When applied in the medical setting, hypnosis has many benefits.  It can help calm a patient during times of stress.  When women take hypno birth classes, this is exactly what they are doing, learning to keep calm and relaxed and not think of any thoughts relating to fear, tension and pain that would hinder the delivery process.  Hypnosis for childbirth is a self induced hypnotic state.  With the help of her birthing companion (usually the father) who leads the relaxation techniques, he guides the mother to releasing her own natural endorphins which help with the pain management.  This form of self regulation is best for both mother and child as without the drug medications, it helps reduce labor time.  The shorter the labor time period, the less tired the mother is for the actual delivery process.  The mother is truly in control of her own body and the birthing process.

If you are interested in hypno birthing, you might have some questions regarding whether or not you can actually do it.  Since you are researching the process and making informed decisions on your birthing expectations, this makes you the ideal candidate.  Hypno birth mothers are very well informed and want to be active planners in their birth plan.  Hypno birth mothers are also very strong willed which also makes them easier hypnosis candidates ironically.  90-95% of the population can be hypnotized but it takes a strong minded woman to believe that pain is just a matter of mind over matter.  It is in western society that we have portrayed the birthing process as something to be feared and to expect pain.  However, in many other cultures, the birth process is seen as something natural and it is to be celebrated.  Taking this philosophy and unlearning what we have been taught about pain as it relates to birth, a hypno birthing mom can experience a beautiful pain free child birth.

Women who are students of hypno birthing know how to eliminate fear, tension, pain cycle from the birthing process with the power of their minds.  By going through a self induced hypnosis, it promotes calming thoughts and relaxation techniques.  With these techniques, the chances are greatly reduced the need for painkillers or the mother feels comfortable enough to do away with them altogether.  Hypno birthing can also greatly shorten the first group stage of labor by several hours.  Due to the calm nature of the labor process the mother has more energy for the actual childbirth.  Hypno birthing also reduces the risk of breach presentations and other special-needs cases.

Hypno birthing is not only a great experience for them on their but you can also be a great experience for the father as well.  In the past the father might not actually know his role in the labor process feeling that he might get in the way.  But with hypno birthing, the father becomes an active participant in the birth process which benefits the couple by strengthening the family bond.  The father’s role is seen as the birthing companion in which he guides the mother in her relaxation techniques in order to release the body’s natural endorphin painkillers.

The one other family member in which the hypno birth benefits is of course the baby itself.  By reducing the need for drugs or going drug free altogether, babies are more alert when they enter the world free from the anesthesia.  These babies tend to have high Apgar scores as they are alert and attentive to their surroundings.  This makes them immediately able to start the bonding process with mom and dad.  And undoubtedly, hyno babies seem to be much calmer, relaxed beings as that was how they were brought into the world.