An assessment of the value of a training in auto-hypnosis to the pregnant woman

Abstract

The disadvantages and advantages of hypnosis used in childbirth may be summarised as follows:DISADVANTAGES: 1. Time and effort must be expended by doctor and patient. 2. Not all patients are susceptible (at least 90% are to some extent, and 25% are really good). 3. Not all doctors are suitable or willing to use this technique, and extravagant and unfounded claims by some of its ardent proponents increases the opposition. 4. Some lay people feel there is a stigma to hypnosis. Sensationalism in its application in the field of entertainment accounts for much of this. 5. It is unsuitable for use in psychotic patients. 6. The disadvantage of dependency of the patient on the obstetrician. - hypnotist is abolished by the use of auto- hypnosis and suggestions of independence. 7. It cannot supplant chemo -anaesthesia, but can help to reduce its need.ADVANTAGES: 1. It is not a complicated procedure. 2. No apparatus or expense is involved. 3. In pregnancy positive suggestions can be used for symptom removal or amelioratkon of nausea, vomiting, heartburn, insomnia, constipation: Also reassurance and removal of the fear and apprehension of labour: and suggestions to improve puerperal lactation can be used. )i. In labour patients are calm, quiet and relaxed. 5. There is no increase in operative delivery reported. 6. Hypnosis analgesia is easily controlled, unlike chemical analgesia. 7. The need for chemical analgesia or anaesthesia is abolished or diminished, with diminished risk therefore, of maternal or foetal anoxia. 8. There is no respiratory or circulatory depression of mother or child with hypnosis and therefore less risk of anoxia, asphyxia or cerebral damage. 9. Hypno-analgesia can be used in patients unfit for chemical analgesia. 10. There is an increased resistance to fatigue, and therefore to obstetric shock, and the pain threshold can be raised by conditioning the patient against fear and surprise. 11. Complete relaxation of the perineum can be obtained on command, and therefore there is less tendency for the perineum to tear. 12. The patient can experience the sensations of childbirth with little or no pain; the mother -child relationship is therefore retained, and in fact enhanced, as the mother with pleasant memories of childbirth has no cause, consciously or unconsciously to blame the baby for her suffering. 13. The duration of labour may be shortened. 14. The majority of patients look back on their labour as a pleasant and happy experience, to be enjoyed again in the future.