Research on HypnoBirthing

“In a study published in 1990 in the Journal of Counselling and Clinical Psychology, researchers observed two groups of pregnant women. One group was trained in regular breathing and relaxation techniques while the second group was trained in the HypnoBirthing techniques. The findings showed statistically significant differences between the groups of women. The HypnoBirthing women had shorter labors, fewer requests for medication, fewer reports of pain, and their babies showed higher Agpar scale readings after birth. In addition, the HypnoBirthing moms reported less incidence of depression and quicker recovery periods postpartum”.   (www.healthwisemag.com)

Research on Hypnosis and Childbirth

Recent research findings :

Better Birth Outcomes

Mehl-Madrona L.E. (2004) found women who received hypnosis during pregnancy had "significantly better" birth outcomes (uncomplicated births)

The Journal of family practice concluded "Our study provides support for the use of hypnosis to aid in preparation of obstetric patients for labour and delivery. The reduction of complications, surgery, and hospital stay show direct medical benefit to mother and child and suggest the potential for a corresponding cost-saving benefit."

Shorter Labours with Hypnosis

Hao et al in China conducted a randomized control trial on 60 first time mothers with a matched control group of 60 first time mothers and found a statistically significant reduction in the lengths of the first and second stages of labour. The study also measured the effect of nursing suggestions to labouring women and recommends that the conversation of the nurses be "controlled carefully for the purpose of advancing the birth process".

Jenkins and Pritchard: found 1st time labouring mothers had a reduction of  3 hours (from 9.3 hours to 6.4 hours) and others ( multi gravid women a reduction of 1 hour (from 6.2 hours to 5.3 hours) for active labour (262 subjects and 600 controls). Pushing was statistically shorter for first time mothers (from 50 min to 37 min).

Hypnosis and Lamaze: In a study comparing the two trainings, 96 women chose between hypnosis (n=45) and Lamaze (n=51). The hypnosis group had shorter first stages of labour by 98 minutes for first time mothers and by 40 minutes for second time mothers. The women who had undergone hypnosis were more satisfied with labour and reported other benefits of hypnosis such as reduced anxiety and help with getting to sleep.

Another British study found a statistically significant reduction times in labour length for first and second time mothers:
70 hypnosis patients: 6 h 21 min
70 relaxation patients: 9 h 28 min
70 control group: 9 h 45 min

Mellegren's study noted a reduction of two to three hours of labour.

Abramson and Heron: found 100 women trained with hypnosis experienced a shorter first stage of labour (by 3.23 hours) compared to a control group of 88 women. 45  first time mothers using Hypnosis for Childbirth had an average of 4.5 hours for the active labour, a significant reduction compared to the usual 12 hours.

Medication use

In a British study:
Hypnosis group: 55% of 45 of patients (first and second time mothers) required no medication for pain relief. Non-hypnosis groups: only 22% of 90 women required no medication.

Two research pieces reported on 1,000 consecutive births: 850 women used hypnotic analgesia resulting in 58 percent rate of no medication.

Five other research pieces reported an incidence of 60 to 79 percent non-medicated births.

A retrospective survey noted an epidural rate of 18 percent in Southern Ontario, where the epidural rate in most hospitals is 40 to 95 percent (depending on the setting) for first time mothers.

A randomized control trial of 42 teenagers in Florida:
None of the 22 patients in the hypnosis group experienced surgical intervention compared with 12 of the 20 patients in the control group (p=.000).
12 patients in the hypnosis group experienced complications compared with 17 in the control group (p=.047).

Harmon, Hynan and Tyre: reported more spontaneous deliveries, higher Agpar scores and reduced medication use in their study of 60 women.
Of 45 Hypnosis for Childbirth clients, 38 delivered without the use of caesarean, forceps or vacuum, a rate of spontaneous birth of 84%. This is a higher than average rate of normal birth for the general population of first time mothers.

In a randomized control trial of 42 teenagers in Florida, only 1 patient in the hypnosis group had a hospital stay of more than two days compared with 8 patients in the control group (p=.008).

McCarthy provided five 30-minute sessions to 600 women and found a virtual absence of postpartum depression, compared to the typical rates of 10 to 15 percent. Women with a history of postpartum depression did not develop this condition, even though an estimated 50 percent eventually do. Harmon et al also reported lower depression scores in the hypnotically treated group.

It appears that a simple intervention, hypnotherapy, has far-reaching effects both medically and socially. Some, but not all, of the above studies are randomized, have large numbers, include control groups and demonstrate statistical significance. There remains, therefore, a clear need for more research, in the use of hypnosis for childbirth preparation

(Source: www.hypnobirthing.co.uk)

Research on delayed and mother-directed pushing

A study by Simpson & James (2005) concludes delayed pushing (where the mother is allowed to push when she gets the urge to bear down rather than immediate pushing as instructed by birthing professionals)  'is more favorable for fetal well-being' as measured by the amount of oxygen the baby gets.

Research on Hypnosis and Pregnancy

Morning sickness

• Waxman (1989) states that hypnosis can be "extremely useful" in relieving morning sickness, capable of resolving 50% of cases (p.404).
• A study by Fuchs et al (1980) conducted on 138 women suffering from "extremely severe vomiting" were treated with hypnosis. Results showed that of the 87 women out of 138 treated with group hypnosis:
  • 61 women were relieved of vomiting and nausea
  • 24 women were relieved of vomiting though some nausea remained
  • Only 2 patients failed to improve

Simon& Schwartz (1999) recommend the use of hypnosis in cases of both morning sickness leading to a more comfortable pregnancy and healthier foetus as well as preventing full-blown  hyperemesis gravidarum.

Waxman(1980) states that many other pre-natal symptoms such as backache, pruritus and insomnia can be relieved by hypnosis.(p.405)

A study by Mehl (1994) showed hypnosis to have an 86% success rate in turning breech presentations: 69% higher than those undergoing standard obstetric care

Link to Study: Turning Breech Presentations with hypnosis

Poehl et al ( 1999)   found 56.4% of women who received psychological therapies ( hypnotherapy, psychotherapy, relaxation) conceived. The study further recommends that psychological therapy should be an "essential aspect of IVF."

Gravitz (1995) found a 100% success rate in a limited study using hypnosis on 'functional' infertility

For more scientific research on the benefits of using hypnosis for fertility click here

Gruzelier (2002) found "evidence of immune control accompanied by reports of enhanced mood and well being." The study noted "hypnosis buffered the effects of stress", hypnotic subjects had "fewer winter viral infections" and "six weeks of [self-hypnosis] training almost halved recurrence [of viral infections] , improved mood and reduced levels of clinical depression and anxiety

Medline: the database of medical scientific articles
Hypnosis research: hypnotherapy and hypnosis resource

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Denise Marleyn DHP(NC) MRNHP HBCE   Tel: 01525 850334   E-mail: contact@myhypnobirthing.co.uk

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