Obstetrics

The use of hypnosis in obstetrics and hypnosis in surgery is not new. More than a century ago, mesmerism as it was called, or hypnosis was one of the principal techniques for pain relief. It was unfortunate that the discovery of chemical anesthesia in the middle of the last century, all but relegated hypnosis to undeserved oblivion.

In the field of obstetrics, the use of hypnosis provides many advantages, most significantly that of greater co-operation between doctor and patient.

Hypnosis can be introduced at any time of the pregnancy, but it seems that most physicians begin its usage in the final trimester.
The doctor would first inform his patient of the many advantages of using hypnosis both during and after delivery, and would then inform the patient about hypnosis itself along with answering any of the patients concerns.

The benefits and the advantages of hypnosis in obstetrics are:
1. Reduction or eradication of fear, tension, and pain before and during labor with a consequent rise in the pain threshold.

2. Reduction of chemoanalgesia and anesthesia or their complete elimination in good hypnotic subjects.

3. Complete control of painful uterine contractions; the mother can choose to experience the sensations of childbirth or not, as she sees fit.

4. Decreased shock and speedier recovery.

5. Lessened incidence of operative delivery since the responsive patient cooperates more fully, particularly during the expulsive stage. Relaxation and anesthesia of the perineum are produced by autohypnosis or by direct suggestion from the hypnotherapist; this eases delivery, episiotomy, and suturing of the perineum.

6. Lack of undesirable postoperative effect such as may be encountered with drug anesthesia; hypnoanesthesia is also more readily controlled.

7. Hypnosis shortens the first stage of labor by approximately 3 hours in primparae and by more than 2 hours in multiparae.

8. Hypnosis raises the resistance to fatigue, thus minimizing maternal exhaustion.

9. Hypnosis can be used with debilitated individuals, in those who have ingested food shortly before delivery, and in those who are allergic to drugs. Also, it is indicated for premature delivery.

10. Hypnotic rapport can be transferred to an associate, an intern or a nurse, or to the husband, any one of whom, without previous training, can readily induce and maintain the hypnotic state by means of a prearranged cue called an anchor (this can be accomplished only with the patient’s permission).

11. No elaborate education or ritualistic exercises are needed to achieve the strong interpersonal relationship essential to the success of childbirth under hypnosis. These are required in such pain-relieving techniques as natural childbirth and psychoprophylactic and progressive relaxation, which are merely modifications of the hypnotic method.

12. There is no possibility that harm will be done to the mother or the baby by hypnoanesthesia. On the other hand, the literature offers a considerable amount of evidence that when drugs are given for pain relief they may decrease the oxygen supply to the fetus. Combined with other asphyxial factors such as trauma or difficult delivery, this may produce fetal anoxia, and, in its wake, severe brain damage. With hypnoanesthesia, the danger of fetal anoxia is markedly decreased.

13. Childbirth under hypnoanesthesia is an intensely gratifying emotional experience for well-adjusted mothers. Hearing the baby’s first cry or seeing him immediately after birth are thrills that mothers can never feel if they are “knocked out”.

14. Hypnosis can be life-saving for mother and baby in obstetrical emergencies. Its successful application has been reported in abruptio placenta with delivery of a live baby.

15. Breast feeding can also be helped.


When a woman asks to have a baby delivered using hypnosis, there are three things that the hypnotherapist must ascertain: her reasons for choosing this form of anesthesia; possible contraindications, depending on her personality type; and her responsiveness to hypnotic suggestions.

All patients should be informed that analgesia and anesthesia will be available on request, should they need it. Moreover, they should be advised not to feel guilty about asking for it.

Ideally, hypnotic conditioning should begin during the third or the fourth month of pregnancy, if not sooner. The patient is hypnotized two or three times a month until maximal hypnosis is achieved. Exactly how many visits a patient will require before one can feel confident of satisfactory anesthesia is uncertain. It may vary from one to 20 or more sessions. Usually, if anesthesia is not obtained after 10 visits, the
outlook for success is poor, and personally, if success isn't had by the fifth attempt, I recommend the patient go to another hypnotist. Patients should be informed in advance that numerous sessions may be required to obviate discouragement.

During the conditioning period, the patient is taught auto, or self hypnosis and "glove anesthesia". At each session, post hypnotic suggestions emphasize that the patient need have no more discomfort than she is willing to bear. Repeated conditioning enables the patient to reach deeper states of hypnosis and raises her pain threshold. The more these post hypnotic suggestions are repeated, the more effective they become. The patient is told repeatedly that when labor begins, she will promptly fall into deep hypnosis in response to a given cue - usually a touch on the right shoulder. Glove anesthesia is best achieved through autohypnosis, and the area to be desensitized is chosen by the patient. This permissive approach directed toward teaching the patient to be self-reliant should stop the criticism that hypnosis fosters extreme dependency on an authoritarian figure.

Hypnosis is almost the treatment of choice for relief of the psychogenic component responsible for nausea and vomiting during early pregnancy.

Hypnosis and/or strong suggestion are particularly valuable in the prevention of habitual abortion. Hypnosis can frequently diminish the strength and the frequency of the uterine contractions, and miscarriage can be prevented in properly selected patients if placental separation has not occurred. Experience indicates that placebos are as effective as vitamins and hormones in reducing the abortion rate; contradictory theories, state that varied responses to endocrine therapy, and the frequent relapses with other types of therapy, all incriminate the psyche to some extent. Hypnosis can also be employed effectively in heartburn, to promote lactation, and to curb the "eating for two" syndrome often responsible for rapid weight gain and subsequent preeclampsia and toxemia.

As a final note, hypnotic induction can be affected easily by psychological factors: well-prepared hypnotic subjects often "go to pieces" when exposed to other screaming women in various stages of labor; good subjects are often "talked out of it" by apparently well-meaning friends and neighbors.

I remember taking the pre-delivery classes with my ex-wife at Toronto's Woman's college Hospital. Here is a hospital specifically directed towards the needs of the female gender. When the class was taken on a tour of the obstetrics ward, the woman in the class all became terrified. There were screams and howls coming from everywhere. I suggested we make a recording for Halloween. (P.S. Never make a suggestion like this in such a situation.) Nevertheless, a worse hypnotic experience for the woman in the class could not have been more suitably constructed.

For more hypnotic help in these areas visit our Health and Healing product pages, or email to dr_frank@hypnoticadvancements.com

Mailing address:
Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)
Hypnotic Advancements
3126 McCarthy Court
Mississauga , ON
Canada L4Y-3Z5

© 2004, Dr. Frank Valente Ph.D.(c)

If your experience with hypnosis is limited or you simply want to accelerate the effectiveness of your hypnosis sessions, and improve your life beyond perceptible measures, just click the link below for your free hypnotic demonstration with this new state of the art hypnosis program.

Back to "Applications of Hypnosis"