MAY 2003, VOLUME 31, NUMBER 1, Abstract 5
Induction of Labour Using Switchbox Imagery During Hypnosis
Allan M. Cyna, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
Marion I. Andrew, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, Adelaide
We report seven consecutive cases of attempted induction of labour (IOL) using hypnosis and switchbox imagery. All seven women had an unfavourable cervix for labour and medical indications for delivery. During hypnosis, these women independently experienced, unprompted, similar colours when looking for the switch to turn on their labour. Red to green colour changes were experienced by five women. Two women experienced visual hallucinations of these images during the hours preceding childbirth. The women who did not see a colour change experienced a uterine contraction or an increase in the strength and frequency of contractions during or immediately after hypnosis. We believe hypnosis contributed to the establishment of labour in two patients and early labour in another. Hypnosis is likely to have made a useful contribution to the successful outcomes in a further two women who may have had their labour accelerated after a limited response to prostaglandin vaginal pessaries.