Hypnobirthing: Science-backed relaxation for positive birth outcomes

Hypnobirthing: it sounds so airy-fairy that I can almost hear the collective scoff of the Obstetric Old Boys’ Club, but more and more research is amassing in support of self-hypnosis for a calm, empowering birth experience, requiring little or no medical intervention. Studies have connected Hypnobirthing practices with shortened labour, reduced pain and discomfort, and lower rates of caesarean section, gas, and epidural.[i][ii] Possibly the best part about Hypnobirthing is that the power to achieve these outcomes is entirely in your hands, taking the power away from health professionals and putting YOU at the centre of your birth – calm, in control, and fully aware of how your body is working for you and your baby in each stage of labour.

But what is Hypnobirthing exactly, and how does it achieve the kind of unicorn birth that many women envision? Hypnobirthing is based on the premise that women can use the power of the mind to work with the natural flows and rhythms of their labouring bodies, trusting their bodies to function as nature intended, rather than fearing the unknown and the potential for pain. It does this by educating women and their birthing partners about the stages of labour and what the body does at each stage; as well as self-hypnosis techniques, like breathwork, to manage fear, stress, and pain; and the ways in which birth companions can support the birthing woman. Women’s satisfaction with labour increases when they have low levels of fear and pain[iii]; receiving care that aids in their relaxation reduces fear and aids positive birth outcomes.[iv]  Hypnobirthing will give you confidence that the peaceful, drug-free birth you hope for isn’t so mythical.

Hypnobirthing is usually delivered in-person, across four, three-hour sessions, with a registered practitioner, with online options also available. You and your birth companion will learn the theory that informs Hypnobirthing, including how your hormones assist the process of labour and birth, the role of fear and stress in your perception of pain, and the power of your mind in overcoming fear. Together, you’ll practice self-hypnosis techniques, such as meditation, acupressure, massage, and deep breathing so that these practices are second nature by the time you go into labour. The ideal time to complete your Hypnobirthing course is when you are between 20 and 30 weeks pregnant, to help you feel at ease about your baby’s birth and give you ample time to hone your new skills. But if you’re late to the party, you will absolutely benefit from learning about Hypnobirthing, even very late in pregnancy. 

To understand why Hypnobirthing achieves such positive outcomes, it is useful to first look at the consequences of common birth interventions and the environment in a hospital birthing unit, and how these impede the natural processes occurring within mum’s body to facilitate a healthy birth. Normal term, spontaneous labour and birth is the culmination of a complex dance of hormonal processes, signifying the physical readiness of baby to be born and mum’s physical readiness to birth. While there is a normal, gradual rise in maternal stress hormones during labour, which should peak towards the end to aid baby’s expulsion, excess fear, anxiety, or pain throughout labour, and associated surges in stress hormones, can result in decreased frequency or intensity of contractions.[v]

One stark example of this is the tendency for labour to stall once the labouring woman arrives at hospital, as she adjusts to her new surroundings. What is comfortable and familiar to health staff might be the birthing woman’s fluorescently-lit hellscape, equipped with intimidating medical apparatus and domineering birth attendants, who encourage her to labour on her back, withhold food, and time-keep her labour to a rigid schedule. If labour fails to progress in accordance with standardised modelling, a cascade of interventions is sometimes introduced, including overzealous electronic fetal monitoring, artificial membrane rupture, and the administration of syntocinon, to intensify contractions.

Contrast the above scenario with Hypnobirthing’s emphasis on dim lighting, soft music, positive affirmations, aromatherapy, visualisations, massage, breathwork, freedom of movement, and limited intervention, pending a clear medical need, and it’s not difficult to see how a comfortable, relaxing, and empowering environment might help the birthing woman manage fear, stress, and pain, even in situations where some level of medical intervention is needed.

 Despite growing awareness of the impact of natural birthing methods, like Hypnobirthing, and more parents desiring a peaceful, unhurried, and unimpeded birth experience, medicalised birth persists. Australia’s caesarean section rate is exorbitantly high at around 34% of births, despite the World Health Organisation advice that 10-15% is an ideal caesarean rate. Inductions are commonplace, with a trend towards scheduling them well ahead of women’s estimated due date. Many women are told that they will need to be induced or schedule a caesarean if they have not gone into labour by their due date, despite the fact that an estimated due date is just that – a guess – and a healthy pregnancy should be allowed to progress to 40 weeks and 10 days.

