What is hypnobirthing?

The term hypnobirthing is understandably off-putting. It conjures up images of people being hypnotised by swinging pocket watches or hippies practising yoga. If neither of these things appeal to you, then it’s easy to quickly dismiss the idea. Which is exactly what I did when I first heard the term!

Pregnant woman standing, holding bump

So, what is hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing is so much more than its name suggests! My hypnobirthing course is a complete childbirth and antenatal course. It will teach you everything you need to know about labour and childbirth, including what happens to your body, how to deal with it and how to navigate the maternity system. We look at:

  • Mindset: How to ditch the fear and feel calm and confident and why this is important

  • Practical techniques to help you stay calm and relax during labour (this will help with the pain!)

  • What actually happens to your body during labour

  • The maternity system: Your options for giving birth (including pain relief, inductions and c-sections)

  • Birth plans: Why they’re important and what to include

  • The role of your birth partner during labour and what they can do to help

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to childbirth and there is no perfect hypnobirthing teacher for everyone. My course will teach you all you need to know about childbirth and how to have the best experience possible for you but we also look at the realities of giving birth in the modern world, including pain relief and other interventions. My course will help you to make the decisions that are right for you.

Other popular antenatal courses will look at the postpartum period as well but that is not covered on my courses.

How does hypnobirthing work?

One of the biggest problems we have when it comes to childbirth is fear. A hypnobirthing course helps to address the fear in a number of different ways:

  • Education: You are less likely to fear something you understand

  • Relaxation techniques: We look at ways to help you relax “on demand”

  • Self-hypnosis: Entering a relaxed state where it is possible to reframe your feelings around birth (keep reading for more on hypnosis)

  • Visualisation and positive affirmations

What is hypnosis?

The part that really puts people off hypnobirthing is the idea of hypnosis. And I get that but once you understand what hypnosis is, it doesn’t seem so ridiculous.

Hypno actually comes from the Greek word meaning sleep. Hypnosis is that relaxed, daydream-like state between being awake and asleep that we all enter several times a day. And perhaps the most surprising thing is that all hypnosis is voluntary! The hypnosis that we see on TV is just stage hypnosis and I can guarantee there will be no pocket watches on my course.

Why is ditching the fear so important for childbirth?

The key hormone at work during labour is oxytocin which is also known as the shy hormone. This is the hormone that brings on your contractions and helps your uterus get that baby out.

Oxytocin is the enemy of adrenaline which is the hormone that kicks into action when we are afraid. Most of us have spent years watching TV shows and films that teach us to be afraid of labour. So when those contractions start, the adrenaline kicks in and we become tense. Tension means that our uterus can’t do its job properly and the contractions become more painful causing your oxytocin levels to drop. The contractions become less efficient and labour slows down. Once you’ve had one painful contraction, everything you’ve ever heard about labour seems true, making you more tense and so the cycle continues.

My hypnobirthing course works by helping you address your fear of labour. This will help break this cycle, helping you to stay calm and keep the oxytocin flowing.