If I ask you to build an image of birth in your head now, what would it be? Where are you? Who is with you? What noises are around you? What lighting is there? What position are you in?
 
The image that you’re thinking of is an insight into what your subconscious mind thinks birth is like.

These thoughts will influence what choices you will make and how you feel you are expected to behave during pregnancy and labour. Your subconscious thoughts will also impact the physical sensations you feel, your ability to cope in labour and ability to communicate too. 
 
For many people the images that arise are based on what they have seen on TV, in films and stories from friends and family. A lot of the time this image of birth is based on fear & assumptions - like we all need to give birth on our backs and that birth is often seen as ‘an emergency’ we need to rush to hospital for.
 
These images of birth might be the norm or common (based on what you have seen and heard throughout your life), but they’re not necessarily what your body NEEDS for physiological birth. Learning what your body needs to feel safe and work at its best, is the first step towards you being able to make choices that will support your birthing body.
 
This is what Hypnobirthing does. It’s a full antenatal education, helping you to learn everything about birth and how to support your birthing body. It's about building your confidence and helping to ensure the decisions you will make are based on facts and instinct, not fear and assumptions.
 
As well as understanding how to support your body, it would be naive for me to say that's all you need to know for your birth prep. There are no 100% guarantees when it comes to birth and sometimes more medical support is needed, or wanted, and so it is important that you're prepared for any twists and turns that may come your way.
 
My Hypnobirthing courses cover all aspects of labour and birth, and all the different types of birth you can have. We talk about some of the common ‘bumps in the road’ you may face and what to expect at every single stage. We talk about all your options, you'll learn practical tools to work out what you and your birth partner want, and most importantly, we discuss how you can communicate those choices to your care providers and how to navigate the maternity system.
 
Having worked as a midwife within the maternity system, I truly understand how it works and the things you can do to stack the odds in your favour of having the birth that you want.
 
Whatever birth you plan for, my antenatal hypnobirthing courses will help you to feel more in control, feel calmer throughout your pregnancy and birth, and they'll help to build your confidence to feel complete autonomy over your birth experience, whatever happens on the day.