"My dream is that every woman, everywhere, will know the joy of a truly safe, comfortable and satisfying birth for herself and her baby"

Marie F Mongan - Founder of HypnoBirthing®

For Mother

Can you imagine giving birth comfortably, peacefully and calmly?  How would that help you?  By using a combination of deep relaxation via self-hypnosis, visualisation and breathing the HypnoBirthing® programme enables the mother to birth her baby in a calm, comfortable and a natural manner, just as nature intended.

"...what you taught us helped to give us the most beautiful birth and we can't ever thank you enough.  Finley had such a peaceful and perfect entry into the World and that's a lot down to what you taught us, and managing to get me to find my inner relaxation....which is quite an achievement!"

      -   Eric and Laura on the birth of their first baby "Finley"

Having a baby is a life-changing experience, from conception to the rest of your lives together. Your journey into parenthood is one of the most amazing experiences that you will ever know. HypnoBirthing will enable that event to become all the more satisfying and fulfilling for you, your partner and your baby.

For Father*

"Somebody said that no one can love a child that way a mother can.  Somebody was never a father"

Author Unknown

Occasionally, a father can secretly feel unprepared for the imminent birth of his new baby, often feeling he may be "in the way" of the medical staff, or he thinks he doesn't really know how best to help his partner through her birthing.  HypnoBirthing® provides a very clear and important role for the father, empowering him with skills to fully and actively participate in the birth of his new baby.  The father's role is crucial as he supports the mother, guiding and leading her into deeper relaxation, enabling the release of endorphins, the body's own natural pain relievers.

*In HypnoBirthing®, we refer to the father as the birth companion.  The birth companion can actually be anyone the mother chooses, who has been through the HypnoBirthing® programme and is there to support the mother throughout her birthing.

For Baby

"Dear Michelle, thank you for helping my mummy and daddy to bring me into the world in such a lovely way"

Baby Billie, born August, 2007

Lindsay and Steve's Birthing Story

      "4.30am Went downstairs to make a redbush tea, realised there was a trickle of water down my leg and though “something’s happening!”. I decided to lay down on the sofa and listen to my HypnoBirthing® Rainbow Relaxation music on my Ipod. After an hour I knew I was definitely in labour and the surges (contractions) were getting stronger.I went upstairs and said to my husband “I think something’s happening!, I’m getting surges, but I haven’t had a show yet!”  I laid on the bed, on my side, cuddling a pillow and whilst listening to relaxation music, focussed on my breathing techniques. Steve called the midwife who arrived about 6am.

     The surges were very strong and I lost trace of time, but when a surge happened, I would breathe in and then out, each breath as long as I could, whilst Steve massaged my back very deeply – as taught at the massage class in yoga. In between the surges Steve did the “light touch massage” – as taught as part of the HypnoBirthing® technique – on my back and neck. This gives you goose bumps which sends endorphins to the brain and gives you the “feel good factor”!!

     All of this and the music including the “Affirmations” (positive thoughts about the birth) meant that I had a most wonderful birth experience in just 5 hours!

     The midwife was very encouraging, realising the change in my breathing as I started to breathe down and breath the baby out.  I breathed down with all my strength and Billie’s head came out, the midwives got my hand and I could feel her head and little ear, on my next surge her body came out and Billie came into the world at 9.10am.

     As requested, Billie was put straight on me “skin on skin”, she was all warm and we both cried, it was so emotional, nothing else quite like it.

     I then pushed a 2lb placenta out which wasn’t too bad, I still felt I had the strength to do that, due to being in control of my body through the calming effects of the breathing etc.

     By 10am Billie was having her first feed, I had a bath and by 11am Billie was ready to meet her sister and grandma of course!!!!"

     (For personal beauty therapy by an extremely happy, relaxed and calm beautician, visit Lindsay at www.linz.co.uk)

    
By following this philosophy for birthing, many more mothers are able to have drug free births.  This means that a new born baby, free from the effects of anaesthesia, is alert and attentive to his or her surroundings and can fully participate in the  important role of bonding with mum and dad.  Because the family have interacted with the baby prior to birth, baby seems to know that he or she is a welcome and much wanted addition to the family.  HypnoBirthing® babies seem much calmer, contented, and generally happy little beings.

So What Is HypnoBirthing®?

HypnoBirthing was originally established in the United States by Marie Mongan and has been successfully running and increasing in popularity for almost twenty years. The programme is founded on the research and techniques of an early 20th century English obstetrician called

Dr Grantly Dick-Read, upon whose principles are founded the National Childbirth Trust (NCT).

Marie Mongan's book HypnoBirthing® - A Celebration Of Life, was first published in 1989.

For more information, read the first chapter of A Celebration Of Life here.

For much more detailed information on HypnoBirthing®, visit our official UK site www.HypnoBirthing.co.uk  and there is also our sister site based in America www.HypnoBirthing.com

The Course and Fees

The complete HypnoBirthing® programme is taught over a total of 12.5 hours. These classes can either be taught to individual couples or in small groups (group discounts apply, please contact me for more information).

The cost of the programme is only £275 per couple, and for this you will receive:

   -12.5 hours tutition time  

   -The official HypnoBirthing® book, "HypnoBirthing®, The Breakthrough Approach to 

    Safer, Easier, Comfortable Birthing"

   -The official HypnoBirthing® CD "Rainbow Relaxation and Birth Affirmations"

   -CD of Relaxation Music

   -Course Handouts and Scripts

The programme can run either over four/five sessions or over the course of two weekends. I usually work with couples in their own home.  After all, where is one more relaxed than in their own home?  Mother is so much more relaxed and comfortable, and it is a wonderful place to work especially if contemplating a home birth. 

Payment can be either spread over the sessions or paid in full, I really dont mind, whatever is conventient for you.  I do require a refundable deposit of £50.00 to secure your place.

And why are we so lucky here in Torbay?

As pregnant and birthing mothers, we are so lucky here in Torbay.  Should you choose to birth your baby in hospital, you will be well looked after by the wonderful midwives at Torbay Maternity Unit.   We have some really lovely midwives in Torbay, and I should know, all three of my beautiful births have been overseen by these caring, compassionate and professional people. And don't forget to check out their birthing pool! Alternatively, have you considered a home birth?  Devon is, after all,  the county with the highest number of home births with a rate of 5.4 per cent, more than double the UK average*. Thought of using a birthing pool for a home birth?  Home births and water births work in beautiful combination with HypnoBirthing®.