Why should I invest in a Hypnobirthing Course?

So, you have researched (and maybe even bought) the travel system. You have spent a fortune on the nursery and all of those "must have" baby care gadgets. You haven't really thought too much about the birth. It's best to go with the flow right? After all, we can't control what happens to us during birth and most people just end up getting induced or having a c-section anyway. This might sound familiar to some of you. As birthworkers, we often hear that people don't think twice about spending serious money on baby items but when it comes to educating and preparing for the day that you meet your baby? Let's just say we see a little more resistance with parents wanting to part with their hard earned cash!

I say this gently and more importantly, I say it with love - YOUR BIRTH PREPERATION MATTERS. Like, really matters. And yes, in the job I'm in, you would be forgiven for thinking that I may carry bias in this area. But this is the reason I am here. I didn't get into this for the money (for perspective, I'm still having to supply teach on the side to be able to pay my bills and I knew this going in). Educating perspective families around birth and your rights and choices within the UK maternity system is a genuine passion. Partly because I am fascinated by the physiological birthing process, but also, in large, due to the broken and over medicalised maternity system that is taking away informed choice and leaving too many families traumatised and unable to truly understand what has happened to them and how the care they received played an unquestionable part in their birth experience and outcomes. But more on that in another blog post.

So why invest in a Hypnobirthing course? Your Mum has never heard of it and "didn't need it in her day" and your work colleague told you it's "just hippie rubbish". Also, you have seen the price. Is it really worth it? Do I really need it? Is it really worth the money?

The answer to all of those questions is yes.

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.

And the money? You only get to birth your baby once. Trust me on this one.