The question on everybody's lips. And no, it doesn't involve a Hypnosis that has you clucking like a chicken.
Simply put, Hypnobirthing is set of tools and techniques embedded in a complete antenatal training programme which is simple, logical and transformative.
Hypnobirthing is centred on releasing fear and building confidence in the natural process of birth through practising relaxation techniques and asking questions about your care.
My Hypnobirthing courses have been created through 2 training providers and developed over time in response to what families need and to make it most effective. It is constantly evolving to ensure it provides families with the most beneficial and up to date information.
It is so much more than breathing, visualisations and relaxations for birth. It allows you to gain an understanding of the physiology of birth and how your body and mind work together to impact your birth experience. We also talk in great deal about how the maternity system within the UK works, and therefore the questions we need to ask to achieve the birth we want.
You are more likely to experience a more comfortable labour and birth.
Your baby is more likely to arrive into a relaxed environment, alert and ready to bond with you.
Length of labour is often much shorter.
Less drugs and medical intervention are used in births that practise Hypnobirthing.
Mums often recover quicker after birth as the physical impact of giving birth is reduced.
Your birth partner will learn how to support you and have a central and active role in the birth.
Real talk and real tools, because I don't want you to feel like you're back at school.
My sessions are super relaxed and comfortable, rather than a “teaching” type of vibe. The way I like to think of it, is that it’s like learning something new from a friend, with lots of chatting back and forth. The connection between us matters and I really do take pride in this. I truly believe people learn best when they’re learning from someone they feel understands them, and you can relate to one another. So I really listen, and I become a safe space for you to express thoughts and feelings about birth. And afterwards you will likely consider me a friend!
Read my about me page to get a feel for me as a person, so you know if i’m the right Hypnobirthing teacher for you. It may also help to hear what others are saying about working with me! Read the testimonials from my past clients here.
FAQ section
You've got questions. We've got answers.
To be honest, whenever you want! I recommend doing the course in your 2nd trimester, if not earlier as this lets you enjoy all the benefits of the relaxation techniques throughout your pregnancy. This also gives you plenty of time to absorb all the information, so the Hypnobirthing techniques begin to feel second nature to you. Allowing plenty of time for the information to absorb also helps to ensure you are making the choices that you are most comfortable with for you and your family. If you are short on time or find Hypnobirthing late on in your pregnancy, the online, on demand Hypnobirthing course may be the perfect option for you - as you can go through this as quickly as you'd like to.
No, Hypnobirthing is suitable and effective for any type of birth. Home births to C-Sections and everything in between! It is also suitable whether you are sure you want an Epidural, or want no pain relief whatsoever. Hypnobirthing is here to guide you to make informed choices, whatever those choices are, and to help ensure you are able to stay relaxed and positive throughout any eventuality of birth. Be sure to check out the birth stories page to see the many different kinds of births my clients have had.
As above, Hypnobirthing is a complete antenatal programme in which we give you unbiased, objective and evidence based information for you to process and make informed decisions with. This is coupled with relaxation techniques to help release any fear, build your confidence and help you stay relaxed so your body can work at it’s best. The antenatal classes run by the NHS, whilst still a worthwhile thing to attend, unfortunately are much shorter and therefore cannot give you the full picture of birth. They also do not provide any relaxation techniques or tools to help keep you comfortable and sometimes can be quite heavily focused on medicalised births.
I think this is the part most people are sceptical and apprehensive about, however it really is simple and not as intimidating as it may seem! There is A LOT of information available on Hypnosis’s effectiveness and the benefits and it is already embedded within the medical system. The National Library of Medicine identifies Hypnosis as “a state in which a person’s attention is detached from his or her immediate environment and is absorbed by inner experiences such as feelings, cognition and imagery”. This means, all Hypnosis is, is a state of deep relaxation much like when you are indulged in a really good book, daydreaming or ready to fall sleep. You will still be in full control of your body and mind at all times. It is nothing like the stage hypnosis you have seen on TV. Hypnosis also works on your subconscious mind, helping eradicate the negative thoughts and fears you have from preconceived ideas about birth. Actually - in a way, it’s more like you get ‘un-hypnotised’ from the fear of childbirth!
No, but I do strongly recommend that they do! Your birth partner has a vital part to play in the birth and the Hypnobirthing course helps prepare them for this, showing them the ways they can support you to have a positive birth. Often the partner says they don’t want to come then leave the sessions amazed at how valuable it’s been. If your partner is unable to attend, let me know and we can have a chat. If you do not have a partner, or are unsure of who your birth partner will be, that is absolutely fine! You can attend the course on your own and you will still reap the benefits.
For the online, on demand course - this of course gives you the flexibility of showing your partner the videos they'll get most value from. Or they could even watch it themselves in their own time too!
No, there are no guarantees in birth unfortunately as there are so many eventualities. But with that being said if you follow the course and put in the practice, it can definitely significantly improve your birth experience. It has been proven that those who undertake a Hypnobirthing course have higher birth satisfaction rates and less medical intervention. Hypnobirthing helps improve your birth experience by:
Helping you make informed choices that feel right for you
Giving you more control over birth experience
Shortening the length of labour
Helping you feel more comfortable in labour (less pain)
Lowering the use of epidurals
Lowering the rates of intervention and unplanned c-section, which both usually correlate with negative birth experiences.
I always find people gravitate towards the different courses for different reasons!
The 1-1 and group offerings in which you work with me live can be a great option if you're someone who worries you'd struggle to schedule in time to complete the course. The live offering helps ensure accountability, with dates and times set aside for you to carry out birth preparation. This can also be a good option for those who feel they'd benefit from a little extra support or to have someone to ask questions, as this is included with these packages.
Alternatively, the online, on demand course is great for people who like to go at their own pace. It might be easier for fitting into your busy lifestyle, or for those who already have kids and are looking for an option that doesn't require childcare. It might also be a great option for those who have found Hypnobirthing late on in their pregnancy and who need to fit in a lot of content in a short space of time.