The Baby Bumps hypnobirthing course – what’s the deal?

What gets covered in a Baby Bumps course?

 

Lots of people sign up to NCT and/or NHS/other antenatal courses. However, not everyone wants to, or indeed are able to, put aside time and money to attend two full courses and so I designed a short hypnobirthing course for this purpose. This course is perfectly designed to complement any other antenatal course you may be doing, and if you choose not to do any other courses, the book you receive will cover all the labour and birth topics you need to know about. It also works well as a refresher for second or more time parents.

 

Below is what’s covered – and why!  Yes, you’ll likely cover the more ‘typical’ topics listed first during your other course, but because decisions made around these important topics have an impact on your birth experience, they are very worthy of some discussion.

The book you receive goes into a lot of useful detail on all course topics as well as other things like epidurals, water birth and caesarean birth, etc.

We look at creating a birth preferences template which covers straightforward birth, induction of labour and caesarean birth.

You also receive a library of information to access around; labour & birth, birth partners, life with your newborn, postnatal recovery and feeding your baby.

Topics included in your course:

Stages of labour – what to expect, what to look out for, how the body and mind work together to birth your baby, when to go in/call the midwife and the third stage of labour (birthing the placenta).

Why?

  • It’s important to understand the rationale of staying at home for as long as possible but also to be aware of any situations where it’s good to go and get checked by a midwife. 

 

  • Whilst all labours are different, many find it very helpful to get an idea of what you might expect during your baby’s journey into the world, and how your body and mind work together with your baby during the process.

 

  • Knowing your options for the third stage will help you to think about what you might like for this part of labour.

 

Place of birth – during this discussion we look at home birth, birth centres and labour ward – what is available in each setting and are you happy with the hospital that you have been allocated or chose?

Why?

  • Sometimes, after we’ve look at hormones and environment, couples start to think a little differently about place of birth and may want to explore other ideas. I can signpost them to home birth meet ups local to them and we can explore what’s available in each birth setting.

 

  • Some clients aren’t aware they may be able to change hospitals and decide to look into this.

 

Hormones & environment & birth partner’s role – what helps and hinders labour, what you can do about this, how the brain works during labour and how to help this process, what partners can do to be the most incredible birth partner. How much can you change the room around (as much as you like!) and what’s good to pack in your hospital bag to aid comfort and relaxation.

Why?

  • A woman in labour is a powerful and amazing being! But being in the state of giving birth makes her vulnerable too and her immediate environment and how she feels will have a huge impact on how her birth unfolds.

 

  • After this exercise her partner will know how best to support her. Together they can think about how they want to personalise their space on the labour ward or birth centre and what items they can bring with them to aid comfort.

 

Positions for labour – knowing which positions may be helpful and provide the most comfort.

Why?

  • Whilst a woman can of course give birth on her back, or any other position she chooses, after this discussion, and looking at the pelvis and the baby’s journey through it, you will understand the benefits and the rationale for being mobile and upright during labour and birth.

 

Massage techniques – we cover an array of different massage techniques which you can try out during the session.

Why?

  • Loving touch (if permitted!) in the form of massage, hugging, stroking, etc. releases endorphins and oxytocin which help labour to be more efficient and comfortable. After trying techniques out during the session, couples are usually able to find at least one type of massage that she may like on the day.

 

Informed decision making & interventions – we look at the definition of informed decision making and what your rights are before and during labour. We talk through sweeps, formal induction of labour and internal examinations – the what’s and why’s around these – and you are encouraged to further think about this with your partner after the course and personalise your birth preferences accordingly (you receive a 3-part birth preference template in book and electronically).

 Why?

  • A positive birth takes many guises – for one woman it could be a planned caesarean birth where she felt listened to and her wishes were respected. For another it could be a home water birth, and for another it could be having her labour induced and being able to remain mobile throughout, or asking for time to mobilise before the next step of the induction process. And so on…

 

  • One thing that makes for a positive experience is how listened to a woman/couple felt, that they were able to ask questions (and knew what questions to ask). To know that it is always the woman’s choice as to what was or is or isn’t done to her body and her baby and to know where and whom they can get more information or a second opinion from, should they need it.

