Professional Hypnotherapy & Hypnosis Training

Hypnotherapy & Hypnosis For Pregnancy & Childbirth

(Hypno-Birthing)

DISCLAIMER

This does not represent or replace ANY kind of medical advice whatsoever and any client you treat should be

already in the medical system.

You can offer help and support as part of the client’s pregnancy and birth plan but do not give any medical

advice unless you are legally qualified to do so.

The use of hypnotherapy in childbirth has been around for many years but only recently has it been recognised as a valuable aid.

Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cambridge is reported to have used hypnotherapy during both her pregnancy and the birth of Prince George and had a seemingly very relaxed birth experience, raising awareness of “Hypnobirthing” in the general public.

Background

IMPORTANT DISTINCTION

Hypno-Birthing Vs Hypnotic Delivery

For the purposes of this presentation, Hypno-Birthing is the use of hypnosis to aid in a number of factors both during pregnancy and birth.

Hypnotic Delivery is akin to hypnotic anaesthesia and is purely about switching off pain. This presentation is about Hypno-Birthing, not

Hypnotic Delivery, although pain relief is one of the factors that we can assist with.

Facts & Figures

According to the American Hypno-Birthing Institute:

• Only 15% of pregnant women who received hypnotherapy for childbirth required pain relief compared to 70% needing pain relief in the non hypnosis group.

• Only 20% of mums who received hypnotherapy required an epidural compared to 70% in the group that received no hypnosis.

• Pregnant women who had received hypnotherapy stood a 20% reduced risk of experiencing an induction and a 16.5% reduced risk of experiencing a C-section.

Facts & Figures Contd.

According To A British Study: Researchers found a significant reduction in the length of labour for first and second time mothers, with …

• 70 hypnosis patients spending an average of 6 h 21 m in labour

• 70 participants that received no hypnosis spending an average of 9h 45m in labour

General Benefits Of Hypnotherapy For Pregnancy & Childbirth

• Can reduce labour time.• Can reduce fatigue in the mother during and after birth.• Can reduce postnatal recovery time.• Can reduce the risk of intervention.• Increases the chances of babies feeding and sleeping better.• Can help aches and discomforts during pregnancy.• Can help morning sickness.• Assists the natural birth process.• Can speed up post birth recovery.• Can improve oxygen levels in mother and baby.• Can reduce need for drugs.• Helps create calm birthing environment.• Blood pressure, heart rate, and temperature can be lowered and nausea,

back and hip pain reduced or eliminated during pregnancy and labor.• Can reduce fear/tension and create more positive attitude.

Treatment Aims• Help the patient learn how to relax• Help the patient feel confident they can give birth• Help the patient develop a positive outlook• Help the patient allow their body do what it is designed

to do• Help the patient manage symptoms during pregnancy• Help the patient manage symptoms during birth• Help the patient manage contractions• Help the patient manage perception of time• Help the patient stay as calm and free of tension as

possible• Help the patient manage pain and discomfort

Treatment AimsBut first …

1. Find out what the patient/client wants or expects from the session(s)

2. Find out what they don’t want to happen (during pregnancy & the birth)

3. Convert any Don’t Wants to Do Want’s, along with any “affirmatives”.

4. Talk through list and check for acceptance or resistance.5. Explain options available and develop a plan so you

know what to focus on and how to space everything out.

