Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire and Birmingham
Introducing Lauran - The Outspoken Birthworker
Hello fellow birth warriors, I'm Lauran, the face and founder of The Outpospken Birthworker. I am a mother of two, fully qualified Hypnobirthing Antenatal teacher, Breastfeeding Peer Supporter and trainee Breastfeeding Councillor. I am also a fully qualified school teacher of nearly 11 years. Outside of teaching and all things birth and boobs, I adore travelling the world with my family, spending time with my dogs and cooking up a storm in the kitchen.
After a rocky experience in the maternity system during my first birth, followed by a euphoric homebirth with my second, I found myself bringing together my passion for educating and my firm beliefs that all birthing families should be fully informed and fully empowered to birth their beautiful babies. Thus, the Outposken Birthworker was born. An exciting venture which is currently focused on Hypnobirthing and Antenatal education, but will grow to become a one stop shop to offer proper support for all things antenatal, birth, the post-natal period and breastfeeding.
What is Hypnobirthing Antenatal education?
A question I get asked a lot. What is Hypnobirthing? How does it differ from other Antenatal education? Why should I Invest my money on this and not the local NCT course?
The first thing I want to make clear is that an Antenatal Hypnobirthing course with the Outspoken Birthworker is a FULL ANTENATAL COURSE (view the full course content here). Yes, we cover breathing techniques and relaxation (more on that in a moment) but it is so, so much more than that. We offer full preparation and planning for the birth and the post-natal period, as well as your more "traditional" so to speak, Hypnobirthing teachings.
Meeting your baby for the first time should be on your terms. It should be done your way guided through informed choice by your health care professionals. You should also be able to enter your labour and birth without being controlled by fear. Wouldn't it be amazing if you could even (maybe) look forward to your birth? (*gasp*) BE EXCITED AT THE PROSPECT OF BIRTH?! (*shock, gasp, shock, gasp*).
Hypnobirthing doesn't promise a pain free birth (if you have come across a course that does make this promise then run AND RUN FAST). But what Hypnobirthing does do is educate you around the science and physiology of how birth works. It helps you to understand how you can support your birthing body and hormones to create the optimal conditions for birth to occur as it is meant to. Hypnobirthing debunks this idea that birth is something to be feared, through science and evidence it shows us that our bodies are F****** amazing and in most cases, if we let it, can birth our babies BLOODY gloriously, without help or need for intervention. It teaches us tried and tested techniques for calm and relaxation during labour birth and guides us in creating a positive mindset in the build up to the big day.
But Hypnobirthing does also recognise that birth is unpredictable. That birth needs to be respected. And for some, it doesn't go as intended (even with the best prep and intention in the world). Your birth rights ALWAYS matter (and we will talk about that in a separate post) but when you are faced with choices about your care, knowing your rights and being able to advocate for yourself through informed choice is vital. For me, this is the most important skill Hypnobirthing will equip you with.
So is it really worth it? It doesn't matter whether you are planning a natural birth, induction or c-section. If you want to come out the other side of the maternity system feeling empowered, that you were in control and your birth unfolded in a way that you were happy and comfortable with, then your birth education and preparation matters. Going with the flow just doesn't cut it.
Ready to invest in you and your birth? Book your course of free consultation now!