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Maximizing your Positive Birth Experience: The Ultimate Guide to using Hypnobirthing with an Induction of Labour

Updated: Dec 11, 2025

Can hypnobirthing techniques help during an induction of labour?

Absolutely hypnobirthing techniques can benefit you during an induction of labour, and beforehand when making crucial decisions. This blog explains the many ways you can utilise the hypnobirthing tool kit to benefit your birth experience, and is packed with practical tips you can start using today. Enjoy!


This blog covers:

 

How hypnobirthing can help during an induction of labour:

I describe hypnobirthing techniques as building a “hypnobirthing toolkit” comprising of 2 parts. Part 1 includes informed decision-making and questioning tools. Part 2 consists of the breathing, relaxation and mindset tools (of which there are many). These tools benefit ALL births in ALL locations and here’s how you can use them alongside an induction of labour.


Hypnobirthing tool kit part 1: Informed decision-making tools:

Making informed decisions that are right for you and your baby as individuals is really important, and it's ok if they differ from what what someone else might do, you are an individual with unique wants and needs.


First up you have the BRAIIN acronym, designed to help you when making decisions and assessing what feels right for you, this tool gets you to consider the:

  • Benefits: What are the benefits of doing or not doing something?

  • Risks: What are the risks of doing or not doing something?

  • Alternatives: What are the alternative options you could consider?

  • Information: Is the information clear and of good quality e.g. based on grade A study evidence? Does it make sense to you? if not ask questions!

  • Instinct: What is your instinct or “gut” telling you? Instinct is an often overlooked but incredibly valuable tool. Utilise it.

  • Nothing: What if you do nothing? Be that for 5 minutes, a day or a week? If all is well with you and baby would you prefer to wait a while and come back to the decision in the future.

You can use this tool whenever you need to make a decision, even if time is very short.


The importance of asking “why?”: 

There may be instances when induction of labour is offered and after assessing all the information and using the BRAIIN tool you consider it necessary, there may also instances when induction of labour is offered and you consider it unnecessary.


Asking “why?” induction of labour is being offered is really important. It is up to you to decide if accepting anything offered is right for you. It is valuable knowing you can always ask your healthcare providers "why?”, and if the reason given doesn’t feel valid for you, at that time and based on the information you have, you can decline, or delay anything.


Dr Sara Wickham writes extensively about induction of labour, why it is offered and knowing if it is the right choice for you. I always recommend her books incliuding "In Your Own Time" and "What's Right For me?" to clients.


As a Doula and Hypnobirthing teacher my job is to offer you information, emotional and practical support when you need it. I've got got your back, particularly when faced with tricky decisions. Book a free discovery call or visit the website to discover the education and support I can offer you.


Understand the actual ‘risk’:

Pregnancy is commonly defined by risk, with labels of “high risk” or “low risk”. Your acceptable level of risk is individual and should be considered when making choices about your maternity care. When discussing ‘risk’ with your midwife or healthcare provider, ask for information to be given in absolute terms, meaning being told actual figures. Commonly ‘risk’ is discussed in relative terms e.g. “twice as likely” which can sound scary.

Understanding the actual figures being discussed doesn’t change the information, however, it may change how you feel about the information and your response to it. A chance increase from 0.1% to 0.2% and 20% to 40% is the same as “twice as likely” or “double”, however, the figures are very different so knowing the actual figure may result in you making a different choice.

 

Using the “Why?”, BRAIINS and receiving information absolute terms (actual figures) can help facilitate conversations with your healthcare providers and assist you in deciding what is right for you and your baby as individuals.

 

Using hypnobirthing relaxation tools during an Induction of Labour:

With any labour and birth, being calm and relaxed benefits your natural birthing hormones (oxytocin & beta-endorphins). Practicing how to calm your body before birth will help you feel relaxed during labour and increase your natural levels of oxytocin and pain killing beta endorphins, resulting in your uterus muscles working more efficiently and effectively. I explain exactly why and how these tools work during the hypnobirthing course so it all makes sense. Here are some of the relaxation tools you could utilise:

 

Hypnobirthing toolkit part 2: Relaxation tools

Birth is a hormonal process that requires loads of oxytocin, oxytocin is a shy hormone that is produced when you feel calm and safe. This is why having tools to calm your mind and body is really helpful during any labour and birth, including spontaneous and induced labours. With practice and repetition during pregnancy you can build positive anchors in your brain to help you feel calm and relaxed, therefore supporting the production of natural oxytocin and the working of your uterus muscles. Here are some tools you can try...


