They don’t have to but they will certainly be glad if they do.

An informed, calm and prepared birth partner will make a significant difference to your birth experience.

No — hypnobirthing is not only for natural births. It's a set of tools you can use in any kind of birth — including vaginal births both with and without drugs, induced labours, epidural and Caesarean births.

For some mothers, reading a book and listening to affirmations are enough, whilst for others it isn't. The trouble is, you don't really know which person you are until you are in labour and by then it is too late to go back and do more birth prep. I would highly recommend a course as it goes much deeper than a book alone plus you have the added benefits of asking questions and receiving ongoing support.

The wonderful thing about hypnobirthing is that it can be used alongside other types of birth courses. Some of my clients choose to do hypnobirthing with me and have also booked into another birth course in their local area, such as the NCT course in the UK.

If the other birth course you are doing is not a hypnobirthing course, it may not be able to offer you the same transformational shifts that a hypnobirthing course will offer you.

If you are pregnant and willing to do the practice then, yes! Hypnobirthing is a set of tools you can use to help you stay calm, relaxed and in control. The more you put in the practice, the more these tools are likely to work. Even if your birth goes in a different direction to the one you were hoping for, my course is about helping you feel prepared, positive and empowered by your experience.

I get it - you hear "hypno" and you immediately think of being hypnotised or meditating so you think it's nonsense or alternative.

Hypnobirthing is grounded in psychology, neuroscience, and childbirth physiology. It uses techniques like breathwork, relaxation, visualisation, and self-hypnosis, which have all been shown in research to help reduce stress, manage pain, and improve overall well-being.

Being in a state of self-hypnosis is the ability to zone out of distractions. Ever been lost in a book? In a creative flow with a project? Or in "the zone" when focused on your work? These are all examples of self-hypnosis. Being able to get into your birth zone and drown out distractions from what's going on around you is a powerful tool to help you stay calm and relaxed during labour.

Self-hypnosis is something you are always in control of. There are no "tricks" or "mind-games". You don't need to be a "zen" kind of person or "good at meditation" to do it.

No! Hypnobirthing gets its roots from hypnotherapy and works by utilising the power of the mind to relax the body. Whilst many mothers are able to achieve a deep state of relaxation during birth, this is quite different from the kind of TV or theatre style hypnosis you may be more familiar with.

Definitely no swinging pendulums or finger clicking in my classes! Just effective tools to help you stay in "the zone" so you can experience an easier, calmer, more positive birth.

No! No one can promise you that and I would be very sceptical of anyone who suggests otherwise. However, it is entirely possible to have a pain free, natural birth with hypnobirthing. Once you understand the causes of pain in labour — and what you can do to avoid it — with guided practice, you are much more likely to achieve the birth experience you want.

Yes! It doesn’t matter whether you choose to give birth at home, in a birth centre, hospital or anywhere else. Hypnobirthing will help you to remain calm and in control, wherever you give birth.

I have put together a simple practice schedule for my clients to follow. At the end of each session I will share with you the recommended practice for you to do.

Hypnobirthing is most effective when we put in the practice. It is about doing small things every day that build up into something powerful. The practice you do in hypnobirthing takes between 5 - 20 mins a day. That's it! It is very manageable and easy to do - even if you have a busy work schedule or other children to look after.

Yes! Hypnobirthing is for every type of woman and birth. You can have an epidural if you wish to have one.

No - hypnobirthing and meditation are not the same thing.

Meditation is a broad wellness tool focused on being present, while hypnobirthing is a targeted mental training for birth. The guided relaxation techniques used in hypnobirthing are goal oriented and focus on reducing fear and tension during labour.