Clinical studies Supporting Hypnosis in Birth

Birth - Hypnosis: practical applications and theoretical considerations in normal labour.

Jenkins, MW, Pritchard MH, Aberdare District Maternity Unit, Mid Glamorgan, Wales. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1993 Mar; 100(3): 221-6

OBJECTIVE: To assess the designs of hypnotherapy on the first and second stages of labour in a large group of pregnant women.

DESIGN: A semi-prospective case control study in which women attending antenatal clinics were invited to undergo hypnotherapy.

SUBJECTS: One hundred twenty-six primigravid women with 300 age matched controls, and 136 parous women having their second baby with 300 age matched controls. Only women who had spontaneous deliveries were included.

INTERVENTION: Six sessions of hypnotherapy given by a trained medical hypnotherapist during pregnancy.

OUTCOME MEASURES: Analgesic requirements, duration of first and second stages of labour.

RESULTS: The mean lengths of the first stage of labour in the primigravid women was 6.4 h after hypnosis and 9.3 h in the control group (P<0.0001); the mean lengths of the second stage were 37 min and 50 min, respectively (P<0.001). In the parous women the corresponding values were 5.3 h and 6.2 h (P<0.01); and 24 and 22 min (ns). The use of analgesic agents was significantly reduced (P<0.001) in both hypnotized groups compared with their controls.

CONCLUSION: In addition to demonstrating the benefits of hypnotherapy, the study gives some insight into the relative proportions of mechanical and psychological components involved in the longer duration of labour in primigravid women.

Improved obstetric outcomes using hypnotic analgesia and skill mastery combined with childbirth education.

Harmon TM, Hynan MT, Tyre TE, The University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee J Consult Clin Psychol 1990 Oct; 58(5):525-30

The benefits of hypnotic anlagesia as an adjunct to childbirth education were studied in 60 nulliparous women. Subjects were divided into high and low hypnotic susceptibility groups before receiving 6 sessions of childbirth education and skill mastery using an ischemic pain task. Half of the subjects in each group received a hypnotic induction at the beginning of each session; the remaining control subjects received relaxation and breathing exercises typically used in childbirth education.

Both hypnotic subjects and highly susceptible subjects reported reduced pain. Hypnotically prepared births had shorter Stage one labours, less medication, higher Apgar scores and more frequent spontaneous deliveries than control subjects’ births. Highly susceptible, hypnotically treated women had lower depression scores after birth than women in the other three groups.

We propose that repeated skill mastery facilitated the effectiveness of hypnosis in our study.

The above is classified as both a Clinical trial and Randomized controlled trial.

Childbirth preparation through hypnosis: the hypnoreflexogenous protocol.

Schauble PG, Werner WE, Rai SH, Martin A. Counseling Center, University of Florida, Gainsville, Florida. American Journal of Clinical Hypnosis 1998 Apr; 40(4):273-83
A verbatim protocol for the “Hypnoreflexogenous” method of preparation for childbirth is presented wherein the patient is taught to enter a hypnotic state and then prepared for labour and delivery. The method provides a “conditioned reflex” effect conducive to a positive outcome for labour and delivery by enhancing the patient’s sense of readiness and control. Previous applications of the method demonstrate patients have fewer complications, higher frequency of normal and full-term deliveries, and more positive postpartum adjustment. The benefit and ultimate cost effectiveness of the method are discussed.

Suggestion Therapy - Clinical study on shortening the birth process using psychological suggestion therapy.

Hao TY, Li YH, Yao SF. Zhonghua Hu Li Za Zhi. 1997 Oct; 32(10):568-70. (General Military Hospital of Jinan, P.R. China.)

This randomized control trial investigated the effect of psychological suggestion therapy on the birth process. A specially designed, prospective study of psychological suggestion recruited 120 healthy, full-term primipara (first baby) with singleton pregnancies and cephalic presentation (head first). All cases were randomly divided into 2 groups, the birth processes and final modes of delivery were analyzed in 60 cases interfered with the psychological suggestion therapy and 60 cases with spontaneous birth processes as control group.

The results showed that a significant shorter time of the first and second stages of labour in the study group than in the control group (P<0.01). Based on this study, it is suggested that the conversation concerning the evaluation of individual birth process between the mother-to-be and nurse should be controlled carefully for the purpose of advancing the birth process (my italics SG), especially when answering the question raised by mother-to-be about the quantity of the cervical dilatation.