Hypnobirthing: Gentle birth under hypnosis
Thousands of years ago women gave birth under hypnosis. And even today, hypnobirthing promises a painless and relaxed birth. Here you can read how hypnobirthing works and how it can shorten the birth process.
The central aim of hypnobirthing is to reduce the pain of childbirth. The effectiveness of hypnobirthing has been scientifically proven. An empirical study from 2001/2002 showed that women who had prepared for childbirth using this method reduced the duration of the opening phase by an average of two hours. In addition, they were less afraid of the birth process and therefore needed less painkillers. Almost 200 women took part in the study, which was conducted at eight German clinics under the direction of psychologist Helga Hüsken-Janßen, the University of Tübingen and the Westphalian Institute for Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy. The method was developed in America in the 1970s and is known there as the hypnoreflexogenic method, or HR method for short.
What happens during hypnosis?
During hypnosis, the trance is initiated using various methods that are pleasant for you. Body and mind are completely relaxed. Then the trance deepens. There is a dialogue with the hypnotherapist throughout the hypnosis. The therapist changes your consciousness through blockage-dissolving energetic procedures, hypnotherapeutic interventions and modern coaching techniques. After gently waking up, feelings and experiences of the trance are discussed. You will also learn which techniques you can use to help yourself quickly and effectively in stressful situations at any time. The prerequisite for the success of the method is that you engage in hypnosis.
What is hypnobirthing?
Hypnobirthing is based on the experience that women who are afraid of the birth process experience significantly more pain during childbirth than women who are well prepared and confident about the birth. The method wants to help you to overcome this fear-tension-pain cycle. During the therapy you mentally practice the birth process in a state of deep relaxation and play through the individual phases of the birth. The therapist will also explain to you in detail about the physiological processes during childbirth. With repeated practice, you will gain more and more confidence. You learn to understand what is going on in your body during birth – this understanding takes away the fear and uncertainty before the birth process.
What are the benefits of hypnobirthing?
- Even before birth, this method reduces stress and thus the risk of your baby being born prematurely . Hypnosis offers you a way to cope with the changes that come with the onset of pregnancy and to face the new phase of life with optimism.
- Hypnobirthing breaks the self-reinforcing fear-tension-pain spiral during childbirth. Thanks to hypnosis, chemical painkillers have to be used much less frequently.
- The first phase of labor is shortened by up to two hours through the use of hypnobirthing; Overall, the birth is less complicated and more relaxed.
- Hypnobirthing enables you to access your own resources against fatigue during labor and to activate positive energies from the subconscious.
When and where can you learn the method of hypnobirthing?
- Suitable for : Pregnant women from the 28th week of pregnancy
- Time : Approximately 4 to 5 sessions, each 1.5 hours. The effect of hypnobirthing is deepened through repeated practice during the last few weeks before the birth
- Provider : Hypnobirthing is only offered by doctors and therapists specially trained in HypnoMental birth preparation.
- Cost : The price of individual or group hypnobirthing courses ranges from 30 to 80 euros for a session of 80 to 120 minutes, depending on the number of participants.