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In the middle of huge cutbacks and extensive NHS reform any newly emerging techniques that promise to save money will be welcomed with open arms.
One such proposal seems sound enough: hypnobirthing. An 18-month NHS trial study aims to teach expectant mums how to hypnotise themselves before giving birth as an alternative to painkillers. This will involve learning how to attain a trance-like state during labour in the hope that they will not need costly treatments such as epidurals. First started in the US, it uses self-hypnosis, relaxation, visualisation and breathing techniques to prepare for birth.
Currently as many as 60 per cent of mothers have epidurals and many more use other forms of pain relief, the safety of which has often been questioned. Many mothers enter the delivery suite intending to have a "natural" birth, then understandably demand drugs when the true might of their contractions kicks in.
Hypnosis is successfully used in many other areas of healthcare, including dentistry, well known for its association with pain and fear, and fear here seems to be the key. Most mums experience anxiety and fear about the impending birth, in part due to our society's highly medicocentric approach to birthing, implying that it is a dangerous, painful and scary experience.
Hypnotherapists believe that a lot of the pain of childbirth comes from fear acting on the body to cause tension and muscle constriction. If women can relax and release muscle tension, this causes less pain, more effective contractions and often a shorter labour. It certainly sounds plausible, and the feedback from women who have used it has been consistently positive.
It's even been backed up by several relatively large-scale studies, one of which found that self-hypnosis during childbirth eased some of the pain of labour, lowered the risk of medical complications and reduced the need for surgery. Another study found that hypnotherapy shortened the first and second stages of labour. For women having their first babies, the first stage was reduced from an average of 9.3 hours to 6.4 hours, and the second stage from 50 minutes to 37 minutes on average. The differences for women having their second or later children were less dramatic, and it is here the financial benefits may be seen.
I can certainly see the downsides; this technique will not work for all women. I also worry that medical staff may attend less often seemingly self-sufficient labouring women, so putting them more at risk of complications going unnoticed.
But in general it's harmless, proven in studies, and empowers women to have more control over the birthing process, unlike other ill-thought-out proposals the NHS comes up with.
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Reader views (5)
I would like to hear from a mother who found hynobirthing effective. I would also like to hear the opinion of a female doctor who has given birth. I was not afraid of labour and was looking forward to it thinking I was well prepared, but the pain is greater than anyone tells you.
- Barbara Franklin, Bracknell, UK, 26/05/2011 15:04
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I am a big fan of Hypnobirthing. That is as long as it is for someone else and not me! I had two extremely painful labors. One I had with an epidural and one without. I can’t say that I noticed a big difference in the behavior of my second son (with), but it was much more bearable. I do know women who swear epidurals left their newborns less responsive. Good for the hypnobirthers on their efforts
One thing I have to recommend to every pregnant woman, and maybe even to you doctor. Read Douglas Arone’s The Theorem. You know the real motivation of your foetus when it leaves the womb, initiating its own labor. It changes things, it really does.
- ChristiC, Kent, 18/04/2011 01:31
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Something that might go further towards relieving fear and anxiety in new mums is an improvement in the pitiful offerings that pass for NHS antenatal classes. Four inadequate hours, only one or two of which touched on labour and birth itself and then only in the most basic and touchy-feely of ways - no useful solid information at all. However, we didn't realise this at the time, because, surprise, we didn't know any better!
- Kirsten, Norwich, England, 16/02/2011 22:16
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I would have loved to use hypnobirthing when having my son but I was unable to find much information about local classes etc. I would definately consider it with future children. If the NHS is going to back this and information is more readily available, it can only be a good thing!
- Ellie Thomas, Newport Wales, 16/02/2011 21:22
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I tweeted you but couldn't put my full views! I am a midwife working in an MLU. Hypnobirthing works really well but requires a lot of effort antenatally. What concerns me is that I don't think high numbers of women will be persuaded to put in the work. We can't get them to stop smoking, eat well or exercise half the time so why would they put in the effort for this? Especially when epidurals have become so common place and are such a quick and easy option? More antenatal education is needed for most aspects of obstetrics. If we could genuinely get more women to labour naturally and breastfeed a lot of problems would be solved which in turn would help the NHS and society massively.
Of course this comes at cost. More midwives for education and support. SO it won't happen.
I specialise in breastfeeding and recently did a training day asking communnity midwives to observe a full breastfeed on day five and day ten. There was outrage, not enough time! I suggested if formula didn't exist they'd make sure they had time because it would be a child's health and their registration on the line.
Why are we so quick to rush for the quick fix?
- Lucy, Bristol, 16/02/2011 19:36
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