What is hypnobirthing?

Throughout the last century women gave birth both with and without chemical anesthesia. There is however only one anesthesia that allows for the normal and natural path of labor and offers no danger, that of course is hypnosis which can help to alleviate not only the pain of childbirth but also the fear and tension surrounding labor and birth. Hypnosis is a totally natural state that offers deep concentration and health stimulating powers along with pain relief. In short hypnobirthing is natural childbirth with hypnosis. The Leclaire Hypnobirthing Method for Natural Childbirth is a program that prepares a mother during her pregnancy for a totally relaxed childbirth.

Who developed hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing was first developed in 1987 by Michelle Leclaire O'Neill, Ph.D., R.N. She is a pioneer in the study of mind-body integration for treating infertility, pregnancy, pre-term labor, and postpartum depression, and is currently director of the Mind Body Center in Pacific Palisades, California. The Leclaire Hypnobirthing Method is the only natural childbirth education program developed by a woman.

With the Leclaire Hypnobirthing Method:

  • Mothers feel: calmer, safer and healthier
  • Fathers feel: competent and empowered
  • Babies feel: more serene, healthier, and eat and sleep better and cry less.

Why doesn't everyone use hypnobirthing?

The most amazing thing about hypnobirthing is that it isn't currently used for every birth. Part of the reason for this is that mothers do not have a complete understanding of the hypnotic process, potential and expected outcome due to the lack of availability of education in both clinical hypnosis in general and hypnobirthing specifically. A second reason is that women believe once they've decided on hypnosis they have given up the choice of chemical assistance. That however is not true. One can always have both. The choice is the mother's. There is no judgment, no criticism, and no failure.

There is still another reason that hypnobirthing has not been used for childbirth as frequently as it ought to given its incredible benefits. Most physicians are very busy; most births in the United States take place with a physician in attendance. These attendants erroneously believe that hypnotically induced mothers need more time and attention from them. They in fact usually need less attention due to their ability to remain focused on their work at hand. It is much easier for the hospital and physician to take charge of a mother's labor and birth. Individualized birthing plans are advantageous to the mother, her partner and their baby. They may at times disrupt the physician and hospital's schedule.

In reality a hypnotically prepared mother is a midwife's and physician's dream patient. The first goal of medicine is to do no harm. The Leclaire Hypnobirthing Method cannot harm in any way. It moves the mother in the direction of the universal birthing goal, a healthy natural childbirth, baby and mother. Hypnobirthed mothers usually have fewer complications, a shorter first stage of labor, an easier transition and an easier birth than mothers who have used only Lamaze/Bradley, childbirth classes or chemical anesthesia alone.

Another reason for hospital and physicians control over laboring mothers is fear of complications and lawsuits. The Leclaire Hypnobirthing Method creates a safer environment for the mother and baby which in turn decreases the chance of the feared legal problems.

Withholding education is in the long run neither good business nor good medicine. When a woman has jurisdiction over her body, when she is given permission to have a mindful pregnancy and mindful birth, the outcome is statistically much healthier, safer, more advantageous and joyous for all involved.

Learn the Leclaire Hypnobirthing Method for a painless, natural childbirth

Get started with Saturday Classes or order the Leclaire Hypnobirthing Bundle.

What people are saying about the Leclaire Hypnobirthing Method

"The Hypnosis for Childbirth method gave me relaxation. It helped me focus in a way I had never been able to before in dealing with the fear."
– Judy Cooper (vaginal birth after three c-sections)		   "Patients who have used Hypnosis for Childbirth show none of the somatic and physiologic signs of distress that I have seen in patients who have studied [other methods]."
– Yvonne Fried, M.D.		   "It is a joy to see how effectively Dr. Leclaire O'Neill has integrated the mind body concepts in the area of pregnancy and delivery."
– O. Carl Simonton, M.D., Author of The Healing Journey