Stop Smoking Hypnosis for pregnant Women
Self-hypnosis during Childbirth – UCLan leads largest randomised controlled UK trial
Self-hypnosis During Childbirth Report
A recent report was released by UCLan lecturer, Soo Downes, which reveals findings from a three year study showing the effectiveness of self-hypnosis for women during childbirth.
A three-year NIHR (National Institute for Health Research) funded study into the effectiveness of self-hypnosis during childbirth has found that, while the therapy only made a minor difference to the number of women requesting pain relief during labour, it did have a significant impact on the women’s levels of postnatal anxiety and fear about childbirth.
Self-hypnosis came under the spotlight in 2013 when it was reported that the Duchess of Cambridge was allegedly considering the use of hypnobirthing to ease pain during childbirth. With the arrival of another Royal baby last week the study findings are certainly timely.
Published today in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, the trial, led by international childbirth expert Professor Soo Downe from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) and sponsored by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, involved 680 first-time mums from three hospitals in the North West. It was the largest randomised controlled trial on self-hypnosis for labour undertaken in the UK to date, and the second largest in the world.
“Adding prenatal self-hypnosis training to usual care in a UK setting does not seem to affect rates of epidural pain relief. However, the results do suggest that the therapy might reduce postnatal anxiety and fear about childbirth.”
The findings show that of the women who were randomised to self-hypnosis during pregnancy, 27.9% requested an epidural in comparison to 30.3% of the women in the control group. When asked two weeks after birth, women in the self-hypnosis group had a greater reduction in anxiety and fear about childbirth than women in the usual care group. Interviews were also done with some of the women and birth companions in the hypnosis group.
The participants in the hypnosis group were invited to two 90 minute group self-hypnosis sessions at 32 and 35 weeks of pregnancy, as well as having a CD to listen to daily. They, and their birth companions, were sent questionnaires at two and six weeks after giving birth. Both the hypnosis and the usual care groups received the usual NHS care, including antenatal clinic attendances and screenings. On average, the two sessions and the CD cost £4.83 per woman.
Professor Downe commented: “Adding prenatal self-hypnosis training to usual care in a UK setting does not seem to affect rates of epidural pain relief. However, the results do suggest that the therapy might reduce postnatal anxiety and fear about childbirth, which would suggest there may be benefits for their next pregnancy. All those who agreed to be interviewed found the hypnosis helpful, both in labour and in other areas of their lives. The main issue they reported was that (even though overall there was little difference in use of pain medication) some women appeared to be so relaxed that maternity care staff did not realise they were in labour, and sent them home.”
“I would highly recommend this technique to women as I had big babies and with the help of the hypnobirthing was relaxed and in control. I used gas and air with one labour and nothing with my second.”
One of the participants, who has since gone onto have another baby and practised self-hypnosis during both pregnancies, commented: “Hypnotherapy is something that I had never considered before. I have an anxious personality and friends had suggested that it might be something that I could try, particularly during labour. The hypnobirthing script provided during the trial was easy to listen to and during the latter stage of my pregnancy I practiced it twice a day. I think that this was the key to it being successful during my labours. I would highly recommend this technique to women as I had big babies and with the help of the hypnobirthing was relaxed and in control. I used gas and air with one labour and nothing with my second.”
Maria Williamson, a Midwife at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust who took part in the study, said: “Women and their families engaged so well with the sessions, you could see their confidence grow. Their ability to remain calm and relaxed enabled them to have a positive birth experience. For me as a midwife, to see a family begin is a privilege but to experience women and their birth companions leaving the sessions not terrified about giving birth, but actually feeling excited about meeting their babies, was truly amazing.”
Professor Downe added: “The results suggest that self-hypnosis poses no danger to participants, and that two group sessions in pregnancy along with a CD is very inexpensive. However, if self-hypnosis is offered to women, maternity care staff will need to be made aware of how relaxed some women can appear when they are using self-hypnosis, even if they are actually in strong labour.”
All of the women that took part were aged between early-20s and mid-30s. Most were White British and some were of South Asian origin. All had never given birth before and none were receiving treatment for high blood pressure or psychiatric illnesses.
The study, entitled Self-Hypnosis for Intrapartum Pain management (SHIP) in pregnant nulliparous women: a randomised controlled trial of clinical effectiveness, involved researchers from UCLan, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Liverpool, University of York, and Lancaster University alongside East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, the Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital.
