The myth of painful birth

 

Everything you see or hear about birth - from friends, family, or on TV - tells you giving birth is going to hurt.

 

At worst, it's portrayed as some agonising and traumatic experience you have to endure, with your partner standing helplessly by while you scream and suffer in pain.

 

Sound familiar? 

 

Your friends and family mean well.

 

They want you to know what to expect.

 

They think they're helping, by preparing you for 'the inevitable'.

 

The only thing is - they're WRONG

 

Pain is not inevitable.  How can I be so sure?  Because, there are thousands of women who've discovered what we’re about to tell you…

 

HypnoBirthing® teaches you that you don't have to suffer agony when you give birth, that it is possible to have a pain-free birth and most importantly, it puts you back in control of your birth. 

 

Read the full birth story written by one of my clients

 

HypnoBirthing®? Will you make me cluck like a chicken?

 

If you’re like most people, you’re probably thinking "HypnoBirthing®? Does that mean I have to be hypnotised? “I don’t want anyone to control my mind!”

 

Yes - but it is a myth that people can be made to do things against their will.

 

No party tricks

 

Unfortunately, stage and television hypnosis has given many people a very negative and mistaken view of hypnotherapy in general.

 

But you can be sure that the types of people who are part of these types of hypnotic shows are willing volunteers and very much want to be part of the fun.  You will not do something during the hypnotic state that you would not do otherwise.  Hypnosis simply allows you to access the more powerful part of your mind, where you can make changes that will benefit you.  You are always in control.

 

Hypnosis is simply a feeling of relaxed concentration, just like when you're absorbed in a good book. If it's a really good one, you're still awake, and aware of what's going on around you - but you just 'tune out' the distractions.

 

So what is HypnoBirthing® about?

 

HypnoBirthing® allows you to rediscover the truth that birth should be a calm and natural process - not a fraught and traumatic medical event.

 

Women in many other cultures give birth successfully and safely without all the intervention we in the West take for granted. HypnoBirthing® will teach you why...and how.

 

The focus of HypnoBirthing® is on teaching you and your partner some simple but specialised relaxation and breathing techniques. These easy to learn techniques make the whole birth easier, calmer and more comfortable.

 

HypnoBirthing® doesn't require any particular belief system, or prior experience. Some of our Mums (and especially their husbands) have been very sceptical at first - until they experience it for themselves.

 

Just imagine - instead of screaming and being in pain, welcoming each surge. Feeling peaceful... relaxed... and even smiling as your baby comes closer to you.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“I’m still on a high after 24 hours.  I’ve been a midwife for over 30 years and have never seen anything like it”

 

Trish Oswald (midwife who attended the birth of my daughter)

To read my story click here

“My husband and I took HypnoBirthing classes to assist with a more natural birthing experience for our first child.  We both found the techniques very calming and I found them a great way to relax in the final weeks of my pregnancy.  Whilst we planned as natural a birth as possible, we always had a very open mind about what could happen.  Unfortunately, our entire birth plan was turned upside down when an emergency c-section was required, but our open approach and the techniques I’d learnt with Dany certainly helped to keep me calm when all around seemed chaos and I was still able to enjoy the birth of my beautiful son”. 

 

Iolanda Hudson, Mum to Oscar 7 weeks old.

Does it matter how many weeks pregnant I am?

 

Within reason, no. The sooner you start, the more time you have to practise.

 

I’ve had mothers who had only a few weeks left until the birth and still achieved the results they wanted.   However,   if you are over 34 weeks pregnant you my choose instead to attend the Hypnosis for Childbirth course enabling you to concentrate on the techniques for preparing your mind for a comfortable birth.

 

Does it help the baby too?

 

Yes. We find that babies born using HypnoBirthing® tend to be calmer, feed better, sleep better and experience less trauma.

 

That sounds great! Anything else?

 

There's lots, but here's just a few more. With HypnoBirthing® you can:

 

¨ Reduce the length of the first stage of labour by anything from 2 - 4 hours

 

¨ Lower the chances of a breech birth by learning how to 'turn' the baby into the correct position using posture and self-hypnosis

 

¨ Increase your milk flow by using the relaxation techniques you'll learn, if you're planning to breastfeed

 

¨ Dramatically reduce your likelihood of suffering from post-natal depression, because you'll have had a much calmer and less painful birth

 

¨ Recover physically from the birth much faster, because you haven't 'wasted' energy in the process

 

¨ Develop the confidence in your own body to aim for a homebirth, if that is an option you want to consider

 

When are the classes held?

