Pregnancy is a very exciting time, yet for some mothers-to-be it can sometimes be an anxious one too, particularly if you haven't been pregnant before, or if you have had a traumatic birth experience in the past.
Some women find that their understandable concerns about their health and the health of their baby, coupled perhaps with pregnancy sickness and hormonal changes, can increase stress levels significantly, which can have a negative impact on their relationships and on their pregnancy.
At the Zita West Clinic we use Hypnotherapy and Pregnancy Counselling to support you through these anxious moments. These therapies are tailor-made to each individual. If you think that you may have symptoms of ante-natal depression it is important to get help and support before the baby is born.
Hypnotherapy is an effective method by which to help you to to reach a profound state of relaxation, during which the subconscious part of the brain is accessed and positive suggestions can be made that release deep-seated fears and phobias.
Many women, particularly those who are pregnant, can find hypnotherapy invaluable in addressing and releasing the fears that may be making them worried and anxious. In addition, hypnotherapy is effective in general stress reduction too and this in turn reduces stress hormones; stress is thought to have an adverse influence on all stages of reproduction and pregnancy. It is particularly effective in helping women work through previous traumatic birth experiences or specific birth fears.
Pregnancy counselling provides time and space for you to explore your feelings and emotions around your pregnancy and how this may be impacting on you and your relationships. The counsellor acts as a knowledgeable sounding-board, helping you to test out ways to manage your situation. Counselling can help you to cope with issues such as:-
• Anxiety and stress in the early stages of pregnancy
• The impact of pregnancy after previous miscarriages, pregnancy loss or previous traumatic birth experiences.
• Ante-natal depression
• Relationship difficulties
• The pressures of work, friends or family