Got any Questions About HypnoBirthing?
Below are some frequently asked questions. For course options & booking information please click here. In case you prefer a personal chat, please just give me a call on 07957 541056 - I am always happy to answer your questions.
Who is HypnoBirthing suitable for?
HypnoBirthing is suitable for first time mums and mums who've had kids before.
It has been designed to help women prepare themselves for a calmer, easier, more natural birth experience. It is particularly helpful if you are scared of birth because you've never done it before, or are anxious because of a bad experience last time.
If you're pregnant, and looking for an alternative to the over-medicalised, pain-is-inevitable, "gimme all the drugs" mindset, then HypnoBirthing is for you.
Will I be 'out of it' if I use HypnoBirthing?
No, absolutely not. With HypnoBirthing (in fact, with virtually all hypnosis), you are aware of what is going on around you but you can just 'tune out' the distractions. See my page about hypnosis.
I'm scared of hypnosis and hypnotherapy. Is HypnoBirthing safe?
Hypnosis is absolutely safe and nothing to be scared of.
Unfortunately, TV, film and stage portrayal of hypnosis has left a lot of people with a mistaken view of what hypnosis is, and what it can (and can't) do.
Because this is such a common problem, I've got a page dedicated to dispelling the myths about hypnosis.
Can you guarantee a completely pain-free labour and birth?
No. There are many factors that can affect a birth, some of which are outside your control.
Also, like any childbirth preparation class, the success of the techniques is related to the amount of practice you put in.
However, as a guide, we find that around 65-70% of HypnoBirthing mums don't need any form of pain relief. Nearly all the mums in this category simply don't experience any pain - just pressure.
Around a further 20-25% only require something mild, like gas and air.
The remaining 5-10% usually fall into what we call 'special circumstances', where medical intervention is required. However, the HypnoBirthing mums still tell us that HypnoBirthing really helped - even if they were induced, or ended up with a caesarean.
Remember - the aim of HypnoBirthing is not a completely pain-free and picture-perfect 'natural' birth (although that is possible).
It is to have a calmer, easier, more comfortable birth- where you are in control - and in a way that most mirrors Nature.
Does my partner/husband have to attend the classes?
Ideally, yes! - Birthing companions are a very important part of HypnoBirthing success - and, as some HypnoBirthing techniques are devised to promote family bonding, it is highly recommended for your partner to be your birth companion for maximum benefits of the programme.
However, if your partner/husband cannot attend all the classes and/or help you practice or attend the birth, your mother, sister or friend can also be your birthing companion.
You may also choose to have two birth companions, and bring them both along to the classes.
When should I start the classes?
Somewhere between 25-30 weeks is ideal, as the success of the course is strongly linked to how much practice you do. However, provided you can finish the course before you give birth, it's still going to help. (In fact, some women have given birth half-way through the course and it still helped).
If you should find yourself very near the end of your pregnancy already it may also be possible to arrange the course over a shorter time frame than the usually prescribed format of 4 to 5 short sessions running over as many weeks, so please get in touch to discuss options and short term availability.
Please note: To ensure maximum flexibility and availability of course dates, I recommend to book and reserve your place as soon as you know that you would like to do HypnoBirthing.