Use your Breathing:

Your uterus (womb) muscles need oxygen and blood flowing freely to work effectively, understanding how to utilise your breath to maximise calm is always beneficial. Practice breathing in through your nose for 4 and out your relaxed mouth for 7. you'll soon notice the benefit to your body and mind.


Tap into your senses:

Sight:

Look at pictures of favourite places or people or words that relax or empower you (positive affirmations are great for this)

Sound:

Listen to relaxations, affirmations and create a labour playlist that makes you calm and happy. It can be calming sounds or a rave mix to help you dance in labour, it’s completely up to you.

Smell:

Use smell to help you feel calm, relaxed and safe. Lavender is known to aid relaxation, or a favourite perfume or aftershave on a tissue or pillow can help.

Touch:

There are various massage techniques a birth partner can do that can help you feel calm or aid comfort. I teach you four techniques on my courses and you can pick your favourite.

Taste:

The labouring body needs fuel to function efficiently so eating and drinking little and often is important, eating things like chocolate can release oxytocin.

 

Visualisation: (or imagining)

Being able to create an image in your mind of a happy place and focus on this can help blocking out external distractions. This can reduce adrenaline levels and boost much needed oxytocin hormone.

 


Movement & birth positions:

Image of a woman using a peanut ball in 3 different positions to help with labour.
Peanut ball positions demonstrated by @mamastefit

Freedom of movement is really beneficial during labour. Being in an upright position and able to move instinctively (instead of lying on your back) aids pain relief, increases the space in the pelvis for baby move down and reduces the chances of experiencing a severe perianal tear.


If you choose to have an epidural, being supported to be in an upright or position off your sacrum (back of your pelvis) is still possible using peanut balls, pillows or help from your birth partner, midwife or healthcare provider supporting your legs.


A blue peanut ball
A peanut ball can be used during labour to support your position and comfort












Optimising your birth environment:

I’ve written a blog about how you can optimise your birth room environment and the benefits this has to your birth hormones. Give this a read for some ideas on how you can personalise your birth room in any birth, including induction or caesarean birth.

 

Pain relief and comfort measure options:

There are loads of pain relief options available to you, both non-pharmaceutical and pharmaceutical. I have listed 16 labour pain relief choices in this blog. Each option has their own pros and cons and I encourage you to use the informed decision making tools to work out what feels best for you.

 

Writing a birth plan:

I encourage everyone to make a birth plan. I’d actually make 3. Plan A = your ideal birth, Plan B = induction of labour and Plan C = Caesarean (C-section) birth. Read this birth plan blog full of tips for you.


5 Tips for a Positive Induction of Labour:


Boost your natural oxytocin levels:

Boosting your natural oxytocin levels will benefit your body's natural working and your birth. This blog has some oxytocin boosting tips.


Positive Birth Stories:

Seek out positive induction birth stories, they exist and can be helpful to see what is possible. Including this birth video "Hypnobirthing with Synticinon".


Practice relaxation and breathing skills:

Practicing these in pregnancy is beneficial, this blog explains why, and you can use them in ALL birth scenarios (and beyond into parenting)


Remember the choice is yours:

Get informed, know your induction options and use BRAIIN and ask 'WHY?' to help you decide what is best for you and your baby.


Write your birth plan(s):

Birth plans help your health care providers know how best to support you during your labour and birth. Writing multiple plans, helps you consider what you'd like if your birth evolves away from your 'Plan A'


Everything in this blog is discussed in depth on a Positive Birth Leeds Hypnobirthing course.

I also offer "Power Hour" sessions if you want to have a focused chat about a specific subject such as induction of labour. Get in touch to book.


Want to know more or have any questions? get in touch to arrange a free dicovery call (with zero obligation to book).

Alternatively, secure your group course space TODAY with only a £50 deposit, via the website.


Additional reading & signposts:

Here are some extra resources you can use to understand more about induction of labour, your options and the evidence to help you make decisions.


Websites:


Books:

The AIMS Guide to Induction of Labour - Principal Author: Nadia Higson, Ph.D.

In Your Own Time - Dr Sara Wickham

Why Induction Matters - Dr Rachel Reed


Podcasts:

The Obs Pod - Dr Florence Wilcock - Episode 35 - Induction

The Great Birth Rebellion - Dr Melanie Jackson - Multiple episodes about induction including Episode 33, 133, 134 and 155.

The Midwives Cauldron - Dr Rachel Reed & Midwife Katie James



Charlotte from Positive Birth Leeds is sat smiling at the camera holding a cup of tea.

I'm an experienced doula and hypnobirthing teacher who can help you get informed and feel confident and empowered for your baby's birth.


Or get in touch to ask about private one-to-one course availability.


Charlotte x



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