MAY 2006, VOLUME 34, NUMBER 1, Abstract 3
A PRENATAL HYPNOTHERAPEUTIC PROGRAM TO ENHANCE POSTNATAL PSYCHOLOGICAL WELLBEING
Tharina Guse, University of Johannesburg
Marié P. Wissing, North-West University: Potchefstroom Campus, Potchefstroom
Woltemade Hartman, Milton Erickson Institute of South Africa
Hypnosis has extensively been applied for the relief of pain and discomfort during labour and delivery. Its role in addressing psychological processes during pregnancy and childbirth also recently gained some attention from clinicians and researchers. However, existing interventions do not address psychological aspects such as the transition to motherhood, postnatal adjustment, or psychological wellbeing. This article presents an evaluated prenatal hypnotherapeutic intervention focusing on preparing first-time mothers psychologically for the experience of childbirth and the early postpartum period. The program integrates principles from developmental psychology, positive psychology and Ericksonian and ego-state hypnotherapy. It specifically focuses on activating and utilising inner resources that could contribute to helping the new mother cope with this life transition, as well as enhance her general psychological wellbeing after childbirth.