Below is a selection of media coverage related to self-hypnosis. To make it easier for you to explore the content, we have organized the articles into several sections. Feel free to browse through these sections for a comprehensive overview of the topics covered.
Giving birth with no pangs
Jane Dignum, Guardian and Gazette Newspapers, 30 July, 1992
Alison and Eli Levy with Ten-Week-Old Baby Maayan Born Under Self-Hypnosis
Dr. Gowri Motha of the Jeyrani Health Centre in South Woodford teaches a technique for easier births using self-hypnosis, often combined with water births. Over 300 mothers have used this method at Whipps Cross Hospital. Alison Levy, a recent success, gave birth to her daughter Maayan after just three hours in labor, reporting deep relaxation and minimized pain.
Impressed by the technique, Alison plans to teach it in Israel. She learned about it from Martine Groman-Marks, who had positive experiences with her two children, and Martine learned from Helena Rosenberg, whose husband discovered it in a newspaper article.
Dr. Motha, who also introduced water births at Whipps Cross, believes in making labor an enjoyable experience. She hopes to have self-hypnosis available through the National Health Service, challenging the notion that childbirth must be painful and endured.
Guardian and Gazette Newspapers, 30 July, 1992
Overcoming the pain of childbirth
Jane Dignum, Guardian and Gazette Newspapers, 6 August, 1992
"Before I Met Dr. Motha, I Wanted My Husband to Have the Baby"
Dr. Gowri Motha’s program, "Self-hypnosis for an Enjoyable Labour," is taught at the Jeyrani Health Centre in South Woodford and practiced at Whipps Cross Hospital. Over five years, more than 300 mothers have used this technique, often paired with water births, to make childbirth quicker and easier.
Alison Levy from Chigwell is a recent success story. She gave birth to her daughter Maayan in just three hours, experiencing deep relaxation and minimal pain. Inspired, Alison plans to teach the method in Israel. She learned about it from her friend Martine Groman-Marks, who had similar positive experiences, and Martine from Helena Rosenberg, who also had great success with Dr. Motha's methods.
Dr. Motha, a pioneer of water births at Whipps Cross, was motivated by a desire to improve childbirth facilities and make labor an enjoyable experience. She hopes to make self-hypnosis available on the NHS, challenging the belief that labor must be painful and endured.
Guardian and Gazette Newspapers, 6 August 1992
Labour smoothed by hypnosis
Catherine Steven, The Independent, 23 January, 1990
Hypnosis for a Pain-Free Birth
Jan Elliott, 35, feared labor pain despite her long-awaited pregnancy. Hypnosis lessons by Dr. Gowri Motha from the 26th week helped her overcome this fear. The technique teaches deep relaxation and natural pain relief through self-hypnosis. During labor at Whipps Cross Hospital, Jan used these skills, feeling minimal pain and needing no chemical relief until the last hour. Her husband’s involvement in the hypnosis process further eased her experience.
Dr. Motha, a gynaecologist trained in India, advocates for hypnosis in childbirth, aiming to make labor enjoyable. Since opening the Jeyrani Health Centre in South Woodford, Essex, she has trained 150 women in this technique. She believes that reducing fear can significantly lessen pain and labor duration. Dr. Motha’s philosophy emphasizes a gentle birth experience, opposing the fear and misinformation surrounding childbirth.
The Independent, 23 January 1990.
Hypnosis helped me have control over my own labour
Catherine Steven, 1988
Hypnosis for Pain-Free Childbirth
After a traumatic first birth, Carol Johnston sought alternative pain relief for her second pregnancy. Her first labor, induced by medical interventions, was excruciating and ended with a forceps delivery, leaving her feeling panicked and out of control. Determined to avoid a repeat experience, Carol researched alternative methods and decided on a water birth combined with self-hypnosis taught by Dr. Gowri Motha at the Jeyrani Health Centre in Essex.
Initially skeptical, Carol quickly embraced the hypnosis technique, which involved deep relaxation exercises in a calm, scented environment. This preparation helped her approach labor with a positive mindset. During her second labor, she used self-hypnosis to stay relaxed, which significantly reduced her pain and expedited the process. Carol gave birth to her second son, Kieran, without any pain relief, feeling in control and empowered.
Dr. David Ryde, a medical hypnotherapist, explains that hypnotherapy helps ease tension, which can hinder labor progress. By staying calm, Carol's labor progressed smoothly, showcasing the effectiveness of self-hypnosis in managing childbirth pain and anxiety.