Pregnancy

Hyperemesis and other pregnancy symptoms: overcome them with hypnosis

Nausea and vomiting are common in pregnancy, so much so that they represent the most characteristic and often revealing symptoms of pregnancy itself . In fact, about 80% of women suffer from it.

In a small percentage of cases (0.5%) vomiting and nausea are so persistent and intense that they constitute a clinical condition defined as hyperemesis which can cause excessive weight loss in pregnant women, dehydration and hydrolytic imbalance. To date, the causes of hyperemesis are unknown.

It is a very debilitating condition on a physical level, with important repercussions on the psychological well-being of the mother and on her social and work functioning .

In particular, it has been shown that severe forms of hyperemesis can increase levels of stress, anxiety and depression during pregnancy.

In particular, anxiety and depression during pregnancy may be associated with high pain thresholds in childbirth, postpartum depression and premature births. The good news is that once the nausea and excessive vomiting are resolved, anxiety and depression subside.

Hypnosis has proved to be a precious ally in combating pregnancy nausea  and the psychological symptoms that can derive from them. In particular, the study by Beevi and colleagues (2016), very rigorous from a scientific point of view, demonstrates the effectiveness of hypnosis both for physical symptoms and for the management of anxiety, stress and depression in pregnancy.

Hypnosis is a methodology totally devoid of side effects and for this reason it can be effectively used by women at every stage of life   and above all in anticipation, during and immediately after a pregnancy. It allows you to reach a state of consciousness different from the common vigil called hypnotic trance. In this state the subject’s attention becomes extremely focused and turned inward. It is a natural state that emerges spontaneously several times a day, but which can be consciously exploited.

Its benefits have also been demonstrated in relieving labor pains and facilitating childbirth: for example, it decreases the use of epidurals, reduces pain and labor duration, increases postpartum physical and psychological well-being, reduces onset of depression.

Dr Kathryn Barlow

Kathryn Barlow is an OB/GYN doctor, which is the medical specialty that deals with the care of women's reproductive health, including pregnancy and childbirth.

Obstetricians provide care to women during pregnancy, labor, and delivery, while gynecologists focus on the health of the female reproductive system, including the ovaries, uterus, vagina, and breasts. OB/GYN doctors are trained to provide medical and surgical care for a wide range of conditions related to women's reproductive health.

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