Kate Middleton Uses Hypnosis for Pregnancy:

Is it Right for You Too?

The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, used hypnotherapy to deal with morning sickness early on in her pregnancy, and according to new reports, the princess is now considering having a hypno-birth.

We interviewed Colin Christopher, a clinical hypnotherapist who is trained in hypnosis for child birthing, and author of the book Success Through Manipulation: Subconscious Reactions that will Make or Break You, to find out the benefits of hypnosis for pregnancy and why women like Kate Middleton, Jessica Alba and Kim Kardashian are using such techniques.

Is Hypnosis for Pregnancy Right for You? Q&A with Hypnotherapist Colin Christopher

MG: What is hypnobirthing?

CC: It is a process where pregnant women can take a natural approach to their pregnancy, delivery, and post delivery. It is designed to help a woman from the start of pregnancy for things like alleviating morning sickness or food aversion, to substantially reducing birth pain (and in some cases having C-Sections without anesthetic) to increasing breast milk production and alleviating post-partum depression.

MG: How does it work?

CC: It operates on the basis that the subconscious mind doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and imagined. For example, think about a horror movie, people watching them get scared, their pulse and breathing speed up, maybe they get goose bumps. Even though there is no real danger, physical reactions to the imagined danger in the horror movie occur. In a similar way, hypnosis works to change your physical, mental and emotional reactions through your subconscious just like a movie does.

MG: What are the benefits?

CC: There are many benefits. The mother feels better physically, mentally and emotionally throughout the pregnancy and afterwards. Stress is reduced for the mother. Their partner’s stress level is reduced because the mother is calm and partners can undergo hypnosis to reduce stress themselves. Labor pain is substantially reduced and/or eliminated so childbirth remains natural and drug free. This reduces the risk to mother and the baby. For example epidurals run the following risks (according to Wikipedia):

More use of instruments to assist with the birth
Increased risk of Caesarean section for fetal distress
Longer delivery (second stage of labour)
Increased need of oxytocin to stimulate uterine contractions
Increased risk of experiencing very low blood pressure
Increased risk of muscular weakness for a period of time after the birth
Increased risk of fluid retention
Increased risk of fever

MG: Are there any disadvantages to this method of birthing?

CC: Disadvantages can occur in the form of tension with friends, family, and in some cases the medical staff involved in the delivery. Although it is becoming more main stream, many people have misconceptions about hypnosis and are unaware of how it works and it’s benefits to the mother and the child. Sometimes mothers may have to change doctors and find one that is supportive of the mothers right to choose how she gives birth. It is also a process that requires a time commitment where a pregnant woman will have to undergo between 4 and 15 hypnosis sessions (depending on the mothers level of hypnotizability (15% of people are low hypnotizable, 70% mid hypnotizable and 15% highly hypnotizable).

MG: Can hypnosis help with other aspects of pregnancy besides birthing?

CC: Yes, in addition to what I’ve said already, it can also help with getting more restful sleep, improving self confidence, reducing overwhelming feelings of becoming a new mother by increasing coping capabilities, and in general being in control of the whole birthing process and having greater control of her body.

MG: Are you seeing an increasing trend in women using hypnosis during pregnancy?

CC: Yes. In part because celebrities like Duchess Kate used it for food aversion in early pregnancy, Kim Kardashian is using hypnosis to alleviate anxiety about her pregnancy and Jessica Alba used Hypnosis for child birth. In part it is also because women want to give birth naturally for the health of their baby and themselves and hypnosis is a very real and viable option for this.

MG: How can a woman determine if this method is right for her?

CC: I recommend first trying a hypnosis recording for relaxation. There are many that can be found for free on the internet, including on my website http://www.colinchristopher.com/free-giveaways/. By trying it first a woman will have a good idea of how comfortable she will be with hypnosis. From there, if she enjoys the relaxation, it’s a matter of contacting hypnotherapists and finding the one that is right for her.

MG: What advice do you have for women pursuing hypnosis for pregnancy?

CC:

Try self-hypnosis first. There are many places on the internet where you can get recordings (free and paid) where you can try hypnosis out to see if it is right for you.
Speak with the Hypnotherapist first and decide if you feel comfortable with, and trust them before retaining their services. It’s much easier and faster to be hypnotized by someone you feel comfortable with (it also helps to like the sound of their voice).
Ask your hypnotherapist about their hypnosis education, experience and background and decide if they are the right fit for you. For example, some women feel more comfortable being hypnotized by a woman that has already used hypnosis themselves for child birth. Other women prefer a man to do the hypnosis. There are also a few (a very small number) of obstetricians that do hypnosis with their pregnant patients. Check with your doctor and see if they offer this service. It’s about finding the right fit for you.

MG: Do you have any other advice?

CC: Gather as much information as you can to make an informed decision about your child birth and make a choice that feels right for you.

For more information, visit http://www.colinchristopher.com/free-giveaways/