Introducing Bristol HypnoBirthing® to Midwives and Birthing Professionals

As Midwives we are deemed experts in normal birth, and the Nursing & Midwifery Council’s (NMC) standards require us to be “competent to support women to give birth normally in a variety of settings including in the home”. The recent circular sent by the NMC to every midwife reinforces the view that Midwives play a vital role in advocacy for women and their choice to have their baby at home. Wherever possible midwives should be providing this choice for women as it is their right to deny delivery in the hospital setting. As you know, physiologically there is no difference to having a baby at home as to having a baby in the hospital. There are occasions where it would be appropriate to advise women to have their baby’s in the hospital setting where high risk is evident, however this should be deemed a deviance from the norm.

As a midwife, I feel it is unethical for me not to inform my clients of the benefits of HypnoBirthing®.

I strongly support HypnoBirthing®, having attended a workshop and supporting several women who have employed HypnoBirthing® and shown immense coping strategies and strength.

HypnoBirthing® is not only invaluable in increasing the likelihood of having a natural birth, but also supporting women through antenatal discomfort and when births do not go according to plan.

HypnoBirthing® is also beneficial for birth partners, in particular fathers, as it provides them with a practical role during the labour and birth and enables them to remain calm, informed and in tune with the birth process.

Natalie, independent midwife

Changing Childbirth
The publication of the “Changing Childbirth” report in 1993 by the Department of Health, made explicit the right of women to be involved in decisions regarding all aspects of their antenatal care. One of the priorities of antenatal care is to enable women to be able to make informed decisions about their care, such as where they will be seen and who will undertake their care. The National Institute of Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines on antenatal care (2003) reinforces this point identifying the right for women to make informed choices about their pregnancy and childbirth, including whether they should have their birth in the home or hospital.

Antenatal Classes
The NICE guidelines point out that there are many different ways of providing antenatal classes and antenatal education. There is variation in the underlying aims of antenatal education, in the number of classes offered, whether classes are offered individually or in groups, when during the course of pregnancy the classes are offered and the content of the classes. These factors may impact on the effectiveness of antenatal education programmes.

Antenatal classes are often used to give information regarding a woman’s pregnancy, childbirth and parenting to expectant parents. However, antenatal education can encompass a broader concept of educational and supportive measures that help parents and prospective parents to understand and explore their own social, emotional, psychological and physical needs during pregnancy, labour and parenthood and enable them to be confident in their abilities to give birth and to parent successfully. In a study of three groups of childbirth teachers working in different organisations in the UK who were asked to identify the aims of antenatal education, the need to

build women’s confidence in their ability to give birth and care for their babies was reported as the most important aim.

I would have to say that HypnoBirthing® is the most amazing phenomenon to observe in action. Women seem to sail through the birthing of their babies, working as a team with their birth partner who is the essential anchor for her.

There is nothing for the midwife to do except sit quietly and watch and wait. The entire experience seems to bring the couple closer together as they share in the achievement and benefit from the enhanced trust in one another that they have developed.

I also think from an educational point of view couples seem to really take on board the physiological process and how a positive environment is essential to a normal outcome.

And finally, I think the real success story for HypnoBirthing® is its benefit to men. Men have the hardest job really, being supportive to their partners but not really having a defined role.

Men's role as HypnoBirthing® partners is clearly key to the whole success story and being actively involved in the birth of their children allows men to bond easily and immediately with them.

Jacqui , independent midwife UK

Increasing Confidence
HypnoBirthing® incorporates all of these things. The aim of HypnoBirthing® is to give women the tools to build their confidence in their own abilities to give birth by releasing any fears or negative exposure they have already had through childbirth. It also offers women another choice from the usual pharmaceutical offerings of pain relief during childbirth (though not eliminating this completely if the woman so chooses) by introducing self-hypnosis as a tool for remaining relaxed, working with the physiological mechanics of childbirth to achieve a positive outcome during childbirth. There has been much research around hypnosis and childbirth (see our research page). The main emphasis is to give women that much needed control during labour and delivery

Antenatal and Postnatal Mental Health
The more recent publication of the NICE guidelines for Antenatal and postnatal mental health (2007) acknowledges the need to d evelop a trusting relationship with the woman and, where appropriate and acceptable to her, her partner, family members and carers. The guidelines state that we need to explore the woman’s ideas, concerns and expectations and regularly check her understanding of the issues. As birthing professionals we should also discuss the level of involvement of her partner, family members and carers and their supportive role.

The HypnoBirthing® classes work to improve mental well-being of both mother and partner, and or carers where appropriate, thus helping to reinforce a healthy dynamic within the family bringing them together in classes to look forward to what is to be one of the most empowering, and momentous occasions their lives.

Our Passion
It is our passion at Bristol HypnoBirthing® to give women this added support during their pregnancy and childbirth by empowering them to make their own informed decisions about their care. By providing them with tools to allow them to focus on what they want, rather than what they don’t want, we can begin to meet the objectives of the National Childcare Trust (NCT), NMC, and the NICE Guidelines to ensuring a safe and high standard care for women during pregnancy, childbirth and beyond.

Contact us
If you want an informal discussion about the HypnoBirthing® process, or wish us to come and talk to your women during or after an antenatal class (we don’t charge for this) to give them this as an added choice, then feel free to contact us using our contact form, or by email to enquiries@nextstepnlp.co.uk, or you can call us on 0117 9028183. You can also visit our blog .

We look forward to working closely with you in the future to help give women the chance of a natural, comfortable childbirth.