1. Natural Pain Relief “Nothing has more power over
the body than the beliefs of the mind”
Deepak Chopra

2. Introductions Name How you came to be on the course
What is your experience of hypnosis to date?
What do you want to get out of the day?

3. Hopes and Fears Write down one hope / fear per post-it note
Be as honest as you can
No matter how big or small
Nothing will surprise me
Stick hopes and fears on the board
You can add to it during the course

4. What is Natal Hypnotherapy
A set of tools and techniques to help you prepare for labour
Simple and easy to use relaxation, breathing, visualisation and pain management exercises
A way to reduce fear and increase your confidence and trust
You absorb positive suggestions relating to the birth
Once labour starts, all the techniques are in place
It empowers you to have a better birth experience
It increases bonding and communication with your baby
It requires practice and reinforcement during pregnancy

5. Clinical Research on Hypnosis
Shorter labours
Less medication
Less reported pain
Higher APGAR scores
More frequent spontaneous births
Reduced incidence of post-natal depression
Self Hypnosis Intra Partum trial (SHIP) – reduction in fear and anxiety

6. Additional Benefits Feel more positive Good sleep
Less physical discomfort before, during, after birth
Calmer partner and support team
Calmer baby
Easier breastfeeding
Increased confidence
Increased bonding

7. Hypnosis session

8. What is hypnosis? Exercise:
Do a mind map of what you think hypnosis is with four branches on the mind, the uses, the process, concerns.

9. What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis
The Mind
The Process
Concerns
Uses

10. What is hypnosis?
Hypnosis is an altered state of consciousness involving focused attention when you have an increased receptiveness to positive suggestions
It is a completely natural state similar to daydreaming
It is not the same as being asleep or unconscious
It is a natural state with no negative side effects
You are under your own control, not anyone else’s
Your mind is only open to positive suggestions and will always protect you

11. How the mind works Behaviours Beliefs Memories Physical functions
Emotions
Instincts
Language
Rational, analytical,
reasoning, critical

12. Natural state of hypnosis
It happens frequently while you are awake
You are usually not aware of this communication
Everyone experiences natural hypnotic states many times a day
Hypnosis happens when we are relaxed and the conscious mind is less active, such as when daydreaming
There is also powerful communication between the two levels of mind when we experience intense emotions

13. Intended hypnosis Hypnosis Beliefs Memories Physical functions
Behaviours
Language
Emotions
Instincts

14. How does it work It teaches you deep relaxation and breathing
It helps condition your body to relax and focus
It helps overcome fears by creating a new “video”
It re-programmes the mind by changing beliefs and patterns
Practice reinforces suggestions and creates new neural pathways

15. Post Hypnotic Suggestions (PHS)
The “magic” behind Hypnosis
All actions, behaviours, thoughts are pre-programmed
Cause and effect
when xxx happens your response is yyy
PHS create a better response to actions in the future
The more you hear them, the more your subconscious accepts them as reality
The mind does not know the difference between what is real versus what is imagined so accepts suggestions as real
XXX
ZZZ

16. How do mammals
give birth?

17. How do mammals give birth?
Somewhere safe and quiet
In the dark at night
Very relaxed and serene
Remain quiet and calm
Moan quietly and rhythmically
safe
quiet
private
dark
warm

18. Why is it often so different
for humans?

19. Why is it so different for humans?
School birth video
Horror stories
What if?
My mum told me..
OBEM
FEAR

20. Exercise
Draw a “gingerbread” pregnant woman and indicate the physical, emotional, mental signs if she is:
Group 1 – stressed during labour
Group 2 – relaxed during labour

21. Pain cycle Fear Anticipation Adrenaline Pain Reduction of oxytocin
Tension
Pain
Anticipation

22. What else can cause an adrenaline rush during labour?

23. What else can cause an adrenaline rush during labour?
Anxiety
Embarrassment
Interruptions
Hostile environment
Cold
Feeling observed
Strangers
Loud noises

24. Manageable sensations
Calm relaxed birth
Calm mind
Deep breathing
Increase in oxytocin
Relaxation
Manageable sensations
Confidence and trust

25. The Baobab Tree

26. Lunch

27. Hypnosis session

28. Birth clips

29. Relaxation Relaxation is your foundation
Relax all the other muscles in your body to channel all your energy to the uterus
It sounds easy, but learning how to relax is a skill that needs practice
Hypnosis naturally teaches you intended relaxation

30. 3 2 1 Relax Close your eyes Stroking forehead repeating “3 2 1 relax”
Hands on shoulders, “relaxing more and more”
Stroking arms, “letting go, breathing deeply”
Lifting hand “becoming heavy, comfortable, relaxed”
Letting go hand “even more relaxed as I let go”
“Enjoying this calm, quiet, peace, easy breathing …….”
“Open your eyes when you are ready”

31. Personalising the exercise
Adapt principles of 3,2,1,Relax
Key is “when I xxxx, you will yyyyy”
Practice at home
Encourage using different positions
Identify triggers and words that are personal to you

32. What are the benefits of good breathing during labour?

33. Benefits of effective breathing
It relaxes your body
It expands your abdomen and lungs makes more room for the uterus
Your blood pressure remains at a healthy level
It increases the level of oxygen to your muscles and to your baby
It increases the production of birthing hormones
It helps get rid of toxins and lactic acid

34. Breathing excercises

35. Make it your own
Create your own affirmations, visualisations, positive suggestions and your safe place
Think about what you DO want
Make them specific to you
Use powerful, positive, empowering words and images
Refer to them regularly
Keep them with you during the birth

36. Hypnosis session

37. Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood
Nothing in life is to be feared. It is only to be understood. The strain in pain is mainly in the brain! Nothing has more power over the body than the beliefs of the mind.