Many pregnant women in Germany now attend a birth preparation course before giving birth. And that's a good thing! Some attend alone, others together with someone close to them who will accompany them to the birth. In most cases, this is the father-to-be. In the course, they receive a lot of information about the birth process and also learn various practical and mental techniques that can be used to cope with and usually reduce the pain of labour. The various courses on offer today include not only breathing exercises, but also relaxation training and mind control. In this article, I explain how it works and how pregnant women can utilise these skills during birth.
Have you ever heard or read about "HypnoBirthing"? I'm being asked about it more and more often by pregnant women. Especially whether it's "good" to prepare for the birth. Whether every pregnant woman can do it. Whether it really "takes away" the pain of labour. And whether you can still feel anything at all from the birth or whether it is completely "gone".
The internet is full of enthusiastic testimonials from mums who have given birth with HypnoBirthing. Celebrity mums, such as Prince William's wife Kate and top model Gisele Bündchen, are also said to have used it to prepare for the birth of their children. So what's the story behind this trend?
What is HypnoBirthing?
In a nutshell, the HypnoBirthing programme is about a pregnant woman learning certain Breathing and Relaxation techniques practises. If she uses these later during labour, she should use them to put herself in a deep state of relaxation can put you in a different place. HypnoBirthing is therefore a kind of self-suggestion against anxiety and tension.
The foundation for this was laid by the British gynaecologist Grantly Dick-Read (1890 - 1959). He assumed that anxiety during labour creates tension - and that tension leads to (more) labour pain. And this is true, as experienced midwives can confirm. To break this vicious circle, the woman should actively participate in the birth instead of just letting the process pass her by. She should also be well informed about the labour process. Accordingly, Dick-Read developed a birth preparation method based on information and relaxation exercises.
The US-American educator Marie F. Mongan (1933 - 2019) continued this thread. She is considered the inventor of HypnoBirthing. Using certain relaxation and breathing techniques as well as visualisation skills to create positive inner images, women are encouraged to give birth naturally without fear and with joy. The corresponding classic book "HypnoBirthing. The natural way to a safe, gentle and easy birth" is still available in stores today.
The term is made up of "hypnosis" and "birthing", which translates as "giving birth under hypnosis". But before any misconceptions arise, I would like to emphasise right away: this has nothing to do with show hypnosis for effect, as we know it from some live performances or stage appearances. Here, someone is put into such a deep trance by another person that they seem to be without willpower. But of course that is not what HypnoBirthing is about. Rather, the woman giving birth is simply supposed to use the techniques learnt to itself into a state of deep relaxation.
HypnoBirthing promises, among other things, shorter labour times, easier births, more frequent spontaneous births, fewer interventions, better birth experiences and much more. It is certainly understandable that these promises raise the hopes of pregnant women that they will experience a pain-free and beautiful normal birth. But does the method deliver what it promises?
How does HypnoBirthing work?
HypnoBirthing uses the power of personal suggestion to influence the woman's own subconscious so that she believes in herself and her powers during labour without having to think about it for long. This is because the previous practice should automatise this. In this way, the pregnant woman should gain a positive view of her body and develop confidence in herself that she will manage the birth well. During the birth, the expectant mother should then be able to recall and apply the visualisation, breathing and relaxation techniques learned in the preparation course. As a result, HypnoBirthing promises better management of labour pains and less pain.
In HypnoBirthing, for example, the word "labour" is also avoided or replaced by "waves" because the term "labour" already contains the pain ("hurting"). Instead, it is assumed that in the image of waves, women can learn to symbolically ride the wave - in other words, to actively participate in what is happening and not let the (pain) wave roll over them.
Although pregnant women can also take part in birth preparation using the HypnoBirthing method on their own, the concept recommends that they bring their own personal birth companion with them. This is not only because partner exercises are also planned, but above all because this person should take on the task of being the "manager" of the labouring mother and her child during the birth. The attendant is supposed to protect the birth atmosphere, be an advocate for the mother and child and mentally guide the mother in order to support her autosuggestion. In this concept, the mother is therefore dependent on the mental and meditative guidance of her companion during labour. This is risky insofar as the accompanying person is not necessarily present in every labour situation (for example during induction of labour or a caesarean section). With this method, the accompanying person is assigned a role that is similar to a coaching task. However, good coaching does not work if you yourself are emotionally involved. However, expectant fathers should be emotionally involved to a high degree. After all, they are also changing their role: they are becoming a dad!
