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Hypnosis for Easier Child birth
Women having their first child who learn and practice self-hypnosis before the start of labor are less likely to need an epidural than other first-time mothers Dr Marion Andrew, an Australian senior consultant anesthetist at the Women and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, told the annual scientific meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anesthetists that there could be beneficial outcomes for use of hypnosis in pregnancy and childbirth. The research was based on 77 women who were taught hypnosis in preparation for childbirth and compared with a control group of more than 3000 mothers who received normal ante-natal care.
Dr Andrew said that of the hypnosis group, 36 per cent had epidurals, compared with 55 per cent of those in the control group.
"I think when they're having their first baby, they're very highly motivated and a lot of women these days would prefer to avoid analgesia in labor if they can."
The trials that had been done internationally on the issue showed women taught hypnosis tended to need less pain relief and were more likely to have a normal birth.
Recent research involving brain imaging of people undergoing hypnosis while receiving a painful stimulus found reduced activity in the region responsible for the emotional component of pain.
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