Objective:
To assess the effects of
prenatal hypnotherapy classes on the length of labour, use of pain
medication, intervention rates, maternal pain perception and maternal
satisfaction.
Design:
Retrospective survey completed
by the woman and her partner.
Subjects:
45 Self-referred clients,
nulliparous (first baby) and low risk.
Setting:
Toronto, Canada
Intervention:
Three sessions of 2.5 to 3
hours in length in a group setting in mid-pregnancy, plus one session of 2.5
hours in length in late pregnancy. The sessions were provided by a Certified
Hypnotherapist. The woman's partner was trained to provide additional
hypnosis support during the birth as needed (the hypnotherapist did not
attend the births).
Outcome Measures:
Anesthetic and analgesic
requirements, duration of the early, active and second stages, planned place
of birth and actual place of birth, interventions required, pain scale of
0-10 as reported by the mother post-delivery, breastfeeding rates and
reported maternal satisfaction.
Results:
Length of labour:
The average length of active
labour for nulliparous women is 12 hours. Participants in the Hypnosis
for Childbirth series averaged 4.5 hours of active labour.
The average length of pushing for nulliparous women is about 2 hours.
Participants in the Hypnosis for Childbirth series averaged just over
1 hour. Hypnosis is associated with faster births (statistically
significant) throughout the research for both the first and second stages of
labour.
Medication rates:
The epidural rate in Toronto
and Mississauga ranges from 40 to 95% for nulliparous women. This survey
notes an 18% epidural rate for Hypnosis for Childbirth
participants (11% for caesarians and forceps, 7% for maternal request). This
survey's reduction in medication use is supported by statistically
significant reductions in other research for women using hypnosis
preparation for birth.
Caesarian rates:
The caesarian section rate in
Toronto
ranges from 20 to 25%, depending on the institutional setting (as in the
US). This survey notes
a caesarian section rate of 6.7% for Hypnosis for Childbirth
participants. Other research also notes the reduction of birth interventions
with the prenatal use of hypnosis.
The total number of
participants who received an intervention was 8 for a rate of 18%. (Some
women received more than one intervention.)
Breastfeeding without formula
supplementation : 42
(93%)
Women who would use this
method again : 43 (96%)
As a result of the Hypnosis
for Childbirth series a very high percentage of women reported an
increased sense of self-confidence prior to the onset of labour. In
addition, 96% were pleased at the use of hypnosis, would use hypnosis in a
subsequent birth and recommend its use to other women planning natural
childbirth.
