• A Werner, N Uldbjerg, R Zachariae, G Rosen, and E A Nohr.
• Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, Aarhus University Hospital Skejby, Aarhus, Denmark. anette.werner@soci.au.dk
• BJOG. 2013 Feb 1;120(3):346-53.

ObjectiveTo estimate the use of epidural analgesia and experienced pain during childbirth after a short antenatal training course in self-hypnosis to ease childbirth.DesignRandomised, controlled, single-blinded trial using a three-arm design.SettingAarhus University Hospital Skejby in Denmark during the period July 2009 until August 2011.PopulationA total of 1222 healthy nulliparous women.MethodUse of epidural analgesia and self-reported pain during delivery was compared in three groups: a hypnosis group receiving three 1-hour lessons in self-hypnosis with additional audiorecordings to ease childbirth, a relaxation group receiving three 1-hour lessons in various relaxation methods and mindfulness with audiorecordings for additional training, and a usual care group receiving ordinary antenatal care only.Main Outcome MeasuresPrimary OutcomeUse of epidural analgesia. Secondary outcomes included self-reported pain.ResultsThere were no between-group differences in use of epidural analgesia-31.2% (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 27.1-35.3) in the hypnosis group, 29.8% (95% CI 25.7-33.8) in the relaxation group and 30.0% (95% CI 24.0-36.0) in the control group. No statistically significant differences between the three groups were observed for any of the self-reported pain measures.ConclusionIn this large randomised controlled trial of a brief course in self-hypnosis to ease childbirth, no differences in use of epidural analgesia or pain experience were found across study groups. Before turning down self-hypnosis as a method for pain relief, further studies are warranted with focus on specific subgroups.© 2012 The Authors BJOG An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology © 2012 RCOG.

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