The Disadvantages of HypnoBirthing That Drive Me Crazy

The disadvantages of HypnoBirthing are often unknown to new parents simply because of a lack of exposure and experience with the method. As a doula and birth assistant, I attend births where hypnosis is used and have seen its advantages and disadvantages first hand.

Before we dive in, let’s talk about what HypnoBirthing is. Hypnobirthing is a childbirth preparation method that harnesses the power of hypnosis and relaxation for those planning a natural childbirth in or out of the hospital. HypnoBirthing is an excellent method of managing pain in childbirth. However, despite its effectiveness at decreasing the fear and pain of childbirth, there are two disadvantages of HypnoBirthing for first time moms to consider.

Benefits of HypnoBirthing

Before I get burned at the stake for criticizing this childbirth method, let’s talk about the benefits of HypnoBirthing. 😉

Decreased Fear and Tension

The doula clients I’ve worked with that took Hypnobirthing classes, listened to the tracks on their airpods, read the books, etc., generally approached their labors with minimal fear and great confidence. Hypnobirthers are excellent at creating a serene labor environment at home or hospital. This is wonderful because when women are less fearful, they are often less tense, and then therefore experience less pain (and their labors are more straightforward!) This phenomenon is called the fear, tension, pain cycle.

Excellent at Pain Coping

Speaking of pain, despite not using the actual P word itself, HypnoBirthing mamas are experts at pain coping in labor. With the relaxation techniques and self-hypnosis learned during pregnancy, they make childbirth look easy. I’m not exaggerating! Hypnobirthing mamas have the whole decreasing labor pain during labor thing mastered.

The Two Disadvantages of HypnoBirthing

The following two disadvantages of HypnoBirthing are something parents should consider before putting all their eggs in the “hypnosis during labor” basket.

Singular Birthing Focus

When parents learn hypnosis for childbirth and then go on to have a natural birth, HypnoBirthing is great. 1 + 1 = 2, point A leads to point B, etc. However, for those whose paths go in a different direction than planned, with maybe an epidural, transfer to a hospital, or cesarean birth, that’s where the problems start.

It seems that either HypnoBirthing teaches one way of giving birth – unmedicated, vaginal, with minimal intervention – or parents with this singular focus are drawn to this childbirth preparation method. Either way, parents that identify with this method tend to plan for only one way of birthing. When plans change, as they sometimes do, women feel shocked, betrayed, confused, angry, and as if they failed. Many HypnoBirthing first time moms leave the unexpected off their birth plans.

Don’t get me wrong, there are many amazing benefits to a low-intervention, natural birth. Obviously, I’m a huge advocate of unmedicated birth! However, as a childbirth educator I know I would be doing a disservice to parents if I didn’t also teach the tools to navigate doing the next best thing if birthing plans change – like the B.R.A.I.N. acronym.

I find just as much satisfaction helping women rock unexpected birth scenarios, as I do helping parents have a natural childbirth, if not more.

Positive and Negative Self-Beliefs

The thing is, when someone is so singularly focused on one particular birth outcome and it doesn’t become their reality, postpartum mental health struggles are likely. With minimal awareness during our whole lives and especially during pregnancy, negative self-beliefs form that go a little something like this.

“If I have a natural birth, then I am strong, capable, successful, and a good mom.”

If a natural birth doesn’t happen, these beliefs flip and the self-talk goes in the opposite direction.

“Because I didn’t have a natural birth, I am therefore weak, inept, a failure, and a bad mother.”

(This is why I am so careful about birth affirmations. Not all birth affirmations are healthy!)

Let me just say that these negative self-beliefs combined with sleep deprivation, hormonal fluctuations, relationship strains, and breastfeeding challenges, are a recipe for disaster. Becoming a mother is hard enough. Becoming a mother while simultaneously believing to be weak and a failure feels insurmountable.

NOTE:  If you’ve had a traumatic first birth and are preparing for your second baby, pop on over here for some really great tips.

No Need to Push

Another disadvantage of HypnoBirthing is the belief that women don’t need to push during the second stage of labor. What I hear is that actively pushing during the second stage of labor is not required because the body will do it all by itself. Again, the problem is not so much that this is a false statement, but that it’s teaching only one way of giving birth. Let me explain.

Fetal Ejection Reflex

When a woman is fully dilated, she typically feels a strong, reflexive urge to push. This urge is involuntary, and something that the body just does. The fetal ejection reflex is a powerful, whole body sensation that tells a women how to push through the second stage of labor. For parents that have never given birth, I often compare it to the vomiting reflex – it happens all by itself.

On one hand, I understand where HypnoBirthing is coming from. In many cases, when it comes to pushing, especially with women that have already given birth, there isn’t anything extra to be done. All that’s required is to be completely in the moment as each wave of contractions literally ejects the baby out of the body.

Some Women Have to Push – HARD

However, this isn’t the case for every woman, especially for those that have not had a previous vaginal delivery. Many women (and most first time moms) need to put forth great strength behind each pushing contraction to birth their babies. Some have to give everything they’ve got, for hours of pushing. This may not be the average woman’s experience, but it’s well within the range of normal. The average first time mom pushes for around 1 and a half hours.

For HypnoBirthing parents, it can be a challenge to change gears if a different type of pushing is required. There can be a bit of a learning curve to switch to big, strong, gorilla-like pushes. However, once a woman realizes what’s working, there’s progress to be seen!

Coached Pushing

NOTE: What I am describing is big, strong, hard pushing, not coached pushing. Coached pushing is when a care provider, usually a nurse, tells a woman how and when to push. The nurse counts to 10 and tells the mom to hold her breath and push. Rinse and repeat 2 more times. After this, parents are instructed to take a break between contractions. Once the break is over they do it again and again and again. This is unnatural, and many women dislike this practice. That being said, some coached pushing may be helpful with an epidural for more feedback and assistance since she’s numb.

Final Thoughts on HypnoBirthing

Like most everything under the sun, HypnoBirthing has its strengths and weaknesses. Because it combines the power of hypnosis and relaxation, it’s a wonderful tool to help parents achieve a natural childbirth.

However, women should consider the effects of a childbirth preparation method that teaches a singular way of birthing. Parents are wise to pay close attention to their self-beliefs tied to any potential birth outcomes. It’s important to question any beliefs, and their sources, that call someone a failure.

Share Your Thoughts on Disadvantages of HypnoBirthing

What are your thoughts? Am I totally off base? Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts on the disadvantages of HypnoBirthing. I’d love to hear your story!