An IPA investigation into the experience of a hypnobirthing birth

Abstract

Background: Pregnancy and birth pose significant emotional and physical challenges to birthing people. The prevalence of psychological trauma due to birth has been reported to occur in 7% of the birthing population, with up to 48% of those who have birthed reportedly finding birth as traumatic. The hypnobirthing method is gaining significant popularity and aims to improve the birth experience by reducing the need for medical intervention, increasing feelings of empowerment, control, and feelings of calm, as well as increasing birth partner support. Currently, no research is available on the subjective experience of a hypnobirthing birth that is traumainformed. We must understand more ways to protect birthing people from psychological trauma, and as such, the research aims to explore the experience of utilising this method for birth. Methods: Five participants were self-selected after approaching a local Katharine Graves hypnobirthing Facebook group. Semistructured interviews were conducted up to 6 months after birth. Interviews were analysed using an IPA method to understand the idiographic lived experience of participants. Results: Four superordinate themes were identified: Education protects the birthing process and increases coping; Choice empowers; ‘Rules’ or ‘guidance’ a self-perception; Labour and the ‘mother’ in societal discourse. Conclusions: The birthing people in this study reported that their educative experience helped to reduce fear, and increase their empowerment and perceived coping going into the birth experience. Their ability to engage with the hypnobirthing method appeared affected by their perception of it as ‘guidance’ or ‘rules’ and their feelings of support in the labour room. There were reflections on how the method interacts with the more general societal discourse around labour. Implications: Hypnobirthing antenatal preparation may help improve the labour experience and reduce the risk of psychological trauma following birth. However, the study points to important factors that should be considered. Counselling and Clinical Psychologists in Perinatal and Maternal Mental Health Services, hypnobirthing practitioners and antenatal educators are best placed to utilise the findings of this research and incorporate them into both their antenatal preparation delivery and training, as well as the formulations of service user birth trauma.