I Was Totally Calma and Never Needed Any Drugs During M My 36-Hour Labour ; Health

Summary

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Why should women put up with the pain of childbirth? That is the controversial view of one midwifery expert who believes an 'epidemic' of epidurals and other pain-relieving drugs is leading to problems such as prolonged labours. Dr Denis Walsh, an associate professor in midwifery at Nottingham University, has called on the NHS to encourage women to use alternatives such as hypnosis, yoga and massage to relieve the pain instead. But how realistic is it? Birminghammum CATHERINE BARNFIELD explains what happened when she turned to hypnotherapy for the birth of her first child THE thought of going to the doctor's leaves me wanting to run a mile. Even the theme tune to TV drama Holby City sees me reaching for the off button.

The idea of going to hospital frankly terrifies me.

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I Was Totally Calma and Never Needed Any Drugs During M My 36-Hour Labour ; Health

So how on earth was I going to get through the ordeal of having my first child? I wasn't confident enough to opt for a home birth, so when I heard about a course in Harborne teaching mums-tobe how to use hypnotherapy and other natural techniques to cope with childbirth I jumped at the chance to try ...

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