Frequently asked questions
Does hypnobirthing really work?
In short, yes. The techniques and knowledge you will learn in a hypnobirthing course will set you up for a positive birth.
Like with most things, hypnobirthing takes practice! The techniques you will learn with us require you to practise at home – so relaxation, listening to scripts, using affirmations, breathing techniques – these are all key to hypnobirthing and will support you to keep calm and remain confident throughout your labour and birth.
It’s not like traditional homework though, we encourage you to take a bath or relax somewhere quiet, take time with your birth partner without distractions and really bond with your baby – it’s the best kind of practice!
I am so worried about giving birth – will hypnobirthing help?
Yes! Hypnobirthing is a full birth preparation course and is designed to help you make the best decisions for you and your baby along with understanding where your fear of birth comes from and learning techniques that can help alleviate that fear. Giving you confidence to trust your body!
I am already doing NHS/NCT classes – how is this different?
We love that you want to be as prepared as possible for birth and the postpartum period! Hypnobirthing will be a more in depth look at child birth and a break from the more medical side of being pregnant and focus on what your body is designed to do. It is a perfect chance to stop and relax with your birth partner and bump and give time to yourself whilst also fully preparing for your birth. You will also have full access to me to ask any questions and to get any recaps you may want. The knowledge you will gain from hypnobirthing goes way beyond just breathing techniques and will benefit your pregnancy and life after the baby arrives.
What training do you have?
I have undergone extensive training and been fully accredited by Love Your Birth Teacher Training.
I would like a VBAC (vaginal birth after caesarean) – could hypnobirthing help?
Absolutely! I know this first hand.
Not only can hypnobirthing keep you calm and relaxed throughout labour and birth, it will also empower you with knowledge and give you a range of choices and questions to ask when you are discussing your options with your healthcare provider. With this knowledge you can make confident, informed choices about your birth.
What is included in the cost of your courses?
We understand that investing in hypnobirthing is a big decision – but it truly is an investment. In yourself and in your baby to give you the confidence that you can have a positive birth experience. Included in the course is 3-4 sessions (around 10 hours in total) with me, either in person or online, access to relaxation MP3s, a complete guide and recap of the course, a birth preferences document, access to me leading up to the birth for any questions, and a fully prepared birth partner! During the course you are going to have time to bond with your baby and your birth partner and take time out from your busy lives.
What are your course prices?
Our courses start from £199 for a group online course (price correct as of September 2023 – subject to change). For a full course list with prices please click here. You can also pay in instalments. Full payment is needed before the start date of course.
What payment options do you have?
Your course must be paid in full at the start date however you can pay in instalments in the lead up in order to split the cost. Please select this option at the checkout. Please get in touch if you have any difficulties!
I would like an in-person course – where are you based?
We are based in North Ayrshire, Scotland and can travel to your home for 1-1 courses within South, North and East Ayrshire. If you are further afield then we also offer 1-1 online courses.
Can I use hypnobirthing and have an epidural?
Of course! Your birth, your choice! Hypnobirthing doesn’t mean you will have a pain-free birth and a lot of women feel they would like to be open to the idea of having pain relief during labour. What hypnobirthing might do however is give you alternatives to pain relief drugs. It dispels any myths you may have about what is happening to your body during labour and birth and reframes the sensations in your mind through working on your mindset and learning relaxation techniques to boost those amazing birth hormones.
Epidurals can also mean you are required to lie flat on a bed whereas the optimal positions for birth are usually upright, allowing gravity to do the work – all of these things you will learn about in our classes and these will allow you to make informed decisions that are best for you and your baby. There is NO judgement placed on anyone for their choices at Confident Birth Club!
I had a traumatic birth last time, can hypnobirthing help me?
Firstly, well done on reaching out and looking at your options. It can be really difficult to move on from a traumatic birth experience and we are here to tell you that it can be different next time. A cascade of interventions in birth can happen and we think it is always best to be informed and empowered beforehand so that you and your birth partner feel able to speak up for your choices and make informed decisions where possible. Hypnobirthing will give you all of this knowledge and coupled with support from your midwife and/or consultant we can hopefully allay some of that fear and help you understand and come to terms with what happened in your previous birth.
How many weeks pregnant should I be to take a course?
We recommend that you are at least 25 weeks pregnant around the start date of your course. You can take a hypnobirthing course at any point after that but bear in mind that a normal course takes 4 weeks and we encourage as much practice of the techniques as possible beforehand. This doesn’t mean it can’t be effective closer to your baby’s birth so please get in touch directly if you are interested but more than 35 weeks pregnant.
I can’t commit to 4 sessions – are there any other options?
We usually run our courses over 4 sessions so that you have the opportunity to absorb the information and not feel too overwhelmed and ensure we get to do a relaxation session at the end of every class, however it is possible to run the full course over 3 or even 2 sessions if you require. Our online group courses always run over 4 sessions so if you require a shorter timescale then we would advise a one-one-one course. Once you book your course you can provide preferences for this and I will be in touch.
Have we missed anything?
If you still have a question, or think we’ve missed something, do drop us a message and we’ll get back to you tomorrow.