When should I begin a hypnobirthing course?
Most women start hypnobirthing classes at about 32 to 34 weeks and some start later than that, with great results. There is no reliable research to indicate any “ideal” time to begin a course. Common sense suggests that the longer a woman has to practice her techniques, the better – but many women have wonderful hypnobirthing experiences after only a few short weeks of practice.
My due date is close to the end of one of your scheduled courses. Does this matter?
The vital date in my opinion is not when the course ends but when it begins. At that first session we set up your daily practice routine consisting of a relaxation exercise based on a guided visualisation, and affirmations which I will encourage you to say every day. Once you begin this daily routine you will begin to feel the benefits of hypnobirthing and these will grow and grow over time. I offer a pro rata refund if your baby arrives unexpectedly early – see my terms and conditions here
You offer two types of hypnobirthing course – which is right for me and what is the difference between them?
The Easy Hypnobirthing course is ideal for women having a second or subsequent baby; those who have signed up for another antenatal course such as an NCT course to which the Easy Hypnobirthing course would be complementary; and women and partners working with me on their own – not with another couple or a group.
The Wise Hippo is longer and more comprehensive. It works very well with groups, for women with little or no other antenatal education and for first time mothers but its flexibility and uniquely positive attitude to birthing makes it work very well in all kinds of situations.
What if the hypnobirthing “doesn’t work”?
It depends what you mean by “not working”. We do not guarantee a pain-free labour with hypnobirthing. We cannot make conditions that genuinely require medical intervention simply vanish away. What we do find, however, is that all women who follow a programme of regular relaxation and positive affirmations feel a real improvement in their confidence, and this has a remarkable knock-on effect in how they cope with labour and birth. As you will find during the course, our mental attitude has a huge effect on labour.
Will a baby sleep workshop make my baby sleep through the night?
Definitely not. But it can help you to understand your baby’s needs, develop a workable relationship with your baby’s sleep patterns and in particular will help you to see why it might not be right for your baby to be sleeping “through the night” quite yet!