This is a summary of the presentation I gave to the James Braid Society (for Hypnotherapists) in London in June 2002.

Hypnotherapy for Pregnancy & Birth

A presentation by Nicolette Lawson

to the James Braid Society

20 June 2002

Nicolette Lawson, based in Solihull , is a Hypnotherapist, a mother of two, an engineer, an environmentalist and a school governor.

She first learned self-hypnosis to help her finish her Doctorate (in Engineering) and then used it for her second pregnancy and childbirth. She is now a qualified hypnotherapist, specialising in hypnosis for pregnancy and childbirth.

Having written an article on “Wonderful Childbirth” which was published in the Hypnotherapy Association’s magazine “The Hypnotherapist” in March 2002, she was invited to speak at the James Braid Society in June.

This presentation was about:

• The processes of pregnancy and childbirth

• Nicolette’s own birth experiences

• How Hypnosis helps

• What you (hypnotherapists) can do

The processes of pregnancy

During the 1st trimester (0-3 months) pregnancy can cause fatigue, nausea, hormonal changes and anxiety (particularly with a first child)

During the 2nd trimester (4-6 months) mums-to-be feel their best - blooming!

During the 3rd trimester (7-9 months) the pregnant woman is getting heavy, more tired, her body is working harder and she may start to feel anxiety about birth.

The processes of childbirth

The 1st stage of childbirth is when contractions start, pushing the baby down the birth canal; the cervix is opening & thinning and the waters break.

The 2nd stage is when the cervix is fully dilated, the baby’s head is visible and the mother can start pushing – resulting in the birth of the baby.

The 3rd stage is when the body expels the placenta/afterbirth.

Common things that go wrong

High blood pressure & protein in blood – lead to pre-eclampsia (most common cause of death during childbirth: 7-10 mums, 500-600 babies per year in the UK ) – epidural reduces blood pressure, but generally enforces poor birth position (unless it is a “walking” epidural) and increases the likelihood of the use of forceps, ventouse, episiotomy.

Baby’s position (breach, shoulders stuck, cord around neck, back against mother’s back, placenta previa), cause birth difficulties which can lead to caesarean section.

Mother’s anxiety during the birth can cause a distressed baby, which may lead to medical intervention.

Hospital Scenarios

Differing advice from midwives can cause confusion and anxiety.

Medical equipment & environment implies medical procedures, not a natural process.

Medical staff are under pressure, there may be possible lack of beds and/or staff and may want to speed up the natural birth process.

Doctors are used to and expect emergencies. The worry of litigation can mean that intervention is used at the first sign of a problem.

Medical Pain Relief

Hospitals generally offer the following pain relief:

• Gas & Air (can make the mum nauseous)

• Pethidine (can affect perception, can get into baby’s blood stream)

• Epidural - local anaesthetic into spine (reduces blood pressure, but also slows down contractions and takes longer to push out baby and therefore increases need for ventouse, forceps, episiotomy or caesarean)

Non-chemical (Private) Pain Relief

Non-chemical pain relief generally needs to be arranged privately:

• TENS - electrical nerve stimulation

• Water bath (available in some hospitals – but often cannot guarantee availability)

• Aromatherapy

• Acupuncture

• Relaxation

• HYPNOTHERAPY

Negative Societal Hypnosis…..

Women are continually told negative things about childbirth and rearing children, such as:

• “The most painful thing a woman can do.”

• “Your body will never be the same”

• “Have all the pain relief available”

• “A caesarean would fit into my busy schedule”

• “Breast-feeding is disgusting!”

• “You’ll never get a decent night’s sleep again”

These negative comments and beliefs surrounding childbirth can have a detrimental effect on women’s behaviour. Which….

…..has led to: Tokophobia

• This is a Fear of Childbirth, which results in:

– some women never getting pregnant

– some sub-consciously inducing miscarriage

– some opting for elective caesarean

– others fearing the birth process and anticipated pain and go on to have traumatic birth experiences (naturally!)

My own birth experiences

Baby 1 (7.5lbs) : Johanna 1996

• My pregnancy (age 32-33), made me feel very tired, fat, and I had extensive acne.

My Downs blood test gave me odds of 600:1

• The Birth - in hospital, was not a pleasant experience! I was induced via a drip, my blood pressure shot up, which led me to have an epidural – this meant having monitors to tell me when I was having contractions, which led to prolonged labour and eventually a delivery involving forceps, ventouse and episiotomy.

• After the pregnancy my uterus returned to normal size after 10 days and I did not regain my pre-pregnancy weight.

Baby 2 (10.5lbs): Wiremu 2000

• For my second Pregnancy (age 36-37) I used self-hypnosis as soon as I knew I was pregnant. During pregnancy I was energetic, relaxed and had clear skin.

My Downs blood test gave me odds of 3000:1 (being 4 years older than the first time, my odds would have been expected to get worse and not better – I put this down to my increased health during this pregnancy).

• The Birth - at home, was a very happy and relaxed experience – we enjoyed TV, tea & toast! I breathed through all the contractions and delivered my baby with no pain relief and no intervention. My baby was calm, quiet, clean & HUGE.

• After the birth, my uterus returned to normal size after 3 days and I regained my pre-(first) pregnancy weight in 6 weeks!

How Hypnosis Helps:

These are some of the quotes from mums that I have helped with hypnosis…..

· "It helped me to have positive thoughts during pregnancy"

· "I felt relaxed and able to cope with the contractions."

· "My wound healed amazingly well - there's hardly a mark."

· "It definitely aids relaxation during pregnancy and childbirth."

· "It helps to keep you focused."

· "I felt it improved our relationship because I was a lot calmer..."

