title: The characteristics of women who use hypnotherapy for intrapartum pain management: Preliminary insights from a nationally-representative sample of Australian women.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This manuscript presents a preliminary examination of the characteristics of women who choose intrapartum hypnosis for pain management.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional analysis of 2445 women (31-36 years) from a sub-study of the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women's Health (ALSWH), employing Fisher exact tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Use of intrapartum hypnosis, or hypnobirthing, for pain management during labour and birth.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women using hypnobirthing were more likely to have consulted with an acupuncturist or naturopath, or attended yoga/meditation classes during pregnancy (p<0.0001). Use of CM products such as herbal medicines, aromatherapy oils, homoeopathy, herbal teas or flower essences (p<0.001) was also more common amongst these women. Women choosing hypnotherapy for intrapartum pain management less commonly identified as feeling safer knowing that an obstetrician is providing their care (p<0.001), and were more likely to labour in a birth centre or in a community centre (i.e. at home).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This analysis provides preliminary analysis into an as yet unexamined topic in contemporary maternity health service utilisation. The findings from this analysis may be useful for maternity health professionals and policy makers when responding to the needs of women choosing to use hypnotherapy for intrapartum pain management.
authors.affiliation: Endeavour College of Natural Health, Level 2, 269 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia; Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2006, Australia. Electronic address: Amie.steel@uts.edu.au.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Steel
authors.affiliation: Endeavour College of Natural Health, Level 2, 269 Wickham St, Fortitude Valley, QLD 4006, Australia; Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Frawley
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sibbritt
authors.affiliation: School of Social Sciences, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Broom
authors.affiliation: Australian Research Centre in Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Ultimo, NSW 2006, Australia.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Adams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001315:Australia; D000529:Complementary Therapies / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006990:Hypnosis / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D048949:Labor Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D059408:Pain Management; D011247:Pregnancy
keywords: Anaesthesia; Birth; Complementary therapies; Health services; Hypnosis; Labour