How Hypnotherapy can help Hypnotherapy helps labour Hypnotherapy is becoming increasingly popular to help women feel more in control of their labour and as a natural form of pain relief. Research supports the beneficial effects of hypnotherapy. In a sample of 800 women, they found a reduction in labour of 3 hours for first time mothers (from 9.3 hours to 6.4 hours) and 1 hour for women who had given birth before (from 6.2 hours to 5.3 hours). Pushing was also statistically shorter for first time mothers (from 50 min to 37 min).*A similar study found a shorter first stage of labour for 100 women trained with hypnosis (by 3.23 hours) compared to a control group of 88 women.** Mothers using hypnotherapy also reported more satisfaction with labour and other benefits of hypnosis such as reduced anxiety and help with getting to sleep. Hypnotherapy is also useful in reducing pain and therefore the need for pain relief. In a recent British study, 55% of mothers required no medication for pain relief compared to 22% of women in the non-hypnosis group. * Jenkins and Pritchard (2003) ** Abramson and Heron (2004) For further information on how hypnotherapy can help you experience more control and less pain in labour please feel free to phone Tig for an informal chat on 07731 420107 < Back