Katharine's Hypnobirthing Blog

We have an updated range of hypnobirthing CDs and MP3s that are now available in the shop to be purchased individually or as part of a collection. These latest CDs and MP3s feature a range of new improvements to make them easier to use. Each audio CD/ MP3 is still colour coded for ease of use and now they feature a very attractive design that comes with the hypnobirthing gold seal unique to The Hypnobirthing Centre. We’ve also improved the audio quality so it’s easier than ever to find that calm and confident state of mind. There are also tracks contained within each audio, allowing those listening to skip straight to the relaxation if they desire.

These new CD’s were first presented at our recent Sharing Day and were met with an enthusiastic response. We’re happy to make them available in the online shop to couples and teachers for the first time and anticipate an equally enthusiastic welcome.

If you’d like the chance to win a complete MP3 set then we’re currently running a Facebook competition, which runs until the end of May.

If you’re looking to get your own collection of hypnobirthing MP3s and want to see if you can win a set then why not enter our latest Facebook competition? We’re offering one winner on our Facebook page a lovely set of MP3s that will encompass the whole range of hypnobirth relaxation audios. These are the latest from our store, which feature a track list and improved sound quality, we’re all very pleased with them and are looking forward to sending a collection to the winner.

This competition will be ending on the 31^st of May so try to get your entry in soon. If all goes well then we’ll be intending to run more giveaways so keep an eye on The Hypnobirthing Centre on Facebook for more details, as well as helpful links and updates to keep you informed about birth.

Later this month I will have a stand at the Doula UK Conference, taking place on the 22^nd of May at the Resource for London. This conference intends to bring together not just doulas but also midwives, doctors, campaigners and birth workers. An opportunity for all those who all want to put the health and care of women and their babies first, with HypnoBirthing alongside them. Many speakers will give talks on the issues that really matter regarding the birth experience and there will also be a panel discussion to get involved in so it’s sure to be an eventful day!

The 2013 Doula UK Conference is also going to play host to “The Face of Birth”, a film revolving around five women having home births and the value on respecting a woman’s right to choose the birth she wants. Sure to be an enlightening film, it is possible to purchase tickets for the screening alone.

With our own stand at this conference, this is yet another way for HypnoBirthing to assert itself as a viable tool to accompany other childbirth standards that are already established in the UK. A wonderful opportunity to meet health workers and forge new relationships, I’m certain that the 2013 Doula UK Conference will be a truly enjoyable day. If you’re interested in attending then tickets can be purchased via the Doula UK website.

May the 5th was The International Day of the Midwife, celebrating the excellent work done by men and women around the world to ease the journey of parenthood and bringing a new life into the world.

Bringing Attention to International Midwives This May

The midwife is one of the oldest professions for the human race and is the most valuable role to ensure safe pregnancies and births around the world. Having the support of a midwife at birth is something taken for granted by many, but every year thousands of women across the globe give birth alone. This cuts them off from the knowledge and expertise that a midwife can provide. Because of this a staggering 350,000 women world die during pregnancy and birth every year due to complications and lack of basic care, mainly in the developing countries. International Day of the Midwife brings attention to these facts, promoting international training and the importance of midwives when it comes to women’s health. They also focus on the UN Millennium Development Goals relating to maternal health, which include:

• Reduce the maternal mortality ratio by three quarters between 1990 and 2015
• Achieve universal access to reproductive healthcare

Whilst maternal mortality rates have fallen by a third, more work needs to be done to ensure that this trend continues. Just as important is ensuring that women have necessary support during and after their pregnancy and the birth of their baby.

Midwives Matter in The UK - Both Through the NHS and Independent

In the UK we are currently experiencing a lack of trained midwives delivering intra partum care and also pre and especially postnatal care.  And latest government proposals relating to insurance for health practitioners could make independent midwives uninsurable, effectively wiping out the practise altogether. This would be a traumatic loss to the UK and would only serve to put additional stress on the already stretched NHS. If this trend continues then we could experience poor care for those expecting babies and even potentially allowing women to slip through the net that need additional care and assistance.

If you’ve discovered HypnoBirthing then you could be at any stage of your pregnancy or you might even been anticipating getting pregnant in the first place. Many future parents arrive at HypnoBirthing having consumed a very large amount of information on the internet and with their heads quite possibly buzzing with everything they’re trying to take in. Add to that the fact that you’re far more likely to find articles on what can go wrong with a pregnancy than anything else and this can create a level of anxiety. HypnoBirthing aims to combat that and the positive effects can be felt immediately, meaning there's no wrong time to start.

It's Never too Early to Start HypnoBirthing!

Many expectant mothers are particularly interested in how to manage the birthing experience itself, which is something that HypnoBirthing can offer. However, the approaches we use work at their best when practised until they becomes second nature. This is why I advise that it’s never too early to take up HypnoBirthing. Controlling stress and promoting confidence in your body is something that takes time and no small amount of self-confidence to develop, both for you and your partner. And the positive results for the approaches aren’t just restricted to the birthing experience itself but can help make the entirety of the pregnancy a far more calm experience. Focusing on positives and trusting in your body to know what it’s doing is especially relevant for today’s expectant mothers who can go online finding informative – if unhelpful – articles detailing complications than can arise. 

