Hello glorious Bold Birthers!

Something I get asked a lot is “when should I start hypnobirthing or antenatal classes?” so I thought it best to explain in the fashion of a good ole blog 😊

Preparing for a stress-free birth experience is a crucial step for expectant families. Hypnobirthing and antenatal classes play a significant role in educating and empowering pregnant women and dads throughout the childbirth process (and if you’re not sure of the difference, you can find a comparison here 😉). Understanding when to start hypnobirthing can make a profound difference in achieving a positive birth experience and the key word here is “education”.

Learning a completely new subject takes time, especially when you have an entire mindset to shift and practice new skills to nail new learnings – besides, you wouldn’t simply hop into a car for your first ever driving lesson, and take the test the next day would you? 🤷🏻‍♀️ I don’t even think condensed courses do that… 🤔

So, by delving into why it’s important to start hypnobirthing early, you can discover how receiving valuable insight and guidance towards the journey of childbirth without fear matters.

Achieving a Stress-Free Birth

Hypnobirthing is a birth education program that focuses on preparing both the mind and body for a positive birth experience. It teaches techniques that help expectant parents reach a state of deep relaxation, which can lead to a more comfortable labour. The core aspects of hypnobirthing include breathwork, self-hypnosis, guided imagery, and visualisation designed purely around reducing stress and anxiety. Tools that are completely transferable and kept for life. And those who know me, know I freely admit to using hypnobirthing techniques more as a parent than labour itself! 🤣

By promoting a calm, peaceful and informed birth environment, hypnobirthing empowers pregnant women to manage their pain and fear more effectively. This preparation is not just about the traditional techniques; it’s also about building a mindset that views birth as a natural, normal, positive life event.

And what I really love is how 100% of Bold Birthing families say they feel more confident and prepared, which sets the stage for a positive birth experience whichever direction it has gone in.

Optimising Hypnobirthing Classes

Birth education classes are a critical resource for expectant families, they offer guidance, consistent support, and information on your specific journey toward childbirth. I believe this is especially important when life feels so busy around your career, business, family, and friends. Ongoing snippets of information can feel easier to process rather than lots of last-minute cramming because you’ve hit maternity leave “and FINALLY have time to mentally focus on something else”.

To enhance the benefits of these classes, it’s recommended to start hypnobirthing around 20 weeks of pregnancy (although I’ve taught many who were much earlier for a variety of reasons). This allows ample time to practice the techniques taught and you have lots of life situations where you can utilise the techniques as part of this practice.

When to Practice

What I LOVE hearing is when a client drops me a message to say when they used a tool that wasn’t birth related, for example, passing their driving test (first time!), minor surgeries (a dad who has zero anaesthetic!), presenting to a crowd of over 200 people, fear of flying (even their mum was surprised and how calm she was!), dentist appointments (this includes myself), staying calm around a toddler pushing some serious boundaries… just limitless. In fact, just this morning when my horses had decided to smash through a bunch of electric fencing and stuff their faces with A LOT of hay… well, let’s just say I hypnobreathed HARD this morning…

Classes cover anything from childbirth history, biology, and birth biomechanics all the way through to training your birth partner on how to support you best, as an individual. What you learn means you have the opportunity to understand yourself clearly, what triggers your fear and anxiety, and what specific things keep YOU calm. Everyone is different and you will respond differently to different things which is why understanding those things early is key to the success of having a positive birth experience.

By participating in these sessions as a couple, you can make informed decisions, feel more prepared, and reduce the unpredictability associated with pregnancy and birth. Moreover, these classes often provide the opportunity to meet other parents-to-be, which fosters a sense of community and builds that ever-important village to help raise your child.

The Early Bird Catcheth the Calm Birth

When you start hypnobirthing earlier in pregnancy it provides significant advantages. The sooner expectant mothers begin practicing the relaxation and visualisation techniques, the more ingrained these skills become. Like any new skill, repetition over time increases proficiency.
An early start allows for the gradual increase of a positive mindset towards childbirth, transforming fear and apprehension into empowerment and dare I say excitement.

It also gives couples the time to deepen their connection with their baby and each other, creating a supportive, powerful birthing team that increases confidence. Hypnobirthing also helps parents adapt to any changes in their birth plan with greater ease and resilience. Also, the relaxation techniques can improve sleep quality and reduce stress during pregnancy. Win win.

In essence, the early bird not only catches the calm birth but also enjoys a more harmonious pregnancy.

Great Pregnant Expectations: Preparing for Baby

Expectant families often have high hopes for a smooth and joyous birth experience. Preparation is key to meeting these expectations. Understanding how incredible your and your baby’s bodies are is a solid starting point. Moving through what matters specifically to you (as an individual) is also key so you can document your birth preferences clearly, but also flexibly. Those who work with me come away with plans that cover vaginal and c-section births, and my clients feel prepared for either eventuality.

I’ve found it also helps for pregnant women to engage in physical preparation, such as prenatal yoga or exercises to strengthen the body for childbirth (yep this includes daily pelvic floor exercises and MAYBE perineal massage if you wish… I’ll more than likely talk about these things in a different blog!). It means that physical readiness, as well as mental preparation, can help you feel more comfortable with your birth preparation during pregnancy.

Stripping out Fear

Something we talk about during my course is “fear release” and something I highly recommend to anyone I know who are pregnant. Discussing fears and hopes with a partner or support person, and visualising a positive birth can all contribute to a sense of readiness. You can talk about how ready your home is for the new arrival, if not, prioritising that and what can be delegated! From an emotional perspective, how are you feeling about becoming a mum or dad? How will having a baby impact your career?

