Hypnobirthing

Are you looking to find a HypnoBirthing practitioner? HypnoBirthing uses self-hypnosis along with relaxation and breathing techniques to release the fears and anxieties associated with childbirth which in turn can help relieve the pain of labour. Use our site for information on HypnoBirthing and to find a practitioner in your area.

In This Article

History Of...	How Does It Work?
A Typical Appointment	Treatment Time / Cost / Number Of Sessions
Who Should / Shouldn't Visit?

History Of...

HypnoBirthing utilizes the principles of hypnosis and as such can be credited to modern hypnotherapy which is attributed to the work of Austrian physician Franz Mesmer and Scottish optometrist James Braid. The method also teaches relaxation and breathing techniques which have been used by civilisations for thousands of years.

The techniques of HypnoBirthing are based on the work of Dr Grantly Dick-Read, a British Obstetrician who published a book in 1933 titled “Children Without Fear”. Dr Dick-Read theorised that women who experienced fear during childbirth triggered a physiological reaction that prevented blood circulating to the uterus. Starved of oxygen, the uterus could not perform its function effectively or without pain. He concluded that fear and tension during childbirth caused labour pains in approximately 95 per cent of women (“the fear-tension-pain syndrome”).

By eliminating this fear, Dr Dick-Read posited that women could return the uterus to normal function and reduce pain. These theories were developed further during the 1980s by Marie Mongan, an American Counsellor and Hypnotherapist.

Mongan developed HypnoBirthing which utilised her skills as a hypnotherapist along with her own experiences of calm, gentle and natural childbirth in which she used Dr Dick-Read's theories. She used this method (now known globally as The Mongan Method) for her own daughter and two friends.

Successful childbirths for all three women brought a number of interested hypnotherapists to her office to learn the techniques. In 1989, Mongan published her book "HypnoBirthing®: A Celebration Of Life" and her method is now taught in countries all over the world.

How Does It Work?

HypnoBirthing utilizes self-hypnosis, relaxation and breathing techniques in preparation for a better childbirth. As with hypnosis, the method places the individual in a relaxed state of wakefulness whereby breathing and heart-rate slows and brain-waves change. This state is not a trance or sleep and you able to talk while remaining relaxed but in control.

Once in this state, fears and anxieties about giving birth, or experiences of previous traumatic births, are released. The aim of the therapy is to aid a calmer, easier and more comfortable childbirth whereby you are in control. It does not guarantee a completely pain-free birth but can significantly reduce the need for pain-relief medication through simple and natural techniques.

A Typical Appointment

Be prepared
HypnoBirthing is not currently regulated and anyone can call themselves a HypnoBirthing practitioner. It's important for anyone considering classes to check their therapist has thorough training and is a member of a professional body with a good reputation.

The HypnoBirthing Institute has a register of practitioners in the UK and maintains a common code of ethics and practice and its members are expected to achieve high standards in training.

HypnoBirthing courses are usually conducted in a group although one-to-one classes may be available. Before your course, think about what you want to achieve with HypnoBirthing and make a list of the problems you hope to overcome. Check with your local practitioner for appointment times and location.

What to expect
Your HypnoBirthing class is designed to take place in a group although private sessions are available. Classes usually take place on a weekly basis and run for 2-3 hours. Individual class times may vary so check with your practitioner. Partners are encouraged to participate so they too can learn the relaxation techniques used before and during delivery.

During the class you will learn techniques and visualisations which will encourage a deep state of relaxation.

Treatment Time / Cost / Number Of Sessions

The recommended time to begin classes is somewhere between 25-30 weeks of pregnancy. Course timings may vary depending on the practitioner however if a course is less than 12.5 hours in total then your therapist may not be a certified HypnoBirthing practitioner and you are not receiving the full HypnoBirthing syllabus.

The cost of HypnoBirthing varies from town to town so check with your local practitioner. As a guide, private courses will be more expensive than group sessions. A practitioner running large groups may charge as little as £200 per couple (which includes all your materials), whilst private sessions may cost up to £450.

Who Should / Shouldn't Visit?

Hypnosis is safe provided you are instructed by a fully trained practitioner. HypnoBirthing is suitable for women giving birth for the first time or for mums who have given birth before.

If you are anxious about your first childbirth, you've had previous bad experiences, or you just want a calmer, more natural labour, then HypnoBirthing can prove extremely beneficial.

This therapy or modality may help with:

Anxiety	Pre Conceptual Health	Pregnancy
Womens health issues

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Featured Hypnobirthing Practitioners

David Owen Coaching NLP Hypnotherapy Baldock Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire	David Stocks Hypnotherapy Psychotherapy Fife Dunfermline
Dr Eva Detko Hypnotherapy NLP Nutrition Chippenham Wiltshire	Kavitha Chahel Hypnotherapy NLP Finchley and Bond Street
Peter Scott NLP Hypnotherapy Hackney London	Total Hypnotherapy Central London and Crouch End