Further confirmation that the pain of childbirth can be reduced by hypnosis has emerged from new research in Australia.
The evidence was presented at the 2005 scientific meeting of the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists by Dr Marion Andrew.
Dr Andrew, a senior consultant anaesthetist at the Women and Children's Hospital in Adelaide, reported how first-time mothers who learned self-hypnosis in the months prior to labour were less likely to need epidurals.
For more than 60 years a series of studies have underlined the benefits of hypnotherapy, going back to the pioneering work of Dr Grantly Dick-Read, (1890-1959) author of "Childbirth Without Fear" and one of the founders of the Natural Childbirth Trust.
The Australian findings were based on a research programme in which 77 women were taught self-hypnosis as part of their preparation for childbirth.
Their outcomes were compared with a control group of more than 3,000 other mothers-to-be who received normal ante-natal care.
Presenting a paper on the use of hypnosis and suggestion in obstetric anaesthetic practice, Dr Andrew described hypnosis as a potentially useful additional tool.
For the results she said, showed the possible beneficial outcomes of hypnosis in pregnancy and childbirth.
The differences between the study group and the control group were most marked in women having their first babies.
Of the hypnosis group, 36 per cent of mothers had epidurals, compared with 55 per cent of those in the control group.
Dr Andrew commented: "I think when they're having their first baby, they're very highly motivated and a lot of women these days would prefer to avoid analgesia in labour if they can."
