People often call to ask if it is advisable to use hypnotherapy with a pregnant woman. The answer is YES! Actually there are many uses for hypnotherapy and pregnant women. Recently there was an incredible program on NBC Dateline showing the use of hypnosis in delivering babies. Two young women birthed their babies, totally free of pain, quickly and without any drugs or pain medication.

This article offers suggestions for using clinical hypnotherapy techniques for pregnant women with any of four situations described: (1) any specific fears about childbirth; (2) nausea or vomiting; (3) any condition which requires her to stay in bed; or (4) desiring a baby of particular gender.

Hypnotherapy and the Conditioning Process

You will always want to teach and condition the couple in the use of hypnosis at least two months before the birth in several real-life sessions as well as making them audio recordings. You should make one 90 minute recording with all kinds of positive suggestions. The “mother-to-be” needs an audio player with headphones. This way she can begin listening to the tape as soon as she goes into labor to stay totally relaxed during the whole process. The more relaxed things are, the quicker and easier the delivery will be. 

Educating the Doctor About Using Hypnotherapy

It is advisable for you as the certified hypnotherapist to make a visit to the doctor with your patient in order to explain what you will be doing and how he/she can support your client in not using anesthetic. One way is not to offer it to her. Another is not to ask any unnecessary questions, allowing her to remain undistracted and relaxed.

Know the Parents’ Issues

Talk thoroughly with the parents to find out if either has any special problems such as:

   1.  Any specific fears and whom he/she may have learned those fears from

   2.  Any nausea/vomiting

   3.  Any condition which requires her to stay in bed

   4.  Wishing to have a baby of particular gender

Hypnotherapy can be effectively applied to pregnant women who exhibit one of these four special cases as well as many others. The application of hypnotherapy during pregnancy is intended to harness the power of suggestion and relaxation in order to access the part of a patient's mind that is responsible for physiological functions and reactions. Helping pregnant women cope with the fear and anxiety that typically accompanies pregnancy and childbirth is the chief aim of any application of hypnotherapy in this context. During labor, anxiety and fear can contribute to harder and more painful contractions. If hypnotherapy is applied effectively during childbirth, the expectant mother should have a more even breath rate, delivering oxygen more effectively to the mother and baby, and improved relaxation in the core muscle groups contributing to the delivery. Ideally, this will lead to contractions that are less painful and more effective.