When elective induction is chosen, with no medical basis, this correlates with an increased need for pain relief, epidural anaesthesia, instrumental delivery, and caesarean delivery for mum, and possible low birthweight, shoulder dystocia, neonatal resuscitation, and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit for baby.[vi] Syntocinon, which is given to chemically induce or speed up labour, can intensify contractions and labour pain quite suddenly, and limit your ability to manage pain through Hypnobirthing.

Choosing a supportive birth attendant is vital. Asking the right questions of your midwife or obstetrician from your first meeting will ensure you have a true partner in the birth you desire and deserve: do they embrace Hypnobirthing and natural birth? What are their thoughts on induction? What is their caesarean rate? What will they recommend if you haven’t gone into spontaneous labour by 40 weeks? What interventions do they routinely use during labour? Are they supportive of limited birth interventions? Will they welcome and respect your birth plan? Do they have any leave booked around your estimated due date? Are they happy for you to labour and birth in any position that feels comfortable? Are they happy for you to labour in water or spend time outside of the birthing suite? Do the hospitals where they practice welcome Hypnobirthing methods? Ask for their stats. It’s a good idea to vet the hospital you wish to birth at, too, and make sure their birthing suites are compatible with your birth plan.

We offer Hypnobirthing classes in the South of Adelaide for couples seeking education. For the highest quality Hypnobirthing education, be sure to visit the Hypnobirthing Australia ™️ website[VR1] , where you’ll see my face on the certified practitioners page. Here, you can search for a practitioner in your area, or sign up for an online course. I wish you all the very best for a safe, calm, and empowering birth.  

To book into an Adelaide Hypnobirthing & Childbirth Education class in person/online - book here

Megan x

[i] Phillips-Moore, J 2013, ‘Birthing outcomes from an Australian HypnoBirthing programme’, British Journal of Midwifery, vol. 20, no. 8, pp. 41-42.

[ii] Swencionis, H, Rendell, S, L, Dolce, K, Massry, S, & Mongan, M. 2012, ‘Outcomes of HypnoBirthing’, Journal of Prenatal and Perinatal Psychology and Health, vol. 27, no. 2, pp. 120-139.

[iii] Khresheh, R 2010, ‘Support in the first stage of labour from a female relative: The first step in improving the quality of maternity services’ Midwifery, vol. 26, no. 6, e21. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.midw.2008.11.03

[iv]  Hodnett, E, D, Gates, S, Hofmeyr, G, J, & Sakala, C. 2013, ‘Continuous support for women during childbirth’, The Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, vol. 7, pp. 1-20. https:// doi.org/10.1002/14651858.CD003766.pub5

[v] Alehagen, S, Wijma, B, Lundberg, U & Wijma, K 2005, ‘Fear, pain and stress hormones during childbirth’, Journal of Psychosomatic Obstetrics and Gynecology, vol. 26, pp. 153-165.

[vi] Goer, H, Leslie, M, S & Romano, A 2007, ‘The Coalition for Improving Maternity Services: Evidence basis for the ten steps of mother-friendly care: Step 6: Does not routinely employ practices, procedures unsupported by scientific evidence’, Journal of Perinatal Education, vol. 16, no. 1, pp. 32S-64S.

 [VR1]Add link to blog: https://hypnobirthingaustralia.com.au/directory/

Hypnobirthing Australia Positive Birth Courses with Adelaide Lactation Consultants, Midwifery & Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing Australia™

As a nurse, midwife and an IBCLC I feel privileged to work with women throughout their pregnancy and into the postpartum period.  I am passionate about empowering women to trust their instincts so they can have the positive birth and breastfeeding experience they desire. With this in mind, I am a proud Certified Hypnobirthing Australia Practitioner and love teaching the Hypnobirthing Australia™ course.

After close to 30 years in the field of education, birth, breastfeeding and newborn support I’ve had experience with many childbirth education programs. I believe the Hypnobirthing Australia™ course is well thought-out, provides current research-based techniques and information, has amazing and empowering birth stories (in an Australian accent), and is very geared towards Australian couples and the Australian Health Care system. 

