Physical health
Hypnobirthing: preparing for a calmer birth
Go into labour feeling calmer, better prepared and more confident, with practical techniques to help you stay relaxed and focused whatever kind of birth you have.
How hypnobirthing helps
Many women and birth partners approach labour with a mix of excitement and fear. Fear tends to bring tension, and tension makes everything harder. Hypnobirthing teaches you to recognise that cycle and step out of it, using breathing, deep relaxation, focused attention and calming imagery.
Hypnobirthing is about preparation, calm and confidence. You learn skills you can use during pregnancy, in early labour at home, and in hospital or a birth centre. Clients often tell Tim the biggest change is feeling that they understand what is happening and have something to do with it, rather than simply waiting to see what happens.
The research is mixed. A 2016 Cochrane review of nine trials, involving nearly 3,000 women, found that women who used hypnosis were less likely to use medicines for pain relief overall, although not epidurals, and the certainty of the evidence was very low. Hypnobirthing will not make labour pain-free, and it does not replace the care of your midwife or doctor. It can help you meet labour feeling calmer and more in control.
What we work on
- Easing fear and anxiety about birth, including fear from a previous birth
- Breathing and relaxation techniques for each stage of labour
- Self-hypnosis you can use at home, in the car and in hospital
- Staying calm and flexible if plans change, including an induction or caesarean
- Your birth partner's role, and how they can help you stay relaxed
- Better rest and sleep in late pregnancy
How sessions work
Start with a free 15–30 minute consultation by phone or video. Sessions are one-to-one, in person at 9 Coldbath Square, Farringdon, or online, and your birth partner is welcome to join. Sessions are tailored to you and your plans, drawing on Ericksonian hypnotherapy and NLP, and you will practise self-hypnosis between sessions so the techniques feel natural by the time you need them.
Why Tim
Tim Dunton has more than 20 years of experience and has been training since 2004. He is a member of the General Hypnotherapy Register (GHR), an Advanced and Ericksonian Hypnotherapist and a Master Practitioner of NLP, trained by Richard Bandler and John Grinder. He has worked with celebrities, sportspeople and business leaders.
Will hypnobirthing make labour pain-free?
No. It aims to help you stay calmer, more relaxed and more in control. You can still use any pain relief you want.
Is it only for a natural birth?
No. The skills are just as useful for an induction, an assisted birth or a caesarean.
Should I tell my midwife?
Yes. Include it in your birth plan and keep going to all your antenatal appointments. NICE says your choice to use hypnosis should be supported.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Aim | Calm, preparation and confidence for birth |
| Birth partner | Welcome to join |
| Typical course | Usually around five sessions (7 hours) |
| Format | In person in Farringdon, London EC1, or online |
| First step | Free 15–30 minute consultation |
| Fee | £150 an hour online, £195 in person |
Hypnotherapy works alongside medical care. Please see your GP about any medical condition, and keep taking prescribed medication unless your doctor advises otherwise. During pregnancy, your midwife is your first point of contact for any concern.
See also: hypnotherapy for physical health, anxiety and surgery and medical procedures.
The research
- Madden K et al (2016). Cochrane review of hypnosis for pain management during labour and childbirth: 9 trials, 2,954 women. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CD009356. PubMed 27192949
- NICE NG235, Intrapartum care, recommendation 1.6.8. nice.org.uk/guidance/ng235
Individual experiences vary.
Related treatments
- Hypnotherapy for surgery and medical procedures
- Hypnotherapy for chronic pain
- Hypnotherapy for menopause
A free, no-obligation 15–30 minute call by phone or video. Or call 07975 653893.