Scientific studies on the HypnoBirthing method and its effects are still (very) scarce. There are only a few older studies that prove a positive effect of this type of "self-hypnosis". However, these studies tend to be small and their quality and validity are often questionable. For example, one Survey from 2006 came to the conclusion that 46 % of their test subjects with HypnoBirthing had a spontaneous labour without an epidural, but only 32 % from the control group. However, the 46 % were 23 out of 50 women giving birth - and the 32 % were in turn 455 out of 1,436 women. The two comparison groups were therefore, to put it mildly, "very different".
My experience as a midwife and course instructor
As an experienced midwife and head of Birth preparation courses I know that good mental preparation for the birth can have a positive influence on the process and also reduce anxiety. Anxiety has been proven to lead to tension - and tension always makes labour more difficult. However, if anxiety is reduced and a pregnant woman is able to actively organise the birth, this actually has a positive effect on the birth.
That is why the following four aspects, which have a positive influence on every birth, are a natural part of my work Birth preparation courses:
The knowledge, what happens to your own body and that of your baby during birth. Pregnant women and their subsequent personal birth companions must therefore be well informed in advance.
Training various techniques for better pain management and relaxation during labour. The techniques help the woman in labour to cope better with the stress of childbirth.
Learn to breathe correctly. This is particularly important during the labour pains or waves. Breathing techniques help the woman giving birth to cope better with labour pains.
Mental strength promote. It means that both the woman and her labour companion are strengthened in trusting the body of the woman giving birth.
Every good birth preparation is based on these four pillars. During the birth, it often becomes clear what a positive effect the right preparation and attitude can have. If both parents feel well prepared and up to the situation, this will carry them through the strenuous hours of labour. This is why "conventional" birth preparation courses do not pursue any other goals than HypnoBirthing: they all aim to provide the pregnant woman with certain techniques to help her cope with the birth in the best possible way.
However, it is still important that you do not want to realise your previously developed expectations of the birth "by hook or by crook". A birth plan should not be a rigid expectation. After all, a birth can be good even if it goes differently than you had previously imagined. More on this below. And the sensation of pain is always different for each individual, because every woman is unique.
Scepticism about certain expectations remains appropriate
Many of the enthusiastic birth reports with HypnoBirthing come from out-of-hospital births. However, most women who have successfully given birth out of hospital report enthusiastically about their birth - regardless of whether they used HypnoBirthing or not. These women gave birth to their babies without the use of painkillers or medical interventions.
However, around 98% of all births in Germany take place in a clinic. If you have prepared for your birth with HypnoBirthing, you should therefore inform your chosen birthing centre in advance or agree this with them. Everyday hospital practice in the delivery room shows that births that pregnant women have prepared for with HypnoBirthing are not automatically harmonious or problem-free. The expectation that a birth with the HypnoBirthing method will be pain-free and natural is certainly too high. This is because there are also situations in the birth process that the pregnant woman cannot influence. And these can have the consequence that a birth can even take place in (emergency) labour.Caesarean section ends. How can that be?
The German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics e. V. writes on her website about HypnoBirthing: "The method captures the spirit of the times. In a world that often focuses on performance, control and self-optimisation, many pregnant women also want to do everything right. For many today, birth is stylised as an event where everything has to be just right." And this may be precisely where the problem lies, namely if a pregnant woman has very precise ideas about the upcoming birth and now wants to "go through with her programme". Then it can happen that it is precisely this idea of optimisation that triggers or increases the cascade of tension and pain.
