Mention labor and delivery to an expectant mom in her last trimester, and chances are good that her heart will begin to race, her mind floods with concern and in some cases, panic. She knows that the day is coming when a force much bigger than herself will take over and her body will govern itself completely. For some women, this is a very fearful event, but for hypnomoms, it is merely a challenge.

These wise women use hypnosis to eliminate pain and fear from the birthing experience. In the past, the word "hypnosis" conjured up images of stage hypnotists re-creating Elvis, or mesmerizing others into embarrassing situations. Now it is common for hypnosis to be used therapeutically in many areas of medicine, dental anesthesia and personal therapy sessions. Even so, there are many misconceptions regarding hypnosis that can dissuade those contemplating this powerful tool.

Here are a few facts:

• All hypnosis is self-hypnosis; the hypnotherapist is only the guide. A person chooses to enter into a hypnotic state, stay in and come out at will.
  
  
• Approximately 90 to 95 percent of the population can be hypnotized. Willingness, belief and motivation have great influence over hypnotizability.
  
  
• During hypnosis you are neither asleep nor unconscious, and will always "come out" when you wish.
  
  
• Stronger-minded and stronger-willed people are easier to hypnotize -- not the other way around as is usually assumed.
  
  
• You cannot be made to divulge information or do anything against your will while in hypnosis.
  
  
• Hypnosis is merely a way to direct your inner mind toward the positive.
  
  Hypnosis for Childbirth?
  
  Hypnosis is used in medical and dental hypnosis with great success by patients who have life-threatening allergies to anesthetics, allowing them to undergo surgeries with no drugs and no pain. We know therefore that the mind can be trained to experience discomfort as only pressure, and that is what is achieved in childbirth hypnosis as well. In addition, with labor, the more relaxation the mother experiences, the more comfort she will have, and the depth of relaxation necessary can easily be achieved with hypnosis, as physical relaxation is learned and practiced daily in preparation for birth using guided visualizations followed by positive hypnotic suggestions. When the critical conscious mind is by-passed with hypnosis, the inner mind can literally be reprogrammed to believe that birth will be comfortable, easy and joyous. Software for your mind!
  
  Page Two: Learn more about how fear affects childbirth
  
  Page Three: Can women really give birth without pain?
  
  Page Four: Find out the benefits of hypnosis for childbirth
  
  Page Five: How do you get started?
  
  Page Six: See what 9 questions you need to ask a prospective instructor

Fear and Expectation