What is hypnobirthing?

Breathing exercises have long been part of antenatal classes. Hypnobirthing takes this and adds relaxation, visualisation and mindfulness techniques to help you concentrate on your body and the birth of your baby. 

Hypnobirthing can be used with all other types of pain relief and be added to your birth plan.

What are the methods and techniques used in hypnobirthing?

Controlled breathing

Breathing deeply, in through your nose and out through your mouth, can help you stay calm and reduce discomfort in labour.

Watch ‘How can I use breathing exercises during labour?’ from NHS Choices

Visualisation

Visualisation is where you imagine the birth of your baby and what you want to happen. It can be something really specific or more general, like a feeling you want to have. For example, you could picture what it will feel like to hold your baby skin to skin after they’ve been born. It’s like a rehearsal in your mind to help you feel more prepared and positive.

‘I just kept breathing and focused on anything I could find, which ended up being a clean flannel!’ Louise. Read more about her experience…

Deep relaxation / meditation

Meditation may help you concentrate on your body and baby during labour, while ignoring any extra noise or things going on around you.

‘My husband made me a relaxation album to use throughout labour and pregnancy. It really helped me to find calm serenity in the clinical hospital environment.’ Georgina. Read more about her experience…

Does hypnobirthing work?

For now, there is limited research into hypnobirthing. A randomised study of 680 women funded by the NHS in 2013 didn’t conclusively show that it was effective. This means it will work for some women and not others. Here are some of the reasons that you might choose to try hypnobirthing:

• Hypnobirthing can help you manage stress hormones, such as adrenalin, and reduce anxiety, which should lead to a calmer birth. During labour, your body produces a chemical called oxytocin, which helps progress your labour. Stress hormones affect the production of oxytocin, and make your labour longer.
• Managing stress may also help to reduce some of the fear and pain experienced during labour.
• In some cases, hypnobirthing has been shown to make labour shorter.
• Practising hypnobirthing – whether it’s at a class, with a book or CD – may help you to feel more prepared and in control when labour starts.
• It may help you cope with anxieties if you had a previous traumatic birth experience.
• Hypnobirthing may reduce the need for drugs and medical intervention. However, you can have additional pain relief as well if you want to.
• It can be added to any birth plan and the techniques can be used wherever you give birth – in a hospital or birth centre, or at home.
• Hypnobirthing may benefit you after birth too, with some evidence showing that it can lower the chance of postnatal depression.
• Hypnobirthing can help your birth partner play a more active role during labour.

‘I found helping my partner give birth using hypnobirthing very rewarding. Learning the techniques together meant I was able to talk her through the wave of each contraction, reminding her to stay focused and relaxed and that she was in control of the experience. It made so much difference being able to do something positive during her labour and to see her managing the pain herself.’Nigel. Read more about his experience...

Are there disadvantages to hypnobirthing?

Practising hypnobirthing does not mean unexpected things won’t happen. A birth free from medical interventions or complications can never be guaranteed. However, learning to relax and stay calm may help you feel more in control during labour if things don’t go to plan.

‘We read a book and listened to audio meditation tapes but they didn’t work as we really didn’t commit any time to it.’Daisy

Most hypnobirthing classes and courses are run privately, so it is likely that you will need to pay.

Hypnobirthing classes

Classes are usually taught in small groups but there are some teachers who offer one-to-one lessons too.

Have a look for a local accredited hypnobirthing teacher, or check with your midwife/local maternity services to see who offers classes in your area.

‘We did a short course delivered at the hospital… We mainly did it because I was worried I would freak out and lose control, and to ensure me and my husband had full roles to play in the birth.’Amy

Taking someone with you

You don’t have to bring your (birth) partner with you to class, but it is recommended. Hypnobirthing has been developed with your birth partner in mind too, to give them a more active role during your labour.

What will I learn in a hypnobirthing class?

As well as relaxation, breathing and visualisation techniques, hypnobirthing aims to teach you what happens to your body during labour.

‘In my experience as a midwife of being with women, they feel more able to cope if they've had an opportunity to prepare for birth.’Anna, Tommy’s midwife

One of the goals is to give you (and your birth partner) the time and space to build your confidence and prepare for labour. This confidence can also help you make decisions about what you want, like where and how you want to give birth.