knew would move the baby down and out.

I took a course on hypnosis for birth about the time I was making these other discoveries. What I learned astonished me!

Hypnosis is not what I thought it was at all! It is a state of mind we are all quite familiar with. In fact, we are 'in' hypnosis several times a day...when we are waking up, when we are falling asleep, when we are absorbed in a good book, or when we are watching TV. And most importantly, when we are giving birth...providing we are relaxed and able to labor undisturbed. I had seen women hypnotize themselves during all those fast and painless births, and neither I nor the mothers knew it!

This was the link I'd been looking for! Women at home are more able to fall into self-hypnosis simply because they are in a familiar environment and know that they won't be distracted by foreign sights, smells and sounds, or interupted by numerous people unknown to them while they are in a vulnerable postition.

I was so excited by what I found, I decided to learn more. I enrolled in a much more extensive program to become a certified hypnotherapist.

What I've discovered so far is that, while we may have forgotten (as a species? as modern women of privledge?) that we were born with the ability to give birth without pain, we can learn to do so.

As I learn about how our subconscious beliefs are created, it seems more and more obvious that hypnosis is the perfect tool for empowered and joyous birth. I feel that in the not too distant future, we will see prenatal hypnotherapy helping women to overcome their cultural fear of birth, thus avoiding many complications. For example, nausea is sometimes caused by emotional ambivalence, often fear specifically, but it can lead to low blood sugar which perpetuates a cycle of illness. This can lead to even more serious situations in late pregnancy. Complications that might have been avoided if the original problem was corrected early.

Likewise, stress can lead to high blood pressure. High blood pressure is not only a predictor of serious illness developing, but a precursor.

What if we could avoid these all together? What if women felt only pressure but not pain in their births? (For I must say, while I do not feel women must suffer, I do feel that if we must work hard for something, we value it more.)

Hypnosis can be used to help women to stop smoking and to make healthier nutritional choices. It can be used to manage stress, and to help mothers bond with their babies in utero without the possible risks of ultrasound. Many of the minor discomforts such as backache could be managed with very little effort (with the supervision of the maternal care providor). If mothers used hypnosis throughout their pregnancies they might even be more likely to use it in the postpartum period to overcome breastfeeding variables and adjustment hurdles. If mothers had a tool for dealing with stress, maybe there would be less child abuse.

The possibilities are endless!

I look forward to the time when we call all have glowingly healthful pregnancies, gentle births and peaceful postpartum periods. I hope that I can serve women in a capacity that helps this become our reality.

Self-Hypnosis script for Gentle Birth

©Kim Wildner, 2000

I developed this script for a couple who desired a water birth, preferably at home, but who could not have one due to medical indication for a hospital birth. I make no claims as to it's effectiveness for anyone else. A CD of this script, along with a standard NLP fear release is available from Harbor & Hill Publishing .

This script will be more effective if you have seen a hypno-therapist previously. Ideally, you would seek out an independent Certified Childbirth Educator who is also a certified hypno-therapist. It is my opinion that a CCE who has limited experience in hypnosis, or a hypno-therapist who knows little to nothing about normal, natural birth and it's variations may not be able to fully meet the needs of a client. If you can't find someone who is both, I highly recommend that you take a non-hospital sponsored class, coupled with private sessions with a hypno-therapist. Of course, Mongan Method HypnoBirthing(R) is the original hypnosis-for-birth program and as such will most likely provide you with all you are looking for. If you choose carefully, you should be able to combine information from the two with satisfactory results.

To use this script, you will need to create a cassette tape for yourself. You may decide to have music as background, if you wish. Use a slow and relaxing voice, with pauses where indicated by dots or the word 'pause', and with emphasis on the works italicized by drawing them out. Pretend you are trying to calm a small child.

Please get comfortable in a nice, safe place where you won't be interrupted. If you fall asleep, don't worry! Your subconscious mind will still be paying attention and you can always set an alarm to wake you up. You cannot get 'stuck' in hypnosis. You may enjoy your state of mind so much that you don't want to 'come out' to your daily grind, but you are fully able to come out at any time. Enjoy!

[Read aloud for taping after this point]

Now that you care comfortable...take a deep breath in...and on the out breath...release any tension you may feel about your body. And again…take a deep breath in [pause long enough for a deep breath] and release [pause]. Take one more deep breath [pause] and relax and you let it out [pause].