 

And of course the all-important hypnobirthing elements, which are:

  • An explanation of hypnosis/self hypnosis.
  • An explanation of hypnobirthing and all of the elements to it as well as ideas on what techniques to use and when.
  • The role of your thoughts in pregnancy and labour and how you can work on adapting this now to maximise not only your labour experience, but your time now whilst pregnant.
  • Touching upon mindfulness and how this can help you during both pregnancy and birth.
  • How you can use hypnotic cues and post hypnotic suggestions for quick results in triggering positive responses.
  • How and why affirmations and visualisations work.
  • Breathing techniques
  • Ways to release fear and anxiety before your birth so that you’re able to feel good during your pregnancy and to relax on the day.
  • How your nervous system works and the importance breathing techniques play in keeping this balanced in your favour.
  • What the hypnobirthing scripts and audios are and how & when to use these.
  • The power of language and how this can be adapted to help you in labour.

There are many elements to hypnobirthing and different techniques you can try out to see what you might like/not like. 

 

If the course is taken as a 4 hour group in person course (£150.00 per woman/couple) you will get to try out some of the above hypnobirthing techniques during the session, whilst I am there to answer any questions.

If the course is the 3 hour Zoom group course or a 3 hour one to one Zoom course (£150.00 per woman/couple) you will practice the techniques out in your own time and then arrange for a private online 1:1 (lasting up to 1 hour) to take place at a later date where you can go over any questions that arise after you’ve tried the techniques out, listened to the audios, read the book, etc.

Support is available up until your baby is born with all course options so you are always welcome to get in touch.

 

“Thank you for providing hypnobirthing classes over the past few years, as part of the well being service, you do an amazing job which is reflected in the feedback you receive and also we hear it from the women we care for on the birth centre.” Lyndsey Smith, Consultant Midwife, Kingston Hospital

…And here’s what some parents said…

“Really nice crash course, lots of the other courses are very expensive so great to have another option to follow on from our NCT course which we could come to as a couple! I was looking to get my partner involved in hypnobirthing and we really enjoyed it – thanks!” 

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“Instructor was brilliant. Course was very informative and really felt it helped our journey of becoming parents. For anyone that may suffer from anxiety it’s a great way of feeling more in control of everything and trusting yourself to know what’s best. It connects you together as partners too”

***

“Great instructor, very informative. Liked that the course was hands on and not ‘whacky’. I was slightly sceptical but found the course very ‘normal’ with lots of advice and encouragement.”

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“We loved the balanced and realistic approach to managing discomfort. Jackie was honest about the pros and cons of interventions and drugs but never judgemental. We didn’t go down the route of drugs but knowing our options was reassuring. Hypnobirthing strategies were amazing for helping us to bond as a couple”

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“What we learnt on the hypnobirthing course was useful in pregnancy and preparing for the birth. Although labour didn’t go exactly ‘as planned’, I felt much better able to deal with with it and take it in my stride than I otherwise would have done. Relaxation techniques and feeling confidence in my body were paramount.”

****

So as you can see, it’s a great little course and you’ve probably noticed I’m big on rationale and informed decision making. I believe that once a person understands the benefits, risks and background to what’s being discussed or suggested they are more likely to want to research their options and choices and to embrace the all important hypnobirthing practice.

 

If taken online via Zoom this course runs over 3 hours with a private one to one catch up session via Zoom arranged later on to check in and see how you are finding it all, whether you have any questions, etc. This 3 hour online course is £125.00 for a group course or £155.00 for a one to one. Support is available up until your baby is born.

This option can also be taken face to face over 4 hours if there are 3 or more of you and you are local to Crystal Palace, or if you join one of my Kingston based courses. The face to face option is £150.00. 

All courses include the book (valued at £15), 10 hypnobirthing and relaxation audios, including one for the birth partner, follow up information and support up until your baby is born should you need it. Payment can be made in two instalments if required.

To book onto this course you can text, call or email:  07790 207363 / jackie@baby-bumps.net 

Looking forward to welcoming you!