In the 1930s an obstetrician in America called Grantly Dick Read became one of the first pioneers of natural childbirth. He noted that some of his patients seemed to go into a sort of trance like state from the beginning to the end of labour, and that they had easier and shorter labours and deliveries because of this. He then developed his theories by educating women to use relaxation techniques mainly with controlled breathing . He believed that it was fear of what to expect which led to tension and tension led to pain and sometimes to difficulties with deliveries. In his day childbirth had been taken over in America in hospitals by mostly male medical staff. The use of drugs, restricted positions and a lack of ante natal training meant women often expected a difficult outcome to their pregnancies.

Later in Russia, Dick Read's ideas were taken on and doctors there began to use hypnosis as the best way to help women relax during delivery. In the West this was called the "hypno -suggestive " method and was taught mainly through breathing and relaxation techniques. It was known as the Lamaze technique, as he was the doctor who introduced it's use as a way of eliminating fear through breathing and suggestion work in the last 3 months of pregnancy.

Hypnotherapists today are trained to help with a wide range of problem situations, including sleeplessness, anxiety and nausea, as well as childbirth itself and so can adapt their skills to the individual woman.

Benefits of Self-Hypnosis in Childbirth

• Improved sleep prior to delivery and after.
• Reduction of Heartburn.
• Control of Blood Pressure.
• Removal of fear and anxiety.
• Less need for Inductions.
• Fewer drugs or no drugs at all meaning less side effects for both mother and baby.
• Shorter Labours.
• An awake energised mother due to total relaxation during delivery.
• A calm, peaceful birthing environment.
• Fewer interventions and complications
• Babies sleep better and feed well
• Less tired mothers are more confident too.

I offer a course which can be tailored to either 4 or 6 sessions of about one and a half hours each. The course involves both parents, or the mother and birthing partner, and can be undertaken with a small group of expectant couples or as an individual session for one couple.

The aim is to teach self - hypnosis techniques which will carry the mother all the way through from 32 weeks of pregnancy to the safe and successful delivery of her baby. Partners are also involved and will learn how to understand and support the woman in her learning process, and also to enjoy hypnotic relaxation for themselves. They are also approaching a life-changing event , and can learn to do so in a calm and peaceful way which will support and deepen the peaceful state of the new mother.

You can take on the course alongside NHS or other ante-natal classes as it complements anything you learn there and acts as extra help, however you can decide to use the" Hypnotherapy for Childbirth" technique on it's own, whilst still attending all ante-natal medical appointments as requested.