Good. Now, I'd like you feel a warm relaxation within your feet. There is no right way to imagine this relaxation. It can be light, color or sensation. As it fills your feet, just let them relax completely. Great. Now, let the relaxation move up to your ankles…feeling warm…feeling loose…all the way up to your calves…feeling heavy and relaxed…as the feeling moves up to and over your knees…and then on to your thighs…feeling very warm…or heavy…releasing all tension as it moves up and over your hips…your behind….your lower back. And as the feeling continues upward and your torso, your belly, your upper back and chest…you feel even more relaxed…even more peaceful…even more calm…and this feeling moves up…spilling over your shoulders…down your upper arms…over your elbows…down your forearms…through your hands this feeling moves… right down and out the tips of your fingers…letting all tension…all negativity…out of your body. Good. Now, bring your awareness back to your shoulders, and let that relaxation move over your neck…dropping your shoulders and letting go…letting the relaxation move up to your jaw…to your lips…letting them part slightly…and then moving up to the area around your eyes…letting all the muscles around your eyes…just let go…just release and relax…and then on up to your forehead…smoothing out any wrinkles you find there…and up to the top of your head…letting all of the days worries spill out of each strand of hair on your head. Very good.

For your health and relaxation, and for the gentle birth of your healthy baby, let's let water be your ally. As I re-create a water birth for you in your mind's eye, use the most vivid imagery you can. Remember that your subconscious will act 'as if' with the appropriate physical response and when the time is just right for both you and you baby, you will celebrate your baby's birthday.

In whatever setting you now find yourself in (in your mind's eye), look around you to find a beautiful door. This door may be set in a wall, in the side of a hill, or poised in thin air, depending on where you are beginning your journey.

Notice the detail in this door. It's very large and important looking. Heavy and secure. It is ornately carved and tastefully accented with a few inlaid jewels. You are drawn to this door, knowing that what lies beyond is a very special and safe place. A sacred space where you will meet your baby face to face for the first time.

As you approach this door with reverence, you realize that you can hear, just barely, the most beautiful music you have ever heard coming through from the other side. You reach out to open the door. The handle feels strong and cool to the touch. Feel your muscles as they pull open the door. (pause) Listen as the music comes clearly now to your ears and the vibration of it moves through you to your very center. Notice how wonderful the scent wafting out of the room smells. It is a scent from your past or present that conveys safety and the release of all tension. Is it the scent of a grandmother's house? A favorite food like homemade bread? The perfume of your mother or cologne of your father or partner? Is it the mist of a beach or the heavy scent of a forest after a rain? (pause)

The room you find yourself in is comfortably small. There is a large hot-tub situated in the corner to your far right. On the left there are hooks on the wall for your garments. All around the room are shelves, nooks and crannies and small tables on which candles sit. This soft illumination is the only light. You have the right to customize this personal space. How light or dim would you like it? Who do you want to allow in with you to this holy place? How warm or cool would you like it to be? What colors do you surround yourself with? What is under your bare feet? Cool tile? Thick carpet? Grass? Take a moment to add as much detail to this room as you wish. (long pause)

Now, as you feel comfortable, in this very private and personal space, remove your robe and move toward the tub. (pause) As you sink deeply into the tub, you will move deeper and deeper into hypnosis. With each step down into the tub, I will count down from 5 to 1, and as I do, you will let yourself go deeper and deeper still…5…moving one step down into the water, notice how the water embraces each foot…4…deeper…another step down…the warmth moves slowly over your calves…3…then the knees as you step down…down…down…2…the water is so close to your own body temperature, just slightly above, that once you are standing waist deep it seems as if you are becoming one with the water…1…let yourself sit down into the warm water…letting it embrace you…sinking down into the seat that is just perfect for your body. As you become submerged up to your shoulders, feel the wondrous sensation of weightlessness and the water relieves you of the pull of gravity. The 'ahhhh' moment as your whole body gives in to this feeling of profound relaxation. (pause)

As you head rests on the edge of the pool, allow yourself to float freely with only your head held securely in the headrest on the rim of the tub. You are at once free and secure both. You feel your baby wiggle into a comfortable position with you and settle in for this journey. You know, and your baby knows, the precise time that is right and safe for your birth to take place. Trust that and know that it is fine for you to become comfortable and familiar with this process beforehand, and to go with the flow when you are ready to let you baby come out and meet you face to face.