However, a birth is and remains an event that can also take unforeseen courses, for example if the cervix does not open any further. In this case, a flexible and individualised response is required. The whole birth process can suddenly turn out very differently than the pregnant woman had "so beautifully" imagined. Therefore, good communication with the obstetric team is and remains important - and above all, the trust of the labouring mother and her personal birth companion in the work of the midwives and doctors on site. The well-being of mother and child is always the top priority for everyone.
In my view, it is also sceptical that HypnoBirthing conveys a somewhat over-romanticised image of births. Regardless of how harmonious and planned a birth is, it is and remains no walk in the park. And I would also be cautious about assuming that this type of self-hypnosis will allow you to experience a more relaxed labour in all phases with little or no pain. The same applies to the possible hope that HypnoBirthing would guarantee that pain-relieving or labour-promoting drugs could be completely dispensed with. This may well be the case - but it doesn't necessarily have to be the case. Because as I said, even with the best birth preparation, how a labouring woman experiences and copes with pain varies from person to person. The course of the birth always depends on the baby and its ability to squirm through the birth canal. Therefore, if a woman goes into labour with HypnoBirthing and has raised her expectations of herself too high, she may be disappointed with herself and her "performance" afterwards or even consider herself a "failure". There is at least this risk.
All I can say is: A woman giving birth cannot fail! No matter how she deals with the pain of childbirth, whether she needs a lot or a little support she always does great things!
My midwife's assessment of the HypnoBirthing method
If a pregnant woman has prepared herself carefully for the birth, has a whole "toolbox" of helpful techniques at her disposal, is positively motivated and can also direct her thoughts positively, all of this undoubtedly has excellent effects on the birth. This is precisely why I have incorporated these pillars into my birth preparation course. They support the normal birth, but also improve the experience of a caesarean section or other necessary medical interventions in the birth process. It is important that the pregnant woman has practised controlling her thoughts and breathing and communicating her wishes and needs. This can be achieved with good birth preparation. Ideally, women should not go through the preparation and birth process alone, but together with their personal counsellor. Birth support as Team partner for the birth.
As far as the HypnoBirthing method is concerned, many women expect to experience a normal and pain-free birth. However, I have only very rarely experienced these two expectations being met. Especially with those methods that compelling If you rely on the involvement of a personal birth attendant, there is a risk for labouring mothers that they will fall into a complete tailspin if this person is unexpectedly unable to help.
It is wonderful when women giving birth can rely on the support of their labour companion. However, women should be able to use pain relief and relaxation techniques independently of their team partners so that they do not fall into a dependency trap during labour.
Ultimately, every pregnant woman has to decide for herself how to prepare for the birth. Of course, this also depends on what expectations she has and, above all, what feels right for her. For example, a woman will not be doing herself any favours if she actually follows the "classic" Birth preparation course She wants to visit her midwife, but goes to a HypnoBirthing course anyway just because two friends have already done it.
I would like to emphasise once again: The aim of each The first form of birth preparation is to give the mother confidence in her abilities and strength. It remains important that you prepare yourself thoroughly for your birth so that you are well informed and have the right "tools" to have your baby. With me you can hereprepare for your birth. However, you should know the following for your participation:
- I'm not going to make you believe that you won't feel any or only minor labour pains. Because nobody can predict that. But that's a promise: I will show you very good techniques on how you can best cope with any kind of pain.
- I will be able to take away your fear of the birth, but not your respect for it. Because this great event, the birth of your baby, deserves to be treated with respect. Without this attitude, you would be ill-prepared for the birth. And this also applies to the illusion that everything will go by smoothly.
It is possible that the birth of your child will actually go like a picture book and that everyone involved will feel the same way. But it is also possible that this will not be the case and that unexpected things will happen that you and your midwife will have to react to. I have even experienced a labour that I, as a midwife, considered to be completely problem-free, even ideal, but which I myself did not find so pleasant. And I have also experienced the opposite, namely that a woman who, in my opinion, had a really difficult labour, was completely happy afterwards and said that everything had gone really well. That, dear pregnant women, and much more is the reality!
Good preparation for the birth prepares you for all eventualities. Knowledge about the body and the birth process as well as mastering methods of breath control, movement and mental control of thoughts and motivation are indispensable components.