I wholeheartedly believe this program works and have seen it in action! Need more evidence? You can read more here about the positive benefits of hypnosis intervention in pain management and improved birth outcomes.

What is Hypnobirthing Australia™?

Here at Adelaide Lactation Consultants and Midwifery we exclusively teach the Hypnobirthing Australia™ program. “The original Hypnobirthing Australia™ program is uniquely designed for Australian mothers and their birth companions. It is the natural approach to childbirth!

Hypnobirthing Australia™ classes prepare you with the knowledge, confidence and tools you need to birth calmly.” In short, the program can help any birthing couple prepare for their baby and is designed for either natural or caesarean births.  The preparation during pregnancy ensures Hypnobirthing Australia™ couples are equipped to approach their birth and its outcome as best they can.

Is this the course for you?

It’s my belief that there are many reasons to the Hypnobirthing Australia™ program is a great fit for new families. However, if I had to narrow it down, here are my top four:

• You want your birth partner to feel included and know how to support you in your labour. 

• This course helps prepare birthing partners to understand the physiology of childbirth, what your partner might need throughout labour and how to really help during this amazing time of change.  Birthing partners are an integral part of the Hypnobirthing Australia™ philosophy. 

• You are worried about the pain associated with childbirth and how you will cope with this.  The Hypnobirthing Australia™ course prepare women to focus on the pain as being a positive part of childbirth and giving you the tools and techniques to achieve a calm and positive birth.  Preparation and practice is an important tool for birth.  Visualisation, touch and breathing are some of the techniques used and all help women feel in control and calm.

• You ideally want to have a low-intervention and natural birth and do not know how you are going to achieve this!  The Hypnobirthing Australia™ course prepares couples for the normal events surrounding labour, unexpected changes to this plan and everything in between.  By being prepared, empowered and educated you will be able to approach your birth with knowledge, which is super important.  You and your partner will feel confident to ask any questions about your care pathways in partnership with your care providers. 

The Hypnobirthing Australia™ course with Megan is an affordable and in-depth hands-on course. You value your transition into motherhood and want to ensure your labour and birth are a special and sacred time. There are several course options at affordable rates, you can feel confident you’ll be prepared for almost anything!

Hypnobirthing Australia™ Course details….

The Hypnobirthing Australia™ course is conducted over 12 hours and broken down into four Units. It’s recommended that you begin class between 20-30 weeks pregnant, but I’ve seen positive outcomes on many time schedules. We can also tailor a course option to suit you and your birthing partner. Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll learn in our course.    

Unit 1 - Creating and Maintaining a Positive Mindset

• Introduction to the positive mindset of Hypnobirthing

• how our brain is wired to birth

• the role of our caregivers

• mind/body connection

• what is self-hypnosis and how will we use it for birthing?

• reprogramming the subconscious

• birthing environment

Unit 2 - Our Toolkit for Birth

• self-hypnosis tracks

• birth music

• conditioning with scent

• hypnotic anchors and triggers

• releasing endorphins through massage and touch

• acupressure techniques for pregnancy, birth and breastfeeding

• visualisation for pregnancy, labour and birthing

• surge breathing - the best tool ever!

• breathing tools

• instant relaxation techniques

Unit 3 - Preparation & Choices for Empowered Birthing

• Bonding with baby

• birth preferences - having open communication with your caregivers

• knowledge is power - common interventions and procedures

• birth partner as advocate

• inductions - things you’re not always told

• achieving a natural start to labour

• self-hypnosis, meditation and deep relaxation techniques

Unit 4 - Birth- Bringing it all Together

• what to expect in the weeks and days leading up to birth

• signs that labour is starting

• what to expect through labour

• when to call the midwife/go to the hospital

• accidental home/car birth - what to do!

• birth partner’s role

• using water during labour and birth

• upright positioning, movement and birth positions

• Special circumstances (including caesarean birth)

• cord clamping and placenta delivery

• undisturbed bonding and breastfeeding time - skin to skin

• Self-Hypnosis - rehearsal for birth

• a practice routine - preparation for birth

 Book a course with me today to help you prepare for the birth you want. Birth can be amazing and empowering - not scary and overwhelming. I would love to work with you and your birth partner during this precious and amazing time. If you want to book an Adelaide Hypnobirthing in person or live online zoom course with me - Book Here.