Based on Dr Grantly Dick-Read's book "Childbirth Without Fear", published in England in the 1950's, HypnoBirthing® was developed and launched in America over 17 years ago and has been available in the UK for more than 5 years - the ante-natal classes with a difference chosen by James Cracknell's wife, TV Presenter Beverly Turner, for comfortable, natural childbirth - widely reported at the time as a pain-free and joyful experience.

It is taught in small groups or one-to-one, with classes totalling 12.5 hours.

What makes HypnoBirthing® the antenatal classes with a difference?

• A fully participating role for dad (or mum's chosen birthing companion) throughout pregnancy, labour and birth. Training is for couples, to ensure total support for mum and total involvement for her partner.
• Women are enabled and encouraged to reclaim the power the Western World has spent decades trying to take away, minimising the need for chemical or medical intervention in all but a few births where special circumstances make it advisable for the welfare of mother or baby.
• You will gain the knowledge you need to make informed decisions in negotiation with your midwife/doctor to achieve the best possible birthing experience for you and your baby and maximise your chances of successful breastfeeding.
• Anticipate natural childbirth with pleasure . . . . feel it as an experience not a painful ordeal.
• Relaxed concentration during labour, using the self-hypnosis learned and practised during pregnancy, keeps your heart rate and blood pressure down and makes sure your body isn't producing stress hormones.
• Stress hormones affect the production and flow of the birthing hormones, so labour under stressed or fearful conditions is longer and likely to be painful. HypnoBirthing mums regularly report comfortable labour shortened by several hours, during which most manage to get some sleep!
• The knowledge you will have about how your body and your baby work together in harmony during natural childbirth, supported by your birthing companion, means you will have no fear and you will be free to enjoy calm, comfortable childbirth.
• Bonding between both parents and their baby is deep and lasting - pregnancy, birth and beyond as a seamless process.
• Calm, relaxed, comfortable childbirth makes for serene and joyful parents with an alert and happy baby, who feeds and sleeps well. The chance of successful breast-feeding is greatly improved and post natal-depression almost unheard of in HypnoBirthing mums.
• The self-hypnosis techniques you and your partner will learn to gently birth your baby will stay with you to carry you through other times in your life when you need to be quietly confident and deeply relaxed.

Training can start as early as 14 weeks and can be as late as 36 weeks, though the best time to start is around 26 to 28 weeks, to give plenty of time to absorb the information and practise the techniques. The classes are structured but informal and numbers are limited to ensure personal attention. The fee is per couple for the complete course and includes everything you need.  It works out at roughly the cost of a decent cup of coffee a day throughout your pregnancy. A non-refundable deposit of £50 secures your place and you receive your handbook and CD's. The balance is normally payable at your first class.

• How the mind and emotions affect the body 
• Why labour hurts and why it doesn’t have to
• Releasing fear, the enemy of labour
• Preparing your mind and body for birthing
• Avoiding artificial induction and episiotomy
• Developing ultimate-depth relaxation
• Understanding the stages of labour
• Preparing your Birth Plan
• Tapping into Nature’s own anaesthesia
• Breathing your baby down for birth

Learn simple but effective soft touch massage techniques for use during pregnancy and labour

Know how to recognise when help may be needed and how to negotiate the timing and extent of that help with your medical caregivers in a non-confrontational way

See dvd's of calm natural births - be reassured and inspired

Approach your birthing with confidence in the knowledge that you will be in control

Just £250 per couple for the entire course includes handbook, relaxation cd's and handouts - nothing extra to pay

Non-refundable £50 deposit confirms your place and you receive your handbook. 

• Balance payable at first class . . .
• Payment per class by arrangement . . .
• . . . or simply walk away and keep your handbook if you decide it's not for you. 

Complete HypnoBirthing course is 12.5 hours, usually divided into 4 classes - though is negotiable around your availability and lifestyle. Daytime, evening or weekend sessions available