Adventures in Mind-Body Medicine

Insights in integrative treatment from the staff of the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

by Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine

Dr. Steven Gurgevich is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine specializing in Mind-Body Medicine and the Director of The Mind-Body Clinic at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. See full bio

September 7, 2008, Health

Comments on "Labor Pain Made Easier with Self-Hypnosis"

Labor Pain Made Easier with Self-Hypnosis

By Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D. on September 7, 2008 in Adventures in Mind-Body Medicine

"Pain" is the word most associated with labor and delivery. But it doesn't have to be; here's why. Read More

Hypnobabies

Submitted by Allison on September 8, 2008 - 11:52am.

I used the Hypnobabies home study program and found it helpful from the very beginning -- for making pregnancy itself more comfortable. Being able to mentally flip a switch to relax myself was invaluable.

When the time came, my labor was 3-1/2 hours from start to finish (we DID get the tub filled, but only with just enough time for me to get in and push), and I delivered my own son because he was born so quickly, my midwife didn't have her hands "in" yet. No, it wasn't pain-free, but it was powerful and worth it.

Still now, I can use the "finger drop" technique to relax myself when I'm tense. It's effective enough, I've been considering looking into some hypnosis scripts for other parts of my life!

Fine job, Allison

Submitted by Steven Gurgevich, Ph.D. on September 10, 2008 - 11:30am.

Congratulations on doing so well with your hypnosis when bringing your son into this world. I love what you wrote about how well you did. And you are right about other applications for hypnosis. For once you learn it, you can apply it to whatever you desire. When my daughter was 8 or 9 years old (over 30 years ago), she would accompany me to lectures and tv shows where I would speak about hypnosis. So, whenever I would mention a symptom, she would pipe in with, "Why don't you use your hypnosis, Dad?" And, it would be funny that despite all the years of teaching hypnosis, I often did not think to use it until reminded. Now it is ingrained... and my little girl is a doctor at Penn State teaching and directing health and nutrition education programs. Thank you for sharing your experience, Allison. I am grateful. Dr. G.

great post

Submitted by Anonymous on May 19, 2009 - 11:00am.

Thank you for such an informative post. Self hypnosis is also good for people suffering from chronic pain who don't want to rely on traditional pain medication.

jen
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