The self-hypnosis during childbirth report, which was published this week in the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, found that spending less than £5 on a pregnant woman can make these differences. The study was sponsored by East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, and involved 680 first-time mums from three hospitals in the North West.
It was the largest randomised controlled trial on self-hypnosis during childbirth in the UK to date, and the second largest in the world.
The self-hypnosis during childbirth report comes shortly after the birth of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s second child, where the use of self-hypnosis was heavily contested for their first baby, George.
The study, entitled Self-Hypnosis for Intrapartum Pain management (SHIP) in pregnant nulliparous women: a randomised controlled trial of clinical effectiveness, involved researchers from UCLan, University of Manchester, University of Nottingham, University of Liverpool, University of York, and Lancaster University alongside East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, the Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Royal Preston Hospital.
The self-hypnosis during childbirth report sources:
Self-hypnosis during Childbirth Cork Ireland with Martin Kiely Hypnosis Centre Tel: 021-4870870
Stop Smoking Hypnosis for pregnant Women in Ireland
13% of Irish Women Smoke Throughout Pregnancy
According to the Growing Up in Ireland study. In the report it was found that found women who experience a great deal of stress are much more likely to continue smoking, while poverty and poor education are also factors.
The aim of the research was to investigate the extent and distribution of three specific health behaviours among mothers in the prenatal and antenatal period.
The three specific areas they looked at were:
- Cigarette smoking in pregnancy
- Alcohol consumption in pregnancy
- Breastfeeding
The number of Irish women who smoke while pregnant has dropped from more than one in every four to fewer than one in every five, according to these latest figures.
The latest National Longitudinal Study of Children shows that the proportion of women smoking during pregnancy dropped from 28% in 1999 to 17% in 2007.
It found that 13% of women smoked all the way through pregnancy, even though smoking more than 11 cigarettes a day decreases a baby’s birth weight.
The study also found that compared to women in Britain, Irish women were significantly less likely to report drinking during pregnancy.
Most intelligent people know that smoking causes cancer, heart disease, and other major health problems. Smoking during pregnancy is especially harmful, causing additional health problems including premature birth, certain birth defects, and infant death.
Here are some facts about smoking and pregnancy:
- Smoking makes it harder for a woman to get pregnant.
- Women who smoke during pregnancy, are more likely than other women to have a miscarriage.
- Smoking can cause problems with the placenta—the source of the baby’s food and oxygen during pregnancy. For example, the placenta can separate from the womb too early, causing bleeding, which is dangerous to the mother and baby.
- Smoking during pregnancy can cause a baby to be born too early or to have low birth weight—making it more likely the baby will be sick and have to stay in the hospital longer. A few babies may even die.
- Smoking during and after pregnancy is a risk factor of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). SIDS is an infant death for which a cause of the death cannot be found.
- Babies born to women who smoke are more likely to have certain birth defects, like a cleft lip or cleft palate.
- There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand tobacco smoke. Breathing even a little secondhand smoke can be harmful. The only way to fully protect yourself and your loved ones from the dangers of other people’s smoke is through 100% smoke-free environments.
- Quitting smoking will help you feel better and provide a healthier environment for your baby.
When you stop smoking with hypnosis:
- Your baby will get more oxygen, even after just one day of not smoking.
There is less risk that your baby will be born too early. - There is a better chance that your baby will come home from the hospital with you.
- You will be less likely to develop heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, chronic lung disease, and other smoke-related diseases.
- You will have more energy and breathe more easily.
- You will have more money that you can spend on other things.
- You will feel good about what you have done for yourself and your baby.
- Quitting smoking can be difficult, but it is one of the best ways you can protect yourself and your baby’s health.
Stop Smoking Hypnosis for pregnant Women in Ireland
If you or someone you know wants to stop smoking with hypnosis hypnotherapy contact Martin Kiely Hypnosis Centre for more information or to book an appointment.
Martin Kiely Hypnosis Centre, Cork will provide you with professional specialized hypnosis services to help you succeed in becoming and remaining a non-smoker. Martin will teach you simple, effective and easy to use self-hypnosis exercises that many clients have successfully used to take back control over this area of their life.
Contact Martin Kiely Hypnosis Centre Cork, Ireland, for more information.
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 021-4870870