Hypnobirthing: what is it and … does it really work??

The Approach That Changed Everything: Hypnobirthing

The other day, I was searching the internet to see what was going on with hypnobirthing beyond U.S. borders. Was this program truly a worldwide movement—or just a “cool club” for celebrity moms like Kate Middleton and Gisele Bündchen?

In one fiery blog comment section, I saw a conversation between two moms with very different experiences. One mom dismissed the idea of a calm or comfortable birth, using actual swear words to describe the illusion of ‘‘pain free’ labor, swearing by her epidural. Another insisted hypnobirthing had completely transformed her birthing and gave her a pain free experience. I found myself agreeing with both perspectives.

I’ve had both kinds of births. My first labor story happened 20 years ago and involved a marathon of pain, an epidural, a near-miss C-section. Luckily, my son was born a robust baby who emerged seemingly unbothered by any of it. Meanwhile, I was stuck in bed for six weeks after giving birth, relying on my husband's superhero powers to keep the ship afloat. Amid the chaos, I questioned why such a natural process had to be so grueling. I learned later, it did not need to be. I learned that labor and birth can be quite the opposite- intimate, peaceful, simple, and a lot more comfortable. As a result, my second labor was quick, easy, and almost unrecognizably different.

What made the difference?

Stumbling Into Hypnobirthing

During my second pregnancy, I went to a prenatal yoga class where my instructor casually mentioned a book: Hypnobirthing: The Mongan Method by Marie Mongan. At first, I thought nothing of it. At the time, I’d never meditated and had zero experience with hypnosis. I simply assumed the author must be some mystic or lifelong meditator. To my surprise, she was just a regular woman—one who, after being forced into twilight sleep births with her first three children, decided to fight back. For her fourth baby, she finally gave birth the way nature intended—awake, aware, and feeling good through the whole process.

Her words struck me deeply. As I read, I felt a quiet click: maybe this was the missing piece. Maybe birth didn’t have to mean a very long labor and suffering.

What is Hypnobirthing? 

Hypnobirthing International defines hypnobirthing as “a rewarding, relaxing, stress-free method of birthing based on the belief that all babies should come into the world gently, in an atmosphere of calm and joy. Hypnobirthing prepares a birthing couple - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually- for an easier, more comfortable, and sometimes pain-free birth”.

The program unfolds over five weekly classes (2.5 hours each), where you and your partner learn to tap into deep relaxation, harness your breath, and let your body and baby lead the way. It’s practical and hands-on: you’ll receive the Mongan Method book, a workbook, and audio tracks to practice at home. Most importantly, your birthing partner learns exactly how to support you—not just on the sidelines, but as an active, grounding presence.

But…Does It Work?

For years, skeptics dismissed hypnobirthing as “just a fad.” But research is catching up. A 2022 randomized controlled trial titled Effect of Hypnobirthing Training on Fear, Pain, Satisfaction, and Birth Outcomes found that hypnobirthing:

• Halved the length of labor compared to those without it

• Reduced fear of childbirth dramatically

• Lowered the need for epidurals or inductions (almost none in the hypnobirthing group vs. nearly half in the control group)

• Increased vaginal births while lowering C-section rates - almost all women in the hypnobirthing group gave birth vaginally, whereas more than half of the women in the control group gave birth by cesarean

The science is clear: hypnobirthing works.

What It Feels Like

Here’s the magic: when you’re in labor using hypnobirthing, you may look like you’re napping. But in reality, you’re working with your breath and body, deeply connected to your baby. It’s not about fighting contractions—it’s about softening into them.

When my second son was born, labor lasted just six hours. He came into the world calm and wide-eyed, and my husband knew exactly how to be there for me. We left the birthing center within 24 hours, feeling as if we’d just been out for a coffee run.

Why This Class Matters

Birth is unpredictable—no program can promise perfection. But what hypnobirthing offers is something far more powerful: the tools to meet labor with calm, confidence, and connection regardless of how it unfolds.

For me, it turned birth from something I endured into something I embraced. That’s why I’m teaching it today—because I believe every parent deserves to feel empowered, not overwhelmed.