Testimonial from a first-time father
Hypnobirthing seemed to offer an insight into helping override the presumption that labour should be feared and must be painful. The course was run by a practicing midwife so for both of us this had an important link to reality. My partner wanted to try and aim for a natural birthing experience if at all possible and the course seemed to offer the skills to help achieve this. As K had gestational hypertension in the final weeks, without the Hypnobirthing course and the support of Wendy, I feel that dealing with hospital consultant, registrars and midwives would have made intervention extremely likely.
As it was, after labouring in water with the support of the excellent community midwife team who were fully supportive of our wishes for a natural birth, we now have a home-birthed boy born without any drugs. I can testify that the relaxation and visualisation had a remarkable (reducing) effect on blood pressure and heart rate through labour; this was after four long days of latent labour stages with ceaseless contractions.
The facilities at Cheltenham were excellent and we quickly got into a routine of having a ‘special’ evening when the course ran. Check out Le Petit Blanc early evening menu… Thanks Wendy!
Testimonial from a first-time mother
Without HypnoBirthing, we would have been in hospital with medical intervention and, I feel sure, he would have been an assisted delivery.
Testimonial from a second-time mother
I came to HypnoBirthing during my second pregnancy. When my first child was born, I felt prepared; I had done my ‘homework’, attended my antenatal classes and was ready for a positive experience. Unfortunately my labour and birth were a nightmare which ultimately ended in a ventouse delivery and a hugely disappointed mum. Not the ideal start to life I had envisioned for my daughter.
When I became pregnant for the second time, I knew there must be a better way. There was nothing physically or medically wrong with me and I instinctively knew if I could get my mind and body working together, free from fear and the need to control, things would be different.
Hypnobirthing was the key. I dragged my sceptical husband along to the sessions run by Wendy Metcalfe. I was enlightened; here was the birth I knew could be my experience, positive, gentle and drug-free.
When the time came, I really was ready. Armed with nothing more than my ipod and a supportive but nervous husband, I laboured and delivered with complete awareness and felt absolutely empowered. It felt amazing, hard work but extremely positive. The hospital staff were intrigued and couldn’t believe I didn’t even need gas and air!
It was the best possible, gentle, start to life for my baby, Eve and the best start to parenting for me.
I have the utmost respect for Wendy and the HypnoBirthing philosophy. It really is about getting back to the basics. Allowing our bodies to do what they are designed to do, if only we would let them!
Testionial from a returning mother
My husband and I signed up for the hypno-birthing course and the hospital classes, better to be safe than sorry, we thought, and we were amazed at the difference in quality of the information we received! We found that hypno-birthing course had a very positive outlook onto the pending birth, and first year after our daughters arrival, whereas, the hospital classes very much focussed on pain, pain relief, what to pack in your hospital bag, and the forthcoming ‘horrendous’ sleepless nights!
Unlike the rest of my experience during my pregnancy, hypno-birthing really engaged my partner in the birthing process. My husband felt happy that he had a major part to play in making the experience more comfortable for both myself, and the baby on arrival, and I felt secure in the knowledge that he was there to help me throughout.
I was so excited about the onslaught of labour! The course enabled me to trust my body and feel confident throughout all stages; I felt in control of my baby’s birth. We had a lovely, uncomplicated, natural birth for my daughter that was everything I could have hoped for!
Pregnant with my second child, the books and the course are here again. How exciting!