What is hypnobirthing, and when should I start?

What you learn

• Birth breathing: slow, simple patterns for each stage of labour.
• Self-hypnosis: a quick, reliable route into deep relaxation, at home and wherever you give birth.
• Anchors for calm: your calmest state linked to a touch, a word or a scent, so your birth partner helps you return to it.
• Birth rehearsal: the day itself, walked through in hypnosis, so it feels familiar when the time comes.
• Flexibility: preparation for every kind of birth, including induction or caesarean.

When to start

The second trimester is ideal, as it gives you weeks to practise until the skills are second nature. Later starts work well too: I build the course around the weeks you have.

Your birth partner is welcome at every session, in person in Bournemouth or online, which is wonderfully easy in the later weeks.

Read next

See hypnobirthing and fees, or browse all Q&As.