Antenatal Hypnosis: Does it Have an Effect on Fear of Childbirth?
Caganay Soysal1, Elif Yilmaz11Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Sami Ulus Women’s and Children’s Health Teaching and Research Hospital, Ankara, Türkiye
Objectives: This study aimed to examine the effect of hypnosis applied during the antenatal period on labor pain and fear in pregnant women. Methods: 100 pregnant women who were administered hypnosis and 100 women who were not, were included in this prospective descriptive study, between January and June 2019. The Wijma Birth Expectation/Experience Scale Version A Questionnaire was applied to the pregnant women at the end of hypnosis, and at the same week to the pregnant women who were not hypnotized, and the results of both groups were compared. Results: Total Wijma scores of the hypnotized group were statistically significantly lower (the higher the score, the higher the fear), while the pain perception scores at birth were significantly higher (negatively loaded question) (p<0.05). It was concluded that the expectation of pain in labor changed significantly after hypnosis and the fear of childbirth decreased significantly. Conclusion: Considering the positive effect of hypnosis on the fear of childbirth, it should be emphasized that hypnosis, which is an important alternative method in our country where the rate of birth fear and related cesarean section is gradually increasing, has a calming effect and changes the negative perceptions of pregnant women about childbirth. Keywords: Childbirth, fear, hypnosis, pain, tokophobia
Cite This Article
Soysal C, Yilmaz E. Antenatal Hypnosis: Does it Have an Effect on Fear of Childbirth?. EJMI. 2022; 6(4): 394-400
Corresponding Author: Elif Yilmaz