| Self-hypnosis can be defined as a self-induced | | | | Today, more than 50 years after those studies |
| trance state. Hypnosis induced by yourself, | | | | were conducted, in the era of powerful study |
| focusing your mind in a positive way, affirmations, | | | | designs like the randomized clinical trial, hypnosis |
| and relaxation. This concept is closely related to | | | | has been recognized as a proven method to |
| autosuggestion, which is used for physical | | | | avoid pharmacological or invasive interventions for |
| symptoms explained, at least in part, by the | | | | pain management. |
| thoughts and beliefs of a person. | | | | In a systematic review conducted by the |
| These techniques have been used in reducing pain | | | | Cochrane Collaboration (Cochrane Database Syst |
| in labor for a century and nowadays are being | | | | Rev 2006; 4: CD003521), the joint results of five |
| applied more extensively than ever. This is a | | | | clinical trials comparing self-hypnosis with the |
| consequence of the increasing number of scientific | | | | treatment of reference showed that women |
| research demonstrating the benefits of the use | | | | taught self-hypnosis had decreased requirements |
| of hypnotherapy in the clinical setting. The aim of | | | | for pharmacological analgesia by 47%, including |
| this paper is to review existing and published | | | | epidural analgesia by 70%. These women were |
| evidence on the effectiveness of hypnosis for | | | | significantly more satisfied with their pain |
| childbirth. | | | | management during labor compared with controls. |
| Hypnosis has been used in obstetrics for many | | | | Hypnobirthing |
| years. In 1922, Shultze-Rhonhof reported an | | | | Hypnobirthing, or birth without fears, is a |
| 89.5% success rate in a series of 79 cases. He | | | | hypnotherapy program specifically designed for |
| came to the conclusion that hypnosis was a useful | | | | birth, using the principles and techniques of |
| and harmless anesthetic agent. But not everyone | | | | hypnosis and self-relaxation. It teaches simple but |
| thought that hypnosis was a completely safe | | | | specific self-hypnosis, relaxation and breathing |
| technique for the mother and the child. | | | | techniques for a better birth. Their advocates tell |
| Regarding the safety of the technique, in 1949, a | | | | us that hypnobirthing is much more than simple |
| leading article in the British Medical Journal states | | | | hypnosis. It is based on the notion of learning how |
| that there is no evidence that in capable and | | | | to put yourself back in control of your birth, |
| conscientious hands hypnotism, repeated as many | | | | rather than blindly turning your birthing experience |
| times as is desired, carries with it any physical or | | | | over to your doctor or midwife. |
| psychological danger to the patient. | | | | Results from scientific studies show without any |
| Later in 1952, an investigation carried out by A.M. | | | | doubt that hypnosis is an effective technique. The |
| Michael and published under the title of Hypnosis | | | | use of antenatal training in self-hypnosis as a tool |
| and Childbirth, the author concludes that there is | | | | to provide analgesia, relaxation and anxiety relief |
| evidence to show that the duration of labor is | | | | in labor is not uncommon. |
| shortened. He also concludes that the nursing | | | | Hypnosis is a simple, inexpensive way to improve |
| staff can be easily trained to deal with the | | | | the childbirth experience, reduce complications |
| hypnotic patient, and that the method is both | | | | associated with pharmacological interventions, |
| practicable and safe for the mother and infant. | | | | along with costs in maternity care. |