And just know that if you are having troubles with work you can get phenomenal support from these organisations; ‘Motherpukka’ and ‘Pregnant Then Screwed’.

These kinds of conversation are so valuable because you could be worrying about something that your partner isn’t, and they can give you good reasons why you have nothing to worry about. Also, if there is a genuine issue then you can work through it together to resolve the fear. All part of the preparation to welcome your little one with open arms.

Hypnobirthing: Childbirth Without Fear

As hypnobirthing’s goal is to provide a passage to childbirth without fear it can take some time to master. Fear triggers the body’s stress response, leading to tension and pain, which is counterproductive during labour. Hypnobirthing teaches techniques to counteract this fear response, allowing for a relaxed body and mind. Pregnant women learn to use deep breathing, visualization, and positive affirmations to cultivate the calm. This, in turn, can lead to a more comfortable and natural birthing process.

The skill toolkit acquired through hypnobirthing not only benefits the birthing process but also enhances the overall quality of the pregnancy, as mothers are better equipped to handle stress and anxiety in these crucial months. A 2020 study also found that “women with positive childbirth experiences increased their empowerment and became aware of their strengths and capacities as well as their ability to cope with other life challenges”. They are surer of themselves and their decision making through life and work – how incredible is that?!

Birth Partner’s Role

The role of the expectant family is crucial in creating a supportive birth environment. Family members, especially partners, can be actively involved within the hypnobirthing process and, speaking frankly, it’s highly recommended. Their understanding and reinforcement of the practices can significantly enhance the mother’s experience. Support can translate into practical assistance, such as helping with breathing techniques, ensuring regular practice and/or providing physical comfort during labour.

It’s also about emotional backing and birth advocacy; offering encouragement and maintaining a calm presence can be incredibly reassuring. Expectant families who learn and grow together through the hypnobirthing process often feel more connected and prepared for the challenges of childbirth and parenting. Becoming the dream team can make all the difference in achieving a stress-free birth, ensuring that when the time comes, the mother is surrounded by a circle of calm, confident, and loving support.

Confidence: Your Reliable Advisor in Birth

Confidence plays a transformative role in childbirth, acting as a reliable advisor through every stage of labour. When expectant mothers feel confident, they are more likely to trust their bodies and the birthing process. This trust reduces stress and enhances the effectiveness of the hypnobirthing techniques.

As women educate themselves around childbirth and engage with hypnobirthing principles confidence increases through birth preferences being acknowledged and respected, with a supportive team in place.

As mentioned earlier, a confident mother is better positioned to advocate for herself and make informed choices. And when a mother and partner are making the decisions a positive birth experience is much more likely, whichever path the birth takes.

Testimonials: Personal Experiences with Hypnobirthing

Testimonials from those who decided to start hypnobirthing early offer powerful insights into its impact on childbirth. Many mothers share stories of calm, empowering births where they felt in control and connected to their bodies.
For instance, many have described how the breathing techniques helped maintain focus and serenity, they turned an overwhelming event into a positive and fulfilling experience.

“Nicki is such an amazing person and teacher. She really made me feel like I could achieve anything and my body knew exactly what it was doing. I used her breathing techniques to get me through my 27hr labour and 8 of those in peaceful silence where I actually fell asleep!”

Lydia

Fathers often express gratitude for the role hypnobirthing played in enabling them to support their partners effectively. These personal accounts highlight the profound difference that preparation and mindset can make when it’s done together.

“On the big day Alice found the MP3’s provided were vital to keeping her labour going in the right direction, we listened and followed them for hours leading up to the moment we were ready to head to the Birthing Centre. All the meantime Nicki was keeping in touch with us via live messages and guidance. With Nicki’s contact and reassurance, the situation seemed less confusing and more comforting to know that what we were experiencing was actually what should be happening.”

Mike

As always, reading or listening to testimonials can inspire and reassure expectant parents, affirming that a stress-free birth is not just a possibility but a reality for many. Such stories highlight the value to start hypnobirthing early and the transformative power it can have on the entire birthing journey.

“Nicki’s course was amazing, and we both learnt so much. Hypnobirthing isn’t about having the perfect birth but about educating you on your options and rights. Our plan A was to have a home waterbirth and we learned during the course if our birthing journey took an unexpected turn how to effectively question and weigh up pros and cons. This was used to great effect when I went post dates (past 42weeks) and the pressure to “make a plan” started from the hospital and also the fact I’d had a previous emergency section which made the hospital place me as “high risk.”
I was so surprised how easily and subconsciously I used all of my breathing techniques during labour, I was actually in denial I was in labour for half of it as it the surges were manageable!”

Rachael

It’s Never Too Late

If you are reading this and think “Shit, I’ve missed the boat!” Just know it’s never too late to learn. We decided to start hypnobirthing classes at 34 weeks pregnant and went on to have a wonderfully positive birth experience with our son and, believe me, I had high levels of anxiety.

I’ve started courses with mother’s who are 38 weeks pregnant, and they all went onto having wonderful birth experiences. This is where the condensed hypnobirthing courses can be useful because you get access to all the same reading materials and video library whilst we learn all the main breathwork techniques and mindset tools to essentially “crack on” with. 

So, if you’re reading this and this is you, just know it’s never too late and I’m always here to help 😊

You know where I am. Right here.

Nicki xx