Hypnobirthing

Hypnobirthing uses breathing and relaxation methods to help you relax and go through the natural process of giving birth gently, calmly and in many instances without medication.

What is Hypnobirthing and how does it work?

Hypnobirthing is a complete antenatal programme focussing on a combination of education, self-hypnosis & deep relaxation to help achieve a more comfortable birth. Hypnobirthing gives parents all the tools they need to minimise the fear-tension-pain cycle, resulting in shorter, more comfortable births.

Who is it for?

From the confident to the apprehensive; from first-time mums to those who have experienced difficult previous births and caesarean births, Hypnobirthing is confidence-building, and teaches gentle birth techniques that can benefit just about anyone who is planning birth. Hypnobirth is for all births.

Hear couples talk about how hypnobirth has influenced their thoughts, perspectives and attitudes to labour in this video, produced for our colleagues at Colchester Hospital. We use the same method of teaching in our classes.

What does a Hypnobirth class involve?

Here at Southend Hospital we are introducing a comprehensive hypnobirth course taught by midwives who are hypnobirth practitioners. Our skills as clinicians coupled with specialist training in antenatal education, active birth and Hypnobirth provide a unique course offering:

Understanding the process of labour and working with the body
How to break the fear/tension/pain cycle
Top tips for birth partners
How to achieve an active birth
Practice positions, Rebozo and massage for labour
Breathing and visualisation techniques for labour
How the environment influences labour
Hormones and their effect on birth

You will learn:

Everything you need to know to achieve a more comfortable birth
To explore the relationship with pain and labour and learn to work with sensations
Techniques of deep relaxation to help you eliminate the Fear-Tension-Pain Syndrome
The role of hormones in labour and their impact on birth
How you and your birthing companion can create a birthing environment that is calm and serene rather than tense and stressful
Breathing techniques
To use relaxation techniques that will be essential for any birth

Birth Partners will learn:

Massage/rebozo skills
How to create a relaxing birth room
Quick techniques to slow her breathing
Techniques to deepen relaxation
How to use visualization scripts

Feedback

"Comfortable, relaxing, positive atmosphere. Engaging tasks and exercises that made the information easier to digest"

"As someone who has felt a lot of anxiety towards childbirth for many years, this course has given me a huge amount of reassurance and helped me to feel differently about it, all thanks to the great information, useful breathing techniques.and the huge sense of positivity and energy from Hannah and Lisa throughout"

"Some brilliant tips, techniques, breathing skills and loads of great advice. Thank you so much, feel so much more positive about it all"

"We have both looked forward to attending the classes and after every class on the way home have both said how amazing they were and discussed what techniques learned we think we will use. 　We have both been practicing various elements and feel that we now have a good selection of tools and resources to use when in labour"

"Excellent teaching style, attitude & course content"

"My husband and I have recently completed the hypnobirthing course at the hospital. We also found it to be very helpful that the course was lead by Midwives, as all our questions were able to be answered. It enabled us to feel more in control of our labour and ensured we made the labour itself into a positive experience for us both. I especially found the breathing techniques the most useful to me in labour and making our birthing environment into a nice calming place to be. We would both highly recommend this course to everyone in preparation to giving birth"

How much does it cost?

The charge for 10 hours of instruction is £100, payable in advance. This will provide four 2.5 hour sessions with a small group of participants, either evenings (7pm-9.30pm) or weekends. Included in the course will be practice scripts and supporting hand outs.

We recommend you also purchase the supporting parents workbook (available from Amazon). There is also a more comprehensive book by 'hypnobirthmidwivesuk', available here.

There are also audio scripts that accompany the course and can be previewed and downloaded (please note these are zip files designed for download to a PC and then transferred to your audio device - please see FAQ section on how this should be done).

Your Commitment

Hypnobirth requires practice. Please be aware there will be techniques to learn and practice in between classes. Demand for classes is high and there is usually a waiting list. Please make your enquiries early (after 16 weeks gestation). If you choose to hypnobirth you will not need to attend our set of standard antenatal classes.

BEFORE you book hypnobirth

BEFORE you book, please consider the following:

Hypnobirth is a training program that requires practice. We will ask you and your birth partner to commit to practice sessions at home. These will include:

For the women

Surge breathing practice
Writing affirmations
Listening to the hypnosis relaxation daily to maximize post hypnotic suggestions
Optimal baby positioning

For the birth partner

Learning the breathing techniques to assist in labour
Using deepening techniques that we will show you in class
Using relaxation anchors
Using relaxation scripts
Understanding the importance of the birth environment and creating a calm birth room
Light touch massage and positions for upright birth

Please be prepared to do some work in between classes. Hypnobirth will only work with practice and commitment. If you feel you cannot commit to the work you may want to consider a standard antenatal class.

What next?

If you are interested in our hypnobirthing courses, please email us on hypnobirthing@southend.nhs.uk providing your name, hospital number and due date. We will get back to you within 7 days to confirm available dates.

We recommend that you start your course between 28 and 32 weeks of pregnancy, to give time to complete the course and practice the techniques. We anticipate that places will be booked up quickly, so its best to contact us to book your place once you reach 16 weeks.