Think Labor Will Hurt?

Hypnosis Might Help!

Birth is fundamentally about letting go on every possible level, and that can be pretty scary and very intense.

"My mom had two very traumatic birth experiences. She had a placental abruption with me, and possibly placenta previa. She hemorrhaged and was certain one or both of us would die. My sister was a double footling breech. In labor, things became even more complicated, as my sister's arm was up over her head. They finally gave my mom general anesthesia to get my sister out," relates Mary Jane Shroyer, 29, from Corvallis, OR.

Fifteen years later, when Shroyer's mother was pregnant with her third child, she was understandably terrified. Her doctor suggested hypnosis to help her overcome her fear. "The hypnotic suggestion was that she wouldn't feel much pain," says Shroyer. "In the end, she was induced with pitocin and managed it all drug free. I said I was amazed since pitocin contractions are usually so painful, and she said, 'Oh it hurt like hell! But it was never any more than I could bear, and in 60 seconds [each contraction] was over.'"

Hypnosis May Relieve Pain
Hypnosis is gradually becoming more accepted as a reliable way to treat actual physical pain and the emotional fear and anxiety that accompany it. "These dimensions of pain interact with one another. High anxiety can exacerbate the pain experience and a relaxed, confident, comfortable state can make the pain seem less severe and more manageable," explains Dr. Aubrey Immelman, associate professor of psychology at St. John's University in Minnesota.

Although there are no hard figures available, several informal studies have determined that using self-hypnosis can reduce labor time by as much as one-third. In addition, patients who are able to put themselves into a trance state have been shown to need much less "regular" pain medication.

Using self-hypnosis can reduce labor time by as much as one-third. Patients who are able to put themselves into a trance state have been shown to need much less "regular" pain medication.

Based on her mother's experience, Shroyer considered hypnosis for herself. "Let's face it," she says, "we are all afraid of the pain factor – especially if it's your first, since you have no idea what to expect." Ultimately, Shroyer decided to take a Bradley class and focus on the relaxation techniques practiced there. During the last three months of her pregnancy, she also listened to tapes "that I think were a form of self-hypnosis."

She recalls that the speaker on the tapes spoke of "the baby in your womb and how it was forming perfectly, taking everything it needed from your body. About how when the time was right, labor would start and progress in a manner that was just right for you, and how you would be able to handle the contractions and sensations that were bringing your baby forth to be held in your arms. [The tapes] really emphasized how everything that was happening was just right for you and your body, so there was no reason to be uneasy or afraid."

Her pre-labor preparation worked wonders for Shroyer. She remembers feeling disconnected from her body during labor. Her husband stood by her side and encouraged her, telling her, "It's bringing the baby" – the phrase on which Shroyer chose to focus. "It took about two hours from my first contraction to pushing," Shroyer recalls, "and I honestly don't think of my labor as being terribly painful. It was challenging and difficult at times, but the first thing that comes to mind is not 'pain.' I definitely focused on each individual contraction and I would say I never had more pain than I could bear."

Hypnosis isn't right for everyone, but it can help many women. "Some clinicians believe that 10 to 20 percent of the general population – the most highly hypnotizable individuals – can be trained to use hypnosis as their primary analgesic," says Immelman. But a larger percentage of the population can use self-hypnosis to allay their fears of pain – including labor pain – and to keep themselves calm during the often drawn-out stages of early labor before they can be given an epidural.

Is Hypnosis Right For You?
It's likely that if the idea of hypnosis appeals to you, it can help you to remain relaxed and focused during labor. "People who are open to new experiences, who enjoy novelty in their lives are often responsive," suggests Immelman. "So are people who tend to become so absorbed or engrossed in a movie or book that they seem to 'lose' themselves." Hypnosis is much less effective, he says, with people who have trouble relinquishing control.

"Birth is fundamentally about letting go on every possible level, and that can be pretty scary and very intense," says Lina Clerke, a childbirth educator/birth attendant from Melbourne, Australia. "I have helped lots of moms in labor and have seen time and again that if they prepare during pregnancy, if they really practice letting go – with their breath, with their whole being – then when it comes to labor they are much more able to surrender to the intensity of it all and to go with it rather than fight it."

If you're interested in using hypnosis for pain relief during labor, Clerke, recommends Active Birth: The New Approach to Giving Birth Naturally, by Janet Balaskas. "If a pregnant mother can only get one book, get this one. It is informative and empowering. The photos in the new edition are realistic and inspiring – real women adopting positions that are completely natural for a woman in labor who is following her instincts."

Clerke also recommends the book for its prenatal exercises and adds, "The chapter on labor is good for dads to read, too."