TESTIMONIALS AND EVIDENCE
Testimonials
Thanks for all your help with the hypnobirthing. We used it a lot in preparation for the birth and the labour itself.
Unfortunately our labour didn't go quite to plan. We had initially wanted a home water birth but I was told this wasn't advised...In the end we had a C-section producing a healthy baby girl. So although we did use the techniques positively I can't say what they would have been like in the later parts of labour. but I am sure I will use them again if we have more children. It was a very positive experience and my husband and I felt calm and relaxed throughout the process.
Oxfordshire Couple 2021
Hypnobirthing opened my eyes to another approach to birth and really brought ,what seemed like a mysterious event, back to basic, natural instincts.
First Time Mum
I have to admit I had that classic 'old school' mentality. Hypnobirthing was not something I knew much about and couldn't see how it could really make much of a difference. Even during some of the practice sessions with my partner I would often laugh my way through some of the exercises and was just looking forward to the big day. How wrong I was though?! I can honestly say that the way the hypnobirthing routines and ideas brought us together through the birth blew my mind. I was with my partner through every contraction and breath, and we were joined in what felt like an incredible journey right until the end. I was even praised by the midwife for being such an attentive birthing partner! I cannot recommend highly enough how it improved our birthing experience and I can only suggest you go for it and see for yourselves.
Hypnobirthing Dad
When I was told I wasn't going to get the home birth I had dreamed of due to medical reasons and that I needed to be induced I was worried everything would be out of my control. The consultant even told me I would probably need to have an epidural !! I put this to the back of my mind and with the support of my partner focused on all we had practised, only using gas and air for the smallest amount of time despite having what everyone had described to me the 'dreaded drip'. Hypnobirthing empowered me to stay in control and have our dream birth, just not the one I originally dreamed of.
Practice Makes Perfect Mum
HYPNOBIRTHING EVIDENCE
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National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE; 2014) states that women who choose to use hypnosis during childbirth should be supported in doing so, as the evidence available shows that it may reduce the pain of labour and does not adversely affect either maternal or neonatal outcomes.
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In a recent randomized control trial, Buran and Aksu (2022) found that hypnobirthing reduced fear of childbirth during pregnancy and all stages of labour. In addition, women who used hypnobirthing had shorter delivery periods and fewer birth interventions. Finally, vaginal births and birth satisfaction ratings were higher in the hypnobirthing group.
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Imannura & Susanti (2018) found that hypnobirthing significantly reduced anxiety for mothers during birth delivery.
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A randomized controlled study (Uludağ & Mete, 2021) found that 'Nursing Care based on the Philosophy of HypnoBirthing decreased the fear, pain, and duration of labor; increased the level of satisfaction with labor; and reduced costs incurred during labor.'
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A review article discussing the use of hypnotherapy in birth, concluded that it does promote resilience and positive attitude in labouring women (Wright & Geraghty, 2017).
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Downe et al (2015) conducted the largest randomised controlled trial in the UK to date, across 3 NHS trusts between 2011 and 2013. The study found ‘women in the hypnosis group had a greater reduction in anxiety and fear compared to control group.’
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Levett, Smith, Bensoussan, Dahlen (2016) found that the Complementary Therapies for Labour and Birth protocol reduced rates of epidurals and caesarean sections. This incorporated 6 evidence-based complementary therapy techniques including; visualisation, relaxation, breathing, massage, acupressure, yoga, and facilitated partner support.
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Cyna, McAuliffe, & Andrew (2004) - A large systematic review of 19 studies examining hypnosis as a form of pain relief in labour and childbirth, found evidence that ‘hypnosis alone or in combination with other anaesthetic techniques, may offer advantages over conventional analgesia alone.' The meta-analysis of 5 randomised control trials within this, found that hypnosis reduced the need for analgesia during labour. The study concluded that this could be due to the analgesic effects of hypnosis, the facilitation of patient autonomy/sense of control, and reduced anxiety due to relaxation.
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A Cochrane review (Smith et al, 2006) consisting of five randomised controlled trials, involving 749 women, found hypnosis during childbirth decreased the need for pharmacological pain relief in labour, including use of epidural; reduced augmentation of labour and increased spontaneous vaginal birth.