Hypnosis has gained popularity in recent years as an effective method to help change attitudes and responses to labour pain. It can be a powerful psychological method of achieving mental and physical relaxation during the labour. When using hypnosis in this way, you are not asleep or unconscious, nor do you lose control over your mind or feelings.
Hypnosis is a deep relaxation aimed at achieving a state of increased suggestibility, to implement what is known as 'word-disassociation'. This means changing feelings of fear or anxiousness associated with the word 'pain' and introducing a word association as a positive thought to 'reset', as it were, the memory for example, 'pain is progress' or 'the enormous effort of each contraction is bringing your baby closer'. This helps to achieve positive attitudes towards pain in labour.
An example of hypnotic therapy can be:
"You will stay positive and focused during the labour. If you experience anxiety or fear, you will know that these are normal feelings. During labour you will work with these feelings and call upon all that you have learnt, including your own innate knowledge, to support yourself. You will articulate your concerns and accept support and help from others".
This positive suggestion can help to achieve positive attitudes towards the pain of your labour.
If you have never used hypnosis, it is ideal to start learning and using the technique from early in the pregnancy, or at least the last 2- 3 months before the birth. Depending on your receptiveness to hypnotherapy, the hypnotherapist may only need 4 sessions to achieve a positive suggestive formula for the woman.
Eventually the therapist can instruct the woman on using 'auto-hypnosis' (or self-hypnosis). This means that the woman can enter this state herself, by performing verbal or other suggestive stimuli that triggers the positive thought about the pain she is experiencing during the labour.
The therapist may provide a tape recording of the positive suggestive formula to enable the woman to listen to the word associated suggestions at her convenience. Or she could make her own tape based from the therapists sessions, as this can allow her to listen to her own inner voice, the voice that she will need to hear, trust and believe in during the labour.
Individuals will vary in their susceptibility to hypnosis, but even achieving a 'light trance' can help convert negative thoughts to positive attitudes for labour pain. You may wish to seek out the services of a professional hypnotherapist to implement this strategy. You can read more on hypnosis in about natural therapies.
Visualisations are also known as 'guided imagery'. Visualisations use the power of suggestion (similar to hypnosis) to incorporate the woman's senses of vision, touch, hearing, taste and smell through her imaginary mind. This strategy can be practised during the pregnancy to help the woman feel accustomed to the vision that incorporates her positive attitudes to labour pain.
The woman can do this by using her imagination to do a 'dress rehearsal', so to speak before the birth. Imagine yourself in labour and experiencing pain during contractions. See yourself in pain and allowing the contractions to come and go, having no resistance, no urge to avoid them. Imagine yourself using some or all of your support tools.
When labour starts (for real) and builds, if you start to feel anxious or frightened, see yourself releasing the fearful emotion with an 'out breath' (or any other physical diversion such as stomping your feet on the floor) during a contraction. Use what you rehearsed in the visualisation.
This rehearsed suggestion allows the woman to fall back onto a memory already created. She may not always remember to do this and she may need to be prompted by her partner or support person. You may wish to look at our birthing visualisation as a guide to creating your own vision.
Homoeopathy and Australian bush flower essences. Some women will use homoeopathy as one way to help address their negative emotions and beliefs about their labour pain. Homoeopaths may recommend various remedies during the pregnancy and / or labour. See a qualified consultant during the pregnancy, so that they can tailor specific remedies to meet your needs. You may wish to read more in about natural therapies - homoeopathy.