Many references to the art of midwifery are found in the ancient scriptures of Egypt, the Old Testament, and ancient Greek writings. Greek Doulas, Hebrew Midwives, and Egyptian Priests alike used the power of suggestion, the oldest healing method known to humanity, to ease the process of childbirth.
In modern times the clinical use of hypnosis has gained popularity among physicians and mental health professionals. Surgeons commonly use hypnosis as an analgesic when anesthesia is deemed dangerous for a patient’s health. Some physicians apply it when treating headaches and arthritic pain.
In the GENTLE BIRTH PROGRAM, Dr. Reznik combines traditional techniques developed by European practitioners with methods developed in the United States over the last three decades.
The program consists of five one-hour sessions conducted in the period of ten to two weeks before delivery. The expectant mother undergoes a series of individually tailored hypnotic sessions during which she develops and rehearses a "childbirth script" to create a "comfort zone" during labor. She learns how to respond to hypnotic suggestions and to use self-hypnosis.
The Gentle Birth Program has achieved the following results:
• Approximately 40 percent of participants experienced no or very little pain during labor.
• Most other participants experienced pain but reported having a "better time" than they knew many others had, or having pain but "not nearly as much as in the previous delivery."
• Others had a significant reduction of anxiety in the months preceding their labor and delivery.
• Every single participant felt that the program helped them to feel more in control of their experience, and to have "overall, a more positive experience."