The American Society of Clinical Hypnosis reports that for about two-thirds of women who use hypnosis, it is their sole pain reliever during labor. Stress during pregnancy can affect you and your baby associating it with many complications during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period.

Hypnosis and Guided Imagery have been used successfully to prolong pregnancy and prevent premature delivery. Through active and consistent use and practice of these tools you can keep feeling balanced, at ease, and pleasantly in control. You can gain and maintain a mindset of childbirth as a wonderful, natural process which your body can handle comfortably, and naturally.

The benefits of using Hypnosis and Guided Imagery are numerous. Here are a few areas where it can help you…

Eliminate Morning Sickness - Many women have been hypnotized to completely control and eliminate nausea during pregnancy. I have seen this happen often especially when there is a history of family members like mother or sisters who have had morning sickness during pregnancy which thus creates a belief or expectation of morning sickness “running” in the family.

Enhance Relaxation and Lactation - Hypnosis can help provide you with physical and emotional relaxation which releases normal stress and helps you to remain calm throughout your pregnancy, during labor, as well as during the postpartum phase. It can help to induce better sleep and visualize a positive, safe birth experience. Many women find that listening to hypnosis at home, especially during times disrupted or uncomfortable sleep, can help them to fall asleep quicker and awaken more refreshed.

A controlled study of fifty-five women examined the effects of imagery and relaxation on breast milk production in mothers of infants in a neonatal intensive care unit. They received a twenty-minute audiotape of progressive relaxation followed by guided imagery of pleasant surroundings, milk flowing in the breasts, and the baby’s warm skin against theirs. They produced more than twice as much milk as compared to those receiving only routine care.

Reduce or Eliminate Fear - Your attitude plays a tremendous role in the ease or difficulty of your pregnancy, as well as the length and severity of your labor. Through hypnosis, you can address any negativity or fears you have and program your mind for a positive, successful pregnancy and birth experience.

Reduce Pain - Fewer drugs or no drugs at all means less risk of side effects on mother and baby! A recent study showed only 5.5% of a group who used hypnosis group required anesthesia compared to 75% of the control group. Hypnosis was successful as the sole anesthetic in 61% of deliveries, while only 2.7% of the control group did not require any anesthetic. The hypnosis group also had a significantly shorter hospital stay (4.39 days compared with 5.17 days.)

Shorten Pre-Term Labor - In studies reported by Dr. Donald C. Brown, and Dr. Mary Murphy in June 1996. Medical Hypnosis in Preterm Labor, A Randomized Clinical Trial Report of two Pilot Projects, pregnancy was prolonged in 70.1% of subjects using hypnosis as opposed to 19.9% of the control subjects. Opposite to this, during actual labor, hypnosis can assist easing resistance of the birthing muscles minimizing or eliminating pain.

Hypnosis Can Help Baby, Too! - Breech and posterior babies can be turned using hypnosis. Babies who are born naturally are often better sleepers and nursers due to fewer drugs in their systems. In another study, by Dr. Donald C. Brown there was a significant difference in Apgar scores of babies born to mothers who received hypnotic childbirth training compared with matched controls who delivered the same day without hypnosis training.