frequently asked questions.

Is hypnobirthing for me?

Let me answer this one with a question... are you having a baby? If you answered yes, then hypnobirthing can have a positive impact on your experience of labour and birth.

It’s not just about one idealised birth type either. I have worked with first, second and third time mums. I’ve also worked with surrogates and intended parents.

There have been home births, hospital births, water births, planned and unplanned caesarean births. Some medicated, some not.

The point of hypnobirthing is not to guide you towards one type of birth, but to inform you on all the different ways there are to give birth so that you are armed with the information you need to make the decisions regarding your birth for yourself.

When is the best time to do a hypnobirthing course?

Usually it’s recommended to start your hypnobirthing course between 20 and 30 weeks of pregnancy.

Having said this, it is entirely possible to attend right up until your ‘due date’ and still experience a seriously positive impact on your birth. If your ‘due date’ is fast approaching, it may be worth considering my hypnobirthing essentials course rather than a full course.

At the other end of the scale, if you’re feeling particularly anxious or scared about labour and birth, then it’s entirely possible to attend from 12 weeks onwards, once you’ve had your first scan.

Does my birth partner need to attend too?

If you don’t have a birth partner, then the course can be adapted to your nee, and you can still gain many benefits from it. If you do have a birthing partner however, it is strongly advised that they attend with you.

We’re used to seeing birth partners depicted as pretty useless beings that sit in the corner saying unhelpful things and eating all the snacks. But this is such a load of rubbish! On your hypnobirthing course you will learn about the many ways in which your partner can play an active role in supporting you during each stage of labour and birth.

Can I only attend if my husband/wife/partner is my birth partner?

Not at all! The most important thing about a birth partner is that they are somebody you feel safe and comfortable with, and that you feel supported by. For some that might be a parent, sibling, best friend or any number of other people.

But it’s hypnosis isn’t it? Isn’t that like mind control?

No. Absolutely not. Hypnosis gets a bad rap thanks to the stage hypnotism most of us have seen on TV.

Hypnosis is simply a way of entering into a deep state of relaxation, focusing inwards and opening yourself up to the suggestion of more positive ways of thinking. You will remain in full control of your mind and body at all times.

Will taking a hypnobirthing course guarantee me a pain free labour and birth?

I’m afraid not, sorry. But what hypnobirthing will do is help you to move away from the images of birth we’re so conditioned to believe are true in TV and film - with women lying on their backs in hospital, writhing in agony and swearing they’ll never let their partner near them again - to a more realistic version of birth.

The sort of pain we’re used to seeing associated with birth stems from fear, and the fact that the physical response our bodies have to fear stands directly in the path of letting our bodies do what they are naturally completely capable of doing. If you think about it logically, if physiological birth was such an unbearable experience, there wouldn’t be enough humans in existence to fill a cul-de-sac, let alone an entire planet would there?

If things change or I have any questions after the course, are you still available if I need you?

Absolutely. If you have any questions at all or are feeling stressed about your birth, I’m always happy to lend an ear and work with you to see how we can get you back to your happy place!

It’s likely that you’ll still have appointments to attend with midwives and various other professionals once you’ve completed your course. If these appointments result in you feeling stressed or having questions you’d like answered, I’m always more than happy to help.

As I will tell you on your course, I’m not medically qualified and so will never offer advice (nobody in the capacity of hypnobirthing instructor should be giving medical advice, even if they have other qualifications) But I have access to reliable sources of information, and I will signpost you to the appropriate resources and organisations to make sure you have as much information and support as possible in order to stay on track with making birth related decisions that feel right for you.