Antenatal Hypnosis Training and Childbirth Experience: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Abstract

<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:sec><jats:title>Background</jats:title><jats:p>Childbirth is a demanding event in a woman's life. The aim of this study was to explore whether a brief intervention in the form of an antenatal course in self‐hypnosis to ease childbirth could improve the childbirth experience.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method</jats:title><jats:p>In a randomized, controlled, single‐blinded trial, 1,222 healthy nulliparous women were allocated to one of three groups during pregnancy: A hypnosis group participating in three 1‐hour sessions teaching self‐hypnosis to ease childbirth, a relaxation group receiving three 1‐hour lessons in various relaxation methods and Mindfulness, and a usual care group receiving ordinary antenatal care only. Wijmas Delivery Expectancy/Experience Questionnaire (W‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DEQ</jats:styled-content>) was used to measure the childbirth experience 6 weeks postpartum.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results</jats:title><jats:p>The intention‐to‐treat analysis indicated that women in the hypnosis group experienced their childbirth as better compared with the other two groups (mean W‐<jats:styled-content style="fixed-case">DEQ</jats:styled-content> score of 42.9 in the Hypnosis group, 47.2 in the Relaxation group, and 47.5 in the Care as usual group (<jats:italic>p</jats:italic> = 0.01)). The tendency toward a better childbirth experience in the hypnosis group was also seen in subgroup analyses for mode of delivery and for levels of fear.</jats:p></jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion</jats:title><jats:p>In this large randomized controlled trial, a brief course in self‐hypnosis improved the women's childbirth experience.</jats:p></jats:sec>