This is a method to help mother’s give birth in a natural way and helps prevent unnecessary medical intervention.  Using a range of techniques including breathing and relaxation the mother, along with the help from her birthing partner are able to give birth more easily - in a calm and relaxed manner.

The techniques taught are based around self-hypnosis to eliminate the fear and tension that cause long labour and pain, replacing them with confidence, calm and comfort.  This greatly reduces the need for chemical painkillers.

Hypnobirthing was developed by Michelle Leclaire O’Neill, a pioneer in the study of the combination of the mind and body and their effects on childbirth and related areas. A number of other practitioners have taken this system of study and added their own flavour.  You will now find a number of similarly named disciplines which come under the Hypnobirthing umbrella:

• Childbirth Hypnotherapy
• Hypnosis for Birth
• Hypnobabies
• Hypnobirthing – The Mongan Method
• Hypnobirthing Original Method – (Leclaire Method)
• Lamaze Childbirth

One of the UK’s leading Hypnobirthing practitioners, Katharine Graves explains: ‘I take great pleasure in helping parents enjoy the arrival of their children.  Child birthing in this country has become over medicalized and women are losing their natural ability to do what their bodies have been designed to do.  Our doctors do a wonderful job but all too often do what they are trained to do.  With hypnobirthing we teach simple techniques for the Mother which often allows her a birth without medical intervention.  The proof is in the pudding with 70% of Hypnobirthing births now unmedicated’.

‘Fortunately there appears to be a swing in the other direction, with many couples now wishing to be more in control of their own child’s birth and the offer of a potentially calm and relaxed experience is something very few people can refuse.  In hand with this we are seeing an increase in homebirths which is being encouraged and supported by the authorities in many areas’

Women’s hypnobirthing stories are a delight to read, one mother sums up how many feel:

Many midwives who have not experienced a mother who practises hypnobirthing before are often surprised by the outcome with response including 'I couldn't believe how calm she was', and 'I've never seen such an alert and chilled out baby.'

Please visit The Hypnobirthing Centre for more information about Hypnobirthing and parents birth stories.