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Pregnancy and childbirth (2) - articles, research, books & other info...

‘Hypnotherapy is increasingly recognised as a safe and effective way of blocking out pain during operations and helping women in childbirth’ - Daily Telegraph
An interesting web article on the use of hypnosis in helping to ease or stop pain and discomfort during operations and childbirth.
Daily Telegraph  (www.health.telegraph) 30/08/05 See article.

Pain-free labour under hypnosis - BBC
A web article on hypnosis in childbirth. The article is generally very good, although it has some misconceived comments about hypnosis. The purpose of hypnosis in childbirth is to reduce the need for pain control, not necessarily eliminate it (although many women will eliminate it). In fact the main aim is to put the mum in the best position of control and choice that she can have. As ever, the mum’s comments are the best indicator: “You don’t look like a zombie, you are completely aware of everything that is going on around you. You are in a relaxed state and might not know how much time is passing.” (in the same way as any enjoyable activity might involve time going quickly!).
BBC News  (www.bbc.co.uk/news) 17/08/02 See article.

<<back to main page on pregnancy info<<

<<back to main page on pregnancy info<<

‘I taught myself pain management’ -BBC
A web article about a lady who used hypnosis techniques to help her give birth after two previous difficult births.
BBC News (www.bbc.co.uk/news) 30/05/05 See full article.

‘Childbirth Without Fear: The Teachings of Grantly Dick-Read’ (by Shel Franco)
Dr Grantly Dick-Read (1890-1959) was a British obstetrician and  founder of the National Childbirth Trust (NCT). This article gives a good appraisal of his teachings. Dr Dick-Read published what has become a classic book:Childbirth Without Fear. At the time he was ridiculed by many colleagues (most women were given chloroform in childbirth), but his ideas gradually gained wide acceptance. The concepts of using hypnosis for childbirth relate directly to his hypothesis that fear-tension-pain is a cycle that many women experience (unnecessarily) in childbirth. His realisation started by observing a mother who experienced a pain-free and drug-free birth.
www.pregnancytoday.com (18/11/05) See full article.
See details of Dr Dick-Read’s classic book (on Amazon). The new version is the unabridged (and best!) version and every expectant mother should read it!...