Developing Faith in Your Body and Your Ability During Pregnancy

Because HypnoBirthing is about empowering women to have faith in what is a perfectly natural (and rather necessary) part of life, it’s never too late to pick it up either! Just like anything else, the techniques taught through HypnoBirthing becomes easier the more you practise and even if you’re later into your pregnancy that doesn’t mean that the approach won’t be effective. If you’re finding yourself growing anxious about your birth then these techniques can help, no matter what stage of pregnancy you’re at, especially if you have a birthing partner to work with you both before and during the birth. Just have a look at the wonderful testimonials from mothers at all stages of their pregnancies and the way HypnoBirthing improved their experience.

We had a wonderful HypnoBirthing teacher training course in Fulham which included walks by the river and delightful lunches at the little Lebanese and Italian cafes near Putney Bridge Station.

Everybody loved Archie’s Hypnotherapy for Hypnobirthing course and all his anecdotes. Many trained hypnotherapists have commented how much more they have learnt on his course.

The Hypnobirthing Workshop is a very full couple of days as it has so much content. People coming from different backgrounds have so much to offer, and we share a common passion for supporting mothers to achieve the best birth for them and for their babies.

The Birthing Foundation module looks at the anatomy and physiology of birth, and also current practice in the medical model we have in this country. This is in addition to how to use Hypnobirthing in this current environment. Although we have a long way to go, we are far ahead of most other countries in the world in terms of natural birth, largely because we have a strong, autonomous midwifery profession.

Hypnobirthing has caused a revolution in birth practice in the last ten years, and we are continuing to move forward strongly into the future.

We have plenty of resources available on the website if you're interested in learning about Teacher Training in HypnoBirthing. 

"Thank you both for a lovely and inspiring day!" - Shiela Kitzinger

We had a great time at The Sharing Day. We held it at Baden Powell House, the scout headquarters in London, and 50 members of The Hypnobirthing Association came. Our speaker in the morning was Sheila Kitzinger MBE, social anthropologist, and author of 23 books. Sheila has been in the vanguard of progress in the world of natural birth for over 50 years. She has been closely involved with the development of the NCT and is on the board of Midirs. Sheila is much in demand for articles and TV and radio appearances.

Sheila spoke about her new book, Birth & Sex. Many comments afterwards rated her talk and workshop as the highlight of the day, and there was plenty of time for questions and discussion in the workshop session at the end. We were very fortunate to have her with you.

Then we had a delicious lunch prepared by Sue Grant in the village. The lunches have become a feature of Sharing Days, so we have a reputation to keep up. As Saturday was a sunny day, we were able to have lunch out on the terrace; a welcome breath of fresh air.

In the afternoon Vanessa Hodge, senior midwife and hypnobirthing teacher, spoke about induction of labour. Vanessa’s achievements introducing hypnobirthing into an NHS hospital are impressive. The subject of induction of labour is one that hypnobirthing teachers need to be informed about, and we learnt a great deal during the afternoon.

After this I chatted about some tips about teaching hypnobirthing.

We’re looking forward to the next Sharing Day on 21st September being even bigger and better when Sarah Buckley will be your speaker. We’re making the most of Sarah’s visit from Australia, and the Sharing Day will be an open meeting when all are welcome.

An encouraging message from a midwife about of natural birth in Plymouth. There are constant small signs of progress, and it’s good to see a major step forward like this:

"I don't know if you keep up with the maternity news in Plymouth but you may have heard about the new Head of Midwifery who took up post last year.

She is an ex-independent midwife and has introduced a case loading team for women wanting homebirths. In the first 6 months the HB rate has gone from 1.8% to 4.8%. They have had to expand the team and she invited me to apply for a post. The great news is I was successful and start my new job in May.

It's back to wonderful continuity of care for us and we are even allowed to support women who fall outside the guidelines for homebirth; last year they had a twin HB (I was lucky enough to attend in a photography capacity!) and we have heard a rumour that a VBAC is going to be supported in the coming months. Progress indeed!!!

As it is true case loading we "work" women not hours so once I have my foot well and truly in the door I will start hinting at running hypnobirthing classes for those couples who want it. I feel very positive about the way things are going at present what with ARM's new vision and the maternity coalition which I believe you have also supported, maybe things really are going to change for the better."

We think this image speaks for itself!

I don't know if you came across this story from last week so I thought I'd share it with you.

Michelle Booth gave birth to her beautiful son, George, in a 4 star London hotel, using hypnobirthing techniques she'd learnt during classes at University College Hospital.  The UCH midwives who taught hypnobirthing so effectively were trained in Katharine Graves Hypnobirthing.

Unfortunately, UCH turned Michelle and her husband away, believing she was still in only the early stages of childbirth. But Michelle couldn't quite face the taxi journey home, so they checked into the nearest hotel, where George was born, shortly after/

For the full story, please read the links to the London Evening Standard and the Daily Telegraph (you may find that this page is behind a paywall).