When the time is right, you feel only pressure down low as your baby moves further into your pelvis. This baby was custom made by your body to fit through this body and only fits one way. Head down, facing your tailbone, chin tucked to chest, this baby fits perfectly and moves down smoothly. (pause) You feel each movement as only pressure. The two of you move together. You work together in this birth you share. Each move the baby makes lets your body open gently. Open and soft. Your baby then has room to slip down a bit more. Opening gently and easily. You are able to enjoy this process as you continue to breathe slowly and deeply. (pause)

The waves of labor are so rhythmic and regular. You are able to drift peacefully over each surge comfortably. Even as these surges become larger and come closer together, you remain calm, peaceful and relaxed. You feel only pressure with every inch of progress as your baby makes it's way down…as you open and soften. There is no need to feel any discomfort at all unless your body needs to signal you change position, or you need to be made aware of a variation to the normal birth process. Feel free to listen to your wise body. On the same level that your body knew how to grow this baby's body complete from only two cells, so it knows how to birth this baby gently and comfortably. Your wise body knows how to do all of this as well as how to make perfect food within your breasts after the birth, uniquely suited to your baby alone. You are the only person on the planet designed to do this for your baby. You and your baby are part of a symbiotic partnership, working together, in perfect harmony, this very minute. Tune into your baby and your body and feel how much closer you are to looking into your baby's sentient eyes with each surge. Welcome each surge and relax into it. (pause)

When the time is perfect, you feel you baby so low, and you feel so open, that you know it is time to breathe your baby out. You may make little grunts to assist your body if it feels good to do so. Sometimes your body may tell you to bear down a bit harder. Listen to your body.

As you feel your bottom stretch around your baby's head, still there is only a sort of pressure that guides your efforts. You breathe slowly and deeply as you allow your body to work for you. When the pressure becomes more intense, you remember to blow, blow, blow as if you were blowing a candle out. Blow softly as you stretch to let your baby gently emerge. Feel the soft hair on your baby's head as it stretches your perenium. Let your fingers glide over the slipperiness until they find the curve of those tiny ears as they emerge. Feel the glorious sensation of your baby rotating on it's own, just before slowly slipping out into your waiting hands. (pause)

Bring your baby up to the surface, slowly and gently. This first meeting is precious. Your baby breathes easily once out of the water, and bright eyes search your face…memorizing every feature. Your beautiful baby nuzzles at the breast, taking in your scent and looking for the warmth and comfort of a belly full of your liquid love. (pause)

As baby latches on perfectly and sucks strongly, you feel another surge and know that soon you will push out the placenta and your work will be complete. Your caregiver will assist you in knowing when to complete this task if you are busy falling in love. Once you let go of your placenta and push it out, your uterus contracts so that all bleeding ceases and you are free to continue falling deeply in love with your child.

You may stay in this pool as long as you like. You may return to this pool quickly and easily by touching the thumb and first finger of your left hand together and repeating, to yourself or out loud, “sweet baby, sweet baby, sweet baby” three times in succession. Your birth partner can help you to return to this place, quickly and easily by placing a hand on your shoulder and reminding you, three times in succession, of your “sweet baby, sweet baby, sweet baby”.

If you are using this tape in labor, you may stay in your tub as long as you need or want. If you are in labor, ignore the suggestion that follows for coming out of hypnosis. If you are in labor, you know that you can stay in hypnosis as long as you like and bring yourself out whenever you like.

If you are using this tape in preparation for your birth, in a moment I will give you the suggestion that you may now come out of hypnosis relaxed and refreshed. [pause]

And now, as I count from 1 to 5, I'd like you to come to full awareness. When I count from 1 to 5, you will awaken refreshed and calm, bringing back all that is helpful to you from your vision, and releasing all that that is less than helpful…1…coming back to full mental awareness…2…gently letting yourself come back…feeling your fingers and toes…3…more and more alert…4…almost all the way up now…bringing your awareness back to the room you are sitting in…5…fully alert and aware…feeling comfortable and peaceful…wonderful in every way.

More information to come...what would be useful to you? Let me know...

Email me!

My other works.

Y2Kid Considerations...my musings on parenting in the new millenium

Maternity Matters...Enjoying the journey and growing a healthy baby

Nutrition in Pregnancy

But What If...? Questions often asked of homebirth-ers

See what others have to say about HypnoBirthing(R)on the Official HypnoBirthing(R) Institute website

"Building a Mystery"
Sarah McLachlan