About Hypnobirthing

About Me

FAQ’s

What is hypnobirthing?

Hypnobirthing is an antenatal approach to prepare you for giving birth. It’s logical, practical and essential information for anyone preparing for birth, no matter what kind of birth you’re planning for.

What is the ‘hypno’ part?

This is the part people tend to worry about, it has a bit of a weird name right? Don’t worry, I can assure you I will not be swinging a watch and trying to send you to sleep - there is nothing strange involved at all!

The ‘hypno’ part involves shifting some of the beliefs about birth that are deeply embedded in your subconscious mind, that you may not even be aware of, and can often be pretty negative. They may have been made whilst watching birth play out on TV (very dramatic and almost always an emergency), by your friend’s negative story, or maybe from some beliefs you have carried about your body letting you down somewhere along the way, or not being quite good enough in one aspect or another.

Because your mind wants to keep you safe, it can get into the habit of focusing on the negative stories over and over as a survival strategy (something called negativity bias). We want to ditch the fear and these unfounded beliefs, and re-write new ones based on science and truth. We know that the brain has an amazing ability to control what’s going on in the body, and a calm mind and body can have a huge impact on your birthing experience.

It’s very tricky to just change the way you think - sometimes these beliefs have been embedded for years. To access your subconscious mind and these beliefs, you first have to be deeply relaxed. We use different hypnobirthing techniques, including relaxing audios, to calm your mind, relax your body, and then cement these new ideas from the course in. So expect some lovely relaxation both at home, and in the course too, but know that you will be awake and in control.

What else?

Many of my clients (especially birth partners!) are surprised by how much science is in the course. Knowledge is power, and so we aim to empower you as much as possible by taking a really good look at the birth process, what is physically happening inside your body, how can you support yourself both with medical pain relief and without, what happens if birth doesn’t go ‘to plan’, what different options do you have, and how can you get care that’s unique for your circumstances?

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Get to know me

Where do you live?

I live in South Devon with my husband and two little boys. We’ve been here since 2022, moving over from the UAE where we lived for seven years before that.

Why did you become a hypnobirthing teacher?

After I had my babies, I found myself so connected to other women who were pregnant or postpartum. I felt strongly about spreading birth positivity and awareness, and helping other women to feel empowered in their pregnancies and their births, and knew I needed to be teaching myself.

Where would I find you at the weekend?

With my family - in the summer, an ideal day here in Devon is at the beach, maybe with a paddlebaord, or a barbecue packed for dinner. In the winter, we love to go for walks, bike rides, and find cosy spots for a hot chocolate.

What’s your ideal holiday?

I’ve been lucky to travel and I love exploring new countries. An ideal trip would have slow sunny days, beautiful beaches, exploring towns, delicious fresh food, and a little bit of adventure.

What is something not many people know about you?

I had M.E. in my teenage years which eventually led me to discover alternative therapies for the first time and start looking at health more holistically. Something I’ve held onto and been passionate about since. 

What is your favourite thing about teaching Hypnobirthing?

I love seeing the a-ha moments, seeing the knowledge and ideas coming together in people’s minds, watching them lose the fear and begin to feel really confident. Hearing a birth story is always magical as well.

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FAQ’s

  • If you’re having a baby, then yes! One thing my clients repeatedly say to me Is ‘all women giving birth should know this’ and I wholeheartedly agree. Knowledge is power, no matter what kind of birth you’re planning for. 

  • This comes down to personal preference and circumstances. Many of my clients choose to begin a course around 24 weeks and this allows plenty of time to put the tools into practice, but it really is useful and valuable at any time. It’s never too late in your pregnancy to do a hypnobirthing course.

  • No, this is a common misconception. My hypnobirthing courses are for all births! Feeling calm, confident, and equipped with knowledge is beneficial in any scenario.

  • You can use hypnobirthing throughout your entire pregnancy, your entire labour from the first contraction until your baby is in your arms, and after your baby is born too. The relaxation techniques you learn can be beneficial for life - I definitely still use them in a number of scenarios from running to dealing with my children’s big emotions!

  • The more you can weave hypnobirthing into your daily life, the more you will benefit when it comes to giving birth. It shouldn't take up much of your time or feel like a chore, but small habits like listening to an audio before bed, looking at your affirmation cards in the morning, or reading positive birth stories can stack up and make a big impact.

  • There are no rules and everyone's situation is different, but your birth partner is certainly always welcome and encouraged to attend with you. The role of a birth partner is a really important one and people are surprised with how much practical support birth partners can give and how much of an emotional impact they have in both pregnancy and birth.

  • If you're living in Devon, you can choose if you want to meet in person or have the course online. If you're further away, we can complete the whole course via zoom and I can send all materials over to you. I've taught clients as far as the UAE, so distance and time zones are not a problem.