· "I started craving healthy food during the pregnancy, rather than junk!"

· "This was my heaviest baby, but the only one I didn't need stitches for!"

· "I was a lot more confident in stating my needs and nicer to my husband!"

· "It gave me a positive attitude towards the baby and breastfeeding."

· "I was a smoker before the pregnancy and I haven't returned to it."

· "I was sceptical before, but I enjoyed the experience."

· "I wish I'd done it earlier."

How Hypnotherapists can help :

Suggestions for healthy pregnancy and comfortable childbirth

for Pregnancy – include:

• calmness, relaxation, sleep

• food - desire healthy food & drink

• body - back, pelvic floor, muscles all strong & supportive

• skin - natural elasticity, free from stretch marks

• blood pressure - safe, natural level

for Childbirth – include:

• General - calmness, relaxation, control, time distortion, trust & happy with medical team

• 1st stage - cervix opening, contractions like waves, pushing baby along birth canal

• 2nd stage - fully dilated, knowing when & how to push, position using gravity, baby clean

• 3rd stage - expel afterbirth naturally

• blood pressure - safe, natural level

• protected from bleeding and infection

Post Natal Suggestions – include:

Hypnotherapy for Pregnancy & Birth

A presentation by Nicolette Lawson

20 June 2002

This presentation was about:

• The processes of pregnancy and childbirth

• Nicolette’s own birth experiences

• How Hypnosis helps

• What you (hypnotherapists) can do

The processes of pregnancy

The processes of childbirth

Common things that go wrong

Baby’s position (breach, shoulders stuck, cord around neck, back against mother’s back, placenta previa), cause birth difficulties which can lead to caesarean section.

Mother’s anxiety during the birth can cause a distressed baby, which may lead to medical intervention.

Hospital Scenarios

Differing advice from midwives can cause confusion and anxiety.

Medical equipment & environment implies medical procedures, not a natural process.

Medical staff are under pressure, there may be possible lack of beds and/or staff and may want to speed up the natural birth process.

Doctors are used to and expect emergencies. The worry of litigation can mean that intervention is used at the first sign of a problem.

Medical Pain Relief

Hospitals generally offer the following pain relief:

• Gas & Air (can make the mum nauseous)

• Pethidine (can affect perception, can get into baby’s blood stream)

• Epidural - local anaesthetic into spine (reduces blood pressure, but also slows down contractions and takes longer to push out baby and therefore increases need for ventouse, forceps, episiotomy or caesarean)

Non-chemical (Private) Pain Relief

Non-chemical pain relief generally needs to be arranged privately:

• TENS - electrical nerve stimulation

• Water bath (available in some hospitals – but often cannot guarantee availability)

• Aromatherapy

• Acupuncture

• Relaxation

• HYPNOTHERAPY

Negative Societal Hypnosis…..

Women are continually told negative things about childbirth and rearing children, such as:

• “The most painful thing a woman can do.”

• “Your body will never be the same”

• “Have all the pain relief available”

• “A caesarean would fit into my busy schedule”

• “Breast-feeding is disgusting!”

• “You’ll never get a decent night’s sleep again”

These negative comments and beliefs surrounding childbirth can have a detrimental effect on women’s behaviour. Which….

…..has led to: Tokophobia

• This is a Fear of Childbirth, which results in:

– some women never getting pregnant

– some sub-consciously inducing miscarriage

– some opting for elective caesarean

– others fearing the birth process and anticipated pain and go on to have traumatic birth experiences (naturally!)

My own birth experiences

Baby 1 (7.5lbs) : Johanna 1996

• My pregnancy (age 32-33), made me feel very tired, fat, and I had extensive acne.

My Downs blood test gave me odds of 600:1

• After the pregnancy my uterus returned to normal size after 10 days and I did not regain my pre-pregnancy weight.

Baby 2 (10.5lbs): Wiremu 2000

• For my second Pregnancy (age 36-37) I used self-hypnosis as soon as I knew I was pregnant. During pregnancy I was energetic, relaxed and had clear skin.

My Downs blood test gave me odds of 3000:1 (being 4 years older than the first time, my odds would have been expected to get worse and not better – I put this down to my increased health during this pregnancy).

• The Birth - at home, was a very happy and relaxed experience – we enjoyed TV, tea & toast! I breathed through all the contractions and delivered my baby with no pain relief and no intervention. My baby was calm, quiet, clean & HUGE.

• After the birth, my uterus returned to normal size after 3 days and I regained my pre-(first) pregnancy weight in 6 weeks!

How Hypnosis Helps:

These are some of the quotes from mums that I have helped with hypnosis…..

How Hypnotherapists can help :

Suggestions for healthy pregnancy and comfortable childbirth

for Pregnancy – include:

• calmness, relaxation, sleep

• food - desire healthy food & drink

• body - back, pelvic floor, muscles all strong & supportive

• skin - natural elasticity, free from stretch marks

• blood pressure - safe, natural level

for Childbirth – include:

• General - calmness, relaxation, control, time distortion, trust & happy with medical team

• 1st stage - cervix opening, contractions like waves, pushing baby along birth canal

• 2nd stage - fully dilated, knowing when & how to push, position using gravity, baby clean

• 3rd stage - expel afterbirth naturally

• blood pressure - safe, natural level

• protected from bleeding and infection

Post Natal Suggestions – include:

• Mother - calm, relaxed, confident, own needs

• Breast feeding - natural, comfortable, easy, good supply

• Body - organs shrinking to pre-pregnancy size, regaining pre-pregnancy size, weight & shape

• Baby - bonding, understand needs

• Partner - bonding, understand needs & moods

• Other children - time, involvement