As a hypnobirth trainer working in Kidderminster I am always interested to read about hypnosis for birth in the news.
I'm not always in agreement with the articles I have read but this weekend I was smiling from ear to ear as I read about NHS hospitals providing hypnosis for childbirth. The news piece asked:
" Can hypnosis really beat the pain of having babies? The NHS thinks so"
As an easibirthing trainer I already know many hospitals were providing some initial training in hypnosis within their antenatal care package, but I was excited to read how many more were following suit. The news explained how midwives are being trained to teach hypnosis for birth in Colchester, Wolverhampton, Stevenage and the Scottish Highlands. The next areas to get on board will be Exeter, Gloucester, Walsall and Bury St Edmunds. A midwife and hypnobrthing coach at Colchester hospital said a quartet of the women giving birth at Colchester general hospital were taking courses in the technique. The hospital dropped the £250.00 fee after the results were so positive they felt it unfair to only provide it to those who could afford the fee.
In the article Tamara Cianfini founder of Wise Hippo hypnobirthing explaines how the technique benefits women.
“Staying calm reduces the “ fight or flight” response, which can result in adrenaline flooding the body and unhelpfully diverting blood away from the womb.”
The news paper article includes comments from Naomi Mogg who recently used hypnosis with the birth of her second child. After a traumatic first birth she turned to hypnosis and found she felt much more in control and able to deal with the pain.
As a trainer in this powerful technique I am proud to be part of the empowerment of women and their partners through hypnosis for childbirth. Birth has become increasingly medicalised over time which has removed control from women but the introduction of hypnobirthing displays a real commitment to handing childbirth back to women. I am glad midwives are being trained but I am concerned that many midwives are already overstretched and do not want this training to become another burden they are not truly given time to deliver. At a local hospital in Walsall several years ago they trained midwives to deliver maternity reflexology but shortly after, despite great results, the service was closed due to lack of funding. I hope this is not the case with hypnosis.
I am also excited by the great research opportunities available as the service is extended. The limitation of much hypno birthing research is the small subject numbers, but as the technique is rolled out to more couples the research could be much more robust.
Unfortunately Worcestershire does not currently have plans in place to introduce hypnosis for their antenatal couples. If you are based in Worcestershire and interested in Hypnosis for Birth training then please do contact me.
