Hypnosis for Comfortable Childbirth

Through Hypnosis and HypnoBirthing® techniques, enjoy a beautiful and intensely loving birth experience without pain, discomfort, or medication. We are so conditioned in our culture to believe that childbirth is painful that when you hear the words “Comfortable Childbirth”; you probably say something to yourself like, “Yah, right. Too good to be true. Only someone who has never given birth to a child (probably a man) could suggest something like that.” However, in other cultures, where childbirth is expected to be a beautiful and comfortable experience, it is.

Under normal conditions, the fear and expectation of pain during childbirth is what causes pain during childbirth. Fear causes tension, and tension in the uterus and birth canal during childbirth causes pain. When you trust your body and are completely relaxed, the contractions of childbirth can effectively and easily open the cervix and move the baby through the birth canal without discomfort.

What are the Benefits of Comfortable Childbirth?

• Eliminate the Fear/Tension/Pain Syndrome.
• Fewer drugs or no drugs at all, means less risk of harmful side effects for mother and baby.
• Shorter labor due to lack of resistance in the birthing muscles.
• Relaxed Mom and Dad. Both parents participate, providing them with a sense of calm and confidence.
• Fewer complications and interventions, as the body and mind stay completely relaxed during labor.
• Relief from back pain, headaches and other discomforts due to changes during pregnancy.
• Less bleeding and quicker recovery.

How can Comfortable Childbirth be Achieved?

Comfortable childbirth can be achieved through hypnotic techniques and guided imagery. Hypnosis is a natural state where your conscious mind and body are completely relaxed and you are in a state of focused concentration. Through hypnosis you can re-learn that your body is made for comfortable childbirth. You can eliminate the fear/tension/pain cycle and can learn how to mobilize your natural endorphins for hypnotic anesthesia.

How do I know Hypnosis for Childbirth is effective?

Evidence-based research of the combination of hypnosis and childbirth education, like the HypnoBirthing ® program provides, has demonstrated the ability of this unique combination to significantly decrease a mother’s perception of pain during labor, shorten first stage labor, decrease a women’s need for medication and improve Apgar scores, over and above improvements seen with childbirth education alone.

Improved Obstetric Outcomes Using Hypnotic Analgesia and Skill Mastery Combined with Childbirth Education. (1990) J. Consult. Clin. Psychol., 58(5):525-30

Hypnosis: Practical Applications and Theoretical Considerations in Normal Labour. (1993) Br. J. Obstet. Gynaecol., 100(3):221-6.

What People are Saying About and Hypnosis for Comfortable Childbirth and HypnoBirthing®:

"I was able to stay present and connected with our child, my husband and myself throughout the labor and birth experience. I stayed in a hypnotic place, relaxed and able to carry on conversations between contractions, even during active labor, without any medication. The experience of birth was wonderfully moving, meaningful and related. Just how we wanted to bring our baby into the world."
– Helen, San Mateo , CA

"I just wanted to thank you so much for the childbirth hypnosis class and the tapes/CD for childbirth preparation. This was my 3rd birth, and it was so different from the other two! In spite of doing childbirth prep classes with the other two, I was always completely overwhelmed and had that 'I can't do it' and 'I-need-an-epidural-NOW' feeling. This time around that thought never even occurred to me - with the hypnosis preparation and my doula, I was able to breathe into and release tension during contractions, and relax completely right after each one, thus giving me the strength to go on. It wasn't completely painless, but it felt more like a good, strenuous workout than like an insurmountable task. I never once considered pain medication, and even though relaxed, I was fully aware of what was going on around me. I also recovered instantly after birth, and now knowing the secret to easier childbirth, who knows, I may have a fourth one...Again, thanks so much and keep up the good work."
- Yvonne, Belmont , CA

"Having attended your HypnoBirthing classes, I can't imagine giving birth any other way! Everyone who helped deliver my baby, including the Midwife could not believe the effects of HypnoBirthing. The visualizing techniques really worked for me. I realized that under hypnosis, I remained focused and was able to manage the intensity of the surges without any major discomfort. When I didn't use the techniques, each surge was felt with intense pain that became difficult to tolerate. My husband and I felt a lot more confident regarding the entire birthing experience. With the knowledge and confidence, my husband took a very active role during the birth of our child. The HypnoBirthing class was absolutely invaluable and I would recommend it to everyone."
- Irene, Redwood City

" Hypnobirthing was invaluable. The nurses were amazed at how calm I was. I went to Hawaii during the C section and now I use the techniques for my carpal tunnel syndrome. Every type-A, working woman like me should do HypnoBirthing to transition from a corporate executive to being a mom."
- Deborah, Palo Alto .