 

The HypnoBirthing® classes run as four 3 hour sessions (totalling 12 hours), one per week on a Saturday or Sunday morning, and are designed to be taught to small groups of couples.

 

Where are they taught?

 

Classes are held in the relaxed comfortable atmosphere of my home in Sidcup, Kent and I only have 3/4 couples per class to ensure that I can support everybody's needs. 

 

You will find that you gain great benefits from the support and encouragement of the other expectant mums and dads and many of my couples become good friends and stay in touch long after the course has finished

 

How much does it cost?

 

The cost of attending these antenatal classes with a difference is £250 and will include:

 

¨ 12 hours of instruction (as stated above) for you and your birthing partner.

 

¨ The HypnoBirthing® (The Mongan Method) Book, which includes an audio CD (Relaxation & Birth Imagery).

 

¨ An audio CD Birth Affirmations & Rainbow Relaxation.

 

¨ Manual (including many scripts and useful information).

 

That sounds expensive!

 

In comparison to free NHS classes, maybe. But then this goes way beyond what you’ll be taught on the NHS, as I’ve mentioned previously. Think of it this way…

 

¨ You'll learn the techniques once for this birth, but then you can then use them again and again, no matter how many children you have.

 

¨ You can use HypnoBirthing® in conjunction with any other plans you have - homebirth or hospital, water birth...whatever. It's your choice what kind of birth to have - HypnoBirthing® helps them all.

 

¨ You can use the techniques to help calm and relax yourself any time you feel stressed out...(I've had many of my couples tell me this alone has been invaluable).

 

¨ You're pregnant for nine months - that's around 280 days - which means this course is just over 89p per day. Less than the cost of a decent cup of coffee…

 

Think about it.

 

¨ What price would you put on feeling calm, relaxed and in control of your birth?

 

¨ What price would you put on giving your baby the best possible start to life.

 

¨ What price would you put on having a natural, comfortable, enjoyable birth?

 

Wow, this is amazing!  How do I book a course?

 

Please, don't hesitate to call me to find out more about this important subject or to check dates and availability of courses. 

What do I get?

 

You'll get a structured but informal class format that teaches about the physical and emotional aspects of birth. You’ll learn why your body does what it does, as well as how.

 

Here are just some of the things you'll learn that a regular antenatal class would not teach you.

 

¨ Breathing techniques that actually help the birth, rather than make it harder (And it’s not the panting that most people think they have to do. Think about it - why would anyone want to hyperventilate during labour??)

 

¨ How to dramatically reduce your risk of tearing during birth with this stunningly simple massage technique

 

¨ When it's right to question the medical staff...what questions to ask...and when it's time to let them take charge

 

¨ How to release any fears you might have about childbirth...regardless of where they come from

 

¨ How to induce your own labour with these simple, natural techniques, if you go beyond your "estimated due date"

 

¨ Most importantly, you'll know how to relax and stay calm and in control, regardless of what's happening around you

 

What if things don’t go to plan?

 

Even if you experience complications - perhaps needing to be induced, or if you need a caesarean - you can still benefit greatly from the techniques...by feeling in control of your birth.

 

I can’t promise you a ‘perfect’ birth - no one can - but I can promise you a much, much more comfortable and relaxed birth than you would have had otherwise.

 

“We can't tell you how lucky we felt to have found you! Thank you so much for Saturday (I hope we didn't over run too much!) but again we left feeling totally elated and very much looking forward to welcoming our little Peanut into this world. You made us both feel welcome and at ease from the moment we walked into your home and I can't even begin to tell you how much I/we have gained from the experience.

 

There is a side to Piers I had never seen- he really surprised me and is being totally supportive and seems to be enjoying his role.  He feels much more involved in the pregnancy.  I am convinced he would not have felt so involved in the birth had we chosen different birthing options- I am sure he would have felt  useless (as so many of our friends husbands state) – with HypnoBirthing he feels totally involved and that's special alone.”

 

Clare and Piers

 

What is HypnoBirthing®?

Antenatal Classes with a Difference!