An American technique that uses hypnosis to ease the pain suffered by women during labour is to be taught to midwives in Scotland.
HypnoBirthing was developed in the US by an English obstetrician, Dr Grantly Dick-Read, who noticed that calm and positive women experienced less pain during childbirth than distressed women.
Under the technique, women learn self-hypnosis which helps them with relaxation and breathing and can lead to an easier and even pain free birth.
Renee Buchanan, of the UK HypnoBirthing Advisory Board, said in The Scotsman: “Many women are afraid of childbirth. They hear stories about dramatic and painful births, which are also depicted on TV.
“This causes tension, which in turn causes pain and doesn’t allow the birth to progress as naturally as it should.
“HypnoBirthing doesn’t promise pain-free labour, but says labour should be much more comfortable.”