1. Find out what the patient/client wants or expects from the session(s) …

Using clean language questions as far as possible, encourage the client to explain what they wish to achieve … and why!

ie. • Do they simply want to stay calm?• Is there something in particular they are worried about?• Have they given birth before? If so what happened?• Is there a particular scene or image they are playing out in their mind?• What do they think would help them the most?• Is there anything in particular concerning them (that they don’t want to

happen)?• What would help them feel (even) more relaxed about it all?etc

2. Find Out Any “Don’t Wants”…

These will typically be fears, either based on previous experience or imagined experiences to come …

E.g I Don’t Want…

• To Panic• Feel I can’t do it• Be in agony• Stress the baby• Think of what happened before …• Tear, damage my body, etc

3. Convert Any “Don’t Wants” to “Do Wants” …

Don’t Want …

• To Panic• Feel I can’t do it• Be in agony• Stress the baby• Think of what

happened before• Tear, damage my

body etc

Do Want …

• To Stay Calm• Feel I can do it• Manage the

contractions• Keep the baby

comfortable etc.• Stay present.• Remain physically

flexible and “in tact” (use clients own words)

3. … along with any “affirmatives” (I can/am & I will)

• I can stay calm and I am going to stay calm• I can do it and I am going to do it• I can manage the contractions & I will manage the

contractions• I can keep the baby comfortable & I will keep the baby

comfortable etc.• I can stay present & I will stay present.• My body is flexible and will remain flexible [“in tact” (use

clients own words)

4. Talk through list and check for acceptance or resistance.

Ask the client to say these aloud and notice how they feel …

• I can stay calm and I am going to stay calm• I can do it and I am going to do it• I can manage the contractions & I will manage the

contractions• I can keep the baby comfortable & I will keep the baby

comfortable etc.• I can stay present & I will stay present.• My body is flexible and will remain flexible [“in tact” (use

clients own words)

5. Explain options available and develop a plan so you know what to focus on and how to space everything out.

Depending upon clients expectations and “wants” explain various options for achieving their aims and get agreement from client.

E.g.

Client 1First time baby, bit nervous but generally Ok, just wants to be able to stay calm and relaxed and manage the pain.

Client 2 Second baby, first one was a nightmare birth, with major traumas, hospitalisation, excruciating pain, tearing, blood loss, loss of control etc and major anxiety about that happening again.

5. Explain options available and develop a plan so you know what to focus on and how to space everything out.

Client 1First time baby, bit nervous but generally Ok, just wants to be able to stay calm and relaxed and manage the pain.

=> Treatment can be mostly positive focus, deep relaxation, self-hypnosis, visualisation, basic pain relief techniques, positive suggestions/mantras, taught or repeated over a few sessions,

5. Explain options available and develop a plan so you know what to focus on and how to space everything out.

Client 2 Second baby, first one was a nightmare birth, with major traumas, hospitalisation, excruciating pain, tearing, blood loss, loss of control etc and major anxiety about that happening again.

Treatment may have to deal with the traumas and anxieties first, using whichever means seems most appropriate at the time, including…• Regression to release pent-up emotions and re-frame any bad

memories, • Swish or Rewind Technique• Secondary Issues - alone? abandoned by partner?…and THEN start work on the positives …

“I can do this …”

Essentially, you want the client to have positive self-talk to the effect of …

“I can do this, I’m going to do this, and it’ll be OK”

=> Don’t gloss over anything … if there is resistance, explore it, help the client express it, dig deeper, encourage them to finish unfinished sentences …

=>Expose all fears … and address them.

Ask Questions Instead Of Trying To Provide Solutions

“What do you need to feel/believe?

“What do you need, in order to be able to feel or believe that”, etc.

Ideas for post-hypnotic suggestions & visualisations

Your body is fluid/flexible/elastic and is naturally expanding …

Your body is designed to do this and you allow it to do so …

Every contraction brings you one step closer to seeing your baby …

You can ride above the contractions, like waves …

You can do this and you are doing this …

You stay calm, relaxed and focused right here, right now …

Your body is amazing and knows exactly what to do …

Plus all those that you hand-craft from the “affirmatives” …

Single Sessions Or Plan?

You could offer this service as …

• Individual sessions as and when required• A course of sessions where each session is planned out

with specific aims and objectives• Couples sessions to help the birth partner help the mother• Group sessions• Online Classes like this• Recordings (CD’s, MP3 downloads)

Any other way that helps get the outcome the client wants.

Any Questions?