Hypnosis and conversion of the breech to the vertex presentation. 1994

L E Mehl
Department of Psychiatry, University of Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effectiveness of hypnosis to convert a breech presentation to a vertex presentation. METHODS Prospective case series compared with historical, matched comparison group. METHODS One hundred pregnant women whose fetuses were in breech position at 37 to 40 weeks' gestation and a matched comparison group of women with similar obstetrical and sociodemographic parameters derived from databases for other studies from the same time period and geographical areas. METHODS The intervention group received hypnosis with suggestions for general relaxation with release of fear and anxiety. While in the hypnotic state women were asked for the reasons why their baby was in the breech presentation. As much hypnosis was provided as was convenient and possible for the women until they were delivered of the baby or the baby converted to the vertex position. METHODS A successful conversion for the intervention group was scored when the baby spontaneously converted to the vertex position before delivery or successful external cephalic version. The conversion rate of the intervention group was compared with the comparison group who received standard obstetrical care without the opportunity for hypnosis. METHODS Parametric testing of statistically significant differences in the rate of conversion between the two groups. RESULTS Eighty-one percent of the fetuses in the intervention group converted to vertex presentation compared with 48% of those in the comparison group. This difference was statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS Motivated subjects can be influenced by a skilled hypnotherapist in such a manner that their fetuses have a higher incidence of conversion from breech to vertex presentation. Psychophysiological factors may influence the breech presentation and may explain this increased frequency of conversion to vertex presentation.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D006990 Hypnosis A state of increased receptivity to suggestion and direction, initially induced by the influence of another person or oneself. Autohypnosis,Clinical Hypnosis,Hypnoanalysis,Mesmerism,Self-Hypnosis,Hypnotherapy,Hypnotism,Hypnosis, Clinical,Hypnotherapies,Self Hypnosis
D011247 Pregnancy The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH. Gestation,Pregnancies
D011263 Pregnancy Trimester, Third The last third of a human PREGNANCY, from the beginning of the 29th through the 42nd completed week (197 to 294 days) of gestation. Pregnancy, Third Trimester,Trimester, Third,Last Trimester,Last Trimesters,Pregnancies, Third Trimester,Pregnancy Trimesters, Third,Third Pregnancy Trimester,Third Pregnancy Trimesters,Third Trimester,Third Trimester Pregnancies,Third Trimester Pregnancy,Third Trimesters,Trimester, Last,Trimesters, Last,Trimesters, Third
D011446 Prospective Studies Observation of a population for a sufficient number of persons over a sufficient number of years to generate incidence or mortality rates subsequent to the selection of the study group. Prospective Study,Studies, Prospective,Study, Prospective
D001946 Breech Presentation A malpresentation of the FETUS at near term or during OBSTETRIC LABOR with the fetal cephalic pole in the fundus of the UTERUS. There are three types of breech: the complete breech with flexed hips and knees; the incomplete breech with one or both hips partially or fully extended; the frank breech with flexed hips and extended knees. Fetal Presentation, Breech,Labor Presentation, Breech,Presentation, Breech,Complete Breech,Frank Breech Presentation,Incomplete Breech,Breech Fetal Presentation,Breech Labor Presentation,Breech Presentation, Frank,Breech, Complete,Breech, Incomplete,Presentation, Breech Fetal,Presentation, Breech Labor,Presentation, Frank Breech
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000328 Adult A person having attained full growth or maturity. Adults are of 19 through 44 years of age. For a person between 19 and 24 years of age, YOUNG ADULT is available. Adults
D014710 Version, Fetal The artificial alteration of the fetal position to facilitate birth. External Cephalic Version,Fetal Version,Version, External Cephalic,Cephalic Version, External,Cephalic Versions, External,External Cephalic Versions,Fetal Versions,Versions, External Cephalic,Versions, Fetal
D016022 Case-Control Studies Comparisons that start with the identification of persons with the disease or outcome of interest and a control (comparison, referent) group without the disease or outcome of interest. The relationship of an attribute is examined by comparing both groups with regard to the frequency or levels of outcome over time. Case-Base Studies,Case-Comparison Studies,Case-Referent Studies,Matched Case-Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Studies,Case Control Studies,Case-Compeer Studies,Case-Referrent Studies,Case Base Studies,Case Comparison Studies,Case Control Study,Case Referent Studies,Case Referrent Studies,Case-Comparison Study,Case-Control Studies, Matched,Case-Control Studies, Nested,Case-Control Study,Case-Control Study, Matched,Case-Control Study, Nested,Case-Referent Study,Case-Referrent Study,Matched Case Control Studies,Matched Case-Control Study,Nested Case Control Studies,Nested Case-Control Study,Studies, Case Control,Studies, Case-Base,Studies, Case-Comparison,Studies, Case-Compeer,Studies, Case-Control,Studies, Case-Referent,Studies, Case-Referrent,Studies, Matched Case-Control,Studies, Nested Case-Control,Study, Case Control,Study, Case-Comparison,Study, Case-Control,Study, Case-Referent,Study, Case-Referrent,Study, Matched Case-Control,Study, Nested Case-Control

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