Introduction:
Fear of childbirth, also known as tocophobia, has become an increasingly recognised factor contributing to perinatal mental health challenges and rising rates of planned caesarean sections globally. This concern has led to a growing interest in the potential of antenatal hypnobirthing education as a holistic approach to reduce these fears and support positive birth experiences. Grounded in the belief that birth is a natural and safe physiological process, hypnobirthing supports pregnant women in building a sense of self-trust, adopting a positive mindset towards labour, and approaching childbirth calmly through diverse relaxation, breathing and visualisation techniques. This systematised literature review examined the influence of antenatal hypnobirthing education on women with tocophobia.

Methods:
A thorough search on four electronic databases was conducted for studies on the impact of hypnobirthing education on pregnant women with tocophobia, published between January 2013 and August 2023. The search strategy and selection process were guided by the SPIDER framework and PRISMA guidelines. The reviewed studies included women with singleton, low-risk pregnancies across any trimester. Data from the selected studies were synthesised and analysed thematically using Braun and Clarke’s six-step approach.

Results:
Ten studies fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Thematic synthesis revealed two major themes: 1) Mothers’ tocophobia symptoms, including fear, anxiety and physical manifestations during pregnancy and labour; and 2) Mothers’ thoughts and feelings, highlighting women’s emotional responses to pregnancy and birth, as well as their coping mechanisms and overall birth experience. Findings indicated that hypnobirthing contributes to a consistent reduction in childbirth-related fear and anxiety, accompanied by lower expectations of labour pain and a shift towards a more positive mindset. Participants also reported an enhanced sense of confidence, control and empowerment during labour and birth.

Conclusion:
This systematised literature review demonstrates the valuable role of antenatal hypnobirthing education in enhancing women’s psychological wellbeing and mitigating tocophobia during pregnancy and labour. By promoting calmness, confidence and trust in birthing women, hypnobirthing may help reduce perinatal distress and lower the overall number of caesarean sections. These findings support the inclusion of hypnobirthing education within routine antenatal care to further enhance women’s birth experiences and improve overall maternal outcomes.