About Hypnobirthing
Not 'out there' nonsense, not just for a ‘natural’ birth – hypnobirthing is scientific, evidenced based birth preparation, for any kind of person and any kind of birth.
Giving birth is a magical thing that humans are innately designed to do, and do so beautifully. Unfortunately, in many ways, society has conditioned us that birth is scary, painful, dangerous, traumatic (insert other suitable dread-inferring adjective here). The truth is that birth doesn’t have to be this way – it really doesn’t!
Just like other mammals, we are designed to give birth efficiently and smoothly. Fear and stress are what stop us from doing so. Fear and adrenalin have no place in labour! In a nutshell, fear=adrenalin=pain. Through discussion around how your birthing body works, the process of labour and addressing any specific concerns you might have, I work with you to remove your fears. Take away the fear, take away the adrenalin, you reduce the pain, your uterus can work efficiently and birth is a lot smoother. It really is that simple! Now, I’m not promising you a pain free birth, but hypnobirthing parents often report noticeably less pain and discomfort and often quicker labours.
In addition, hypnobirthing gives you the knowledge to understand your options for medical intervention during pregnancy and labour and the implications of the choices you make through evidence based, myth busting, cold hard facts.
As a result, you are able to confidently take back responsibility for the birth of your baby and make informed decisions to achieve the most positive outcome physically, mentally and emotionally for you and your baby.
The course is constantly evolving to keep up-to-date with the latest evidence and research, so you can be assured that you will be receiving the most current and relevant information.
Add in to that effective relaxation techniques, powerful birth affirmations to get you thinking positively about your upcoming labour and beautiful relaxation scripts and LOTS of pointers for how your birth partner can support you and you have a profound, all encompassing antenatal programme that will have you ready to give birth like the with confidence and excitement! If you’d like to know what others say about my course (and good for you for looking for evidence!) – have a look at my testimonials to see what my clients have said and please do get in touch if you’d like to know more.
So, that's all about what Hypnobirthing is, but what about what it isn't?
Nope – for a start, I believe all birth is ‘natural’, however it happens, but hypnobirthing is about empowerment, about taking responsibility for your birth and having a positive experience. This can look however you want it to, at home in a pool surrounded by candles and fairy lights with Joni Mitchell playing in the background, or in delivery suite with all the drugs going and Game of Thrones on your tablet, whatever you view as your ideal birth. It is true that often during the course mums change their mind about what their ‘ideal’ birth will be, but birth is birth, however it happens, and the techniques learnt in hypnobirthing are useful for everyone and anyone. There is no judgement here, only cheerleading.
Again, not true. There is no ‘failure’ when having a baby – if you’ve done it, you’re a superstar, end of. It may well be that we’ve planned our ideal birth, the stage is set, the pool has been tested, the playlists made and we are good to go, but…for whatever reason, things take an unexpected turn. This is fine. Hypnobirthing is about managing the unexpected and still staying on your oxytocin train and in your happy calm bubble. Make a Plan A, then a Plan B, then a Plan C…all the way down the Z if you need to. That way, you can keep using your hypnobirthing techniques, retain your control, stay in your zone and have a positive experience no matter what labour throws at you.
OK – you are not being hypnotised. Self-hypnosis is COMPLETELY different to stage hypnosis. There will be no trances, no chicken clucking, no finger snapping, none of that business. The hypnosis element of hypnobirthing refers to the body’s ability to operate autonomously, to progress into deep relaxation where our sub-concious takes over, like when we are engrossed in a film, day-dreaming, making a baby. You are not in conscious active thought but are quite aware of what is happening and are able to snap out of it should you need to. That’s as ‘out of it’ as you will be during labour.
Although it might sound a bit ‘alternative’, hypnobirthing is really anything but. To use an analogy, hypnobirthing is like organic food, it’s birth, as it was, as nature intended, before society started messing with it. Years and years ago most would have given birth without fear, but in our over-medicalised and fear driven society we have forgotten, or didn’t even know, that fearless birth is possible. Hypnobirthing provides scientific knowledge of the human body and the human mind. Provided you have both of those things (which I’m assuming you do) then hypnobirthing is for you.
Oh yes – and skepticism is great! I want you to question things and not to just them at face value, and being skeptical will encourage you to do this. Birth partners are a hugely significant part of your pregnancy, labour and birth experience and the course is specifically tailored to include them. Some partners can feel pretty useless during labour but they will be taught how important their role is, how they can assist with birth preparation, relaxation, massage, protecting your space during labour and birth and get oxytocin flowing to really make a difference to both of your experiences. Birth partners get so much out of the course and often come away feeling just as empowered and excited as you.
Wellll, as much as I would love to, I can’t promise that. Pain is a completely subjective sensation and everyone experiences it differently. Certainly some people using hypnobirthing have reported ‘pain free’ births, some have even reported waves of pleasure during birth, but we cannot guarantee there will be no pain at all. Hypnobirthing is there to teach you how to cope with your contractions using deep breathing and relaxation, reducing your stress and boosting your natural pain relieving hormones. Practice your relaxation techniques regularly and you will have the best possible chance of coping with whatever experience you have.
This couldn’t be further from the truth. During labour, if a mother is in a state of fear or stress she will be producing adrenalin. This puts her body in ‘fight or flight’ mode, during which her oxygenated blood will be directed away from the uterus to her limbs, in case she needs to run away, or fight. This deprives the placenta and therefore the baby of much needed oxygenated blood. Whilst most mothers will come to hypnobirthing for a relaxed and gentle birth for themselves, remember that it also means a relaxed and gentle birth for your baby. A baby who enters the world to be greeted by a mother who is alert, loving and confident, starts life and forms its first relationship in this world in the best possible way. This is the blueprint for all the other relationships it forms throughout its life. You simply cannot over-estimate the importance of that.
Stories
Holly & Alfie
'You have really changed both of our perspectives on labour and the whole experience."
Joni & Rikki
"You are a fountain of knowledge and your passion for the topic is so lovely and empowering."
Georgia
I can't imagine how different the experience would have been had it not been for you and the course. In my opinion everyone should do hypnobirthing.
Poppy
Charlotte made us feel so relaxed and well informed. We looked forward to our sessions every week. I honestly don’t think I would have got through it all without her virtually by my side. I would definitely recommend her to anyone thinking about Hypnobirthing. She is truly amazing and I am so glad I found her.