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 (first baby) 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 hours after hypnosis
and 9.3 hours 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 hours and 6.2 hours
(P<0.01); and 24 and 22 min (ns). The use of analgesic agents was
significantly reduced (P<0.001) in both hypnotised 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.
British Journal of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology 1993 Mar; 100(3): 221-6
Jenkins, MW, Pritchard MH, Aberdare District Maternity Unit, Mid Glamorgan,
Wales.
