ABSTRACT
Hypnobirth in the National Health Service (NHS) is taught by midwives who combine the techniques with the best antenatal education available. All the hypnosis in hypnobirth is based on tried and tested techniques used by hypnotherapists. In hypnobirth, most scripts begin with an induction element. The first hypnobirth script that couples use is a progressive relaxation. Visualisation and imagery are an integral part of hypnobirth. The breathing techniques are linked to specific images that help mothers to stay focused and relaxed. Post-hypnotic suggestions are used to encourage hypnobirthing women to practise the techniques and to reinforce the skills that they learn. This is a Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) technique and is not hypnosis, but can be used under hypnosis to make a positive reframe. An expression that is often used by hypnotherapists is that all hypnosis is self-hypnosis; this is undoubtedly true of hypnobirth.
